Comments on: Workflow and EMR: How do you do it?

By: Seth Krieger

Seth Krieger — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:03:42 +0000

I recently tried dictating into Case Manager using Windows 7′s built-in voice interface. Although it accepted the dictation, the text did not paste into the text field when I was done, as it should have. I tested several other programs and found that it worked in some, but not others. This might be a case of “you get what you pay for” and Dragon might work fine. I just don’t know.

A couple of years ago, however, we modified Case Manager to make it tablet-friendly. That is tested and works well, especially in Vista and Windows 7. I would argue that adjusting to a handwriting interface is much easier than to a voice interface. In addition, you can use handwriting even when you are in a noisy environment that makes dictation impossible.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:18:50 +0000

Spence, I really like the idea of entering the progress note with the client present and sometimes even having them enter the note. Finding a way to make that work smoothly can be done as part of planning the work flow and training staff.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:16:22 +0000

Paula, currently, Dr. Hoopes faxes prescriptions using Case Manager. We are looking at e-prescribing software options for the new future. You should be able to use Dragon Naturally Speaking with the software, at least in the memo fields. We have not tested it, but they claim you can train it to work with any software.

By: Paula

Paula — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:29:13 +0000

I am curious what program the MD uses to send prescriptions, you can’t do that through case manager can you? After looking at case manager, it seems quite time consuming to type or enter an eval. Any thoughts about connecting or syncing dragonspeak as an option with SOS?

By: Spencer Gear

Spencer Gear — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:19:55 +0000

Interesting blog, Kathy. Our goal in life is to have the therapist do the note as an integral part of the session with the client. This means changing a lot of things – for example, can the client see the screen? (You would hope so, because you want them to see what you say, so you might need a second screen). Is your scheduler blocking off other clients’ names? How are you working your actual therapy process – towards the end of the session saying something to the effect of “Well, let’s see what we have said here….did I get the key things?” What actually should go into the note? (Many therapists write too little; others too much). And on and on……… There is some research that suggests that clients don’t object to this, and in fact often prefer this approach because “I can finally see what you say about me!” and because it gives them an opportunity to recap and correct the record.