Home Forums GI Template to share

Our office is interested in using amazing charts for our EMR system. We would like a G.I./Hepatology template that is already set up & user friendly. Thanks.

Marie,
Welcome to AC. I am a gastroenterologist using the program. Here is my feeling about templates: they can be tremendously useful, or terribly stilted and awkward. The determining factor is whether or not they are in your own "voice". So I would suggest that you not look for templates from others, but create your own. This is really not much more difficult and is well worth the effort.

Here is how I would suggest that you do it:
1. Go through AC and delete ALL of the templates that are already in the program. This actually takes a little time, but is simple to do.

2. Go through some of your recent notes and identify elements that are often repeated. This might include a typical history of present illness for a patient with heartburn, or an asymptomatic patient with a hemoccult positive stool. Include a negative family history, social history, ROS, and a normal physical. You get the idea. The point is to use your own notes, and the things YOU use repeatedly, expressed in your own words.

3. Ideally, if you have the notes available as Word files, you can cut and paste the templates; if not, they will have to be typed. Remember...you are just typing them once; never again!

4. Put the templates into AC. There are a number of ways to do this, and I am still not certain what is best. Here is what I would suggest: pick one of your users, log-in, and open a chart (any chart). Right-click in the appropriate field (HPI, ROS, etc.). Do NOT click "Add/edit template". Instead, paste your template in the box at right, then click "Save as new" at the bottom of the box. Give your template a name that is easy to identify and close the box.

5. Do this with all of the templates you want to add.

6. At this point, that user can use all of these templates. If you want other users to have access to them, go into the "administrative options" area of the program, and select the "set practice templates" box. Looking at the list of templates, on the right hand side is a check box; click the box for each template you want shared with other users.

7. I would suggest that you combine templates with a short cut typing program like "Shortkeys". Sometimes it is easier and quicker to use a template; other times it is easier to use a "Shortkey". That is not something you need to deal with right now, but might want to consider at some point.

Good advice, Jon. Templates are both a blessing a scourge. I can tell when I receive a note from someone who uses pre-existing, or third party, templates. Imagine a cardiologist entering a cranial nerve or DTR exam! It is best to have them in your own wording.

Jon
I seem to be having trouble deleting templates. I go into my user name and delete templates but then they reappear???

DO they need to be deleted from ADMIN?

We have two active users. So not sure if they are being "reshared" with me from other user after I have deleted them on my account.

Any ideas on this would be greatly appreciated.

Mike

Mike,
The template function in AC is a bit idiosyncratic in its function; it seems simple at first, but the longer you work with it the more issues you will notice. Having said that, I have not seen the issue you describe.
You do NOT need to delete the templates from ADMIN.
Templates would only be "re-shared" if you have checked the "share" box when you go into admin.

The only thing I can think of....often changes in templates require you to completely quit the program to take effect. Even logging out is not always enough. Shut down the program and restart, and see if that takes care of the issue. Please let us know.