If you run a Cliniko practice and you're looking for a way to send SMS to patients — appointment reminders, recall notices, invoice notifications — you're not alone. Cliniko covers the basics of practice management well, but a lot of practices want more flexibility around patient text messages than what comes built in.
This guide covers exactly how to send SMS from Cliniko using DataFlows, an SMS integration listed directly on Cliniko's own Connected Apps marketplace. It walks through the setup steps and outlines what you can actually automate once it's connected.
What Is Cliniko SMS Integration?
Cliniko SMS integration is the connection between your Cliniko practice management account and an external SMS platform, allowing text messages to be sent automatically based on activity inside Cliniko — a new appointment, a recall date, an invoice being raised. Rather than manually texting patients one by one, the integration reads data from Cliniko in real time and sends the relevant SMS on your behalf. DataFlows is one such integration, listed as an official Connected App in the Cliniko marketplace, built specifically to automate patient SMS without requiring any code.
Why Practices Look for SMS Options Beyond Cliniko
Missed appointments cost practices real money, and phone calls to confirm bookings take staff time. SMS solves both problems — patients read texts fast, and replying YES or NO is far less friction than answering a phone call. For practices that also want recall reminders, invoice notifications, or the ability to send a bulk SMS campaign to a patient group, a dedicated SMS integration adds capability that goes beyond a single reminder message.
What You Can Automate Once Connected
Appointment Reminders — SMS sent automatically before each appointment. Patients can reply YES, NO, or MOVE directly from the text.
AI Reply Handling — Patient replies are classified automatically. Confirmations are written back to Cliniko, while cancellations and questions are escalated to staff by SMS and email.
Post-Appointment Follow-Up — A follow-up SMS is sent after each visit, at a delay you configure.
Recall Automation — Patients with an active recall record receive an SMS automatically when their recall date falls within a window you set.
Invoice SMS — Patients are notified by SMS when a new invoice is created, with a payment link included when Cliniko online payments are enabled.
SMS Campaigns — Targeted bulk SMS to patient groups, filtered by appointment date and attendance history.
How to Send SMS from Cliniko: Step-by-Step
Step 1 — Create a DataFlows Account
Sign up at sms.dataflows.com.au. Cliniko integration is available on all paid plans, starting from $35/month with no lock-in contracts.
Step 2 — Get Your Cliniko API Key
In Cliniko, click your name in the bottom-left corner, then My Info, then scroll down to Manage API keys and click Add API key. Copy the generated key. DataFlows reads your Cliniko region straight from the key itself, so there's nothing else to note down.
Step 3 — Connect in DataFlows
In DataFlows, click Cliniko in the sidebar and paste your API key. DataFlows validates the connection and detects your region instantly — no shard codes or extra configuration required.
Step 4 — Configure Your Settings
Choose which automations to enable, set your message templates, and configure your sender ID or virtual number. Each feature — reminders, recalls, invoice SMS, campaigns — can be turned on or off independently.
Step 5 — Go Live
That's it. DataFlows starts monitoring your Cliniko account and sending SMS automatically from that point forward.
See the full setup guide on the DataFlows Cliniko integration page for screenshots and the complete feature breakdown.
Why DataFlows for Cliniko SMS
DataFlows is listed as an official Connected App on Cliniko's own Connected Apps marketplace, so the integration is verified and maintained to work with Cliniko's API directly — not a third-party workaround.
ACMA-registered: DataFlows is an ACMA-registered originating telco, so SMS is sent under proper Australian telecommunications compliance.
Works with all Cliniko plans: the integration connects via Cliniko's standard API, available regardless of which Cliniko plan you're on.
No coding required: setup is a copy-paste of an API key. There is no developer work involved.
No lock-in contracts: plans start from $35/month with pay-as-you-go SMS credits.
Best Practices for Cliniko SMS
Start with reminders: if you're not sure where to start, enable appointment reminders first — it's the single change most likely to reduce no-shows immediately.
Use a branded sender ID: a recognisable practice name as the sender builds trust and reduces patients ignoring the message.
Turn on AI Reply Handling early: it removes the need for staff to manually check for confirmation replies, since confirmations are written back to Cliniko automatically.
Review recall windows: set the recall automation window to match how far in advance your practice likes to remind patients, so recall SMS lands at the right time.
Conclusion
Sending SMS from Cliniko doesn't require custom development — connecting DataFlows takes a Cliniko API key and a few minutes of setup. From there, appointment reminders, AI-handled replies, recall automation, invoice notifications and bulk campaigns all run automatically from your existing Cliniko data.
Visit the DataFlows Cliniko integration page to get started, or view the listing directly on Cliniko's Connected Apps marketplace.
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