@Leslie Great post
David,
I probably am doing everything wrong. So, I am in a progress note. I dread it, because I have to order a coagulopathy panel which contains about six labs. Or a thyroid panel. So, I click on Write Orders. Fortunately, I have deleted everything out of nursing, patient education and follow-up, although we tried to do follow-ups from there.
I have yet to figure out how to click on "Thyroid Profile" and have the TFTs show up. I guess I could add them to the comments, but our lab won't take them that way. In v4, I just pulled up the lab writer (which was for everything -- no decisions), and right clicked and chose from a list, which then gave me one or ten labs.
Then, since I would generally be the one printing the lab slip (it makes little sense TO ME -- not commenting on your method) to send it to my nurse to do when I may as well click on it and print it, I have to print it then click on the Send Orders button, which used to be automatic. Of course, now I simply just use the Other tab, where I can at least do everything the way I used to by right clicking and choosing labs and x-rays, etc.
Then there is the diagnosis, where I used to just type it in. Now, I write Hyperaldosteronism, and there is no ICD-9 code. Some times it will show up with Google, but half the time I have to go to a separate website. Now this may be where I am missing something. If I get the code, I find no way to add it to the database from within that window. So, I have to go out of that window, go to the main screen, choose the diagnosis window and add it from there. Then, I can go back to the lab window and enter it. Now everything is a go unless I forget to unclick all of the other diagnoses.
If the lab isn't on the list, I have to use the Add Lab feature. Once I enter it, I then have to go hunt for it, because it is not selected by default (which makes absolutely no sense).
Obviously, the x-rays are the same.
The referrals tab is the only helpful one. But, of course, I have to choose the people it is going to, because A) it changes and B) it never seems to stay the way I set it.
In fairness, I suppose the nursing section is helpful for some. We don't use it, because my MA is rarely sitting at her desk, and there is also no auto-refresh. My nurse also figures out all of the shots. I look at them in the room. If I am really busy, I may just tell her by IM or verbally or just give her the chart on the way down to do the lab slip. Most of the time, I do them on my own.
I forget if you used v4. I don't want to come across as condescending if you did. But, basically, there was just:
The equivalent of the other
You typed in the diagnosis (maybe some places require ICD-9 codes) If so, since the site I use pulls up every ICD-9 code for every diagnosis, ours should as well.
You didn't send it to anyone.
I suppose that those who like it must send a lot of things to their nurses. But, we simply don't. And, we use Superbills, which have the F/Us on them.
Even Jon told the ACUC committee that he has to work on the orders section.
Any tips or advice you can give me to help me use it better would be great.
