Home Forums Discussions Problems ? Merge Duplicate Chart?

It looks as though a patient that had been inactivated returned to our office for services. Our front desk created a new chart for him instead of re-activating the old one, thus creating a duplicate record. I looked in the administrator options as well as the utilities, but I can't find a way to merge these two charts. Does anyone know if there is a way to do this?
Thanks,
Amber

i don't think this can be done. I believe you need to print out the new chart (assuming it is smaller) and scan it into the old one. Or possibly copy/paste the encounter as an addendum in the old one. Then deactivate the new chart.

Actually you can merge duplicate charts. Make sure both charts are active. Open one chart, then go to demographics page, click FILE then select "merge this patient with another".

Marty,
That worked GREAT! Thanks so much for your help.
Amber

WOW! Learn something new every day!

Huh? You can do that???? Jumpin' Jehosephat! When did they add that??? I will keep this in mind Marty. Thanks.

It was a V6 addition.

I learned the MERGE trick from you Wendell. I've had to use it a few times.

Here is how I remember the sequence of events:
The list of improvements in V6 included the ability to merge charts. The problem was that no one could figure out how to do it. Wendell and I both arrived at Tahoe with that on our list of questions to be answered. When Jon B showed up, we figured that we would finally learn how to do this. He said "here, I'll show you" but actually had no idea how to do it and could not make it work. Two weeks later, Wendell posted the answer. It is not like it was one of life's big mysteries, but still kind of funny how it came about. I have no idea how Wendell discovered it; of course now that he is getting all of that IT press in Chicago, it all makes sense...

Actually, I realized he had not answered the question at Tahoe so I emailed him and got a response about a week later.
We talked about so many things at Tahoe that getting off topic was easy and no one noticed at the time.

IT press is easy, just bribe. (Kidding)

Bump for Phil Gear....

So it was added in V6 and removed in later versions. I am using V6.6.7 and do not have that choice when choosing "file" when the patient's chart is open.?

I don't have that version, but there is no "File" on the demo page in 6.6.7???
Anyone using V7 willing to check and see if it is there?

We are using V 7.1.2 When a patient's chart is open, go into Demographic Tab, then click on File (on the top left drop down menu)and you will see the option "Merge This Patient with Another".

Sorry, you are right. You have to be viewing the demographic window. Thanks for the clarification.

This doesn't work for two encounters. it is a fix for two patient entries like an accidentally misspelled name. two encounters on the same patient will mess up your meaningful use data and will not be helped by this merge function.