# Draft a patient reply without starting from scratch

> Generate a context-aware patient reply in Spruce, insert it into the conversation, and review or edit every word before sending. Available in Spruce text and secure-message conversations (not Spruce email).

Markdown view of https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/magic-buttons/draft-a-patient-reply-without-starting-from-scratch — the HTML page is canonical.

Product Library: Magic Buttons › Made by Tabflows  
Part of Tabflows 101, Module 5: Magic Buttons (https://www.tabflows.com/university/tabflows-101/magic-buttons)  
Last checked: 2026-10-27 against Tabflows v3.10.63  
Replaces Help Center article: https://help.tabflows.com/en/articles/15307471-draft-a-patient-reply-without-starting-from-scratch

> **Summary:** Generate a context-aware patient reply in Spruce, insert it into the conversation, and review or edit every word before sending. Available in Spruce text and secure-message conversations (not Spruce email).

> **A note for non-human readers:**
>
> *Patient messages have a sneaky habit of showing up without a perfectly polished reply attached. That’s where Draft Assist comes in: it uses the patient and clinic information available to whip up a first draft, saving humans from staring at a blinking cursor like it owes them money. But smooth writing can sound awfully confident, even when the facts are playing hide-and-seek. A human reviews every word and hits send. The AI can write the script, but the human gets the final say.*

---

## What is Draft Assist?

> [Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoKqk26iSTU)

**Draft Assist** is a one-click drafting feature available in Spruce text and secure-message conversations (not Spruce email).

Open a patient conversation and a reply draft appears in the AI DRAFT bar by the message box—written from the patient and clinic context available to Draft Assist. It uses available patient information from supported connected data sources, checks available clinical records, uses available clinic knowledge, and explains its reasoning before you send a single word.

> **Important:** Draft Assist never sends a message for you. You review, edit, and send the final reply.

---

## How to use Draft Assist

![How to use Draft Assist](https://zchipg5eqhxk0hvh.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/university/95de3b57825b98cd.mp4)

1. Open a patient conversation in Spruce.
2. Click **Generate** above the message box.

   - If auto-generation is enabled, a draft may appear automatically.
3. Review the suggested reply in the AI DRAFT bar by the message box.
4. Click **Insert** to add it to the message box.
5. Make any edits needed, then send when ready.

---

## How to enhance drafted messages

If the message is inserted in the Spruce message box, select **Enhance** for a revised version.

Hover over **Enhance** to add a direction such as “Make it warmer and shorter.” The revision replaces the current draft for review but is never sent automatically. Use **Undo** to restore the previous wording. Enhance works in supported Spruce text and secure-message conversations, not Spruce email.

---

## Controlling how Draft Assist behaves

You can adjust Draft Assist settings in the Tabflows sidebar under **Clinic Settings → Profile → Account → Sidekick**:

| Toggle | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| **Hide smart buttons** | Hides the Draft Assist button entirely across all conversations |
| **Disable auto-generation** | When on, Draft Assist waits for you to click Generate rather than generating automatically when you open a conversation |

By default, Draft Assist auto-generates when you open a Spruce conversation. If you'd rather trigger it manually, toggle on Disable auto-generation.

---

## Personalize how your drafts sound

Personalization controls how Draft Assist writes, not when it appears.

To add a preference:

1. Open **Profile** → **[Your preferences](https://app.tabflows.com/profile?tab=memories)**
2. Click **Add Preference**.
3. Add a short title and a specific instruction.
4. Click **Create**.
5. Generate a new draft to test it.

![Adding a preference](https://zchipg5eqhxk0hvh.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/university/ec2be0c8de28a391.mp4)

Preferences can guide:

- Tone and warmth
- Preferred length
- Directness
- Greetings and closings
- Phrases to use or avoid
- How next steps should appear

> **Example:** *Keep patient replies warm and brief. Avoid overly formal language, and end with a clear next step.*

Specific instructions work better than broad requests such as *sound more human*.

> Preferences shape how a draft is written. They do not make missing patient facts available, replace clinic policy, or override the patient and clinic context Draft Assist uses.

Read 👉 [ Make Sidekick sound more like you with Preference](https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/practice-brain/make-sidekick-sound-more-like-you-with-preferences)

---

## What Draft Assist checks before writing

- Available patient information from supported connected data sources
- Available clinical records from connected systems
- Recent messages in the current conversation
- Your clinic's knowledge base
- Your saved preferences

> **Good to know:** If important clinical details are missing, treat the draft as incomplete context. Review it against the source information and add or correct anything needed before sending.

---

## Review before sending

Check the draft for:

- Clinical accuracy
- Appropriate tone
- Correct patient context
- A clear next step
- Details that should not be included

---

## Next: Handle non-patient work

See how **Sidekick** helps with clinic questions and other work that isn’t tied to a patient conversation.

> [Using Sidekick for non-patient work](https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/sidekick/using-sidekick-for-non-patient-work)

---

## Get support 💬

Reach out to our Support team however works best for you:

- Start a chat using the **Support** button at the bottom right of the sidebar (side tabs)
- Email us at team@tabflows.com or message us right here in the chat

  [Book a quick 15-30 minute chat!](https://go.team.tabflows.com/meetings/nafeesa)

## Related Articles
- [How to turn smart buttons and auto-drafting on or off](https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/magic-buttons/how-to-turn-smart-buttons-and-auto-drafting-on-or-off)
- [Reply to patient texts 5x faster with the Draft Assist Magic Button](https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/magic-buttons/reply-to-patient-texts-5x-faster-with-the-draft-assist-magic-button)
- [Get answers with patient context using Sidekick](https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/sidekick/get-answers-with-patient-context-using-sidekick)
- [How to use Sidekick to draft and paste a Spruce message](https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/sidekick/how-to-use-sidekick-to-draft-and-paste-a-spruce-message)
- [Using Spruce with Tabflows](https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/integrations/using-spruce-with-tabflows)

## Related markdown

Section index: [Magic buttons](https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/magic-buttons.md)

Alongside this page:

- [1 click patient navigation across your connected systems](https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/magic-buttons/1-click-patient-navigation-across-your-connected-systems.md)
- [Button status retries and tab actions](https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/magic-buttons/button-status-retries-and-tab-actions.md)
- [How do i link a patient across your systems](https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/magic-buttons/how-do-i-link-a-patient-across-your-systems.md)
- [How do i unlink the wrong patient profile](https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/magic-buttons/how-do-i-unlink-the-wrong-patient-profile.md)
- [How do i use referral assist to draft a referral letter](https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/magic-buttons/how-do-i-use-referral-assist-to-draft-a-referral-letter.md)
- [How do i use the draft key results button on a cerbo document](https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/magic-buttons/how-do-i-use-the-draft-key-results-button-on-a-cerbo-document.md)
- [How do i use the schedule button to handle a scheduling request](https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/magic-buttons/how-do-i-use-the-schedule-button-to-handle-a-scheduling-request.md)
- [How to prepare for a visit with AI patient summary](https://www.tabflows.com/university/library/magic-buttons/how-to-prepare-for-a-visit-with-ai-patient-summary.md)

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- [Tabflows](https://www.tabflows.com/index.md)
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