Home Forums Discussions Problems DEEP THOUGHHTS by Walter Handy

I can see that there is also a great difference in our practice profiles, as it were. I see very few acute problems... my PA's do that... so the "one more problem" issue does not apply... I start each visit by bringing up the problem list, each is reviewed, and then I ask "what else do we need to discuss?" My schedule is designed to deal with that. I can see it would be a horrible death if you thought you were going to see someone for sinusitis. I made up a few pretend patients to see how it would go with an acute self-limited problem, and you are right; the templates could prove lifesaving.

Marty, when we started with AC, we looked ahead to the week and pulled all the paper charts for the coming week's visits. We then did a visit note, CC "initial data entry" and put in the PH, FH, SH, problem list, vaccinations, procedure dates, etc. so it was there at the time of the visit. Important selected labs or procedure notes could be pulled for scanning. We then used a hole punch and punched the paper chart so the staff would know it did not have to be pulled at the time of the visit. It was a horrible amount of work, lots of evenings and weekends, but the day went much more smoothly. Now, 15 months later, it is only new patients who need the data entered.

Walter, what do you mean by "effectively charting seniors?"