Table 1.

Example of patient messages and clinical domains.

Period the message was sent and purpose of the message		Example messages	Clinical domains or goals	Response rate (%)
Presurgery
	Educating	Questions to ask your physician about preparing your home for surgery	Promoting preparation and understanding	94
	Closing action items	“Have you scheduled your visit for presurgery lab work?” and “Have you completed your presurgical clearance paperwork?”	Promoting adherence and self-management	58
	Monitoring	“Have you checked your hemoglobin A1C? Was it over a 7?”	Optimizing health in preparation for surgery	73
	Closing action items	“Do you have someone who can pick you up after surgery, regardless of what hour you are discharged?”	Discharge planning	87
	Closing action items	“Do you have someone available after surgery who can help you for the first 24-48 hours?”	Enlisting help of social supports	87
Postsurgery
	Educating	Tips on how to take care of your wound when to call our office ASAPa	Monitoring and managing symptoms	88
	Educating	Tips on mobility exercises	Optimizing health following surgery	89
	Closing action items	“Have you scheduled your follow-up appointment yet?”	Outpatient follow-up	83
	Monitoring	“Take a look at your incision site. Is it sore, very red, puffy…?”	Monitoring and managing symptoms	89

^aASAP: as soon as possible.