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Online Booking Overview in Invent Medical: Patient Self-Scheduling, Portal Integration & Automation

The Online Booking module empowers your patients to manage their own appointments, significantly reducing the administrative burden on your reception staff. By providing a secure, 24/7 self-scheduling interface, this module enhances patient satisfaction while ensuring that your clinic calendar is populated efficiently.

1. Online Booking Overview​

This module acts as an extension of your website or patient portal. It allows patients to view real-time availability, select their preferred service or provider, and book appointments without needing to call the clinic. All bookings made online are synchronized instantly with your internal Invent Medical calendar.

2. Key Features​

  • Real-Time Calendar Sync: Automatically reflects open slots from your clinic calendar to prevent double-bookings.
  • Service Selection: Patients can choose specific visit types (e.g., General Check-up, Follow-up, Vaccination) which are pre-configured to specific durations.
  • Automated Confirmations: Triggers instant SMS or email confirmation upon a successful booking.
  • Customizable Booking Rules: Set constraints such as minimum notice for bookings, cancellation windows, and provider-specific availability.
  • Patient Portal Integration: Seamlessly links with the patient’s existing profile for a unified experience.

3. Typical Workflow​

  1. Selection: The patient accesses the booking link via your website or portal and selects their desired service/doctor.
  2. Availability: The system displays open time slots based on your clinic's business hours and provider schedules.
  3. Registration: The patient confirms their identity and any necessary clinical details.
  4. Finalization: The system confirms the appointment and immediately adds it to the clinic’s master schedule.
  5. Reminder: Automated reminders are queued based on your clinic's communication policies.

4. Screens & Navigation​

  • Booking Widget: The user-facing interface customizable to match your clinic's branding.
  • Booking Configuration: The internal admin panel where staff define which services and times are available for online booking.
  • Pending Request Queue: A workspace to review and approve/deny specific high-priority booking requests if manual oversight is required.

5. Step-by-Step Usage Guide​

  1. Configure Availability: Navigate to the Booking module settings and define the "Online Available" hours for each provider/department.
  2. Embed Widget: Copy the provided integration code to your clinic’s official website.
  3. Monitor Bookings: Check the "Recent Bookings" feed in the dashboard to see new appointments generated by patients.
  4. Manage Cancellations: If a patient cancels online, the system automatically frees up that time slot on your main calendar.

6. Best Practices​

  • Limit Booking Horizons: Restrict online booking to 30–60 days in advance to maintain schedule flexibility.
  • Enable Reminders: Always ensure automated confirmation and reminder emails are active to reduce no-show rates.
  • Define Service Durations: Be precise with your service time configurations to ensure patients don't over- or under-book for their needs.

7. Frequently Asked Questions​

  • Can I restrict online booking to new patients only? Yes, you can set permission levels so that specific slots are reserved for different patient types.
  • Is the booking process secure? Yes, the entire portal is encrypted and requires identity verification to prevent fraudulent bookings.

8. Troubleshooting​

  • Slots not showing for patients? Verify that the provider has enabled "Online Booking" in their personal settings and that they have marked availability on the calendar.
  • Widget not displaying on website? Ensure your website's security settings permit embedding external Invent Medical scripts.