Domain & Security
Put your patient portal on your own web address, and set how your team signs in.
This page shows you two setup tasks. You can put the patient portal on your own web address. You can also set how your team signs in. You need to be a Client Admin.
Do you need a custom domain? No. The portal works fine on its default web address. A custom domain just puts your brand name in the address bar. The security settings are worth a quick look either way.
Before you start
Have these ready:
The web address you want, like portal.yourbrand.com
The login for whoever manages your website
A test patient account, so you can sign in and check the portal
Who does what: You fill in the fields in GEN Health. Whoever manages your website adds the DNS records at your web host. Your provider network (the medical team that employs the doctors) and GEN Health support do not touch this.
Time: About 15 minutes of your time for the domain. Then wait up to 48 hours for the change to spread across the internet. The security settings take about 2 minutes and work right away.
Put the portal on your own web address
Here you point your own web address at the patient portal. You do this on the Branding page.
Open the Branding page
In the left menu, click Settings. On the settings grid, click the Branding card. The Branding page opens.
Find Domain management
Scroll to the bottom of the Branding page. You see the Domain management card. It has three fields: URL slug, Custom domain, and Email domain.
Set your URL slug
In URL slug, type a short name for your brand. Use lowercase letters, numbers, and dashes only, like your-brand. This sets your default portal address.
Add your custom domain
In Custom domain, type the web address you want patients to use, like portal.yourbrand.com. Save the field. The page then shows the exact DNS records you need to add.
Send the DNS records to your web host
DNS records are settings at your web host that point your web address to the right place. Copy the records the page shows you. Add them at your web host, or send them to whoever manages your website. Use the copy-paste message below.
Wait for the change to spread
DNS changes are not instant. They can take up to 48 hours to spread across the internet. This wait is called propagation.
Test the portal
When the wait is over, open your new web address in a browser. Sign in with a test patient account. If the portal loads, your domain is live.
Do not switch too early — add the DNS records before you rely on the new address. A half-set-up domain can leave patients unable to reach your portal. Keep sharing the old address until the new one loads.
Copy-paste: send this to whoever manages your website
Not a tech person? You do not have to be. Copy the message below. Paste the real records from your Branding page where the message says to. Then send it to your web person.
Hi — I am setting up our patient portal on our own web address.
Please add these DNS records at our domain host.
Domain: portal.yourbrand.com
Records to add (copied from our portal settings):
[ paste the Type / Host / Value rows shown on the Branding page here ]
Please tell me once they are saved. Thank you.Where DNS settings live at common hosts
Not sure where to add DNS records? Here is where you usually find it. These menus change, so search your host's help for add DNS record if you cannot find it.
| Your web host | Where to look |
|---|---|
| GoDaddy | My Products, then Domains, then DNS (Manage DNS) |
| Namecheap | Domain List, then Manage, then Advanced DNS |
| Wix | Settings, then Domains, then your domain, then DNS records |
| Squarespace | Settings, then Domains, then your domain, then DNS Settings |
Set your team's sign-in security
These settings control how your team signs in. They apply to your staff, not to patients. You find them on their own page.
Open the Security page
In the left menu, click Settings. On the settings grid, click the Security card. The Security page opens.
Turn on multi-factor authentication
Multi-factor authentication adds a second step at sign-in. After the password, the user enters a one-time code. Switch on multi-factor authentication to require it for your whole team.
Set the inactivity logout
Use Timed logout after inactivity to sign users out after a quiet period. This protects a screen someone walks away from. Pick a wait that fits how your team works.
Give every teammate their own login. Shared accounts undo any security setting you pick. See Invite Your Team to add each person.
Stricter settings protect patient data. Looser settings mean fewer steps at a busy front desk. Pick a level your team can handle every day.
Words to know
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| DNS records | Settings at your website host that point your web address to the right place. Needed for a custom domain. |
| Propagate | The wait after you change DNS while the internet catches up. Can take up to 48 hours. |
| Multi-factor authentication | A second step at sign-in. After the password, the user enters a one-time code. |
Common questions
Do we need a custom domain at all?
No. This is optional.
- The portal works fine on its default web address.
- A custom domain only puts your brand name in the address bar.
- You can add one later, any time.
Domain verification is not passing. What now?
Give it time, then re-check the records.
- DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to spread.
- Match each record against what the Branding page shows.
- Still stuck? Open a ticket from Get Help.
Where do I find my DNS settings?
Log in to your web host, then look for DNS.
- See the table above for common hosts.
- If you cannot find it, search your host's help for add DNS record.
- Have a web person? Send them the copy-paste message above.
Which security setting should I pick?
The defaults are safe. Turn on more for more protection.
- Turn on multi-factor authentication to protect patient data.
- Set a shorter inactivity logout for shared computers.
- Pick a level your team can handle every day.
Can my staff change these settings?
No. Only a Client Admin can.
- Client Staff do not have the Settings menu.
- Ask a Client Admin to make domain or security changes.
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