How do custom slots affect rescheduling appointments for therapists?
When rescheduling an appointment on behalf of a client, it's important to understand how "custom slots" work within the scheduling system. Custom slots are essentially time blocks set aside to prevent bookings or appointments from being scheduled during certain periods. These blocks can be especially useful when a therapist needs to take a break, go on holiday, or otherwise make themselves unavailable for a specific time.
What are Custom Slots?
Custom slots are breaks that therapists can set within their calendar. They can be applied to:
- A single time slot (e.g., a specific hour)
- An entire day
- Multiple days (for vacations or extended time off)
Once a custom slot is set, it will prevent patients from booking appointments during that time. Importantly, custom slots also restrict the therapist's ability to modify or reschedule appointments for that blocked period. If a time is blocked out with a custom slot, neither the therapist nor anyone else can alter or reschedule appointments within that time.
How Custom Slots affect Appointment Rescheduling
When attempting to reschedule an appointment on behalf of a client, it’s crucial to check whether a custom slot is blocking the desired time. If a custom slot is set for the same time as the desired new appointment time, it will prevent the rescheduling from happening. This is why it is necessary to ensure that no custom slot is in place that could override the calendar availability.
Steps for Rescheduling an Appointment
- Check for Custom Slots: Before rescheduling, verify that there are no custom slots blocking the availability for the chosen time.
- Remove or Adjust Custom Slots: If there is a custom slot in place, it must be removed or adjusted to allow the therapist to be available at the desired time.
- Reschedule the Appointment: Once you’ve ensured there are no conflicting custom slots, the appointment can be successfully rescheduled for the client.