Automatic voice mail for delivering computer-generated anticoagulant dose advice to patients.

We tested an automated system which imported computer-generated clinical data on a patient s anticoagulant medication and produced conversational voice mail messages that were dialled out automatically to patients at home. During the first 18 months of use, more than 30,000 reports were delivered by telephone. The client population was 1755 patients, 51% of whom were aged over 70 years.