How to Generate QR Codes to Open the MyChart App

Published on May 31, 2023

It How to Generate QR Codes to Open the MyChart App can’t be denied—mobile apps are revolutionizing the healthcare industry. In fact, there are over 95,000 mHealth apps for patients and doctors listed in the app stores, with MyChart being the leading app for patients to manage their medical records and appointments.

Healthcare providers are striving to increase patient use of the MyChart app in an effort to streamline patient care services while lowering expenses related to paper-based communications and call-center activity. Strategic use of MyChart QR codes over time can be a powerful way to drive myChart app installs and MyChart app engagement around specific tasks. How to Generate QR Codes to Open the MyChart App

The key to a successful QR code strategy for MyChart is related to how the QR code is generated and how much control your marketing team has over the code even after it's printed and in use. Your QR codes for MyChart should be able to do two things: send users to the right app store if the MyChart app is not installed, or open the myChart app to a relevant screen for the task at hand, such as scheduling appointments or viewing test results.

Cautionary Tip: Alert your marketing team that free QR code generators typically cannot create QR codes that open apps, and they often don't have the design, routing, or security capabilities that healthcare solutions require.

When QR codes for MyChart are consistently applied to marketing and communication materials, you will inspire your patients to use the MyChart app more often to perform key tasks while moving away from paper-based processes and phone-based communications.

Step-by-step, this post shows you how to generate QR codes that open the MyChart app to specific screens. We'll also review some of the most popular use cases for MyChart QR codes.

Learn more about how the strategic implementation of QR codes in your marketing campaign can be a great way to increase sales, boost app engagement, and/or drive app installs:

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How Health Providers Can Generate and Use MyChart QR Codes to Increase App Engagement

Before we get to the 'how-to' portion of this post, consider that your QR codes for MyChart should always be 'dynamic' because your MyChart app implementation and your marketing plans and goals are likely to change over time. Dynamic simply means that the destination of the QR code can be changed at any time, even after it's printed and in use.

For example, let’s say that you’ve generated a QR code for a poster that takes users to the MyChart home screen to introduce patients to the app. Later, you realize that it might be best to send them to the appointments screen to encourage them to make appointments in the app instead of by phone.

Unique, patented technology from URLgenius gives you maximum control over your QR codes for MyChart, and you can make destination changes within minutes. This allows you to consider the lifecycle of your QR codes and govern them over time.

Privacy and Security Note: As you consider each of the following MyChart QR code use cases, keep in mind that to adhere to privacy requirements, the myChart app will always ask patients to log in, but the QR code will be designed to open the right screen once the login is successful.

MyChart QR Code Use Cases

For the use cases below, the fallback destination can be set to go to the right app store when the app is not installed. You can also append tracking parameters to measure scanning activity. It's important to append tracking parameters in ways that will not disrupt scanning as tracking can make a QR code too dense if not applied correctly.

QR codes that open the MyChart home screen

Getting started with QR codes that simply open the home screen of the MyChart app is useful to learn what your audience is most likely to do next in the app. Appending tracking parameters will help you understand which campaign, channel, or QR link is driving the most patients to open the app and how many people installed the app on iOS and Android.

QR codes to view MyChart health summary

Sending customers to view their health summary and history is a great call to action that can remind patients to review their past visits and overall health conditions. What users learn from their health history may inspire them to use the app to schedule their next appointment or follow-up visit.

QR codes to request medical appointments via MyChart

Patients calling to set up or change their next appointment likely make up a large percentage of the total call-center volume. Once you teach your patients to manage their appointments themselves in the MyChart app, you'll likely see call volume continuously decrease for this task. Use QR codes for MyChart in direct mail or on other marketing materials that your patients are likely to keep in a convenient place such as a yearly calendar.

QR codes to view test results via MyChart

One of the peskiest things about blood tests, x-rays, and other health-related evaluations is that patients have historically been required to set up a follow-up appointment or a phone call to discuss the results. Of course, this is typically inconvenient for patients who feel that it’s a waste of time, money, and energy to visit a doctor’s office to discuss results that may not warrant a visit. This is also time-consuming for call centers and office assistants, as these types of appointments take up a significant number of consults that could be better utilized for more immediate and pressing patient needs.

QR codes to request prescription renewals via MyChart

For patients that have one or more recurring prescriptions that need to be filled on monthly, bimonthly, or even every three months QR codes can be convenient. The renewal of medications also requires calls, and even appointments at times but a QR code can direct the patient to the right screen. What’s more convenient than sending patients to a screen where they can refill a prescription in mere minutes? (Nothing—that’s the only correct answer here!).

QR codes to access health information resources via MyChart

You may decide to offer your patients supplementary information regarding general health-related topics. This is a great way to minimize the need for appointments for minor illnesses or to get answers to questions that can typically be resolved or answered by the patient on their own. It’s also a great way to inform users about basic health information and recommendations.

Step-By-Step: How to Generate QR Codes to Open the MyChart App

The URLgenius QR code and app deep linking platform makes generating any kind of QR code as easy as 1-2-3. In this example, we'll show you how to make a QR code that takes you to the MyChart home screen. You'll begin at the URLgenius homepage.

The process is the same for any healthcare app. This is just an example, the link you enter into URLgenius will likely be related to your domain and the screen in the MyChart.

1. Enter the MyChart homepage URL into URLgenius

When you paste the link to the MyChart homepage into URLgenius, you'll notice the MyChart icon in the upper right corner, as well as some routing information about where the user is sent based on the device they're using to scan the code. You can also change the end of the URL to match your campaign. We've called it '2023-home' in this case.

Then click the 'Compose' button.

You will then be taken to the settings page for your QR link. Note the various tabs on the settings page including 'Performance' which will show you how many times the QR code was scanned as well as how many app opens.

Pro Tip: We recommend that you use your company's domain for the QR link as your audience will not be familiar with URLgenius. This is a feature in the settings of your URLgenius platform which your solution advisor can help you set up.

2. Adding Analytics and Tracking

Platforms for QR technology, such as URLgenius, support enterprise UTM analytics like Google Analytics. On the 'Routing' tab of your link's settings, you can append campaign UTMs to the app address.

When using the QR code and the link separately in a multi-channel campaign, URLgenius will track scans separately from clicks. To discuss your reporting requirements, contact your solution advisor.

3. Select QR Design Studio to customize and download your QR code

When you click the 'QR Design Studio' tab, you will be brought to the settings where you can change the various design elements of the QR code and then download it. You can modify the colors, logo, shape, and size of your QR code.

Make sure your QR code for MyChart is set to the correct density which is related to scanning distance and your use case. This setting can impact your visitor's ability to scan the code. Please get in touch with us if you require assistance in configuring and optimizing QR codes for maximum scans.

Pro Tip: QR codes are simple to generate, but it's easy to make a mistake and render the code unreadable. All QR codes must be optimized for design, size, density, channel, and placement.

Innovative healthcare companies with a comprehensive QR code strategy are at the forefront of marketing best practices. Not only will you maximize MyChart app installs and engagement by making it easier for patients, but you'll lower your costs and improve your marketing ROI.

Streamline Your Patient’s Healthcare Experience With URLgenius QR Codes

URLgenius is not just a QR code generation platform. Our patented technology can help you create a strategy designed to increase the profitability of your healthcare business. Our solution advisors will guide you every step of the way as they apply deep global experience creating QR experiences in all types of media including television.

We are always here to help you with your campaigns. Contact us with questions at info@urlgeni.us about your specific use case and QR code requirements.

If you found this content helpful, check out some of our latest how-to posts for QR code app marketing:

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