# Tasks (/docs/en/guides/tasks)



A task is work that someone owns until it is finished: a callback, a referral to chase, a form to check. Assigning a task is a request. The assignee must accept it before it counts as in progress.

## Create a task [#create]

You need permission to create tasks.

1. Open **Tasks** and type in **Add a task and press Enter**. **New task** at the top of the page moves the cursor there.
2. Before you press Enter you can link a patient and, if you may assign tasks, choose the assignee.
3. Press Enter. The task appears at the top of the list, and you can type the next one.

The task is yours (**Me**), unless you are on the **Unassigned** tab. If you may not assign tasks, Salisan claims it for you.

For a task that needs details, choose **Open full form**, or **New task** on [Home](/docs/en/guides/home). There:

1. Write a clear title and the details someone needs to do the work.
2. Link a patient when the work concerns their record.
3. Set **Team**, **Assignee**, **Priority**, **Due** and **Requires** where needed.
4. Choose **Create task**. The task opens with its saved details.

In the full form nothing is saved until you choose **Create task**. If you leave first, Salisan asks whether to discard. Comments can only start once the task exists. After creation, edits to the title and details save automatically; check that the indicator reads **Saved**.

**Requires** limits the work to members with the chosen capability: **Clinical records**, **Communications**, **Patient administration** or **Scheduling**. An assignee linked to a patient must also be able to reach that patient. If an assignment is refused, change the assignee or their access. Changing the wording does not help.

## Find and take work [#take]

The tabs on **Tasks** show different slices of work:

* **My tasks**: assigned to you or taken by you.
* **Unassigned**: open work that anyone qualified can pick up.
* **My teams**: work pooled to your teams. It appears only if you belong to a team.
* **All**: every task, including closed ones. It needs permission to manage all tasks.

Search and **Filter** (**Priority**, **Requires**) narrow the list. If a task seems missing, clear them first.

Point at a row to see its priority, who holds it and its age.

Open a task and choose the action for you at the top, or use the **Status** field.

* **Accept** takes an assignment you were given.
* **Claim** takes unassigned work you are qualified for.
* **Decline** hands an assignment back. Pick a reason (**No access**, **No capacity**, **Not my area** or **Other**) and, if it helps, add a note. The task becomes unassigned and the person who assigned it sees why.
* **Unassign** returns work you hold to the pool.

Accepting or claiming moves the task to **In progress**. The actions you see depend on your permissions and the task's state.

## Finish a task [#finish]

Do the work, add the result or a reference in the task, then choose **Done**. The activity shows who completed it and when.

To finish a task without a result, choose the round tick at its row. **Task completed** appears with **Undo**, and the task is marked done after about five seconds unless you choose **Undo**. The tick is offered on open work you hold, or on any open task if you manage all tasks. **Home readings** tasks have none (see below). Commenting on a task, drafting a document or asking the [Agent](/docs/en/guides/agent) for help does not complete it.

* **Reopen** returns a finished task to open work.
* **Cancel task** ends a task nobody needs any more. It closes the task for everyone waiting on it, so use **Done** when the work was carried out.

A task marked **Overdue** has passed its due date. **Escalated** means nobody accepted it in the time set for its priority, and the people who assign work were told.

## Work on system tasks [#system-tasks]

Salisan creates some tasks itself. The source is shown on the task, for example **Form submission**, **Patient request**, **Email not delivered**, **Check-in not sent**, **Care plan needs attention** or **Home readings**.

Open the linked source first, do what it needs, then close the task with a result. Closing a task does not fix its cause: closing an **Email not delivered** task does not resend the email.

A **Home readings** task gathers a patient's new readings for review. Choose **Mark reviewed** on the task or on [Home](/docs/en/guides/home#home-readings). The task completes without needing to be accepted first, and it records who reviewed it and when. Readings that arrive after you mark it reviewed appear for review again. The list is in arrival order and does not rank clinical urgency.

## Related [#related]

* [Home](/docs/en/guides/home)
* [People and access](/docs/en/guides/people-and-access)
* [Agent](/docs/en/guides/agent)