> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.sigmahmis.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Front Desk: Register clients and start visits > Front Desk is where a clinic receives clients, confirms cover, books appointments, and starts the visit that billing and claims depend on. Front Desk is the start of the revenue trail. Reception registers the client, confirms who is paying, and opens a visit before care or billing begins. Billing, claims, and payments all read the client and visit created here. Front Desk access is required. People without it can open the visit automation icon in the header, but the sheet shows an empty state instead of runs. ## What Front Desk covers Search for a client and register them when they are new. Look up a member on the payer by membership number and add them. Start a walk-in, appointment, or referral visit. Create insurance visits in the background from membership numbers or names. Book, confirm, cancel, or mark appointments as no-show. Find open visits, close them, or reopen them. Receive incoming referrals and start the visit. ## How a visit begins Search **Clients** by name. If the person is new, register them. When the payer supports member search, look them up by membership number instead. A client billed to insurance needs an active membership on the payer scheme. Cash visits do not. Visit automation always uses the payer scheme. Choose the department and, when needed, the consultation service. A walk-in starts from the client. A booked client can start from the appointment. A referred client starts from **Incoming referrals**. The open visit is under **Active visits**. Charges, invoices, and claims continue from that visit. The membership search button appears only when the workspace has an approved, active payer with member search. If more than one payer qualifies, choose the payer before you search. ## Related Attach charges to the visit and build the invoice. Follow the full path from patient arrival to confirmed invoice. This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.