CSV Template for Adding Participants Only (17)

CSV Template for Adding Participants Only (17)

Navigating the 17-Column CSV File: A Beginner's Guide

The 17-Column CSV file serves as a medium through which Dialog Health can transfer your data to our platform. This file is exclusively designated for adding participant data and does not include event-related information. CSV, an acronym for Comma Separated Values, is a widely adopted format employed for seamless data exchange between distinct platforms. Although CSV files can present challenges when it comes to interpretation, they can be conveniently viewed and comprehended by utilizing spreadsheet applications such as Excel, Google Sheets, or Apple Numbers. By organizing the data into columns, these applications facilitate a more accessible understanding of the information presented. 

Now, let's proceed with an in-depth exploration of each column within the file, allowing you to tailor it according to the specific requirements of your facility. 



Scroll to the bottom of this article to download our template of the 17-Column CSV file (Employee, Patient, or Person)

* asterisk denotes required fields for import

Column A:  Last Name* 

In this column, input the person's last name.
(i.e. White, Doe)

Column B: First Name*

In this column, input the person's first name.
(i.e. Bob, John)

Column C: Mobile Phone Number*

In this column, input the person's primary contact number. If they have an additional phone number, this can be placed in Column F.
Accepted Formats: xxxxxxxxxx or xxx-xxx-xxxx or (xxx)xxx-xxxx
(i.e. 1234567890, 5555555555)

Column D: Person ID*

In this column, enter the distinct ID number linked to the individual. In case your organization doesn't allocate an identification number, you have the option to input their phone number in this cell. This column holds significance in differentiating individuals who share the same name. Failing to provide any information in this field will prompt Dialog Health to generate its own unique identification number for the person. Moreover, it is crucial to ensure that each assigned individual has a unique number. The same ID number cannot be used for different individuals. 
(i.e. ABC123, DEF456)

Column E: DOB

In this column, you can input the person's date of birth (DOB).
Accepted Format: MM/DD/YYYY
(i.e. 10/12/2000, 12/22/1972)

Column F: Additional Phone Number

In this column, if the employee has a secondary phone number on file, you can place it here.
If there is a secondary number on file, Dialog Health will automatically attempt to contact that number if the primary phone number is not eligible to receive text messages.
Accepted Formats: xxxxxxxxxx or xxx-xxx-xxxx or (xxx)xxx-xxxx
(i.e. 1111111111)

Column G: Address 1

In this column, input the person's street address.
(i.e. 12 Main St, 231 West Rd, etc.) 

Column H: Address 2  

In this column, if the person has any secondary information to their address such as an apartment number or suite number, this can be input here.
(i.e. Unit B)

Column I: City

In this column, input the city associated with the person's address.
(i.e. Franklin)

Column J: State

In this column, input the state associated with the person's address.
Accepted Format: 2-letter abbreviation, e.g. OH, TN, FL, IN, etc.,,
(i.e. TN)

Column K: Zip  

In this cell, input the zip code associated with the person's address.
Accepted Format: xxxxx or xxxxx-xxxx
(i.e. 37067)

Column L: Email

If the person has an email address on file, you can input into this column. 
Accepted Format: example@example.com 

Column M-Q: PersonMisc 1-5

These columns are unique because they are customizable to what you'd like to view in your console. In the example above, PersonMisc1 was used to show employment type.
Creating unique selections in this column can help you set specific rules on the text messages you send when you want to reach out to a specific subset of subscribers. 
(i.e. Full-time, Part-time)

To learn more about how to personalize your miscellaneous field labels in Dialog Health, click HERE




Ideas for PersonMisc 1-5

  1. Employment Type: Full-Time, Part-Time, Temporary, Contractor...
  2. Health Insurance Plan: BCBS, Medicare, Medicaid, Cigna...
  3. Language Preference: English, Spanish, French, German...
  4. Employment Status: Employed, Terminated, Temporary...
  5. Department: Marketing, Sales, HR, IT...
  6. Geographical Location: Regions, Cities, States, Zip Codes...
  7. Location Type: Warehouse, WFH (work from home), Office...
  8. Leadership Role: C Suite, Manager, Supervisor...

Each cell can only import a maximum character count of 50, except for Address 1, Address 2, and Email, these may contain up to 250 characters. 

Key Points

  1. To import your 17-columned .CSV file, the minimum information needed includes the Last Name, First Name, Mobile Number, and Employee ID. However, you have the flexibility to utilize Columns E through L as per your preference to enhance participant identification. 
  1. The Person ID must be unique per each individual you add to your file. If your facility does not use an identification number, you may use the participant's phone number.
  1. If you have two phone numbers for a person, you can use the Additional Phone Number field to add the second number. Dialog Health will try both numbers in order to validate the mobile number.
  1. The template must be saved in .CSV format and the 17-columned Header Row must always be present in order to successfully transfer your data into Dialog Health. 

Best Practices for Naming Your CSV File 

The ideal approach for naming your CSV file upon completion would involve incorporating the facility name associated with the data, providing a brief description of the data, and including the date and time of data retrieval. Adopting this naming convention will greatly assist in organizing and tracking the data you have uploaded into Dialog Health. 

Standard:   FacilityName_ContentDescription_MMDDYY_HHMM.csv 

Examples: 
  1. HospitalSystem_ColonoscopyRecall_011521_1400.csv
  2. TobysHRFirm_FallBenefitsEnrollment_120221_1045.csv
  3. CallCenterOrg_MayOutreach_060621_0545.csv

Click HERE for more information on how to manually import your CSV file into the Dialog Health platform.




Questions? Please reach out to: support@dialoghealth.com or 877.666.1132
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