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How to use correspondence data tags and merge fields
How to use correspondence data tags and merge fields

How to use data tags to make correspondence personal, use with templates

Shelley Withington avatar
Written by Shelley Withington
Updated yesterday

What are data tags?

Data tags can be used to automatically insert data into patient correspondence, such as practice information or personal data for the patient. The format of a data tag is a square bracket followed by the data tag name and another square bracket (such as [date_today]).

To use a data tag simply include the tag within your patient communication. When the correspondence template is saved and used, the relevant data will be pulled from Dentally and will appear in place of the tag.

When you are writing a new template for your correspondence, the data tags are available to view. You can highlight from the list, copy and paste into your correspondence.

💡 Top tip: When you are sending correspondence from 'Practice' > 'Settings' > 'Patient Communications', you can use merge fields that begin with 'Appointment'. These can also be used in automation rules that are triggered by an appointment.

📝 Please note: You can add an online booking link for recall appointments to your templates by using the [patient_recall_booking_link] tag in your correspondence.

This can be used to replace generic Portal login links which will cut down significantly on the actions required by the patient.

Applicable to practices using online booking.


What data tags are available in Dentally?

Below are the data tags that we currently support. If you think you would benefit from something that’s not currently on the list, then please contact support using the support chat.

General Tags

  • [date_today]

    - Today's date

Patient Specific Tags

  • [patient_id]

    - The patient's ID in Dentally

  • [patient_title]

    - The patient's title

  • [patient_first_name]

    - The patient's first name

  • [patient_preferred_name]

    - The patient's preferred name or (if absent) patient's first name

  • [patient_last_name]

    - The patient's last name

  • [patient_biological_sex]

    - The patient's biological sex

  • [patient_address]

    - The patient's address on a single line

  • [patient_address_long]

    - The patient's address on multiple lines

  • [patient_address_line_1]

    - The first line of the patient's address

  • [patient_address_line_2]

    - The second line of the patient's address

  • [patient_address_line_3]

    - The third address line of patient's address

  • [patient_address_town]

    - The town line of the patient's address

  • [patient_address_county]

    - The county line of the patient's address

  • [patient_address_postcode]

    - The postcode line of the patient's address

  • [patient_phone_number]

    - The patient's preferred phone number

  • [patient_home_phone_number]

    - The patient's home phone number

  • [patient_mobile_phone_number]

    - The patient's mobile phone number

  • [patient_email]

    - The patient's email address

  • [patient_date_of_birth]

    - The patient's date of birth

  • [patient_occupation]

    - The patient's occupation

  • [patient_nhs_number]

    - The patient's NHS number

  • [patient_ni_number]

    - The patient's NI number

  • [patient_insurance_number]

    - The patient's insurance number

  • [patient_dentist]

    - The name of the patient's default dentist

  • [patient_hygienist]

    - The patient's hygienist

  • [patient_dentist_gdc_number]

    - The GDC number of the patient's default dentist

  • [patient_dentist_nhs_number]

    - The NHS number of the patient's default dentist

  • [patient_doctor]

    - The patient's doctor's name and address

  • [patient_first_appointment]

    - The date and time of the patient's first appointment

  • [patient_first_exam]

    - The date and time of the patient's first exam appointment

  • [patient_next_appointment]

    - The date and time of the patient's next appointment

  • [patient_next_exam]

    - The date and time of the patient's next exam appointment

  • [patient_next_scale_and_polish]

    - The date and time of the patient's next scale & polish appointment

  • [patient_last_appointment]

    - The date and time of the patient's last appointment

  • [patient_last_exam]

    - The date and time of the patient's last exam appointment

  • [patient_last_scale_and_polish]

    - The date and time of the patient's last scale & polish appointment

  • [patient_last_fta_appointment]

    - The date and time of the last appointment that the patient did not attend

  • [patient_account_balance]

    - The patient's account balance

  • [patient_owes_us_balance]

    - The amount the patient owes (positive balance)

  • [patient_account_balance_due]

    - The amount due from the patient (shown as a positive number if in debit, or 0 if the patient is settled or in credit)

  • [patient_payment_link]

    - A payment link where the patient can pay their account balance online. Requires the Stripe integration.

  • [patient_medical_link]

    - A link where the patient can update their medical history.

  • [patient_recall_booking_link]

    - A recall link where the patient can quickly book their routine dental or hygiene appointment online. Requires Dentally Portal with Online Booking.

  • [patient_dentist_recall_interval]

    - The patient's dentist recall interval

  • [patient_hygienist_recall_interval]

    - The patient's hygienist recall interval

  • [patient_custom_field_1]

    - The data stored in the first patient custom field

  • [patient_custom_field_2]

    - The data stored in the second patient custom field

Practice Specific Tags

  • [practice_name]

    - The name of your practice

  • [practice_phone]

    - The phone number of your practice

  • [practice_address_line_1]

    - The first line of your practice's address

  • [practice_address_line_2]

    - The second line of your practice's address

  • [practice_address_line_3]

    - The third address line of your practice

  • [practice_town]

    - The town of your practice

  • [practice_county]

    - The county line of your practice's address

  • [practice_postcode]

    - The postcode of your practice

  • [practice_email]

    - The email address of your practice

  • [practice_website]

    - The website of your practice

Appointment Specific Tags

  • [appointment_time]

    - The date and time of the appointment e.g. Fri 18 Jan at 5:30PM

  • [appointment_date]

    - The date of the appointment in numerical format e.g. 18/01/20

  • [appointment_datetime]

    - The date and time of the appointment in numerical format e.g. 18/01/20 17:30

  • [appointment_practitioner_name]

    - The name of the practitioner, e.g. John Smith

  • [appointment_practitioner_name_formal]

    - The formal name of the practitioner, e.g. Dr J. Smith

  • [appointment_time_all]

    - The date and time of the appointment and any other appointments for that day. e.g. Fri 18 Jan at 10:00AM and 11:00AM

  • [appointment_time_all_with_practitioner]

    - The date and time of the appointment and any other appointments for that day with the names of the practitioner. e.g. Fri 18 Jan at 10:00AM with Jo Smith and 11:00AM with Jack Davies

  • [appointment_time_all_with_practitioner_formal]

    - The date and time of the appointment and any other appointments for that day with the formal names of the practitioner. e.g. Fri 18 Jan at 10:00AM with Dr. J. Smith and 11:00AM with Dr. J. Davies

  • [appointment_check_in_link]

    - A link where the patient can check themselves in for their appointment. The appointment status changes to 'Arrived' when the patient confirms that they have arrived at the practice

  • [appointment_duration]

    - The duration of the appointment

  • [appointment_reason]

    - The reason for the appointment

  • [appointment_location_name]

    - The practice name of the appointment location

  • [appointment_location_address]

    - The practice address of the appointment location

Orthodontics Specific Tags

  • [ortho_date_appliance_fitted]

    - The Orthodontic date appliance fitted

  • [ortho_iotn_ac]

    - The Orthodontic IOTN AC

  • [ortho_iotn_dhc]

    - The Orthodontic IOTN DHC

  • [ortho_iotn_dhc_full]

    - The Orthodontic IOTN DHC full

  • [ortho_relevant_medical_history_text]

    - The Orthodontic relevant medical history text

  • [ortho_repairs_details]

    - The Orthodontic repairs details

  • [ortho_crossbite_posterior]

    - crossbite posterior

  • [ortho_crossbite_anterior]

    - crossbite anterior

  • [ortho_incisal_class]

    - incisal class

  • [ortho_molar_relationship_left]

    - molar relationship left

  • [ortho_molar_relationship_right]

    - molar relationship right

  • [ortho_skeletal_class_details]

    - skeletal class details

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