Patient Cases

The case portion of case demographics begins with the Cases tab, which lists all of the active and, if you choose, discharged cases that have been created for the current patient record. From this screen, users can

• Create new cases
• Edit existing cases
• View any wait list entries for an existing case
• View orders for the case - Click the Orders link to open the Patient: Orders screen with the selected patient in context. If your Orders Handling security profile is set to Full, you will be able to view, create, edit, and discontinue orders. If your security profile is set to Read-only, you will be able to view orders.

In general, no information on the case demographic screens is required by the program for patient registration. A case is, however, required to schedule a patient. Because of this requirement, case demographic data entry is integrated into the normal registration workflow. Furthermore, if your version of the program includes domains, keep in mind that at least one domain must be assigned to any case that is created.

Although nothing on the case is required by the program to register a patient, each organization can create requirements. Users who try to save a record without entering required information will receive program alerts.

1. Select Demographics > Patient Demographics from the Main menu.
2. Complete the Demographics tab, and then click the Cases tab.
3. Click Add in the case list panel. The case demographic screen will appear with the Case Information tab in context.
4. Complete case data entry according to the definitions and description provided in the following topics.
• Case Information
• Case Contact Information
• Case Files
• Case Insurance
• Case Authorizations
• Case Referrals
• Case Notes

Key Considerations

• Case IDs are used as filters on patient select screens and in reports as patient identifiers. If the Case ID is left blank, therefore, it may not be clear to users which case they're scheduling, and if several patients are entered without Case IDs, some of the statistical reports may become confusing or misleading.
• The Add Case and the Edit Case rights of your security profile must be set to Full before you can change or create a case.
• The Case ID field is completely editable, and your patient records will be updated to reflect any changes, so it is good practice to enter something rather than leaving it blank.
• Unless a user has rights to all of the domains to which a patient's case is assigned, she cannot edit it. As long as she has rights to one of the domains, she can schedule the patient (all other security being equal).