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

# Team chat

> Channels and direct messages for your staff.

> [!NOTE]
>
> Not every practice has this yet. Bilby turns it on for each practice. If you can't see it, contact Bilby support.

**Team chat** is for quick messages between staff: channels for groups, and direct messages between two people. Everyone at the practice can use it.

Team chat isn't part of the clinical record. Put anything clinically relevant in the patient's notes.

## Set up Team chat (admin)

Staff don't see Team chat until an admin sets it up. Open **Team chat** in the sidebar, choose your first channels and who can see each one, then select **Start Team chat**.

Admins can add more channels later. A channel can be open to everyone, or only to the people you choose. Nobody else can see a members-only channel, admins included.

Only the practice owner can turn Team chat off, in **Settings › Team chat**. Messages are kept.

## Send messages

Select **New message** to message one colleague, or open a channel. You can mention a colleague with @, and use **Link a record** to point at a patient, appointment or referral. Colleagues who can't open that record won't see its details.

You can edit or delete your own messages. Admins can still see the original text in **Settings › Activity**.

## Pin a chat and choose alerts

On a computer, select **Pin** to keep a conversation open at the bottom of every page. In a conversation's details, choose how it notifies you. Team chat doesn't send emails or phone alerts.


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