Completing a consultation
Lock the visit, schedule follow-ups, and release the patient to billing.
Overview
Completion is the formal end of a visit. It locks notes from edit (only amendments allowed afterward), bills the procedures performed, and triggers any configured follow-up — recall, prescription dispense reminder, treatment-plan next-step.
Prerequisites
- Clinical role
- The visit is
IN_PROGRESS - All clinical work for today is recorded — notes, charts, prescriptions, treatments
Steps
Click "Complete visit" in the consultation footer. The button is the bottom-right of the consultation form.
Review the summary modal. Lists everything that will be locked: chief complaint, vitals, chart changes, notes, treatments performed, prescriptions issued.
Add procedures performed for billing. From the Treatments performed section, the procedures you completed today populate the patient's pending invoice. Verify amounts pre-filled from your fee schedule are correct.
Schedule a follow-up if needed. Follow-up field — pick a date and type. Options: book exact appointment now, set a recall date for later booking, or no follow-up. The recall (if chosen) appears on the recall list.
Add post-op instructions. Free text. Sent to the patient via SMS / email if reminders are enabled, and printable for handoff.
Click "Complete and lock". The visit status flips to COMPLETED; notes become read-only; the visit is sent to billing.
The patient is released to billing. Billing staff see the patient on their daily list with the procedures performed and the corresponding invoice draft. They process payment.
Amend later if necessary. A locked note can be amended (not edited). Open the note → Add amendment → write the addendum → submit. Amendments require Admin/Owner approval. See Note amendments.
Expected outcome
- Visit status COMPLETED timestamp
- Notes locked; only amendments accepted
- Invoice draft created with today's procedures at fee-schedule prices
- Follow-up appointment or recall created (if chosen)
- Post-op instructions sent to patient
- Active Visits widget no longer shows this visit
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Complete visit button disabled | Required field missing | Look for the form validation banner |
| Bill amounts wrong | Fee schedule outdated | Update via Settings → Services and Fees; this visit's invoice is editable until paid |
| Patient didn't get post-op SMS | Communications channel disabled | Verify in Settings → Communications |
| Want to unlock notes | Locked by design | Use amendments instead; for urgent corrections contact support |
| Follow-up didn't appear in recalls | Wrong follow-up type chosen | Edit from the patient's profile Recalls tab |