Didn't find this part of the discussion until la

[wilyliam]

Didn't find this part of the discussion until later - ajkelly, it sounds like SoapWare is indeed the type of note-making software that can be used by selection of menus once templates are setup. Also wondering, however, is there any way to print off the entire patient list - for the purpose of generating a patient log? That would really make my world a simple one . . .

Wily

[ajkelly]

Yes, Wily
I think that SoapWare would work for you.

One of the best features of the program is that you can go into the templates and completely design your own. You can design a whole SOAP note style template with the ability to toggle between turning a sentence/phrase/response on, off, or have it set to automatically erase. That way you can hit a button, and only the relevant responses - either negative or positive - are kept in the note. All of that annoying template fluff is erased. You can design your SOAP note so that you can toggle these responses in all sections - subjective, objective, assessment or plan. Or you can just drop in one section, such as subjective, toggle those responses, and then have the program bring forward the last physical and the last assessment list and automatically drop them into the note. Then in the plan section, you can drop in a toggle response paragraph, type in a plan, dictate a plan, or design your own short-cut codes. I already have customized several short-cut codes. If I type "quits", the program automatically drops in a whole paragraph with my spiel about quitting smoking. I have one for "quita" - quitting alcohol. Typing HM gives me the standard paragraph about health maintenance/screening tests. You get the idea.

I'm still climbing up the learning curve here, but today I typed/penned in a complete note while talking to the patient and then faxed his med list to the pharmacy for refills, printed out a copy of the plan for him - to give him a reminder of my advice, and then printed out a hard-copy of the note for the paper chart; all while still in the room with him! I'm using a wireless network.

Investing $300 will get you the basic program, which does all of the above. You don't need the other modules to get started.

And you can easily print out patient lists. You do have to go into your "chartroom" and pull out all of the selected charts. But that isn't too difficult, just some mouse-clicking. Then just hit the print button.

It also has a nice report writer editing feature. This allows you to customize your printed reports. You can print out nice summary sheets on each patient. You can design your own handouts to print out for the patients.

I should really be getting paid royalties from SoapWare, shouldn't I? SoapWare, are you reading this? Give me a job offer! :)

I am, in no way, associated with the corporation - just an internist in private practice.

But, really, I think that the program will work for you. And $300 is better fitted to your resident budget. :) Talk to the other Dr.s here - Digital Doc has some good advice. Go to this other EMR site: http://www.emrupdate.com/ There is a lot of good info there, and some nice comparison tables.

Good luck - I'll let you know how my implementation goes.

[digitaldoc]

ajkelly,

Are you having your staff get involved "sharing" the program.......a triage approach?
This is important to me dealing with musculoskeletal trauma. When I see the patient, I prefer the history (often complicated) and vitals and ROS completed and in my face;)

[wilyliam]

DigitalDoc, that reminds me of another question - are there fields in SOAPware that carry over? In some EMR solutions, if you do a full H+P on one visit, the next time you see the person, some of the fields (such as Patient ID and meds) are already filled, carried over from the H+P.

I like the idea of being able to do the note and talk at the same time - mainly because I don't really leave any real time between appointments to do this stuff.

Wily

[digitaldoc]

quote:Originally posted by wilyliam

DigitalDoc, that reminds me of another question - are there fields in SOAPware that carry over? In some EMR solutions, if you do a full H+P on one visit, the next time you see the person, some of the fields (such as Patient ID and meds) are already filled, carried over from the H+P.

I like the idea of being able to do the note and talk at the same time - mainly because I don't really leave any real time between appointments to do this stuff.

Wily

I don't own Soapware, but my understanding is that prior visits/info can be copied forward from the summary page. I know that is what I need. I would prefer that the program pull the most recent visit forward automatically. I have spoken to their tech support on the phone and email and they are very helpful. When I get my new Tabletpc I am almost certain I will buy this program, although I am seriously considering Top Charts and Charting Plus. The later are expensive programs in comparison but more robust and customizable.

ajkelly is better qualified to answer your question.

[ajkelly]

Hello,
Yes, i'm starting to have my staff do a little of the intake. They, of course, do the vitals and input those into the EMR. Right now, we have a ROS questionnare that the patients fill out while they are waiting. I currently use this questionnare to guide my questions and note making. But, in the future, I'd like my staff to input that info into the EMR as well. Right now, I'm entering it. I have to decide when I come into the room, and look at that sheet, about whether or not to use a template or type/dictate in the note.

And yes, WilyLiam, you can keep bringing different fields forward into your new notes. You can customize a physical and then have the program always drop that physical into your new note. It will also bring the Assessment and medication fields forward. So, if the patient is stable and you don't change anything, you can just enter some quick subjective info (remember, you can design short-cut macros or have a generic paragraph that you can drop into the note)and enter some quick info into the plan section, and then you can print the note. It will contain all of the previous assessments, medications, etc. And, yes, you can remove assessments and place them into an inactive field - still there to remind you, but not included in future notes.

I don't know if you've viewed their webpage, but SoapWare keeps a summary sheet on the left - just like a facesheet or summary sheet in a paper chart. That is the permanent info - all of the H&P info. That info is always there to remind you of past info/plans while you're making the new note. That info can also be easily included in a new H&P or Consult and then printed.

Once again, just input the new subjective info, check the physical and update it, update the assessment and med list, and then just hit the H&P button, and the program will print out a complete H&P with all of the new updates in it. Or you can just hit the SOAP button and print out a simple SOAP note. You can even design your own insurance letters or prior authorization letters and have the program drop in the appropriate info from the summary sheet.

My only gripe is that you can't scroll through old notes. You have to open a menu box, click on the date of the old note and open it. You then have to do that again to view the next note. They need to design a feature where you could open an "old-notes" window and then just keep scrolling down and the notes would slide by from most recent to oldest.