Configuring Time Slot Duration

Time Slot Duration defines the interval between appointment start times when patients self-schedule. This setting increases scheduling flexibility without changing the actual visit duration.

For example, a 30-minute visit can still be offered every 15 minutes, creating more booking options while keeping the visit length the same.

Note: Buffers configured in appointment types may affect availability. If a visit includes buffer time before or after the appointment, that time is also blocked when calculating the next available slot.

Where to Configure Time Slot Duration

1. Go to Practice Settings.
2. Select Appointment Settings.
3. Locate the Time Slot Duration section.
4. Choose the interval you want to use for patient self-scheduling.
5. Click Save.

Available options include common intervals such as 15, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 60 minutes.

How It Works

Time Slot Duration defines the available starting points for appointments when patients book online. It does not change the configured length of the visit itself.

Example:

• Visit duration: 30 minutes
• Time slot duration: 30 minutes

Available appointment times:

• 9:00
• 9:30
• 10:00

If the slot duration is changed to 15 minutes, the available start times become:

• 9:00
• 9:15
• 9:30
• 9:45

Even though patients can select view start times, the visit still lasts 30 minutes. For instance, if your schedule begins at 9:00 AM, the available start times depend on:

• The Time Slot Duration
• The appointment duration
• Any buffer time configured for the visit type

Example:

• Time slot duration: 30 minutes
• Appointment duration: 30 minutes
• Buffer after visit: 15 minutes

If a patient books a visit starting at 9:00 AM, the system blocks:

• 30 minutes for the visit
• 15 minutes for the buffer

This means the clinician is occupied until 9:45 AM.

Because the schedule uses 30-minute slot intervals, the next valid start time becomes 10:00 AM.

Available slots appear as:

• 8:00
• 8:30
• 10:00

If 9:00 AM is booked, the next available slot will be 10:00 AM.

Tips

Choose a slot duration that reflects how flexible you want patient scheduling to be.

• Longer slot durations (30–60 min) create a more structured schedule.
• Shorter slot durations (15–20 min) allow patients to choose from more start times.

Practices that offer multiple visit types often prefer shorter slot durations to maximize availability while keeping visit durations unchanged.

Important Notes

• This setting affects patient self-scheduling only. Clinicians and staff can still schedule appointments at any time allowed by the calendar.
• Buffers configured in appointment types may shift the next available slot, depending on how much time they block in the schedule.
• Changing the slot duration immediately affects future scheduling availability.