Recurring schedule blocking

[bethers711]

Is there a way to create a recurring block of certain times?  The Doctor wants a few different times blocked each day and i am hoping that there is a better way to do it than individually changing each day.

[KizerOpt]

you could do a recurring apt and use the template. Only problem is that does not guarantee no one will book over it, and if there is another appt overlapping, the template appt disappears. In which case, you would need to set the appt with the Dr's name and add a note that it's a blocked time.

Karen

[gillian]

thats great, so i could use this to color code so when we are scheduling, we now that the space is for a short visit vs full exam ! right?

[KizerOpt]

You'd have to assign the color to a type of apt or status, but you could work with it to come up with something.

Karen

[friscoeyeassociates]

We use the templates to set up our schedule so that schedulers know when and where they can put a short appt vs a full exam.. In order for the appointment types to be assigned a color you will need to create appointment types called "Exam Available" and "Short Available" in the admin... Then you can go into the schedule for a date you would like to build a schedule and begin setting template appointments up and selecting the "Exam Available" or "Short Available" you created before. If the schedule for a certain provider is going to be the same every Monday you can also set those template appointments to recur weekly.

I think it is also helpful to have ALL appointments set up with the same time allotment. Even though we know a full exam is going take longer than say a routine contact follow up, they both only take up a 15 minute section of the schedule. The reason this helps is because it keeps schedulers from making accidental changes to the schedule or overwriting a template you had in place. giving every appointment the same time allotment, you can then go in and customize the flow of the schedule.

I will attach a photo that shows the set up of our schedule before anyone has scheduled on it, only complete exam appointments can fill the exam spots, short spots are for everything else.. Not saying everyone should follow this formula, but I do think it utilizes the Template tool pretty well.