This screen helps you to compose your letters using data from multiple locations, including the patient's diagnoses, medications, appointments and "Data or merge fields".
In the top of this section you select the Letter Body template that you created in the Messages section of the PickList User database. Once you select a message the Body of the letter fills in. The Format field is associated with the Letter Body selected and determines which layout is used to print from. The Printed field has all dates the letter was either printed of faxed (if fax the format is 8/22/2003 (Fax)).
Macros
When you select a Letter Body it fills the entire body of the letter. Macros, however, allow you to add any preselected body at the insertion point in the body of the letter. Macros are put into the Messages section of PickList User database just like letter bodies are.
For example, let's assume you have if a macro called "migraine_risk" that describes specific risk factors of migraine. To insert this information inside a letter, do the following:
- Select "migraine_risk" in the Insert Macro field
- Place the cursor where you want the macro to be inserted. Be sure to add a space so that the added information is formatted properly
- Click the Insert Macro button.
Append Macros
When this is checked a really cool thing happens. The software will add the selected macro at the insertion point and then return to the macro list again for you to select another. This new selection is then "appended" to the bottom of the letter, and so on and so forth. This feature allows you to quickly build a letter from many macros (or paragraphs). In a way, this can serve as a very rudimentary text based medical record keeper.
Diagnoses for Letter
You can reference up to 4 diagnoses on each letter. When you create a letter from an invoice, the diagnoses on that invoice are filled into this section. However, you can change the diagnoses that will print on the letter. In the Patient's Diagnosis List the Next button adds that diagnosis to the next available diagnosis. For example, if there are no diagnoses, the selected diagnosis goes into Dx1. However, if Dx1 is filled than Dx2 is filled instead. To clear a diagnosis you must click the X icon. Do not simply clear the field.
Data or merge fields
This section allows to click a button and paste, at the insertion point of your cursor, several ways of referencing the patient. In the example above, "Ms. Jeanne Ottoberg" can be referenced by first name, (Jeanne), full name (Jeanne Ottoberg) or formal (Ms. Ottoberg).
The scrolling list of "merge fields" allows you to add these elements to the current letter. However, if you intend to use the same letter restructure again, it is best to create a message record in PickList User. To add one of these fields, simply highlight it in the list and drag and drop it where you want.
Appointment Date/Time
This section shows all this patient's appointments in the Appointments module. The most recent event is on top. This section is used to place into the letter information about the patient's next or even past appointments. To copy appointment information do the following.
- Click once on the time slot you want to
use (the blue section on the left side) so that it highlights.
- Next, "click and hold" then "drag and drop" the appointment into the body of the text exactly where you want it. If this does not work you may need to turn "drag and drop" on. Click here to learn how.
Patient Medications
This lists all the patient's medications, sorted with the current ones on top. You can use drag and drop to place the medications anywhere you want in the letter body., just as with the appointments above. The circled find icon takes you to the patient's Records Tab so you can inspect the medication list in more detail if needed.
Letter to be signed by
This section allows you to either select the signature for the letter or type it in by hand.
update 9/14/2004