MEDITECH tips, tricks, and shortcuts – if you work in healthcare, you know this system is practically unavoidable. Whether you love it or just tolerate it, MEDITECH is a cornerstone in many hospitals. And while its reputation as a powerful EHR precedes it, even seasoned pros sometimes crave those hidden efficiencies.
So if you’re looking to up your MEDITECH game – maybe shave a few minutes off charting or finally master those MEDITECH tips, tricks, and shortcuts everyone else seems to know - you're in the right place.
Demystifying MEDITECH: More Than Just an EHR
First things first, let's get on the same page. What we're talking about here is the heart of so many hospital operations – MEDITECH. MEDITECH MAGIC, first appearing back in 1979, was a game-changer. This system provided a stable and (surprisingly) cost-effective EHR solution.
It's evolved over the years. These days you're likely encountering either the more modern MEDITECH Expanse, or perhaps the cloud-based MEDITECH Traverse for seamless data sharing. No matter the version, getting a good grasp on MEDITECH tips, tricks, and shortcuts can completely change how efficiently you work.
Why Mastering Shortcuts Matters (Even If You Think You're Doing Fine)
This is for every nurse, doctor, or healthcare worker who's ever felt a little panic when a colleague whizzes through a task on MEDITECH. It's for those moments when you’re stuck navigating menus while your coworker breezes through using some mystical keyboard sorcery. Let’s be honest, sometimes, just keeping up with the demands of the job feels like enough.
But here’s the thing: mastering MEDITECH tips, tricks, and shortcuts isn't about showing off. It's about working smarter, not harder, and who couldn’t use a bit of that in healthcare? Imagine spending less time on documentation and more time with patients – that’s the kind of magic we’re talking about here.
By learning the ins and outs of this system, you’re not just working faster. You are also minimizing those pesky errors that can come from navigating a complex system.
It can mean smoother workflows for your entire department, contributing to a more organized and, dare I say, less stressful environment. This can be a huge assistance in any medical-surgical setting where time is of the essence.
MEDITECH Tips, Tricks, and Shortcuts: From Beginner to Power User
No matter where you're starting, there's always something new to discover within MEDITECH. While I encourage you to really dive into the specifics of your hospital's version (after all, customization is king here.), these strategies can be applied broadly. Let's explore those MEDITECH tips, tricks, and shortcuts, starting with the basics:
Use Function Keys for Quick Navigation:
- F1: Help screen
- F3: Exit screen or cancel action
- F4: Lookup/search for data within fields
- F9: Save and proceed to the next step
- F12: Refresh screen data without leaving the page
Keyboard Shortcuts for Common Tasks:
- ALT + M: Open the MEDITECH main menu.
- ALT + Tab: Switch between open windows to improve multitasking.
Use of Wildcards in Searches:
Use the asterisk (*) to replace unknown characters or partial names for more flexible searches.
Personalize Your User Preferences:
Go to "System Settings > Preferences" to adjust font size, screen layout, and color themes to enhance readability and user experience.
Documentation Shortcuts
Pre-defined Text Templates:
Use Pre-defined Text to quickly populate common phrases or diagnosis information in documentation fields by typing a keyword shortcut.
Copy and Paste from Previous Entries:
Highlight any text in a previous patient encounter and paste it into the current one using standard **CTRL + C** and **CTRL + V** keyboard shortcuts.
Quick Date Entry:
Use "T" to automatically enter today’s date in a date field, or "T-1" for yesterday, "T+1" for tomorrow.
Patient Management Tips
Quick Patient Lookup by ID:
Instead of entering the entire patient’s name, use the patient’s ID for fast access, reducing the likelihood of errors.
Set Up Patient Alerts:
For critical reminders, use the **Alerts** function to flag patients with important notes (e.g., allergies, fall risks).
Use Smartlists for Quick Selection:
Utilize Smartlists to quickly select pre-defined lists (e.g., diagnosis codes, medications) and eliminate typing errors.
Order Entry Tips
Use Quick Orders for Frequent Requests:
Set up Quick Orders for common lab tests, medications, or imaging requests. This reduces time spent navigating through menus.
Set Default Physicians for Orders:
Assign default physicians for orders to eliminate repetitive selections when entering orders for the same provider frequently.
Chart Review Shortcuts
Custom View for Patient Data:
Adjust the layout of the "Chart Review" screen by selecting the data fields you frequently access to avoid unnecessary scrolling and clicking.
Use Filters in Chart Review:
Apply filters to display only relevant information, such as lab results or progress notes within a specific date range.
Expand All Sections with One Click:
Instead of expanding each section manually, use the "Expand All" button to view the entire patient chart in one scrollable view.
Medication Management Tips
Auto-calculate Doses:
Enable "Auto-calculate" to instantly calculate dosages based on the patient’s age, weight, and other factors, reducing the risk of errors.
Drug Interaction Alerts
Activate Drug Interaction checks to receive notifications of potential drug-drug or drug-allergy interactions as you input medications.
Billing and Coding Shortcuts
Auto-fill Billing Codes:
Set up auto-fill rules for common procedures and diagnoses to have billing codes automatically generated during documentation.
Use Code Favorites:
Create a Favorites List for frequently used billing or diagnosis codes to avoid repetitive lookups.
Editor's Note: If you're serious about saving time by doing more with less, try the tool that healthcare companies like United Healthcare and WebPT have turned to, Magical.
Magical is a productivity tool that eliminates repetitive tasks like data entry, auto-filling forms, and transferring data between systems securely. You can integrate Magical with MEDITECH and set up automations between any two systems.
Customizing Your MEDITECH Experience
Here’s the thing: MEDITECH is highly customizable. This means that while your colleagues in another department are using one set of workflows, your system might be set up differently. Don't be afraid to ask your manager or IT department about accessing your preferences view to see what options you have.
This means the most valuable MEDITECH tips, tricks, and shortcuts are often those tailored to your specific needs. Don’t be afraid to experiment and personalize those commonly used features. For instance, you may find it helpful to adjust your preferences view so your status board automatically refreshes.
Getting Support: Don’t Be Afraid to Ask.
I've learned this from years of working in the trenches: sometimes those seemingly obvious tips and tricks are the ones we just never pick up. So my final word of advice on all things MEDITECH? Don’t be afraid to ask.
Your colleagues are an invaluable resource, and I guarantee you, someone has figured out a faster way to do that annoying task that takes up way too much of your time. And while MEDITECH may not be perfect and you might occasionally find yourself thinking, "This doesn't work", just remember that there are tons of resources and helpful hints available to you.
A Final Word
The journey to mastering MEDITECH tips, tricks, and shortcuts is all about being proactive and a bit curious. Dive in, explore, and remember, those shortcuts exist for a reason - to help us provide the best care possible. Because at the end of the day, smoother, more efficient workflows using MEDITECH mean more time, energy, and focus for what really matters - patient care.
If you're part of a healthcare admin team and want to know how to manage patient data and other administrative tasks more efficiently, try Magical. Magical is used at more than 50,000 companies like Dignity Health, Optum, and Nuance to save 7 hours a week on their repetitive tasks.
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