How to Navigate Patient Records in Patient Bridge

The patient record brings together a patient's communications, appointments, treatment plans and payments, and confirms their registration with the practice.

Key details are shown at the top of the record: full name, date of birth, gender, scheme (for example NHS or Private), practice, patient code, current dentist, recall dates, address, mobile number, home number and email address. Referral forms are available through Dental Referrals and REGO.

To open a patient record, select Patients from the menu bar, then click View Patient.

Communication History

This area shows every message sent to the patient, with filters by date and the ability to view message content.

• SMS — all SMS messages sent. Filter by Date, Format and Type. To read a message, click Actions, then select View Message.
• Email — all emails sent. Filter by Date, Format and Type. To read an email, click Actions, then select View Email.
• Letter — all letters sent. Filter by Date, Format and Type
• View Form Submissions — all complete and incomplete forms and treatment plans, with the dates each was sent and completed. Completed forms can be downloaded as PDFs.

Appointment History

This section is a record of all appointments the patient has booked and attended, together with any they failed to attend. It shows the scheme the appointment was booked under (for example NHS or Private), the clinician, the treatment type, and when reminders were sent along with their status.

Treatment Plans

This selection allows practices to share proposed treatment plans with the patient digitally, so they can review, accept or decline treatment online.

Request Payment

This option sends a unique payment link to the patient's phone. The Payments screen displays every payment request made through Request Payment, including the date, description, amount, payment type, status and the link that was sent.

Communication Preference

To stop all communications to a patient, select Disabled.

To opt the patient out of only certain types of communication — such as Marketing, PATSAT or Reminders — click Edit and adjust the Opt-In settings.

Sending a Communication

To send a communication:

1. In the patient's record, click Actions, then select Send Communication.
   
2. Select a channel — SMS, Email or Letter.
3. Select a template.
4. Optionally include a form collection, if your template contains the {VwrLink} merge field.
5. Optionally include a service, if your template contains the {BookingLink} merge field.
6. Click Send.

Sending a Quick SMS

To quickly send an SMS:

1. In the patient's record, click Actions, then select Quick SMS.
   
2. Select a template, or type your own message.
3. Click Send.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I check a patient's recall information? Recall dates are shown in the patient record, in the recall section.
• Can I view past communications with a patient here? Yes. Communication History shows all messages sent to the patient, with their content and status.
• Can I manage communication preferences from the patient record? Yes. Opt-in and opt-out settings for each communication type can be managed directly from the record.
• Are referral options available from the patient record? Yes, through Dental Referrals and REGO. These become available once the Dental Referral API key or REGO practice code has been applied.