Source: https://vaultcrmhelp.veeva.com/doc/Content/CRM_topics/Medical/MedicalInteractionAltChannel.htm

## Alternative Channels for Medical Interactions

To provide greater flexibility for users when recording the channel for a Medical Interaction, admins can create custom, alternative channel values and map them to standard call reporting channels. This ensures data consistency while capturing more granular detail about how Medical users engage with HCPs.

**Who can use this feature?**

* Medical Users - Browser, iPad, iPhone
* [Using Alternative Channel Values for Medical Interactions](#Using)
* Users do not require an additional license

### Configuring Alternative Channel Values for Medical Interactions for

[![Closed](../../../Skins/Default/Stylesheets/Images/transparent.gif)Medical Users](#)

To configure this feature:

1. Ensure [Using Medical Interactions](MedicalInteraction.htm) is configured.
2. Navigate to **Admin > Users & Groups > Permission Sets**.
3. Select the appropriate permission set.
4. Select **Objects**.
5. Grant the following permissions:

   | Object | Object Permission | Object Types | Fields | Field Permission |
   | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
   | medx\_\_v | CRED | core\_object\_type\_\_v | alternative\_channel\_\_v | Edit |
   | channel\_formula\_\_v | Read |
6. Navigate to **Admin > Configuration > Objects > medx\_\_v**.
7. Select the **Object Types** tab.
8. Ensure the **alternative\_channel\_\_v** and **channel\_formula\_\_v** fields are active for the core\_object\_type\_\_v object type.
9. Select the **Fields** tab.
10. Add the desired custom values to the **alternative\_channel\_\_v** picklist. For example:
    ![](../../Resources/Images/Medical/alt_channel1.png)
11. Add formula expressions to the **channel\_formula\_\_v** field to map Alternative Channel values to the appropriate standard Call Channel API names. For example:

    ![](../../Resources/Images/Medical/DocumentedInterest/alt_channel.png)

    Admins must ensure the result of a channel formula is not a [restricted call channel](../Call_Reporting_2/Executing/PopulateHeader/RestrictingChannelOptions.htm). The system does not block restricted call channel values when populated via the channel\_formula\_\_v field.

To disable Alternative Channels after it has been configured, deactivate the channel\_formula\_\_v field on the core\_object\_type\_\_v object type on the medx\_\_v object.

### Using Alternative Channel Values for Medical Interactions as

[![Closed](../../../Skins/Default/Stylesheets/Images/transparent.gif)Medical Users](#)

Medical users can capture interaction details using alternative channel values tailored to the engagement.

To select an alternative channel on a Medical Interaction:

1. Select **Create Medical Interaction** from a valid entry point.
2. Select the desired channel value from the **Select Channel** picklist.
   Available channel values display based on the custom channels configured by the admin.
   ![](../../Resources/Images/Medical/MedX_Alt_Channel.png)
3. Complete the rest of the interaction details.
4. Select **Save**.

### Related Topics

[Using Medical Interactions](MedicalInteraction.htm)

[Call Reporting Overview](../Call_Reporting_2/CallReportingOverview.htm)

[Selecting a Call Channel](../Call_Reporting_2/Executing/PopulateHeader/CallChannel.htm)