Navigating the "Patient Scheduling" Settings

SigmaMD’s "Patient Scheduling" settings screen is crafted to give you full control over how appointments are managed and communicated to patients. This screen is divided into four primary setting groups, each of which is pivotal for optimizing the patient experience and the efficiency of your practice’s operations.

Patient Notifications

This setting controls the automated notifications sent to patients through email, push, and SMS. By default, patients receive a notification when their appointment is booked and a reminder to confirm their appointment. Practices can also craft custom notifications to cater to specific needs or messages. Read more about Patient Notifications[ADD LINK].

Patient Appointment Management

Here, you can decide whether patients have the ability to confirm and cancel appointments using the SigmaMD patient app. You can set a minimum advance notice rule, to maintain organization and prevent last-minute scheduling changes that could disrupt your practice's flow. Learn about Patient Appointment Management[ADD LINK].

Default Time Slot

The default time slot setting dictates how the calendar displays available appointment times for patient self-scheduling. For instance, a 30-minute time slot would show available times at half-hour intervals, whereas a 60-minute slot would display them hourly.

Be aware that most of your appointments take less time than your practice's default time slot, spaces can be created in your schedule. We recommend having time slots shorter or at least as long as your shorter appointments.

Cancellation Policy

In the cancellation policy section, you’re able to write the text that will appear in patient scheduling notifications and within the patient app for each appointment. This ensures that patients are aware of your practice’s policies regarding cancellations, including any necessary advance notice and potential consequences for late cancellations.

Each of these settings plays a vital role in ensuring that the patient scheduling process is smooth, understandable, and aligns with the operational needs of your practice. By fine-tuning these settings, you can create a patient scheduling system that is efficient, clear, and user-friendly.