BridgesMD asked me how it's affecting my work flow. Here's my reply. IT'S SPEEDING ME UP, even despite the fact we are updating our charts and I'm documenting in the PMFSHx, updating med lists, etc. Much like Istrouse, I am relying heavily upon templates for every field. I took a lot of time (That's right Bert, NOT alot, but A lot) in order to create custom templates for my use.
I have templates for every subject heading in the office note. I have templates for hospital admission (haven't used it yet, but eagerly awaiting the chance), I have templates for referral letter, templates for ordering lab panels, commonly ordered MRI, CT scans, and x-rays.
Here's what I've seen SO MANY AC users comment on in the threads, and it's SOOOO COOOOOOL: the fact that I have my lab orders, referral letter, demographics, imaging study orders, etc. all printed at the desk and the staff are already processing things before the patient and I walk out of the room! Heck yah, it's AWESOME!!!
I've even been computer faxing from the exam room. When I ask "do you want the rx printed out, called in, or faxed in?" Patients say "I have all those choices?" And I can print directly to my fax machine, use the address book of the fax machine to select the pharmacy, and <to use Emeril's words> BAM! It's faxed to the pharmacy.
Today a pharmacist called me to ask about a Rx that I inadvertently messed up, BEFORE the patient even got there to fill it! <<It was prednisolone 15mg/5cc, 4cc po BID x 3days, then 4cc po BID x 4 days, then stop, disp #QS, NR.>> I MEANT to write the second dose as <<4cc po QD x 3 days>>, so I used the Rx Writer and refaxed while on hold awaiting the pharmacist. I told him the error, mentioned that I was refaxig the order, and he said "oh yeah, it's right here coming through now." He confirmed the change and all was right again in his pharmacy universe.
Yours,
