AN ORDER OF MAGNITUDE FASTER TEMPLATE ENTRY
drreflex
AN ORDER OF MAGNITUDE FASTER TEMPLATE ENTRY:
Posted on first on http://www.wikihost.org/w/practicefusionusers.
Post: http://www.wikihost.org//w/practicefusionusers/using_the_vertical_bar
Here is the Expert Answer the people at Practice Fusion either:
1. Did not want us to know,
2. Forgot themselves, or
3. Never knew themselves.
When entering template items the slowest process is the requirement to enter each template item one at a time.
Here is my gift of hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars to your practices:
The vertical bar symbol “|” (Character code: 007C in Unicode/ASCII (hex), 124 in ASCII (decimal)) will break a text string pasted into a template item box and split the string into two template items at the “|”.
What does that imply?
1. Write all of your templates in WORD.
2. Enter a “|” at the end of each template item.
3. Separate your template items by SOAP section.
4. To enter a new template.
4a. Create the template and open it for item entry.
4b1. Open the S section and open the first template item.
4b2. Copy all of the SUBJECTIVE section template items from WORD to the clipboard.
4b3. Paste the clipboard into the template item box and SAVE the item.
4b4. PF will automatically split your text into separate template items at the “|”s.
5. Do the same for the OBJECTIVE, ASSESSMENT, and PLAN section of your template.
If you save your templates as formatted WORD template files:
1. To copy a template.
a) Follow the above steps and you have a copy of the template.
2. To rename a template.
a) Follow the above steps and you have a renamed template. Then erase the old template.
3. To enter a new modified template.
a) Copy your original formatted WORD template file to a new WORD template file.
b) Modify the new file as needed.
c) Follow the above steps and you have a new template derived from you master template.
Darwin R. Boor, MD
March 14, 2012
EXAMPLE OF THE USING THE “|” SYMBOL TO BRAKE PF TEMPLATE ITEMS?
Randomly formatted item brakes:
This is a multi-template entry|
This should be the next template item after the vertical bar at the end of the first item
|This should be the next template item after a vertical bar at the beginning of the template item|This should be the last template item after a vertical bar in between two items entered without a brake
With one copy and paste becomes:
TEMPLATE ITEM 1: This is a multi-template entry
TEMPLATE ITEM 2: This should be the next template item after the vertical bar at the end of the first item
TEMPLATE ITEM 3: This should be the next template item after a vertical bar at the beginning of the template item
TEMPLATE ITEM 4: This should be the last template item after a vertical bar in between two items entered without a brake
drreflex
ADDENDUM March 18, 2012
On March 14, 2012, I reported an undocumented PF Function (see above). This undocumented function would automatically parse a text string into multiple template items. The separating character for this function was the vertical bar. The time saving effect of this function is profound when it comes to copying, renaming, reusing, and entering new templates under PF. I was excited to find the undocumented feature.
On March 14, 2012, as a responsible user, I also posted a request to PF to document the function so we would know how to use the function correctly. As a neurologist and engineer, I am always more comfortable having a copy of the rules for any function I am using before I try to use the function extensively.
Today, I went back to try application of the function (i.e. inserting a template item into a template at the location where it is desired rather than at the end the section and then raising the item one item at a time until it is in the correct location). To my disappointment, it appears that PF has disabled the function. Now multiple entry strings are terminated before the first vertical bar.
I'm afraid that my notifying PF of the function caused them to turn it off.
This may be a good idea if they were unaware of the function. Hopefully, they will review the function and conclude that it can be used safely, will document the function for all users, and will re-activate it (in the near future). I have a large block of templates that I desperately need the function to get them entered in a timely manner.
Darwin R. Boor, MD
Naftoli Neuburger
drreflex
2nd ADDENDUM March 22, 2012
I am glad to report that the rapid template parsing function remains available.
The function is hidden from view.
The vertical bar parsing feature is ONLY fully implemented when you enter template items from within an open chart note.
I recommend reserving a test patient to use specifically for template entry.
Darwin R. Boor, MD
tott...@gmail.com
Using MacroExpress (ME) one can easily write a program to take a word file with the soap templates and enter them in pf
I haven't gotten around to doing this yet.
Perhaps you could use a few of the ME mouse move and button pushing features to enhance your programs written in visual basic to automate them more fully
Incidentally do you do pediatric neuro?
If you do I have a question.