The Online Appointment Booking (OAB) experience has been updated with a redesigned interface that simplifies the booking process for patients using mobile devices.
The updated layout includes clearer navigation, fewer clicks, improved appointment availability displays, and easier access to practice information throughout the booking process.
These changes apply to the patient-facing booking experience. Existing appointment settings and the way practices receive and confirm appointment requests remain unchanged.
What's New?
Updated Navigation and Progress Tracking
The booking process now includes a more structured layout to help patients navigate each step.
Updates include:
Progress tracking: A progress bar and step counter (e.g., "Step 3 of 7") show patients where they are in the booking process.
Back navigation: A clearly visible back button allows patients to return to previous steps.
Practice information: The practice name, address, and phone number remain visible at the top of each screen.
Fewer clicks: Certain selections, such as location and patient type, automatically advance patients to the next step without requiring an additional button.
These changes are particularly relevant for patients completing the booking process on a mobile device.
Booking Summary
A booking summary is now displayed during key stages of the appointment selection process. As patients make their selections, the summary displays relevant information, including:
Practice logo, address, and phone number
Selected appointment type and description
Selected provider and provider photo
Appointment date and time
On desktop devices, the summary appears on the right side of the booking screen from provider selection through confirmation.
On mobile devices, the summary appears below the content on the provider and appointment time selection screens. It is hidden on patient information, insurance, and payment screens to reduce scrolling.
Appointment Type Selection
The appointment type selection screen now displays each available visit type's name and duration. After a patient selects an appointment type, the booking summary shows its description for reference.
Appointment types continue to reflect the options configured by the practice. No changes to existing appointment type settings are required.
Provider Selection
The provider selection screen now displays provider information and appointment availability in a revised card layout.
Updates include:
Provider photos: Provider cards display the provider's photo when available. A default avatar appears when no photo is on file.
Availability-based ordering: Providers are listed according to their earliest available appointment.
Book Earliest option: Each provider card includes a Book Earliest button displaying the next available appointment date and time.
Patients can select the earliest available appointment directly from the provider card.
Appointment Date and Time Selection
The appointment availability screen has been updated to provide clearer information about available dates and times.
The screen now includes:
Appointment duration
Available appointment dates and times
A Jump to Date option for navigating to a specific date
A Go to Next Availability option when no appointments are available during the selected week
The information displayed depends on appointment availability.
Availability | What Patients See |
Appointments available this week | Available dates and appointment times |
No appointments this week | A Go to Next Availability button showing the next available date |
No availability | A message and the practice phone number |
Provider fully booked | An availability message without a booking button |
When no appointments are available, date selection controls may be hidden to prevent patients from selecting unavailable dates.
Patient Information Form
The patient information form now uses updated field validation.
Previously, validation errors could appear before a patient entered information. With the updated design, fields appear in a neutral state when the form first loads.
Validation messages appear after a patient leaves a field that contains missing or invalid information. The information required to submit an appointment request remains unchanged.
Insurance Information
The insurance information screen includes updates to carrier selection and policyholder details.
Searchable Insurance Carrier List: Patients can now search for their insurance carrier by name instead of scrolling through a dropdown list. A Not Listed option is available if the patient's carrier does not appear in the list.
Policyholder Information: The form includes a Patient is a Dependent checkbox.
When the checkbox is not selected, the form automatically populates policyholder information using the patient's details.
When the checkbox is selected, the policyholder fields become editable so the patient can enter the appropriate information.
Existing Patient Insurance Options: Returning patients can indicate whether their insurance information has changed by selecting:
Insurance Unchanged
I Have New Insurance
Existing insurance configurations and requirements remain unchanged.
Appointment Request Confirmation
The final confirmation screen has been updated to clarify the status of an appointment request.
The previous Appointment Booked! message has been replaced with: Appointment Request Submitted
This wording reflects the existing process in which appointment requests are submitted to the practice for confirmation.
The updated confirmation screen includes:
Practice logo and contact information
A summary of the requested appointment
A What Happens Next section outlining the next steps
Patients will continue to receive appointment confirmation according to the practice's existing workflow.
What Stays the Same?
The redesigned interface does not change how practices configure or manage online appointment requests.
The following functionality remains unchanged:
Appointment settings: Existing appointment types, providers, availability, and insurance settings continue to apply.
Appointment requests: Requests continue to reach the practice through the existing process and require practice confirmation.
Phone verification: One-time password (OTP) verification remains the final step of the booking process.
Payment information: When card information is required, patients continue to enter their details through the embedded payment widget. Practice by Numbers does not handle raw card numbers.
Practices that have not been transitioned to the updated interface will continue using the existing booking experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my online booking page look different?
Your practice may have been transitioned to the updated Online Appointment Booking interface. The redesigned experience includes changes to the layout, navigation, and how appointment information is presented. The overall booking process and information collected remain the same.
Does the new interface change how the practice receives appointment requests?
No. Appointment requests continue to arrive through the existing process and still require practice confirmation.
Why does the confirmation screen now say "Appointment Request Submitted" instead of "Appointment Booked"?
The wording was updated to reflect that patients submit an appointment request that the practice must still confirm.
Do I need to update my appointment types, providers, or availability?
No. Existing appointment types, provider settings, availability, and insurance configurations remain unchanged.
Does the updated booking experience work on desktop devices?
Yes. The updated interface supports both mobile and desktop devices, with layout adjustments based on screen size.
What if my practice is still using the previous booking experience?
The updated interface is enabled on a practice-by-practice basis. Practices that have not transitioned will continue using the existing booking experience.
Can my practice return to the previous booking experience?
Yes. You can disable the updated interface at the practice level. Contact the Practice by Numbers support team for assistance.