1. How many templates do you have for orders, precisely? How many templates can the template field contain?
A million, lol. Actually, I have 44 templates. I don't think there is a limit, but I could be wrong.
2. Is there a way to make the prescription writer print long Rxs like the ones I describe above (steroid taper, magic mouthwash)? I tried cutting and pasting some long recipes into the "medication" and "sig" field and couldn't even get a print preview to come up.
Funny you should ask that. Because I was working on a workaround since you brought it up before. You can't cut and paste into the script writer; I am almost sure of that. Here is a weird workaround that has some potential, but would be fairly awesome if you didn't use the letter writer:
One COULD pull up the letter writer and make multiple scripts using the right click-ALT method using PRESCRIPTION as the first word. One thing I don't like about the letter write is the automatic "Dear" in the first line as with many notes (that we hate), the word dear does't fit. It wouldn't have the insurance info and it, of course, isn't formatted as well as the script writer, but it does seem to work when I tried it. Also, the script wouldn't be in the medication list, but it would be in imports. Terrible workaround, but just a thought.
While on the subject, just some ideas that I do which may or may not be helpful. I wonder if anyone else does anything else like this. I have multiple templates that I have put in Addendum which I can pull up when I am in a patient's chart from File. They just have general information like Lamictal dosing or SBE prophylaxis (which I know is changing). I bring the info to the addendum window, but I usually don't save it.
I also have many templates in the HPI field with differentials and questions to ask for chronic conditions or even acute. So, if chronic migraines comes up as the chief complaint, choosing that template can be viewed or even saved into HPI so I don't forget a question. One can even list all of the migraine prophylaxis medications if they wanted under chronic migraines. Of course, that could be a template under plans as well. Or the questions could be in HPI and the differentials in Assessment.
There is Instant Medical History (which costs money) and does a fancy job of interviewing a patient with certain medical complaints, but I have yet to find it easy to customize. The last time I checked, there were like 30 questions for migraines, many of which I don't ask children and adolescents. It has gotten better, and they did give me a new trial period, but I was unable to get another trial period with AC.
