Who online consultations are for
Not every patient needs to come in. These are the cases that work well as online consultations:
- Follow-up visits — reviewing test results, adjusting medication, checking in after a procedure
- Minor complaints — fever, mild infections, rashes, medication queries
- Second opinions — patient wants to discuss a diagnosis from another doctor
- Patients outside your city — family referrals, out-of-station patients, returning expats
- Post-delivery check-ins — OB-GYN and pediatric follow-ups for patients who can't travel
You do not need to replace all in-person visits. Even adding 5–10 online consultations per week at ₹500 each is ₹10,000–₹20,000 in revenue that didn't exist before.
68% of patients say they prefer clinics with online scheduling options. Offering online consultations is often the deciding factor when a patient is choosing between two doctors.
What you need before you start
Three things:
- A Google account (Gmail) — for Google Meet. If you already use Gmail, you're set.
- A Razorpay account — free to create, takes 15 minutes, approve in 1–2 business days. Payments go directly to your bank.
- FormAlert Starter or Business plan — this is what connects your booking page to Google Calendar and Razorpay.
You do not need a Zoom account, a separate video platform, or any software installed on your computer. Google Meet works in a browser on any device.
Setting it up — step by step
Connect your Google Calendar in FormAlert settings
Go to Settings → Integrations → Google Calendar. Click "Connect" and log in with your Google account. This is what allows FormAlert to create Google Meet links automatically when you confirm an appointment.
Takes about 2 minutes. No technical setup.
Add an 'Online Consultation' service to your booking page
Go to Settings → Services → Add Service. Name it "Online Consultation" (or "Video Consultation"), set the duration (typically 15–30 minutes), set your fee, and select "Online" as the type.
Your booking page now shows both options side by side: in-person visits and online consultations. The patient chooses at the time of booking.
Connect your Razorpay account
Go to Settings → Payment → Razorpay. Paste your Razorpay Key ID and Key Secret. If you don't have a Razorpay account yet, create one at razorpay.com — use formalert.in as your website during the application, and mark "Shipping Policy" as not applicable (digital service).
Razorpay approval takes 1–2 business days. In the meantime, you can set consultations to postpaid (collect after the visit) and switch to prepaid once approved.
Set your online consultation to prepaid
In the service settings, set the payment type to "Prepaid." This means the patient pays ₹500 (or your fee) via UPI, cards, or net banking at the time of booking. No payment = no booking slot is held.
This also eliminates online no-shows almost entirely — patients who have paid show up.
What the patient experiences
Once you've set this up, here is the complete patient flow:
You do nothing between step 5 and step 8 except show up at the appointed time. The Meet link, reminders, and payment confirmation are all automated.
Dr. Girish Sharma, a family medicine doctor in Pune, added an "Online Consultation" service to his booking page and started getting 4–5 new patients per week — patients who found his booking link on Instagram and booked without ever calling the clinic.
Where to share your booking link
Your booking page URL is formalert.in/book/yourclinicname. Once online consultations are live, add this link everywhere:
- Instagram bio — "Book an appointment or online consultation →" + link
- Google Business Profile — add as a booking link in your Business Profile settings
- WhatsApp Business status or auto-reply message
- Your clinic website, if you have one — as a "Book Now" button
- Prescription pad QR code — for existing patients who need follow-ups but can't come in
Questions doctors ask before starting
Do I need to be a specialist or can general physicians offer online consultations?
General physicians do well with online consultations — follow-ups, minor ailments, medication renewals, and general health queries are all appropriate. Specialists (dermatologists, gynecologists, ENT) also have strong demand for online second opinions.
What if the patient needs a physical examination?
That is a judgment call you make as the doctor. For appointments that clearly require examination, you can set the service type to "In-person only" and keep those offline. Online consultations are for cases where a video conversation is sufficient.
What about prescriptions after an online consultation?
Telemedicine regulations in India permit doctors to issue prescriptions after online consultations. You can share the prescription as a PDF via WhatsApp after the call.
Can I offer both in-person and online at the same fee?
Yes. Most FormAlert doctors set the same fee for both to keep things simple. Some charge a small premium for online given the convenience factor — both approaches work.
Setup checklist
- Google Calendar connected in FormAlert → Settings → Integrations
- "Online Consultation" service created with duration and fee
- Razorpay account created and connected (or postpaid set while awaiting approval)
- Online consultation set to prepaid once Razorpay is approved
- Booking link shared on Instagram bio, Google Business, and WhatsApp status