Chat with other organizations
Invite people at other organizations to BloomText. External collaboration is free and unlimited; external users don't count against your seat limit.
Who can do this: Everyone · Web and desktop
Overview
BloomText lets you invite people at other organizations (referring providers, specialists, partner clinics) into a secure conversation. Cross-organization messaging is free and unlimited — external users do not count against your seat limit.
Watch a short overview: Vimeo — How to chat with other organizations.
Prerequisites
- Your organization can initiate outbound conversations with external contacts (default for all plans).
- The external contact has a working email address.
Steps
1. Invite an external collaborator
In the Inbox, click the + button to open New chat. In To, type the external contact's email address. Under More, click Add an external collaborator, check the email, and click Invite. Then click Message and send them at least one message.
2. They accept
The external contact gets an email from BloomText. They click Click here. BloomText walks them through a short setup. Once they're in, the conversation continues.
Reach someone who isn't on BloomText yet
When your search finds nobody, you can add the person from the same screen. A new patient or parent gets your messages as texts, with no app or account. A coworker or outside collaborator gets an email invite.
- In the Inbox, click the + button at the top of the chat list. New chat opens.
- In To, type the person's name, phone number or email, for example a new parent, Rosa Delgado.
- With no match, BloomText shows No results, and More offers Add a patient, Add a coworker and Add an external collaborator.
- For a parent, click Add a patient.
- The Add a patient form opens with the name already filled in. If you belong to more than one organization, choose the Organization.
- Type the parent's mobile number in Phone. Check it twice: texts go to whoever has this number.
- Click Add. The parent is saved as a patient and can get texts, with no app or account.
- The new patient is now in To, ready for Message.
To invite an outside provider instead, click Add an external collaborator, check their email, and click Invite. Add a coworker works the same way for someone at your own organization.
Edge cases / gotchas
- External users still have to be HIPAA-aware. Sending PHI to a partner clinic through BloomText is a covered disclosure — same rules as any other patient data sharing.
- First message is mandatory. Adding the external email to the To field is not enough on its own. You have to send at least one message to trigger the invitation email.
- Your organization's policies don't apply to external users. If your organization has a "no screenshots" policy, for example, external participants in a conversation are not bound by it. Treat cross-organization conversations with that understanding.
- External users can initiate too. Once one conversation is open, the external user can start new conversations with you and other collaborators at their organization. They still cannot see or change your settings.
Common questions
Do external users have access to my organization's settings?
No. External users cannot see your settings, policies, member list, or any content outside the conversations they're invited to.
Do external users count toward my organization's seat limit?
No. External collaboration is free and unlimited on every plan, including the free plan.
What triggers the invitation email?
You must send at least one message after entering the external contact email. Adding the email to the To field alone does not send the invitation.
Can external collaborators start new conversations later?
Yes. Once a conversation exists, external collaborators can start new conversations with you and other collaborators at their organization.
Should departments use separate BloomText organizations?
Use separate organizations only when departments genuinely need separate administration. Members count toward each organization separately.