Step 5: Check mark "Imported Items"
Step 6: This may be the change listed above? You can't just choose "print" or it goes to the default printer so I choose to preview...maybe their file writer program is the "default printer"
Step 7: Each document or set of documents pops up in its own window.
Amber
Amber, if you don't check the Imported Items box (step 5), those items won't automatically pop up in their native program. I always thought it annoying that it did open all 80 imported items at one time, and you have to address each one... so it's much simpler to just preview (NOT open in it's native program) the imported item in the AC window, and click the little printer button to send it to the PDF print driver (especially easy if the print drive is temporarily set as the defaunt printer)... whatever can print can go to it... even the EKGs via Midmark interface, with margins intact... so it doesn't matter what the file format is, it will become PDF... and PDFreDirect collects each file printed into one superfile... so the "Combine" function in Adobe is not necessary, and it creates only one file that your are naming/saving... and you can set a password protection on the file, which I find invaluable... since I don't think a whole chart should be floating on around on a disk without such protection.
Using the previewer in AC to selectively identify what to include in the released file is important, I believe. By just going to the ImportItems folder where the actual imported items are kept, and choosing to combine all of them into one file allows it to include unnecessary items like copies of certain Rxs, and other things I don't think anyone else would really find of value... unless you were trying create a chart with as many pages as possible to increase the amount of whatever reimbursement you seek ($/per page).
So, print the progress notes to PDF, then selectively the imported items... it really is easy/quick.
Step 8: Save or export each file to disk as works for that file type (Pdf is save as, AC notes are export, excel file is save as, ect.) Since I have to hand touch each one anyway, I choose a file name that fits the document making it more usable otherwise it saves as a random file name
I would want to make each as a PDF, not keeping the Word or Excel files as editable documents... you never know what a patient may do with these documents in a format they can edit. Sure, as a .xls file it "might" be more usable for the next provider in a constructive fashion, but not likely. And saving each as a separate file is a lot of "hand touching"... too much work... just send to the PDFreDirect print driver.
For those of you using the PDF programs, I have two questions. First, is there any way to organize them into a reasonably usable format? It would be nice if the next doctor getting the records could actually use them.
Again, as above, I'm not sure how "useable" I would want them to be. How far do we have to take it to make the created patient's medical record "useable" for subsequent providers? Do we have to create versions of it in 5 different languages, or compatible with ALL software programs... eventually the format will be more standardized... but considering most providers still don't even use EMRs, a PDF file is still a fairly universal way to provide information that can at least be functionally used by almost anyone.
What is the easiest way to translate a PDF file into text?
If you run an OCR text recognition (at least on my Adobe and/or scanner), it will convert the text to a format that can be copied/pasted into your note. Of course, this won't work very well with copies of chicken scratch notes that I usually get from prior providers, less often from consultants.
My real assumption is that unfortunately most offices don't really read all the notes they request and that just opens them to liability. On most non-complicated patients I would just prefer getting their last note, most recent labs and a recent mammogram - just my input.
I agree.
