> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.athelas.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Add a Walk-In Patient

#### At a Glance

When a patient arrives without a scheduled appointment, use the **Walk-In Patient** flow to create their appointment, run eligibility, and collect payment — all in one place.

#### Here's How to Do It

From the [Appointments](https://insights.athelas.com/appointments) page, click **Walk-In Patient**. A **Charge Walk-In Patient** window opens and walks you through three steps.

##### 1. Select the Patient

Choose the **Existing Patient** or **New Patient** tab.

* **Existing Patient** — search for and select the patient, and confirm their information is up to date.
* **New Patient** — enter the patient's details: **First Name**, Middle Name, **Last Name**, **Date of Birth**, **Gender**, **Phone Number**, and Email. Then choose one of the insurance options:

  * **Patient has insurance** — enter the Primary Insurance Company and number (Secondary is optional)
  * **Patient is self-pay**
  * **Patient is missing insurance information**

  Before continuing, check the confirmation toggle that the **First Name, Last Name, and Date of Birth match exactly** to the patient's information in your EHR, so **be sure to update your EHR as well**. If a possible duplicate is detected, you'll be warned and can choose to ignore it and continue.

Click **Next**.

##### 2. Create the Appointment

Fill in the appointment details: **Facility**, **Provider**, **Appointment Type** (you can add a new type here if needed), **Appointment Date**, and the start/end time. For an existing patient you can review their most recent insurance and change it if needed.

Click **Next**. (If you pick a future date, you'll be asked to confirm.)

##### 3. Eligibility & Payment

An **automatic eligibility check** runs and returns a result — **Active**, **Inactive**, or **Inconclusive**. (Self-pay or missing-insurance walk-ins return **Inconclusive**.) For inactive or inconclusive results, double-check that the entered information is correct, then continue.

The payment window opens so you can collect a payment. You can also choose to **request payment later** and simply view the new appointment in the [Appointments](https://insights.athelas.com/appointments) page.

For quick access afterward, filter the list by **Patient** and start typing the patient's name.

You've added the walk-in patient to your appointments!

### FAQ

<Accordion title="What happens if the patient is self-pay or has no insurance?">
  The automatic eligibility check returns **Inconclusive** because there's no coverage to verify. You can still proceed to collect a payment or add the appointment to your schedule.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Do I still need to add the patient to my EHR?">
  Yes. The walk-in form asks you to confirm the patient's name and date of birth match your EHR. Always create or update the patient in your EHR so future records stay in sync.
</Accordion>