Building a Telemedicine App on OpenEMR? Here’s How to Automate Patient Onboarding

Telemedicine usage increased during the pandemic. Patients now demand the same degree of ease from self-service portals and virtual encounters. The most popular open-source EHR in the world, OpenEMR, provides a solid basis to meet these demands. Its versatility makes it ideal for telehealth app powering and automating critical onboarding procedures.

When clinics integrate OpenEMR’s modular design with telehealth APIs, AI-powered automation, and a state-of-the-art patient portal, the results are transformative. 

Practices can create a seamless telemedicine system that reduces administrative staff workload, preserves patient involvement, and expedites onboarding.

Why OpenEMR Is the Best Platform for Telemedicine

With integrated language support, OpenEMR offers an EHR and practice management solution that complies with HIPAA. It has the support of a sizable, vibrant community that keeps improving the platform.

OpenEMR is a great option for telemedicine because of several features:

• Free and open source: Clinics benefit from ongoing community support, maintain total ownership over their data, and save money on per-provider license fees.
• Advanced scheduling: Providers can establish recurrent events and automated workflows linked to patient check-ins. This makes sending reminders or starting onboarding processes easy.
• Modular architecture: Using the admin interface, administrators can easily register telehealth modules, like Comlink Telehealth. Additionally, connectivity with remote monitoring devices and mobile apps is made possible by REST and FHIR APIs.
• Customizable forms and lists: To obtain the precise clinical or demographic information they require, practices can modify system lists and Layout-Based Forms.

When combined, these features enable clinics to create safe telemedicine processes without starting from scratch.

Setting Up Telehealth on OpenEMR

Choose a Telehealth Solution and Install the Module

The Comlink Telehealth module is pre-installed in OpenEMR 7.0.1. This eliminates the need for additional setup and provides clinics with a fully integrated telemedicine solution.

The module ensures ease and security by supporting screen sharing and encrypted video calls. Any device, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones, can be used to connect patients and providers.

Providers may plan and oversee telehealth visits directly within OpenEMR thanks to this integration. When necessary, they can even invite outside participants. Clinicians can access encounter forms uninterrupted by minimizing the video window during the appointment. The module can be enabled from Modules → Manage Modules and configured via the Telehealth tab.

Related: 6 Simple Steps to Integrate Comlink Telehealth Module with OpenEMR

Configure Telehealth Settings and User Permissions

Here are the steps to configure Comlink in OpenEMR:

1. Telehealth configuration – Administrators configure telehealth by selecting user access levels, connection preferences, and default video/audio settings.
2. Control user permissions –  Use User Management to give roles to administrators, support personnel, and providers so that only authorized users can start or stop sessions.
3. Schedule telehealth appointments – when creating an appointment, choose the telehealth visit type and include session instructions for the patient.
4. Launch and manage sessions – providers can start sessions from the appointment, control video/mic, manage participants, and use conference‑room controls to share screens or attach documents.
5. Patient join process – patients receive a secure email/SMS link and join via their browser; no software download is required. Providers should guide patients to allow camera and microphone permissions.

Build a User‑Friendly Front‑End

While OpenEMR includes a patient portal, many practices develop a custom web/mobile app to provide a branded telemedicine experience. Selecting a suitable technology stack:

• Additional PHP modules can be added to OpenEMR’s PHP core on the backend. Developers can use Python or Node.js/Express frameworks to create an API layer. This facilitates HL7/FHIR integration and supports microservices.
• OpenEMR already offers REST endpoints for patient demographics, interactions, and medical concerns at the API layer. The FHIR interface provides safe and effective data exchange for clinics that require standards-based interoperability.
• A responsive, app-like experience can be produced on the frontend by utilizing contemporary frameworks like React, Vue.js, or Angular. With CSS frameworks that guarantee uniformity across devices, such as Tailwind or Bootstrap, styling becomes quicker.

A good telemedicine app should be more than just a technological one. It ought to provide a transparent dashboard with test results and forthcoming appointments. 

In order to give clinicians, employees, and patients access to the resources they require, navigation must change to accommodate various user roles. In order to support patients who depend on cellphones for their treatment journey, the design should prioritize mobile devices.

Connect Remote Monitoring Devices and External Apps

For chronic care or remote patient monitoring, OpenEMR’s FHIR API allows secure data exchange. CapMinds advises connecting RPM devices or patient apps via the FHIR API and mapping incoming data to flowsheet fields. 

This integration supports real‑time vitals tracking and telehealth visits within the same platform.

Automating Patient Onboarding

Clinicians’ time is wasted on manual onboarding and data entry, which is also prone to mistakes. The procedure is streamlined by OpenEMR’s adaptability and available automation capabilities.

1. Customize and Automate Patient Registration

• Enforce required fields: OpenEMR’s New/Search page is the only way to manually add patients. Required fields are displayed in red. Administrators can make additional fields mandatory by editing the Demographics LBF and setting fields to “Required”.
• Use user‑defined fields: OpenEMR provides four custom fields in the Demographics widget that can store arbitrary data. These fields can be customized by the administrator. System lists can also be edited to standardize options.
• Allow self‑registration via the patient portal: enable the patient portal through Administration → Globals and configure the site address, email notifications, and document sharing. Set notification preferences and give each patient a username and temporary password.
• Automate data collection: Use AI-powered optical character recognition to extract information from scanned documents and insert it into OpenEMR, eliminating the need for humans to enter data from paper forms. Bots for robotic process automation can update patient health information around the clock or move data between systems. Clinicians can dictate notes straight into the system using voice-to-text capabilities. Additionally, AI can validate data entries and automatically recommend diagnoses, asking users to fix any inconsistencies.

2. Send Automated Welcome Emails and Appointment Reminders

OpenEMR’s SMS/Email Notification module allows practices to send reminders and announcements. Administrators can configure email/SMS settings via Administration → Globals → Notifications. The backend engine runs as scheduled cron jobs that scan the database and send notifications every hour. This can be used to:

• Send welcome emails and portal activation instructions immediately after a patient record is created.
• Notify patients about upcoming telehealth sessions or pending forms.
• Trigger follow‑ups or refill reminders based on care plans. 
• Mass-sending portal invites with educational content and automating reminders for milestones in preventative care, virtual visits, and medication refills.

3. Leverage Telehealth and Scheduling Automation

The Comlink module automatically sends email/SMS invitations when a telehealth appointment is scheduled. Within OpenEMR’s calendar, you can set appointment statuses and configure “Auto‑Create New Encounters” so that the system creates an encounter record when a patient checks in. Automated workflows triggered by check‑in can populate forms, assign tasks, and notify providers.

Care coordinators can utilize OpenEMR’s task lists and reminders to schedule medication checks, lab orders, and follow-up calls. Care planning and chronic care management initiatives might be linked to these duties.

4. Foster Patient Engagement Through the Portal

A modern portal is crucial for patient adoption. Patients should be able to securely interact, request appointments and prescriptions, view visit summaries and lab results, and pay bills online using the portal. To encourage usage:

• Customize branding and UI – update logos and CSS to match your practice; add a personalized welcome screen.
• Enable secure messaging – OpenEMR’s messaging tool supports patient‑initiated messages, attachments, and categories.
• Permit online appointments by turning on “Allow Appointment Requests” in the portal’s settings and specifying the times, providers, and justifications.
• Make sure telehealth visits are accessible from smartphones by optimizing for mobile devices with responsive CSS frameworks and testing on various screen sizes.
• Track indicators like active users, message response times, and appointment requests to keep an eye on and encourage usage. Train patients during onboarding, display sign‑up brochures in the waiting area, and send SMS/email reminders.

Related: How to Set Up the OpenEMR Patient Portal for Modern Digital Access

5. Integrate Remote Monitoring and External Services

For chronic care management or home monitoring, connect devices to OpenEMR via the FHIR API. Create automated warnings for unusual values and map incoming data to flowsheet variables.

Integrations with marketing automation systems, however, can start multi-step onboarding procedures as soon as a new patient record is created. These procedures include sending welcome emails, collecting digital intake forms, and scheduling follow-ups. OpenEMR’s REST and FHIR APIs enable these interfaces, though the specifics of implementation will depend on the platform of choice.

CapMinds OpenEMR Customization Services

At CapMinds, we don’t just help you set up OpenEMR. We transform it into a telehealth-ready, patient-centric system that drives efficiency and growth. 

With our OpenEMR Customization Services, you gain a trusted digital health partner to build, integrate, and automate your care workflows from day one.

Our service offerings include:

• OpenEMR Customization & Development – Tailored modules, forms, and workflows to fit your practice needs.
• Telehealth Integration – Secure video consults, scheduling, and patient engagement tools built into your system.
• Patient Portal Enhancements – Branding, mobile-first design, and secure communication features to keep patients connected.
• Automation & RPA – Reduce manual onboarding, automate reminders, and streamline data entry.
• FHIR/HL7 Interoperability – Connect seamlessly with RPM devices, labs, pharmacies, and third-party apps.
• Ongoing Support & Training – Ensure your team is confident, compliant, and future-ready.

With CapMinds, your telemedicine journey becomes seamless, scalable, and compliant. Let us help you transform OpenEMR into a complete digital health solution.

Connect with CapMinds today to unlock the full potential of OpenEMR.

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