TABLE OF CONTENTS

Overview

MedMe's Blocked Times feature helps pharmacy teams manage availability by blocking time for breaks, holidays, or customizing appointment durations throughout the day.

Please Note: Blocked time will not be visible to patients on the booking portal — it simply removes that window from available scheduling slots.

Blocking Time Off from Settings

Step 1: Navigate to Settings

Go to the Settings page.
Select Calendars
Choose the correct calendar if multiple calendars are in use.
Under the General tab scroll to the bottom to view Blocked Times.

Step 2: Add a Blocked Time

Click the Add button.
A modal will appear to configure the blocked time.
- Select the date and time range.
- Choose All Day if needed.
- Set the frequency (one-time or recurring).
- Times can be blocked in 5-minute increments.

Step 3: Save and View

Click Save.
Blocked times appear as dark sections in the Calendar Tab.

Reminder: Blocked times prevent both patients and staff from scheduling during those periods.

Blocking Time Off from the Calendar

Pharmacy teams can block time directly from the calendar view to prevent patients from self-scheduling during unavailable periods.

There are two ways to block time from the calendar view:

Method 1: Select Directly from the Calendar

Navigate to the Calendar tab from the left navigation panel.
Locate and select an open time slot on the calendar that needs to be blocked.
A screen will appear to create a new consultation. Select Block Time from the available options.
Fill in the relevant details:

Block title or description (e.g., "Lunch Break," "Staff Meeting")
Date and time range (including if it should repeat)

5. Click Save to confirm the blocked time.

Tip: Adding a clear title to each blocked time entry (e.g., "Inventory — Do Not Book") makes it easier for the whole pharmacy team to understand scheduling gaps at a glance.

Method 2: Use the Create Button from the Calendar View

Navigate to the Calendar tab.
Click the Create button in the top right corner of the calendar view.
Set the event type to Blocked Time.
Fill in the relevant details:

Block title or description
Date and time range

5. Click Save to confirm the blocked time.

Reminder: Blocked time applies to the specific calendar or room it is created under.

Setting Alternative Appointment Durations

Blocked times can be creatively used to simulate longer appointment intervals without changing the default duration.

Example Scenario

Want to offer 15-minute appointments from 4PM–5PM, while keeping 10-minute appointments available for the rest of the day?

Step 1: Check Appointment Duration

In Settings, open the desired appointment type (e.g., COVID-19 Vaccine (Dose 1)).
Note the default patient-facing duration (e.g., 10 minutes).

For Instance: Patients can only book in 10-minute intervals, but staff can manually adjust durations as needed.

Step 2: Use Blocked Times to Space Out Appointments

To simulate 15-minute booking slots between 4PM–5PM:

Create alternating 5-minute blocked times between each 10-minute appointment:
- 4:00–4:15 = 10-min appt + 5-min block
- 4:15–4:30 = 10-min appt + 5-min block
- 4:30–4:45 = 10-min appt + 5-min block
- 4:45–5:00 = 10-min appt + 5-min block

[Insert GIF of how blocked times are configured for alternate durations - add event for appointment then add event for blocked time]

[Insert screenshot of what the blocked times will look like]

[Insert screenshot of calendar with the blocked times]

Result

Patients will only see booking times at:

4:00 PM
4:15 PM
4:30 PM
4:45 PM

Please Note: This method gives the appearance of longer appointment slots without changing the base interval.

Conclusion

Blocked Times help manage availability and appointment pacing by allowing custom time blocks and simulating different durations. Use them to improve workflow, avoid overbooking, and control service delivery times.

For support or additional features: