> ## 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
> Send and receive text messages with patients, manage phone calls, respond to Instagram and Messenger DMs, and use AI-suggested responses.
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**Where to find Communications:** In the left sidebar, click **Comms**, then select **Chat** for text messaging or **Calls** for phone call history.
**Prerequisites:** You should have [Patients](/modules/patients) in the system before messaging. To use AI-suggested responses, configure a texting assistant in [Assistants Settings](/modules/settings/assistants). Chat requires the **Texting** module and Calls requires the **Calling** module to be enabled for your organization.
The Communications module is where your team handles patient messaging and phone calls. Chat gives you a shared inbox for two-way text conversations with patients, with optional AI-suggested replies. The Email mailbox is a shared inbox for patient email, with folders, triage, and drafts. Calls logs every phone call your organization makes and receives, complete with recordings, transcripts, and AI summaries.
Send and receive texts, manage your inbox, and handle shared phone numbers.
Read, triage, reply to, and compose patient email from a shared inbox.
Review AI-generated responses, enable AI-powered scheduling over SMS, and execute AI actions.
Manage Instagram and Messenger DMs, link conversations to patients, and reply in real time.
Browse past calls, listen to recordings, read transcripts, and review AI actions.
Send and receive faxes, attach documents from a patient chart, and manage fax contacts.
Send bulk email and SMS messages to groups of patients using cohorts.
How large email blasts are paced over several days to protect your sending reputation.
Create and manage saved patient groups for targeting blasts.
Message a cohort once or on a repeating schedule.
## What New Users Should Expect
When you first open the **Chat** page, your inbox will be empty until patients start texting your clinic's number or you start a new conversation. Once messages begin coming in, conversations appear in a list on the left side of the screen. Click any conversation to read and reply.
The **Calls** page shows a table of every phone call across your organization. If your clinic uses an AI calling assistant, you'll see AI-generated summaries and transcripts for each call right away.
## Advanced Configuration
The AI texting assistant generates suggested replies for patient messages. Configure it under **Settings > Assistants > Texting Assistant**:
* **Assistant Name** -- The display name that appears on AI-generated messages.
* **Custom Prompt** -- Instructions that guide how the AI composes replies (tone, length, phrases to use, etc.).
* **AI Model** -- Select which AI model generates suggestions.
* **Phone Number** -- The phone number used for outbound AI messages.
See [Assistants Settings](/modules/settings/assistants) for full details.
AI calling assistants handle inbound and outbound phone calls automatically. Configure them under **Settings > Assistants**:
* **Inbound Assistant** -- Handles incoming calls, answers patient questions, and can take actions like booking appointments or sending invoices.
* **Outbound Assistants** -- Make automated calls for reminders, follow-ups, billing, and lab results.
Each assistant type can be customized with its own prompt, voice, and phone number. See [Assistants Settings](/modules/settings/assistants) for full details.
Communications features are controlled by these permissions:
**Chat:**
* **Messaging Chats Read** -- Required to view the Chat page and read patient conversations. Without this permission, the Chat section is not accessible.
* **Messaging Chats Write** -- Required to send text messages and manage conversation status (mark as resolved, block or unblock texting).
* **Patients Create / Patients Profiles Write** -- Required to use the **New Chat** button, since starting a new chat may require creating a patient record.
**Calls:**
* **Messaging Calls Read** -- Required to view the Calls page and call history.
* **Messaging Calls Make** -- Required to make outbound phone calls to patients.
**Email:**
* **Messaging Emails Read** -- Required to view emails in the chat timeline.
* **Messaging Emails Write** -- Required to reply to or forward emails.
* **Messaging Emails Read All** -- Allows viewing emails across all users, not just your own.
Permissions are configured under **Settings > Staff > Roles & Permissions**. Admin users have full access to all communication features by default.