Private mode and diary highlights

Private mode: hiding patient names at reception

If a screen faces patients (at reception, say), press the eye at the top right of the screen (it says Private mode when you point at it), or Alt+Shift+P (Option+Shift+P on a Mac). Patient names change to initials ("J. S.") and phone numbers, emails, dates of birth and messages are hidden on the diary, Today, patient lists, the inbox and the incoming-call pop-up. On a patient's record, the Details (name, date of birth, contact details and address), family members' names and call summaries are hidden too. A yellow strip across the top shows it's on, and the eye turns yellow with a line through it. Press it (or the shortcut, or Show them on the strip) again to show everything.

It's remembered on that computer or tablet until you switch it off, so the reception screen stays private after a restart, while other devices aren't affected. It only changes what's on screen: everyone can still open the records their role allows.

Diary highlights

Above the diary, Highlight has two buttons. Notes to finish picks out visits where the clinical note hasn't been written or signed; Unpaid picks out visits with an invoice that hasn't been paid. Press one (or both) and those appointments get a red outline while the rest fade. Even without a highlight on, a small note or £ mark on an appointment shows the same thing. Highlights stay on as you move between days and weeks; press Clear to switch them off.

A note is due once the patient has arrived, the visit is marked completed, or a booked visit's time has passed. It's finished when it's signed. Cancelled visits, no-shows and appointments brought over from another system don't need one.

Notes to finish on Today

Today lists each clinician's unfinished notes from the last 90 days, newest first, with your own at the top. Press Write note or Finish note to carry on where you left off. Owners and reception see everyone's, so it's easy to see who's behind.