Standardized text messages improve 30-day patient follow-up for ACS pediatric NSQIP cases.

Purpose: Thirty-day follow-up is a critical and challenging component of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP). We hypothesized the simplicity and immediacy of text messaging would increase response rates while reducing workload.

Methods: For 6 months, text messages were the primary form of contact for first and second follow-up attempts.