We have a few queries regarding how appointment slots and schedules are managed in Open Dental:
1. Fixed Slot Duration:
We understand that the duration of an appointment is generally determined by the procedure selected. However, is there a way to configure the system to use a fixed slot duration (e.g., 15 or 30 minutes) irrespective of the procedure? We want to standardize slot timings for scheduling purposes.
2. Provider Schedule Enforcement:
When a provider is scheduled to be available from 08:00 AM to 05:00 PM, we noticed that the system still allows appointments to be booked outside this range—for example, at 05:15 PM. Is there a way to prevent bookings outside the provider's defined working hours?
3. Prevent Overlapping Appointments:
Currently, the system allows multiple appointments to be booked at overlapping times. For instance, if an appointment is scheduled from 02:00 PM to 03:00 PM, it still allows us to book another at 02:00 PM or 02:30 PM for the same operatory/provider, and both are shown side-by-side.
Is there a setting to prevent overlapping appointments for the same provider and operatory?
We would appreciate your guidance on whether these configurations are possible and how we can implement them if so.