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How to create a custom appointment reminder message for Slot Types

This article explains how to create custom appointment reminder templates for slot types.

Faye avatar
Written by Faye
Updated over a month ago

Creating custom appointment reminder messages for slot types allows you to send specific appointment reminders for slot types such as Telephone Consultations, which helps to prevent patients attending your surgery when they don't need to.

Previously you may have excluded messages for appointments such as telephone consultations. After creating a custom appointment reminder message, you may want to include these slot types for reminders. Click here to see how.


Editing the appointment reminder template for a Slot Type

  • From the Home Page of Mjog, click Template Builder:

  • Select the Appointments tab:

  • Locate the appointment type template:

To save time, you can filter by template name:

  • Click Edit:


Editing the Text template

  • Select the Text tab:

  • Enter your message into the text box, using the appointment fields where appropriate:

Appointment fields

The fields in the text editor allow you to insert patient and appointment information into your template:

Field

Description

Title

Inserts the patient's title, i.e. Mr / Mrs, etc.

First Name

Inserts the patient's first name.

Last Name

Inserts the patient's last name.

Mobile

Inserts the patient's mobile number.

NHS Number

Inserts the patient's NHS number.

Day Short

Inserts the day in short format, i.e. Mon / Tue, etc.

Day Long

Inserts the day in long format, i.e. Monday / Tuesday, etc..

Day Number

Inserts the day number, i.e. 01 / 02, etc.

Month Short

Inserts the month in short format, i.e. Jan / Feb, etc..

Month Long

Inserts the month in long format, i.e. January / February, etc..

Month Number

Inserts the month number in short format, i.e. 01 / 02, etc..

Date

Inserts the appointment date in Day-Month-Year format, i.e. 01/01/2022.

Time 12 Hour

Inserts the appointment time in 12-hour format, i.e. 9:30am.

Time 24 Hour

Inserts the appointment time in 24-hour format, i.e. 09:30.

Type

Inserts the slot type name, i.e. Telephone.

Department

Inserts the clinic name, i.e. General Clinic 09:30-12:00.

Resource

Inserts the clinician name, i.e. Dr. John Smith.

Site Name

Inserts the appointment location (if you have one or more branch surgeries).

Site Phone

Inserts the appointment location phone number (if you have one or more branch surgeries).

Contact Number

Inserts the main surgery contact number.

Hospital Name

Inserts the main surgery name.

Textback Number

This inserts a 'textback number', which allows patients to reply to your reminder (if you use NHS Mail for messaging), i.e. "please text CANCEL to <<Textback Number>> if you cannot attend the appointment".


Editing the Smart template

If your surgery is subscribed to Web Messenger and Smart, you must also update the Smart message template.

  • Select the Smart tab:

Add Response Template

To allow patients to cancel their appointment using the Smart template, you must add the Appointment Cancellation response template.

  • Click the Add Response Template button:

  • Select the Appointment Cancellation response template:

Your message template will resemble the following:


Previewing the message template

You can view your template by clicking on Preview:

  • Click Save Changes to save your template:


Editing the appointment confirmation template for a Slot Type

If you have appointment confirmations enabled, you must repeat the previous steps to edit the confirmation template for the slot type:

Editing the Text template

  • Enter your message into the text box, using the appointment fields where appropriate:

Editing the Smart template

If your surgery is subscribed to Web Messenger and Smart, you must also update the Smart message template.

  • Select the Smart tab:

  • Click Save Changes to save your template:

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