> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.decodahealth.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Overview
> Your front desk command center — monitor appointments, track staff hours, and plan provider shifts.
**Where to find it:** In the left sidebar, click **Check-In**. You'll see pages for the **Dashboard**, **Calendar**, **Shift Management**, **Clock In / Out**, and **Form Submissions** (requires the Form Submissions Read permission).
**Prerequisites:** You need at least one [Location](/modules/settings/locations), [Provider](/modules/settings/users), and [Service](/modules/settings/services) set up. The calendar and appointment booking are covered in [Scheduling](/modules/scheduling) — this section focuses on the dashboard, staff time tracking, and shift planning.
The Check-In section is where front desk staff start their day. It brings together everything you need to run the clinic smoothly: a dashboard showing today's appointment activity, tools to track when staff clock in and out, and a weekly calendar for planning provider shifts.
Think of it as your daily operations hub. The [Calendar](/modules/scheduling) is where you book and manage individual appointments — Check-In is where you step back and see the bigger picture.
See appointment metrics, chase pending intake forms, and handle alerts.
Run a kiosk where patients check themselves in for today’s appointment.
View clock-in records, compare scheduled vs. worked hours, and export for payroll.
Plan provider shifts and blocks for the week, resolve conflicts, and clear holiday schedules.
## What New Front Desk Staff Should Know
When you first open Check-In, here's what to expect:
* **Start on the Dashboard.** It gives you a snapshot of how busy the day (or week) looks — how many appointments are booked, which patients still need to fill out forms, and any alerts that need attention.
* **The Calendar lives here too.** The main appointment calendar (documented in [Scheduling](/modules/scheduling)) is accessible from the Check-In section. That's where you book, reschedule, and manage individual appointments.
* **Shift Management is for planning ahead.** If you're responsible for setting provider schedules, the shift calendar lets you see and edit who's working when across all locations.
* **Clock In / Out is for time tracking.** If your clinic uses time tracking, this page shows who clocked in, when, and how their hours compare to what was scheduled.
## Permissions
Check-In features are controlled by role-based permissions:
| Permission | What it allows |
| --------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Scheduling Read** | Required to access the Check-In section at all. Without it, the entire section is hidden. |
| **Scheduling Shifts Write** | Create, edit, and delete provider shifts. Also needed for the Delete Holiday Shifts feature. |
| **Scheduling Blocks Write** | Create, edit, and delete provider blocks (lunch, meetings, etc.). |
| **Clock-In History Read** | View the clock-in/out history page. |
| **Clock-In Times Edit** | Add new time entries and edit existing clock-in records. |
| **Clock-In Export** | Export clock-in history data. |
| **Clock-In Skip** | When granted, the provider is not required to clock in. Staff without this permission see only their own clock-in records by default. |
Admin users have full access to all Check-In features.