๐๏ธ View video tutorial: Creating encounter templates
If you routinely see the same condition and create similar encounter notes, you can use an encounter template to pre-populate the repetitive information. Encounter templates can also be used to ensure that encounter notes are uniform between providers.
Encounter templates can be configured to automatically populate a new encounter when a set presenting issue is used on the appointment. See Using encounter templates.
๐ Note: You must start the encounter from the appointment (see Starting an encounter).
Encounter templates can be configured to populate information from:
Default text;
The patient's chart, provider and location information (see Adding data variables to letter, message and encounter templates);
The patient's pronouns (see Adding data variables to letter, message and encounter templates);
Text and date prompts (see Adding instant variables to letter, message and encounter templates);
Configured single and multi select lists (see Adding instant variables to letter, message and encounter templates);
Configured Diagnostic codes, Billing items, Prescriptions, Forms and Qnaires.
๐ Note: The content added to the template can be edited or removed prior to signing the encounter. See Using encounter templates.
๐ก Tip: You can also apply billing templates to an encounter in addition to any other templates already applied to the encounter.
โ ๏ธ Important: To prevent losing your work, be sure to save your work regularly while building your encounter template. If you have a short timeout duration, we also suggest you change your timeout setting to eight hours while building your templates and then switch it back to something more reasonable when you're done. See Setting your personal timeout duration.
Steps
1. From the main menu, select Settings > Templates > Encounter.
2. Under Default Diagnosis Set, make sure that the diagnosis standard for your account is correct (see Diagnosis codes).
๐ Note: If you bill in multiple provinces, you can add additional links between diagnosis sets and payment issuers. For more information, refer to Linking diagnosis sets to payment issuers.
3. To add a new template, click Add Template, or to modify an existing template, select it from the list of encounter templates. The New Encounter Template or Edit Encounter Template window appears.
๐ก Tip: If you want to update an existing template, to prevent breaking the original template, you can duplicate it and delete the original once youโve finished (see Duplicating encounter templates).
4. From the General Tab, type your encounter templateโs name in the Template Name field.
๐Note: When selecting a template to use, this is what the provider will see.
5. To link the template with presenting issues, click +Attach Presenting Issue. A window appears with all your presenting issues.
6. Search and select a presenting issue you want to associate your template with.
๐ Notes:
To create a new presenting issue, click + New Presenting Issue. For more information, see Creating presenting issues.
To attach another presenting issue, click +Attach Presenting Issue again and follow the same steps.
7. Click the Encounter Sections tab.
8. By default all the sections are minimized. Click a section title to expand it.
๐ Note: Click the section title again to fold it.
9. Use the following table to create the content of your encounter template.
Section | Description |
Qnaires | Attach a Qnaire to be completed with a patient during the visit.
๐ก Tips:
|
History and Examination | Type any free text you would like to populate in the History or Examination sections.
If required, add Instant Variables, they can be configured to insert:
For more information, see Adding instant variables to encounter templates.
If required, add Data Variables. They can be configured to pre-populate patient, location or provider information.
For more information, see Adding data variables to letter, message and encounter templates. ๐ก Tips:
|
Assessment | The Assessment section acts the same as the History and Examination sections (see above). You also have the ability to include a diagnosis.
These diagnosis codes can automatically be added to billing or the patient's Medical History. |
Prescriptions | Create a default prescription.
To delete a prescription, click the trash can icon next to it. |
Forms | Include any required forms. Forms are added to the Attachments section of the encounter.
๐ก Tips:
|
Billing | If you use the same billing codes for certain appointments and/or presenting issues, you can add them to your encounter templates, saving you time. For example, for a well-baby visit, you could add the assessment and immunization codes.
To add a private bill: 1. Click +Add Private, the New Bill window appears. 2. Complete all required fields. For more information, see Creating a private bill.
To add a provincial (insured) or third party bill: 1. Click +Add Insured to add billing items. 2. Complete all required fields. For more information, refer to our province specific help articles: Third Party, PEI, Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, TELUS Health eClaims.
|
Follow Up Qnaires | Include follow up Qnaires that are automatically sent to the patient at a set time after the encounter is signed. To schedule Qnaires:
|
10. When you are finished adding all the required content to your encounter template, click Save.
11. Refresh your browser; your template is now ready to use. For more information, see Using encounter templates.
Updated August 15, 2024