GoHighLevel's SMS and phone system solves the biggest communication gaps in chiropractic and wellness practices through automated text follow-ups, missed call text-back, and integrated calling features. The system combines two-way messaging, power dialing, and call recording in one dashboard, making it perfect for practices that need to nurture new patients through their first critical visits.
Most chiropractic patients need multiple visits to see real results, but communication gaps cause 60% to drop off after visit three. Manual recall systems fail because staff get busy, and traditional phone tags frustrate both patients and front desk teams. GoHighLevel's SMS and phone system automates these touchpoints while keeping everything personal and professional.
What is GoHighLevel's SMS & Phone System
GoHighLevel's SMS and phone system is a complete communication hub that handles both inbound and outbound patient contact through text messaging and calling features. You get a dedicated phone number, two-way SMS messaging, automated missed call responses, power dialing for outbound campaigns, call recording, and ringless voicemail drops all from your main GHL dashboard.
The system integrates directly with your patient records, so every text message and phone call gets automatically logged to the contact's profile. This means your front desk can see the complete conversation history when a patient calls back, and you can track which communication methods work best for appointment confirmations and follow-ups.
Unlike standalone texting services that charge per message, GHL includes SMS in your monthly subscription. Most wellness practices send 500-1000 texts per month between appointment reminders, follow-ups, and new patient sequences. With traditional SMS services costing $0.03-0.05 per message, that's $15-50 monthly just for texting before you add phone features.
The missed call text-back feature alone transforms how practices handle inquiries. When someone calls your practice and gets voicemail, the system automatically sends a personalized text within seconds. Industry data shows that 78% of people who get voicemail never call back, but a follow-up text captures most of these potential patients when they're still interested.
How to Buy and Set Up Your Practice's Phone Number
Setting up your phone number takes about 5 minutes and gives you a dedicated line for all patient communication. Go to Settings > Phone Numbers in your GHL account and click "Purchase Number" to see available local and toll-free options in your area.
- Navigate to Settings > Phone Numbers in your main GHL navigation
- Click "Purchase Number" and select your preferred area code
- Choose between local numbers (better for local trust) or toll-free (more professional for multi-location practices)
- Complete the purchase for $2.97/month per number through LC Phone
- Set this as your primary business number in Settings > Business Profile
Local numbers work better for single-location chiropractic practices because patients recognize the area code and trust local businesses more. If you're expanding to multiple locations or serve patients from several cities, a toll-free number makes more sense for consistent branding.
The number becomes active within 15 minutes, and you can immediately start receiving calls and texts. Port your existing business number later if needed, though most practices keep their current main line and use the GHL number specifically for marketing campaigns and automated follow-ups.
Buy your number early in the setup process. A2P 10DLC registration (required for business texting) can take 2-3 business days to approve, and you can't send SMS until it's complete.
How to Configure Missed Call Text-Back for New Patient Inquiries
Missed call text-back is the highest ROI feature in the entire system because it captures inquiries that would otherwise disappear forever. When your phone rings and nobody answers, the system waits 30 seconds then automatically sends a personalized text to the caller's mobile number.
Go to Settings > Business Profile > Communications and scroll down to the "Missed Call Text Back" section. Enable the feature and customize your message to match your practice's voice. Keep it professional but friendly, and always identify your practice name in the first text.
- Navigate to Settings > Business Profile in your main menu
- Scroll down to the Communications section
- Toggle on "Missed Call Text Back"
- Write your auto-reply message (keep under 160 characters)
- Test the system by calling your GHL number from your personal phone
Here's a proven message template for chiropractic practices: "Hi! This is [Your Name] from [Practice Name]. i saw you called but missed it. What's the best time to call you back about your appointment?" This identifies your practice, acknowledges the missed call, and asks for their preferred callback time.
The system only sends texts to mobile numbers, so landline callers won't get confused by text responses they can't see. Response rates average 40-60% within the first hour, compared to 5-10% callback rates from traditional voicemail messages. Most practices see 2-3 additional appointments per week just from implementing this feature correctly.
Don't use generic messages like "Thanks for calling!" The text needs to clearly identify your practice and invite a response, or people will ignore it as spam.
How to Set Up Two-Way SMS Messaging for Patient Communication
Two-way SMS messaging turns texting into real conversations that flow naturally between your practice and patients. All text messages appear in your Conversations tab, organized by contact, so you can see the complete message history and respond from any device.
The Conversations dashboard shows active text threads, unread messages, and response times for each patient. Click on any conversation to see the full history and reply directly. Messages sync across all devices, so your front desk staff can handle texts from the computer while you respond from your phone using the GHL mobile app.
Set up conversation assignments so the right team members handle different types of messages. New patient inquiries can route to your front desk staff, while post-treatment check-ins might go to your lead practitioner. This prevents important messages from getting lost and ensures patients get responses from the most appropriate person.
- Click "Conversations" in your main GHL navigation
- Select "SMS" from the communication type filters
- Click "Settings" to configure message assignments and notifications
- Set up team member permissions for who can send/receive texts
- Enable mobile notifications so you never miss urgent patient messages
Most wellness practices handle 20-40 text conversations daily between appointment confirmations, rescheduling requests, and follow-up check-ins. The centralized inbox makes it easy to track response times and ensure no patient messages slip through the cracks. You can also see delivery confirmations and read receipts when supported by the patient's carrier.
Templates save massive time for common responses. Create quick-reply templates for appointment confirmations, rescheduling options, office hours, and directions. Your front desk can send a professional response in seconds instead of typing the same information repeatedly.
How to Use the Power Dialer for Outbound Patient Calling
The power dialer streamlines outbound calling campaigns for new patient follow-ups, appointment confirmations, and reactivation campaigns. Instead of manually dialing numbers one by one, the system automatically dials your contact list and connects you only when someone answers, dramatically increasing your calling efficiency.
Access the power dialer through Marketing > Phone in your main navigation. Select your contact list (new patients, overdue for maintenance, etc.) and start the campaign. The system dials numbers automatically, skips busy signals and voicemails, and connects you when someone picks up with their contact information displayed on screen.
- Go to Marketing > Phone > Power Dialer in your GHL account
- Select "Create Campaign" and choose your target contact list
- Set calling hours and timezone preferences
- Choose your caller ID (use your GHL number for consistency)
- Start the campaign and begin making connected calls only
The dialer works best for reactivation campaigns where you're calling former patients who haven't scheduled maintenance appointments. You can see their treatment history, last visit date, and notes right on the calling screen. This lets you have personalized conversations instead of generic cold calls.
Call recording is built-in for training and quality purposes. Enable recording in the campaign settings, and every conversation gets saved to the contact's profile. This helps you track which talking points work best and train new staff on effective patient communication techniques.
Use the power dialer during specific time blocks (like 10am-12pm) instead of all day. This keeps your calling focused and prevents disruptions to other practice activities.
Most practices see 3-4x more completed conversations per hour with the power dialer compared to manual calling. The system eliminates dead air time between calls and lets you focus entirely on the conversations that matter.
How to Add SMS Actions to Your Patient Journey Workflows
SMS automation transforms one-time setup into ongoing patient engagement that runs without daily management. You can add text message actions to any workflow, whether it's welcoming new patients, following up after treatments, or nurturing people who haven't scheduled their next visit.
The most effective SMS workflows for chiropractic practices focus on the critical first 30 days when patients are deciding whether to continue care. Set up a sequence that sends helpful tips, appointment reminders, and check-ins after each visit during this crucial period.
Go to Marketing > Workflows and either create a new workflow or edit an existing patient journey. Add SMS actions by clicking the "+" button and selecting "Send SMS" from the actions menu. You can send immediately, delay for specific timeframes, or wait for other triggers like missed appointments.
- Navigate to Marketing > Workflows in your GHL account
- Select an existing workflow or create a new patient sequence
- Click the "+" button to add a new action
- Choose "Send SMS" from the communications options
- Write your message and set timing/delay preferences
- Add conditions if needed (only send to mobile numbers, specific tags, etc.)
Here's a proven 3-text sequence for new chiropractic patients: Text 1 goes out 2 hours after the first visit with care instructions and your direct number. Text 2 sends the day before visit #2 with an appointment reminder and parking info. Text 3 follows up 3 days after visit #2 asking how they're feeling and offering to answer questions.
Keep messages under 160 characters to avoid splitting into multiple texts, which can appear jumbled on some phones. Always include your practice name and make it easy to opt out with "Reply STOP to opt out" at the end of promotional messages.
The workflows i described in my complete guide to GHL automation for chiropractors include specific SMS sequences that work well alongside email follow-ups. The combination keeps you top-of-mind without overwhelming patients with too many touchpoints.
A2P 10DLC Registration Requirements and Setup
A2P 10DLC registration is mandatory for all business text messaging and takes 2-3 business days to complete. Without proper registration, your SMS messages won't deliver to major carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, making your entire text marketing system useless.
A2P stands for "Application-to-Person" and 10DLC means "10-Digit Long Code" - basically, it's how carriers verify that your business number is legitimate and not sending spam. The registration process requires business information, EIN or SSN, and details about how you'll use text messaging.
- Go to Settings > Phone Numbers and click on your purchased number
- Click "Register for A2P 10DLC" and complete the brand registration form
- Provide your business name, address, EIN, and website URL
- Describe your SMS use case (appointment reminders, marketing, customer service)
- Submit the registration and wait for carrier approval (usually 2-3 business days)
- Once approved, your SMS sending limits increase and deliverability improves
Start this process early because you can't send business SMS messages until registration completes. Personal texting might work initially, but carriers will block your messages once they detect business-type content. The registration is free through GoHighLevel, unlike some platforms that charge $50+ for the same service.
After approval, your daily SMS limits increase significantly. Unregistered numbers are limited to 200 messages per day, while registered business numbers can send 2,000+ messages daily depending on your use case and sending history. This matters for larger practices running appointment reminder campaigns.
Don't skip A2P 10DLC registration thinking you'll "get to it later." Your text campaigns will fail without it, and patients won't receive important appointment reminders and follow-ups.
How to Integrate SMS with Your Existing Practice Management
GoHighLevel's SMS system works alongside most practice management software through Zapier integrations and native API connections. This means appointment data from your current system can trigger text reminders, and patient responses in GHL can update records in your practice management software.
The most common integration sends new patient information from your practice management system to GoHighLevel, where automated SMS sequences take over for follow-up and engagement. This prevents duplicate data entry while ensuring every patient gets consistent communication throughout their care journey.
If you're using ChiroTouch, Jane App, or similar practice management platforms, set up a Zapier connection that creates or updates GHL contacts whenever appointments are scheduled. This triggers your automated SMS workflows without manual intervention from front desk staff.
- Connect your practice management software to Zapier (if supported)
- Create a "New Appointment" trigger in Zapier
- Set GoHighLevel as the action app to "Create/Update Contact"
- Map appointment data fields to GHL contact properties
- Test the integration with a sample appointment
- Enable the Zap to start automatic contact syncing
Two-way sync keeps patient communication history visible in both systems. When patients reply to SMS messages in GoHighLevel, those responses can automatically add notes to their file in your practice management system. This ensures all staff can see recent patient communication regardless of which system they're using.
For practices ready to consolidate systems, GoHighLevel includes basic appointment scheduling and patient management features. You might be able to replace simpler practice management tools entirely, though specialized chiropractic software usually offers more detailed treatment notes and billing integration.
Start with one-way integration (practice management to GHL) before attempting two-way sync. This reduces complexity and gives you time to test the SMS workflows before adding reverse data flow.
Ready to transform your patient communication with automated SMS and phone features? start your free 14-day GHL trial and see how missed call text-back alone can capture more new patients from your existing marketing efforts.
Chiropractors Industry Snapshot
