Reminders: Turn off Cancel Session Option for Client

By default, patient reminders sent out via e-mail and/or automated voice, or patients who log in through a patient portal, may have the option to indicate their intention to cancel an appointment.  This option, when chosen, will tell the recipient of the reminder that their intent to cancel should not be treated as a cancellation, that they should call your clinic to inform you of cancellation.  However, you may want to turn this option off (not even give them the option to choose to cancel the session).  This article goes over how to turn off the option on the patient reminders that allows the patient to cancel the session.

How to turn off the patient reminder cancel session option

The option to turn off the cancel option on the patient reminders can be accomplished under the Defaults/Settings for Schedule.

• Put your mouse over Admin in the top green navigation bar.
• In the drop down menu, put your mouse over Defaults/Settings.
• A side menu will open up, in the side menu, choose Schedule.

You will now be at the Schedule Defaults & Settings page.  Within this page, there is a section labeled Client/Patient Reminders. Within this section, check No (to turn this option off, check Yes, to turn it on) next to the option Allow client to indicate that they need to cancel from e-mail reminders, phone reminders, and from their patient portal.

IMPORTANT: Click the Save Changes button at the top right of the settings page.

Now what?

The patient will no longer be given the option to cancel the session from phone reminders, email reminders, or from within their patient portal.   The patient will still be given the option to confirm that they will attend the appointment.