WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy customers can now get text messages notifying them when their prescription is ready for pickup through a new service called Order Ready Text Messaging.

Customers can sign up to receive text messages by speaking to a pharmacy staff member at their local CVS store. Once enrolled, they will get their first Order Ready Text Message when their next prescription has been filled. Prescription text message alerts are also available in Spanish.

Order Ready Text Messaging is available on most leading cell phone carriers, CVS said.

“CVS/pharmacy’s new prescription Order Ready Text Messaging Program allows for easy prescription pickup by letting our patients know the moment the pharmacist has completed their order,” commented Rob Price, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at CVS/pharmacy. “The introduction of prescription text alerts is the latest addition to our enhanced mobile offering and is designed to make filling prescriptions at CVS/pharmacy even more convenient.”

CVS added that Order Ready Text Messaging builds on other mobile functionality that enables pharmacy patients to use their smartphones and other mobile devices to scan and order prescription refills from anywhere at any time.

For example, the chain said that customers with the CVS/pharmacy iPhone or Android mobile application can use their smartphone’s camera to scan and send rapid refills to their local CVS/pharmacy for up to six prescriptions at a time. The refills can be sent by scanning the prescription label directly. The apps are available for download at Apple’s App Store or the Android Marketplace.