Annie: VA's SMS Text Messaging Program Information & Disclosure Factsheet

What is the VA Text Messaging Program, and How Can it Help Me?

"Annie" is a text messaging program developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that you can use with either a basic cell phone or smartphone. The program helps you take a more active role in your health care. Annie is a computer system that sends you personalized text messages to remind you to complete health tasks from your mutually agreed to personal health care plan (for example: tracking your blood pressure, taking your medication and attending your medical appointments), and provides information to help you manage your health.

How Will Text Messages From Annie Work?

Important! This text messaging program is not for urgent or emergency issues.

After you agree to participate in the program and exercise your right of access, Annie will send text messages to your cell phone. Text messages from Annie will help you stay on course with your mutually agreed to personal health care plan. Some text messages will simply be reminders of your health care plan, such as appointment reminders. Others from Annie will also ask you to text back a reply with information, such as your blood pressure or blood sugar readings. Sending a text message to Annie does not send a text message directly to your provider; rather, your messages will be stored in the computer system. Your health care team will be able to see these text replies, but will not regularly read or review your text messages.

What Do I Have to Do to Use Annie?

You need to know about your responsibilities and the risks associated with using Annie.

  • If your provider registers you for Annie, he or she will speak with you about how Annie will be used as part of your personal health care plan.
  • If you register on your own to use Annie, you will receive educational information and appointment reminders only. To receive additional information, ask your health care team if Annie can be used as part of your personal health care plan.

You are Responsible for:

  • Your health. If you do not feel well or if you receive messages from Annie that advise you to contact your health care team, you are responsible for taking appropriate action to seek professional care.
  • Your treatment plan. You are responsible for monitoring your health, such as tracking blood pressure levels, taking recommended medication and treatments and keeping your scheduled VA appointments, even if you do not receive a reminder message from Annie.
  • Informing your provider. Let your health care team know if you are not able to follow your treatment plan.
  • Text messaging costs. You will need to pay text message charges b illed to you by your phone company as a result of using Annie.
  • Your phone number. Notify your care team about any changes to your phone number.
  • Your phone. Keep your cell phone safe and in your possession at all times.

What Are the Risks with Using Annie?

By agreeing to use Annie, you accept the risks of sending and getting text messages that are not secure. Text messages are not secure when being sent or received and when on your cell phone because they are not encrypted (scrambled to make it hard for people to get your information). Texts can remain on a phone and with your cell phone company forever, and can be read by people who can access your phone. When sending text messages from Annie, VA will assume that you have your phone and are opening the text messages. If anyone else has your phone, they will be able to read text messages from Annie intended only for you.

Text messages sent by Annie and your text replies to Annie contain your health and personal information. This information may be used to identify you. In addition to collecting your health readings, such as blood pressure levels, VA will collect personal information such as your cell phone number, home phone number, time zone and email address, as part of your registration in the program.

If you have a smartphone, you can reduce the risks of text messaging if you download and use the mobile application (App) to send and receive messages with your personal health information. The App requires use of a login and password. You must have a DS Logon Premium (or Level 2) account to login. It is important to understand that any person who can access your DS Logon information will be able to read your personal information in Annie. When using the App, you can elect to receive text messages that notify you when secure messages are available in the App. You can also sign up to receive important notifications and educational messages from VA on specific topics of your choice.

Privacy Act Statement - How Does VA Use My Information if I Use Annie?

VA knows the value you place on the privacy and safeguarding of your personal information. Your use of the Annie program is voluntary and will not impact any benefits or care to which you may be entitled. When you use Annie, you are asked to share your personal information as well as your use of the program. The collection of this information is authorized by federal law, 38 U.S.C. Section 501, and is subject to the Privacy Act of 1974. VA may use the collected information to provide health care to you and for other purposes permitted by law. As such, VA employees may only use it to perform their official duties, to evaluate the benefit of this program, and for research purposes after it is made unidentifiable to a specific person. VA may also make "routine use" disclosure of the information as outlined in the VA Privacy Act System of Records Notice, #173VA005OP2, and published Veterans Health Administration privacy practices. We will explain these practices upon further request.

How Do I Start or Stop the Program?

If you agree to use the program, Annie will send you a text message that asks you to confirm that you want to participate. To start the program, you simply need to text START to Annie at phone number 540-44. You can also stop, pause or resume the service at any time, using simple text replies to phone number 540-44. Texting STOP will halt the program and all further messages from Annie. Texting PAUSE will temporarily halt all messages until you text RESUME to start receiving the text messages again.

What If I Change my Cell Phone Number?

If you plan to change your cell phone number, please complete the following steps as needed:

  • Text PAUSE to Annie from your old phone number. This halts all texts to that number.
  • When you have your new phone number, notify your health care team to update your cell phone number in Annie. If you use the Annie App with a smartphone, you can change your number yourself by editing your Account Information.
  • After you have completed steps 1 and 2 and have your cell phone with your new phone number, text the message RESUME to Annie using phone number 540-44 and service will resume.