To include an add to Calendar link in appointment reminders, you can use the new appointment reminder merge field designed specifically for this purpose.
How the Add to Calendar Link Works
Go to the appointment reminder page and select the appointment reminder you want. Then, add and edit the message.
Select the merge field
{{CalendarLinkPage}}in appointment reminder texts or emails
This merge field generates a unique calendar link for each individual appointment
The link allows patients to add the appointment directly to their personal calendar (Google calendar or iCalendar)
Calendar links are not connected to online scheduling in any way
Where to Place the Merge Field
Text reminders:
Add
{{CalendarLinkPage}}at the very end of the messagePlacing it at the end ensures it renders as a clickable link
Email reminders:
The link will automatically be clickable anywhere in the email body
Why You Won’t See the Link in a Preview
The calendar link is patient-specific
Because of this, message previews will not display a real link
To see the actual link:
Create a test appointment reminder
Add a test tag (e.g., “Calendar Link Test”)
Tag yourself with that tag
Set the reminder to send to patients with that tag
Important SMS Credit Considerations
The calendar link is a long URL
Including it in a text message will:
Convert the message to MMS
Use 3 message segments instead of 1
This increases message credit usage
If you’re already close to or exceeding your SMS limits:
Consider using the calendar link in email reminders instead, or
Upgrade your plan, or
Add message credits with discounted rate
Here is how it looks if it is sent via text
Once the patient clicks the link they will see a page that looks like this where they can save the appointment to their calendar.
