I can’t tell you how many smiley faces people text me. Then there are the phone numbers, the ‘I’m here. Where are you?’ messages, and sometimes even some strange spam messages with stock quotes for companies that I doubt exist. But the idea of my doctor, my doctor’s office, or even a lab testing my blood sending me some information via a simple text message is pretty exciting. Apparently, New York thinks so, too. The New York Health Department has awarded a $2.7 million grant to Whitney M. Young Jr. Health Services for a text message pilot program for Medicaid patients with diabetes. Of course, there are many security steps that will need to be implemented, but the idea alone of such an easy way of disseminating information to me — the patient — even if it ends up being just about appointments would be phenomenal. I can’t wait! J
