Every call that interrupts a treatment to book an appointment is time you do not get back, and a moment your patient on the table notices. Online booking moves that work off your desk. This guide explains how it works for a podiatry practice and how to set it up so it actually helps.
What online booking does
Online booking gives your practice a personal booking link. A patient opens it, picks a treatment and a time, and gets an automatic confirmation. They can do this at any hour, including evenings and weekends when your practice is closed and you would otherwise miss the request.
The key is that the booking link is connected to your real agenda. When a patient books, the slot is taken in your calendar in real time, so two people cannot book the same moment. You are not copying anything from a separate booking tool into your schedule.
Why it helps a podiatry practice
- Fewer interruptions. Patients book themselves, so the phone rings less during treatments.
- No missed requests. People book when it suits them, not only during office hours.
- A realistic calendar. Because each treatment type has its own duration, the calendar reflects how long appointments actually take.
- Less back and forth. A confirmation goes out automatically, so you are not playing phone tag to agree a time.
None of this means losing control. You decide which treatments are bookable, when you are available, and how much notice you need.
Set it up so it works
Online booking helps most when the setup matches your practice:
- Define your appointment types. A first consultation and a follow-up are not the same length. Give each its own duration so bookings fit.
- Set your real availability. Block the hours you do not treat, so patients only see slots you can keep.
- Use intake forms. Pair booking with digital intake forms so a new patient completes their details at home and the answers land in their patient record before they arrive.
- Turn on reminders. Automatic reminders cut no-shows. Email is included and SMS is optional.
Fill cancellations with a waiting list
Cancellations happen. The question is whether the gap stays empty. A waiting list keeps track of patients who want an earlier slot, so when one opens you can fill it instead of losing the time. Online booking and the waiting list work together: one brings the appointments in, the other protects the slots you already have.
How it fits the rest of your practice
Online booking is most useful when it is part of one system rather than a standalone widget. With VIMA, a booking lands in your agenda, opens to the patient record, and flows on to a payment receipt and a reminder. RIZIV and third-party-payer administration is available in the speech therapy workflow only. That is the difference between a booking button and a booking that is connected to how you actually run the practice. See VIMA podiatry software or all features for the full picture.
Getting started
Online booking is included in VIMA, with no separate add-on. The pricing page shows exactly what is included, and you can try the full product for 60 days free. If you want to see it on your own practice first, get in touch. For the wider decision, our guide to choosing the best podiatry software in Belgium walks through everything to compare.