Online bookings can be a great way to assist with screening for patients who may be at risk and require further support during this time. Read the following guide to learn more about this feature and how to set it up.

What is Patient Screening?

Patient Screening (or 'Screening Mode') will appear after the patient has selected their practitioner and the time of the appointment they wish to book.

1. Once the time is selected, the following alerts will appear:
   
   
   
   
2. After selecting I will answer truthfully, they will be asked one of more of the following questions, depending on the options selected in your practice's HotDoc Dashboard:
   
   
3. If the patient selects Yes to any of the alerts, they will be shown the following screen and they will not be able to continue with their online booking. Please notes that the options for numbers to dial are configurable in your practice's HotDoc Dashboard (see step 3 below):
   
   
   
   
4. Alternatively, if you have our Telehealth Screening mode enabled, the patient will see the option to book a Telehealth consult:
   
   
   

How to turn on Patient Screening

1. Log into your HotDoc Dashboard and navigate to Bookings > COVID-19 Mode > enable the Patient screening check box:
   
   
   
   
2. You can also choose a combination of the following based on what you'd like to screen patients for:
   • COVID-19 Symptoms
   • Visited a COVID-19 Hotspot 
   • Travelled overseas or interstate 
   • Been in direct contact with someone with suspected COVID-19 symptoms 
     
     
     
     
3. Additionally, you can select where the questionnaire will direct patients who answer "Yes" - either to call your reception, the Coronavirus info line, or both.
   • Note that if your practice has Telehealth Screening Mode enabled, patients will also have the option of booking a Telehealth appointment.
     
     
     
     

4. Select the green Save button to save your settings.

Please note: Screening Mode will also activate a default message to appear on your SMS Appointment Reminder Link if you are also using HotDoc Reminders. 

A message will appear once the patient clicks the hyperlink in their SMS Appointment Reminder:

• To create a Telehealth appointment option using Screening Mode, see Telehealth Screening Mode.
  
  
• See Creating an alert message for an emerging health concern for some further tips on how to use HotDoc to assist with screening your patients.