The Block feature allows you to reserve blocks of time for managing a practitioner’s (or room/equipment) schedule.
For example, Blocks can be used:
· to block time for meetings or vacations
· to add a notation or comment to the Appointment Book
· Block Creation Best Practices
There are three types of blocks at UHN:
1. Please Block
2. Must Block (not used at UHN)
3. Do Not Block
The Create Block menu appears when you right-click on the header of the column on the Appointment Book. The three block options present:
A Please block is used to put a message or comment on the Appointment Book. It allows you to schedule an appointment during a Please block, as the practitioner (or room/equipment) is available. When scheduling an appointment (when you have an appointment in the Scheduling Package), orange space appears for a Please Block. This indicates that that you may schedule an appointment to the orange area (over top of the block). Only schedule to green and orange space in PHS.
For example, orange space appears for the “Hold” and “6 patients” blocks on the Appointment Book, in the image below.
A Please Block means “Please book an appointment here”.
A Must block is not used at UHN. You must not use Must blocks.
The Do Not block is the most frequently used block at UHN.
A Do Not block is used to block the Appointment Book when a practitioner (or room/equipment) is not available.
When scheduling an appointment (when you have an appointment in the Scheduling Package), green space does not appear for a Do Not Block. White space appears. This indicates that the Do Not blocked time slots are not available, as you are only permitted to schedule to green and orange space in PHS. Do not schedule to white space.
For example, white space appears (not green space) for the “Meeting” and “Vacation” blocks in the image below.
A Do Not Block means “Do Not book an appointment here”.
· Do not use Must blocks at UHN. Must blocks cause scheduling issues.
· Use only Do Not blocks (to block a practitioner/resource schedule) or Please blocks (to add a message/comment).
· You may schedule to green and orange space in PHS. Do not schedule to white space.
· It is also possible to do multiple blocks such as blocking vacation time for an entire week.
· If when scheduling a block, you have further background information to add (such as an approval from a practitioner), use the comment field.
For details on how to create blocks, see the Creating Single Blocks and Creating Multiple Blocks topics.
Note: Not all staff with read only access are able to create blocks. If you are unsure if you have this access, please check with your manager.
