Channel Session Type Token Unlimited - hmislk/hmis GitHub Wiki
Channel Session Type: Token / Unlimited Scheduling
In token (unlimited) scheduling, patients are given a serial token number and seen in that order — no specific appointment time is assigned. The session continues until the consultant has seen all patients, regardless of how long each consultation takes.
Token scheduling is the most common type for general OPD-style channelling where consultation durations vary and patients understand they will wait in a queue.
When to Use Token Scheduling
- Consultant sees patients on a first-come, first-served basis within the session window
- Consultation durations are unpredictable or variable
- No need to print individual appointment times on the booking receipt
- Maximum capacity is either uncapped or set to a high number (e.g., "unlimited" or a practical daily maximum)
For fixed-duration clinics with specific appointment times per patient, see Channel Session Type: Slot-Based.
Creating a Token Session
Menu → Channelling → Channel Scheduling → Channel Schedule Management
Requires the ChannelSheduleManagement privilege.
Step 1 — Select Speciality and Doctor
- Type and select the speciality in the Speciality autocomplete.
- Select the consultant from the Doctor dropdown.
- Existing sessions appear in the Sessions list.
Step 2 — Create a New Session
Click Add to open the session creation form.
Step 3 — Fill Session Details
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Session name (e.g., "Dr. Fernando Thursday Afternoon") |
| Speciality | Auto-filled |
| Doctor / Consultant | Auto-filled |
| Category | Session category |
| Session Type | Select Token / Unlimited |
| Start Time | When the session begins |
| End Time | Approximate end time (informational; session runs until all patients are seen) |
| Max No | Maximum tokens to issue. Set to 0 for truly unlimited, or enter a practical daily cap (e.g., 60) |
| Room No | Consulting room number (optional) |
| Special Notice | Note displayed in red on the booking screen |
Step 4 — Set Fees
Same fee structure as slot-based sessions:
| Fee Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Hospital Fee | Retained by the hospital |
| Doctor Fee | Paid to the consultant |
| Total | Sum shown to booking staff and on bills |
| Foreign Patient Fee | Rate for overseas patients |
See Channel Session Fees and Rates for multi-category fee configuration.
Step 5 — Numbering Method
Token sessions assign sequential numbers starting from 1 (or a configurable starting number). The number is printed on the booking receipt. No appointment time is calculated or printed.
Some facilities configure a starting number other than 1 — for example, starting from 100 for a VIP session. This is set in the session's numbering configuration.
Step 6 — Set Recurrence
- Weekday-based — runs every selected day of the week. See Channel Recurring Sessions — Weekday-Based.
- Specific date — a one-off session on a particular date. See Channel Specific-Date Session Scheduling.
Step 7 — Save
Click Save. Session instances are generated for the configured schedule.
Unlimited vs Capped Token Sessions
| Setting | Behaviour |
|---|---|
| Max No = 0 | No upper limit; bookings are accepted without restriction |
| Max No > 0 | Bookings are blocked once the token count reaches the maximum |
Set Max No to a realistic daily capacity to prevent overbooking. The "To Add Booking" button on the Channel Booking screen is disabled once the session is full.
Managing an Existing Token Session
Select the session from the schedule list and click Edit to modify details. To adjust the max patients for a single session occurrence (without changing the master schedule), edit that individual session instance. See Channel Session Instances.