What texting (SMS) services are approved for use in research at Michigan Medicine?
What are my options for using SMS in my study? Are there any low-cost or free options for texting?
Answer (1)
In 2024, the Mobile Technologies Core submitted a project idea to Michigan Medicine's HITS department to provide enterprise-level, institutionally-supported SMS/texting tools for use in research. Investigators from dozens of departments quickly up voted the idea, making it the most-voted project idea ever submitted. As a result, HITS initiated a project to identify and provide solutions for texting.
HITS identified two options, one for small teams/pilot studies, and one for large teams/studies.
For small teams/studies, HITS recommended and approved Mosio.
- Pricing: basic plan is $99/mo and includes 3,000 outgoing texts, unlimited incoming texts, two-way texting, and 10 phone numbers.
- How to integrate with Redcap: https://teamdynamix.umich.edu/TDClient/210/DepressionCenter/KB/ArticleDet?ID=14305
For larger teams, HITS recommended the HIPAA-compliant (secure) version of Twilio.
- The MeTRIC collaborative recently submitted a letter of support to help HITS identify a long-term funding mechanism for the base license.
- Although the secure version of Twilio is not yet available as a HITS service, it is approved by Information Assurance, so investigators can use Twilio on their own.
- How to integrate with Redcap: https://teamdynamix.umich.edu/TDClient/210/DepressionCenter/KB/ArticleDet?ID=14300
For more information, please submit a help ticket to HITS.