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Scheduling

Scheduling is a fundamental workflow in iEHR, supporting a wide range of complex scheduling needs through the correct use of the FHIR® specification. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the key resources and workflows involved in managing scheduling within the iEHR platform.

Key Resources

  1. Appointment: This resource represents a booked visit between a patient and a provider. It includes details such as the date, time, participants, and status of the appointment.

  2. Slot: This resource defines a unit of availability for a provider. It can be assigned different appointment and service types.

  3. Schedule: This resource groups a set of Slots and can be assigned to Practitioner, Location (facilities or rooms), and Patient resources.

  4. AppointmentResponse: This resource is used in more advanced workflows to confirm participants' availability for an appointment.

Managing Availability

To manage provider availability, workflows include a Schedule resource, which has one or more Slots of availability. The Schedule usage documentation provides a great overview of how FHIR® Schedules can be used to manage availability for different types of actors, including:

  • Practitioners: Individual healthcare providers.

  • Healthcare Services: Specific practices or services offered.

  • Locations: Facilities or rooms within a healthcare organization.

Tracking Appointments

Appointments represent the booked visit between a patient and a provider. The Appointment usage documentation provides a great starting point for understanding the full appointment booking lifecycle. More advanced workflows can implement the Appointment request/response model. In this model, participants confirm their availability using AppointmentResponse resources. Appointments can also be linked to specific Locations, and Bots can be used to enforce other business logic.

Advanced Features

  1. Appointment Request/Response Model: This model allows for more complex scheduling workflows where participants can confirm their availability for an appointment. This is particularly useful for coordinating multi-participant appointments.

  2. Bots Integration: Bots can be used to automate various aspects of the scheduling process, such as sending reminders, updating appointment statuses, and enforcing business rules.

  3. Location Linking: Appointments can be linked to specific locations, ensuring that the right resources are available at the right time.

Practical Applications

  1. Patient Scheduling: Patients can book appointments with their healthcare providers through a user-friendly interface. The system ensures that only available slots are shown, reducing the risk of double-booking.

  2. Provider Availability Management: Healthcare providers can manage their availability by defining schedules and slots. This ensures that their time is utilized efficiently and that patients receive timely care.

  3. Resource Allocation: By linking appointments to specific locations and resources, healthcare organizations can optimize the use of their facilities and equipment.