Text Nudges About Prescriptions Boost Odds of Filling Medications 19% for Heart Failure Patients

New study demonstrates significant improvements in medication adherence and 6% lower odds of 30-day readmissions at Magnolia Regional Health Center.

ARLINGTON, VA, UNITED STATES, January 7, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Patients with heart failure who engaged with text messages for more information about their medications had 19% higher odds of filling their prescriptions and 6% lower odds of hospital readmission within 30 days of discharge, according to a new study published in PLOS Digital Health.

The retrospective study, conducted by Magnolia Regional Health Center in Mississippi and health technology pioneer DrFirst, analyzed 1,276 patients with heart failure over a 27-month period, comparing patients who interacted with SMS text nudges to those who didn’t engage with the messages. The research addresses a critical gap in heart failure care, where even small improvements in adherence rates could prevent unnecessary emergency room visits and hospitalizations.

“Congestive heart failure patients face significant challenges with medication adherence, with studies showing that 40% to 60% don’t take their medications as prescribed,” said Ben Long, MD, Director of Hospital Medicine at Magnolia Regional Health Center. “Historically, nearly one in four of these patients is readmitted within 30 days, which creates financial pressures on rural hospitals like ours through Medicare penalties. We needed an innovative, scalable solution that could help our patients stay on their medications after they leave our care, and these personalized texts with prescription information proved to be an effective tool in supporting that goal.”

The information was sent automatically via the DrFirst prescription engagement solution directly from the MEDITECH Expanse e-prescribing workflow. Each message was customized with the patient’s prescriber information and included an interactive link where patients could view medications that were sent to the pharmacy, access educational content, and find copay assistance when available.

“This study demonstrates that personalized, timely interventions delivered directly to mobile devices can make a meaningful difference in keeping patients on track with their treatments,” said Weston Blakeslee, PhD, VP of Clinical Intelligence at DrFirst and co-author of the study. “What’s compelling about this approach is its simplicity and reach. We’re not asking patients to download apps or remember passwords. Information delivered via text messages meets them where they are, on a device they use every day, with information they need to stay healthy. That’s the kind of practical solution that works in the real world.”

In addition to improving adherence and reducing readmissions, other key findings included:
- 92% patient engagement rate: Nearly all patients who received text messages clicked to view their prescription information at least once.
- Low opt-out rate: Only 7.7% of patients chose to stop receiving notifications.
- Strong impact on readmitted patients: Those previously hospitalized who engaged with text reminders showed a 52% increase in odds of filling prescriptions.

Even with significant advances in medication and technology, studies show that non-adherence continues to affect more than half the population and drives over $528 billion in additional healthcare expenses in the U.S. annually. Notably, medication adherence is a strong predictor of positive patient outcomes.

The study authors note that future research will examine the intervention’s impact on additional outcomes, including blood pressure control and long-term cardiovascular events.

About Magnolia Regional Health Center
Magnolia Regional Health Center (MRHC) is a community-owned healthcare system located in Corinth, Mississippi. Serving Alcorn County and the surrounding region, MRHC is committed to providing high-quality, compassionate care through a comprehensive range of inpatient and outpatient services, including emergency care, women’s health, cardiac care, and surgical services. Guided by its mission—to improve the health of the communities they serve…One Patient at a Time—MRHC delivers patient-centered care close to home.

About DrFirst
For 25 years, healthcare IT pioneer DrFirst has empowered providers and patients to achieve better health through intelligent medication management. The company has won over 25 awards for excellence and innovation, including TIME’s list of the World’s Top HealthTech Companies of 2025, recognizing the company’s medication management solutions and integrated workflows that make every step of the patient journey easier, from first prescription to ongoing adherence. DrFirst solutions help 100 million patients a year and are used by more than 450,000 prescribers, 71,000 pharmacies, 270 EHRs, and over 2,000 hospitals in the U.S. To learn more, visit DrFirst.com. 

Erin Jundef
Bospar
erin@bospar.com

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