HOWTO: Patient self-registration in the Native Patient Portal v6.1

From OpenEMR Project Wiki

Introduction

This document is an update of the Patient self-registration docs for OpenEMR Patient Portal v6.0. OpenEMR v6.1 contains enough significant updates in both the portal functionality and the EMR interface that it really does rate a separate document.

Configuration

Most portal globals settings (main menu: Administration/ Globals, tab: Portal) may be configured as desired to suit your needs. However, a few of the global settings are necessary specifically to allow patient self- registration. And several of them if missing or mis-configured will generate a generic 'Something went wrong' message when a login or self- registration is attempted.

Sr61-00sthgWrong.png



Be sure to get these right:

  • Set Portal Globals to allow the self- registration: "Allow Onsite New Patient Registration' (rectangle, below)
  • Note the two text areas for Google CAPTCHA V2 keys (oval). For v6.1 CAPTCHA verification is required for registration. See the wiki page HOWTO: Activate the Patient Portal v6.0+

Sr61-00globals-portal.png

  • It is possible to use the portal without configuring SMTP to send email notifications of portal registrations and credential changes but you and the patients will see a lot of confusing error messages.
  • Self- registering new patients may see an error when attempting to self- register: (to the effect of) 'Something went wrong, check with the clinic' (not pictured). Per the forum, the remedy is to deselect the global in Locale tab, “All Languages Allowed” and/ or select one particular language to be used.



Sr61-00globals-portal.png

Procedure

1. Portal Login Screen

To self- register through the portal, the patient first obtains the practice's Patient Portal Login URL and surfs to it.

  • Be sure the browser has not auto-filled any user names of passwords into the login form- delete them if present.
  • Click the 'Register' button (oval at lower left).



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2. 'Account Registration' screen.

Fill in the required blanks (image below).

Pp-01a.png

The little icon for required items (circle at right) will be used in other portal registration screens.

  • Click in 'I'm not a robot' Captcha checkbox (rectangle)
  • This email is also used as the patient's portal login so must not be the same as other patients in the practice's EMR
  • Click 'Verify Email' (oval at bottom)



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3. Email Verified

  • See the message:


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  • Locate the email in your Inbox (or maybe Spam box)

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  • Open the email:


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  • Click the long blue link which will return you to the portal 'Account Registration' screens, with the message, 'Your email has been verified...
  • Click 'Next' (oval below)


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4. Fill in the patient profile information

Again, the required items have the little icon in the text area.

  • Most of these data are not required for registration but anything entered now will not have to be entered later at the clinic.
  • These fields are the demographics and history information that will be transferred to the new patient's OpenEMR record.
  • If any required items are missed, when the 'Next' button is clicked this screen will return showing them with a red border.
  • Scroll down and click 'Next' at bottom of screen (not shown)


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5. Enter insurance

  • Enter 'Self' in 'Insurance Company' if patient has no insurance.
  • Click 'Next' (or may click 'Previous' to return to change entries in first screen)


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6. Registration Complete

  • As the panel says, the user may use the step buttons along the top of the panel to return to an earlier section and change the information.
  • Click green 'Send Request' button at lower right.


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7. Registration Email Sent

  • see the message:


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8. Portal Credential Reset

  • Locate the Registration email:


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  • A credential reset will be required for the first portal login. Click the link in the rectangle below
  • Note the One Time Verification PIN to be used in the next step (oval)


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  • In the linked screen enter new credentials:
    • Create a new password of 12 - 80 characters
    • enter the One Time Pin from email



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  • ... and successfully login to the new portal account.


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You might want to explore your new account, following the examples in:
Patient Use of the Patient Portal in OpenEMR v6.0+

Conclusion/ Notes

Here are some forum posts that might be useful reference.

  • RE: the 'All languages allowed' setting:

https://community.open-emr.org/t/patient-portal-new-user-registration-something-went-wrong/18133/15

  • Other peoples' experiences of the 'Something went wrong' error

https://community.open-emr.org/t/unable-to-login-to-patient-portal-in-6-10/18145

https://community.open-emr.org/t/patient-portal-new-user-registration-something-went-wrong/18133/13

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