Home Forums Discussions Feedback and Recommendations PATIENT INSTRUCTIONS

OK, here is another wish I have for AC. I would like to see another heading called "Patient Instructions" in the same manner that "Vaccines", "Reminders", "Orders" and "Rx" are listed on the side of the encounter screen. Then, when I click on that heading I can record information I specifically want the patient to take home with them, such as "Call me in 48 hours with an update", "Go to the emergency room if worse", "Soak in warm water 4 times daily", "Get an eye exam".....
I currently write these instructions on the Superbill, a copy of which the patient takes with them when they leave. In this age of having to constantly CYA, I find this to be another way to prove to those inquiring that I did indeed advise the patient to do such and such, despite their claim "She never told me that". Then, I would like to be able to design my own Superbill which would have the diagnoses, scheduled tests, referral appointment dates, new prescriptions, patient instructions, return appointment date and charge/payment info all printed out nicely to be given to the patient when they leave.

Leslie

What a great idea!!!! Some basic instruction templates could be included, but you could make your own templates too. And just print them out. They get automatically added to the chart in the "plans" section at the end.

I'm jealous because I didn't think of that!

Maybe you should re-post this in the thread that Dr. Vinny has for suggestions for AC 4.0.

Wayne

Yes we totally agree! Being able to document and print out for patients to walk with instructions as part of the chart would be great. Set up to use as "Templates" as we do with other things also makes a lot of sense. Then we could share them among oursleves too. Please Jon, Vinny get it in there. I gather that this could be a major improvement to the product that would not be too hard to add since it would work like other previous parts. Please....

Gosh, I hate to do this, but...

ME TOO!

This is an excellent idea! Not only will it then be documented, but they will have a copy as well.

Barbara

Thanks to all who agree! It would just be so nice if we had more ways to customize our chart to fit our personal likes and dislikes. Currently, I use Shortkeys to make my templates or macros (such as cwu comes out "Call me in 48 hours with an update on your condition" and gter means "Go to the Emergency Room if your condition worsens", etc, etc.) But the only place to put these is under PLAN and, I really don't want to print out and give the patient everything I may have under that heading (such as rsce which comes out as "I strongly advised the patient to have a screening colonoscopy but they refuse. I informed them of the risk of not diagnosing a serious disease such as cancer but they continue to refuse the procedure.") If instructions were under a separate heading it would still show up in our encounter note under PLAN. Then, if we could construct our own default Superbill, we could pick and choose what info we want to print. I think this may also become an even more important when P4P takes over. We will need to be able to prove we told the patient this and that and gave them written instructions when they left.

Another option is to record your instructions as an "ORDER" - PRINT and give to pt. I often use this to give a pt. detailed med lists or instructions - that way it is in the chart and they are given a copy.

Another work around for now is to use the letter writer. I do this for some of my elderly patients and some forgetful younger ones! I can put it in bullet form and try to review it with them as I type it or use DNS to dictate it in front of them. It woulld be easy to add templates to the letter writer for your favorite instructions.

Good idea, David.

This would work even better if we could choose a larger font for orders or letters. My elderly patients have a hard time with the default type size.

Yes, being able to change the font size would help. That or keeping a box of magnifying glasses to hand out with the instructions!