Electronic health records (EHRs) have revolutionized healthcare, but mastering these systems can take time and practice. With the right eClinicalWorks tips, tricks, and shortcuts, your practice can work smarter, not harder, which allows you more time to focus on patients.
From streamlining charting to unlocking powerful features you didn’t even know existed, these tips will help you maximize your EHR investment and boost overall efficiency. Let's look at some eClinicalWorks tips, tricks, and shortcuts that can transform your daily workflow.
Tapping into Time-Saving eClinicalWorks Tips, Tricks, and Shortcuts
For many healthcare practices, eClinicalWorks serves as the backbone of daily operations. Becoming fluent in its language of clicks, shortcuts, and features can make your workday smoother.
Optimizing Your Charting Efficiency
Imagine pulling up a patient's past medical history in just a couple of clicks, or sending referrals without juggling between multiple screens. This isn’t a fantasy — it's the result of efficient charting. Here’s how to achieve that in eClinicalWorks.
Utilizing the Power of "Carets"
Navigating through previous encounter information is easier using the "Caret" function. The “ros examination” of a patient often requires looking back on previous notes. The "Carets" function enables providers and users to seamlessly view and carry forward previously documented information from specific sections of the patient’s past four progress notes.
To use the caret:
- Locate the caret icon (^) located next to a category.
- A Recent Encounters window will open up to the patient's chart.
- You now have the ability to click through up to four past patient progress notes, choosing whether you want to “Copy” or “Merge.”
This function is useful, especially for providers who treat chronic conditions because you can seamlessly reference previous progress notes without clicking back and forth between various tabs or screens.
Effortless Consult Notes
Consult notes bridge the gap between healthcare providers, ensuring coordinated patient care. However, generating them can sometimes feel tedious. With eClinicalWorks, creating and sharing them is simple:
- Complete the patient note.
- Click on either “fax” or “print.”
- Choose the specific sections you'd like to share with the other provider.
- Choose the referring physician from your list of providers in the system.
Mastering the Dashboard
In eClinicalWorks, your dashboard provides an overview of essential patient information. Make sure you’re using this tool to its full advantage by customizing the data displayed, such as previous labs and image results, medical summaries, alerts, patient documents, and previous encounters. This saves time and gives you quick access to important details.
Beyond Basic Charting
While charting is essential, mastering other functionalities within eClinicalWorks is also important. Features like Templates and Order Sets hold untapped potential to streamline your workflow. They also make it easier to access the “resource schedule.”
Streamlining Workflows with Templates
Many providers, especially those treating chronic illnesses, use standardized treatment plans or commonly input the same information. Creating eClinicalWorks templates for those treatment plans or for the details that you often input, such as medical history or patient instructions, will increase charting efficiency.
Not only will it help maximize your efficiency, but it can also help with accurately inputting data required for reporting, such as MIPS. Consider creating default templates or even mini-templates customized to your practice’s needs.
Unleashing the Potential of Order Sets
While templates have their merits, order sets within eClinicalWorks offer a distinct advantage — especially when it comes to diagnostic testing and treatment plans associated with numerous medical conditions. You also have the ability to set future orders for lab work and procedures.
This helps promote continuity of care and improve patient compliance because patients will have those reminders in front of them at their next appointments. Having easy access to a patient's "visit type" within their electronic health records is also helpful.
Exploring Additional Tools
For things that don’t fall under a specific order set or template, eClinicalWorks offers an array of tools that can make your workday a lot easier. Take advantage of features like eCliniSense, to fine-tune treatment plans and leverage the Prescription Workflow to make managing medications simpler for you and your patients. “Refill requests” are much easier to manage within this system.
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Complete List of eClinicalWorks Tips, Tricks, and Shortcuts
Here's a complete list of the most helpful eClinicalWorks tips, tricks, and shortcuts for easy reference:
General Navigation
Quick Access to Patient Charts:
Use the “Find Patient” search bar at the top left to quickly access patient records without having to navigate through menus.
Fast Access to Recent Patients:
Press `F2` to pull up a list of the most recent patients accessed, allowing you to quickly navigate back to their records.
Shortcuts for Tabs:
To quickly switch between different tabs (e.g., Clinical, Billing), use `Alt` + `1`, `2`, `3`, etc., to cycle through the first five open tabs.
Scheduling and Appointments
Check Appointment History:
Right-click on a patient’s name in the schedule to view their full appointment history. This provides quick insight without needing to open the chart.
Quick Add Patient to the Schedule:
From the Patient Hub, drag and drop a patient's name directly into the schedule, eliminating the need for manual entry.
Reschedule with Drag and Drop:
- To quickly reschedule an appointment, drag it to a new time slot within the schedule screen without opening the appointment details.
Clinical Documentation
Templates Shortcuts:
Set up template favorites for commonly used clinical notes. Press `Ctrl` + `Shift` + `T` to open the template selector and easily find your saved favorites.
Custom Vitals Shortcut:
Add commonly used vitals to your quick list. Go to "Settings" → "Vitals" and create a custom shortcut for easier data entry.
Dictation Integration:
Use the built-in dictation tool to speed up clinical documentation. Press `Ctrl` + `D` to enable dictation in any text box.
Order Set Templates:
Save frequently used lab, medication, and imaging orders as templates to streamline order placement during patient encounters. Use `Ctrl` + `Shift` + `O` to access order sets.
Billing and Coding
Superbill Shortcuts:
Use `Ctrl` + `B` to quickly open the Superbill during a patient encounter, speeding up the coding process.
Billing Templates:
Create and save commonly used billing templates to reduce repetitive work for routine visits or procedures. You can access these templates under the “Templates” section in the Superbill.
Messaging and Communication
Secure Messages Shortcut:
Press `Ctrl` + `M` to quickly open the secure messaging module and communicate with your team without navigating through the main menu.
Send Rx to Pharmacy from Hub:
Right-click on a patient’s name from the Hub to send a prescription directly to the pharmacy, saving time from opening the full chart.
Automated Appointment Reminders:
Set up automated text and email reminders for patients to reduce no-shows. Go to "Settings" → "Reminders" and customize the templates.
Patient Portal Management
Portal Enrollment:
Use the "Portal" button within a patient’s chart to instantly send an enrollment email or text message, encouraging patients to sign up for the patient portal.
Bulk Messaging:
To send a bulk message to all patients (e.g., reminders or notifications), go to "Patient Search" and use filters to target specific patient groups. Once filtered, click "Send Message" to reach multiple patients at once.
Search and Reporting
Advanced Search Filters:
Use the "Advanced Search" tool with multiple filters like demographics, clinical data, and last visit date. Press `Ctrl` + `F` to quickly open the search window.
Customizable Reporting Dashboard:
Set up your reporting dashboard to display real-time analytics on clinical performance, appointment stats, and financials. Access the "Reports" tab and choose "Dashboard" to customize.
Final Thoughts
Knowing and using even a handful of eClinicalWorks tips, tricks, and shortcuts will enhance this software's usability. You’ll save time, make your staff happier, and probably feel a whole lot less frustrated by the end of the workday, too. It's important to prioritize “patient safety” above all else.
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