Private messaging patients can help you or your office administrator/support manage your scheduled patient appointments.
These features are helpful when:
- You are running behind or early
- You become unavailable
- You have entered a virtual consultation and the patient is not responding or stops responding
There are two options available to private message patients:
Option 1: From the 'Active and Pending' room - pre-set 'Quick Message' feature
Option 2: From within the consultation - 'Alert Patient' feature
Option 1 - From the Active and Pending Room
Step 1 - Click the 'Send Quick Message' icon 
.
Step 2 - Click the drop-down, then select a relevant message.
Step 3 - Click 'Send Message'. The patient will receive the message within the consultation chat. Also, if they have 'notifications' enabled on their device for the 'SK Virtual Visit' app, they will hear an alert.
For instructions on how to customize 'Quick Messages', see article - "'Quick Messages' to Patients".
Note – when the healthcare provider or their clinic admin messages the patient before the patient indicates they are ready, the patient has the option to enter the consultation without clicking the 'I'm Ready for My Appointment' button. If this happens, the consultation status will not change to the green "Patient is Ready' status but will remain as gold "Waiting for Patient". The healthcare provider may enter and begin the consultation at any time.
Option 2 - From Within the Consultation
Step 1 - From within the consultation, if the patient does not respond to your introduction message or stops responding to you, click the red 'Alert Patient' button.
Step 2 - Enter a brief, generic message to alert the patient, remembering not to use personal information (no names or health issue) to ensure privacy. i.e. "Please enter the consultation for your appointment."
Step 2 - Check :
- 'Push Notifications' (sends alert message to consultation chat. If patient has 'notifications' enabled for the SK Virtual Visit app, they will also hear an alert.)
- 'Sms' (sends alert text to patient's cell).
Step 3 - Click ' Alert Patient'.
The patient will receive the alert message.