Home Forums Discussions General Discussion Handling 'Patient Calls/Questions'

Currently, if a patient calls with a question or concern, the staff will write (with a pen!) the details of the call on letterhead and put it in a paper chart.

Anyone have a solution in AC where it would be saved to the chart that doesn't include creating a 'visit' for the patient. I have looked at doing an 'addendum' as well as just using a word document template and using 'imported items'.

Use the messaging system, attach to patient chart and save when done. It saves in the prior encounters.

If you happen to answer the phone or talk with a pt. I do the same - open the message system attach chart and type your message - and instead of sending just save to chart if you complete the information.

use the messenger, make your replies, save the messages in the chart.
it's medico-legally a great way to document phone calls.

And even if you still print the progress notes, you don't have to print the messages. This saves lots of time in filing of paper. If you ever have to have a "legal / complete" copy of the chart then of course you need to print them (or save them to a disc), but that is very easy.

I also use the Addendum feature if I talk with a patient and want to save a note--it's easier than sending a message to myself and it can be appended to the last note. Between Messaging and Addenda, my documentation has greatly improved using AC as compared to my old paper system.

Tampa, (or is it Brock?)...please let us know so we can more politely address you...

As noted above this can probably best be done with a message or an addendum. After trying both, we use messages. I would not suggest using a Word document and template to create an Imported Item. Note that you can (and should) create templates in either the message section or the addendum section for this.

Two scenarios: the simplest is where you take the call yourself. In the AC "help" section it gives a good description of how to do this. You can write on paper and later transcribe it, but preferably if AC is accessible and open in front of you, pull up the patient's name in the "Patient List" on the main AC page. Click the "Message box" at the top, at at right, click "Attach". Type in your message, and then "attach to patient's chart".

The second scenario is the one you describe (staffer takes the message and sends it to you). The message system works especially well for this. Once again, the staffer can record the message on paper, if they choose, but then have them pull up the patient's name in the "Patient List" on the main AC page. Click the "Message box" at the top, and at right, click "Attach". They then select the provider and put in the message, and hit send. You will get the message in your inbox. What is nice is that you don't have to look up the patient yourself. You can click once to see the message and twice to get right to the patient's chart. **This is why you want to encourage the staff person to send ALL patient related messages attached to the patient's chart; i.e. with their name in the 're:' area (discourage messages like "Mrs. Smith wants to talk to you" but without the chart attached). You document what you want in the message and then save it to the chart. OR if your response is to have a staff person take some action, just send it back to them.
Doing both (saving it to the chart AND sending it to a staff member) requires a couple of extra clicks. Some people prefer to do that, and others do not.

I am trying to find if there is a way to attach an image or document file to a message without FIRST importing into the chart in II?
Reason: 1) I may not want that particular e-Doc in II (yet) and 2) work flow in my office (sans UpDox right now, awaiting a new server before starting trial),
or should I just stop procrastinating and install UpDox and use it to move the pdf/fax-tiff around pre-II?

I'd UpDox it, Roger. I think you will really appreciate it. You don't need a new server to start using it.

Yeah, know I don't need the server for UpDox, its just that my 4.5 y/o WinSvr 2000 with 3 gB memory is excruciatingly slow viewing Imported Items: so I use an external system to view the 100K+ Tiff and PDF documents we've accumulated since we started scanning. Support said "get a bigger server" = meaning memory , which means a 64 bit OS.
So I am reluctant to become dependent upon UpDox until I can effectively use II in AC.
Dr. G, Should I also take your advice as a "no" on attaching non-chart document to a message?

Actually, I am silent on that one. I don't know of a way, but that does not mean much. I was just weighing in on the ease of doing it with UpDox.

O! i should probably stay active in my threads...

First, you can call me Brock, as that is my name.

Second, I dont practice medicine. I am doing Marketing/IT/EMR for a Podiatry Practice in NC.

Thanks for all the useful insight. I'll run them through some tests.

-Brock

I'm running 4GB of memory and the Imported items sometimes take a few seconds to load while viewing. Are others experiencing this? Also, a Core 2 Duo Processor.