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Post by kelley on Sept 12, 2016 12:47:07 GMT -6
I don't particularly like how the records look when they are printed. We use the print to PDF function and remove the blanks. I dislike that each tab has it's own page, is there a way to print it in one running document so that it doesn't waste so much paper and the chart is easier to send for referrals or records requests?
Thanks!
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Post by erica on Sept 12, 2016 14:32:00 GMT -6
Hello Kelly, In addition to the printing to PDF, you have the option to create custom letter templates. This can be done within Crystal using the Letters section (found in the Records module) Or you can use Word or OpenOffice. You would need to choose what you want to export and would build a letter template using one of these options. Of the 3 options, I like Word hands down! It has the most capability as far as formatting goes, it's the fastest to build and is pretty easy to learn how to do. You would need the full version of Word 2007 or above on any computer you would like to use the template on. Here is a sample of what the first page of our Word template looks like: If you would like to set up a training, email me erica@crystalpm.com Thanks! Erica
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Post by KizerOpt on Sept 12, 2016 15:03:17 GMT -6
I don't particularly like how the records look when they are printed. We use the print to PDF function and remove the blanks. I dislike that each tab has it's own page, is there a way to print it in one running document so that it doesn't waste so much paper and the chart is easier to send for referrals or records requests? Thanks! Join the ever-growing club...no one likes them, lol.
Karen
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Post by friscoeyeassociates on Sept 12, 2016 15:36:52 GMT -6
Microsoft Word does look better than the CPM version for sure, but it also requires that any computer you intend to print those records from have Word. May not be a huge issue for smaller practices with only a couple of computers in the whole office, but for a larger one like ours with 25+ computers it is more of an issue. Also, for those of us with higher levels of computer literacy it may not seem like a very difficult proposition to create a template in word or in "letters", but for those who may struggle with technology even something like creating a word template is going to go way over their head (even though it is 2016, you would be surprised how little most people know about tech related issues). I think one of the main reasons printing records is so much more difficult for Crystal's platform is because their Med Recs are so infinitely customizable. My record pages look different than everyone else who uses Crystal so this makes it almost impossible to "unify" the printing process into one clean and professional looking format. It is the "catch", if you will, of having such cool customization abilities in the record itself. That being said, it could be done better in my opinion. I think CPM needs to spend some time thinking about this issue and come up with a solution that does not require most of their users having to spend hours of their own time putting together a custom template of some kind in a third party software... I appreciate CPM's effort to continue to improve the product, but I think this is one area that should move right up to the top of the wish list from CPM developers. I think Marcia outlined some very good suggestions ab how to improve this in her previous post ab this --> crystalpm.proboards.com/thread/1179/list I think it should be at the top of the fix list bc It is an improvement that 100% of the user group could benefit from, Has been asked for numerous times by some of the most loyal and vocally active clients of CPM, and would improve an area of the software that is currently considered to be borderline unprofessional looking and embarrassing to print and send to other clinicians. My apologies to the OP for Hi Jacking this post to soap box a little bit about something I think we are all less than impressed with in regards to the software. In terms of answering the original question, at the current time Erica is correct. Word will probably provide the best formated and aesthetically pleasing document. If the paper wasting is the biggest issue you could also create a tab in your records where all of the other tabs are combined into just this one tab and use this just for printing. Good Luck!
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Post by KizerOpt on Sept 13, 2016 11:39:12 GMT -6
...If the paper wasting is the biggest issue you could also create a tab in your records where all of the other tabs are combined into just this one tab and use this just for printing. Good Luck! That's not a bad idea. The main reason I have not created a Word doc is lack of time and it would then fall to me to be the one to print it out. (As it is, I'm the only one able to upload records to the portal and send the link, apparently) This may actually solve both problems. Thanks for the suggestion!
Karen
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Post by erica on Sept 13, 2016 14:26:05 GMT -6
Right now our developers are working on Meaningful Use Stage 3 (Certification isn't optional! ) I'm hoping that in 2017 we can develop something that makes printing records easier. Marcia, I was actually thinking along very similar lines as you were Any way that you slice it or dice it there will be some set up involved... or we could make it so that nobody can edit records and just have static letter templates which would fix the issue lol Kidding!!! There would be different categories (ROS, CC, HPI, Prelim, Ant & Post segments, Assessment etc.) I think it would be ideal for people to create their own categories, this would allow the most flexibility. You would assign each FID a specific category. You can choose any category you would like to print out on a whim (example - you only want to generate the anterior history) OR you can choose multiple categories for a diabetic referral letter. Need to make sure empty fields don't print out as that's a biggie (especially for printing) and that we are able to keep the data in a format that makes sense. Would also have the option to save custom/favorite letters. Trust me, I hear every day that our letters need work and I want to find a solution as much as you guys do! I'm not exactly sure if this would work from a development standpoint, but hopefully in 2017 we can get the ball rolling.
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Post by kelley on Oct 4, 2016 21:50:52 GMT -6
Erica,
I see what you are talking about with creating the word template in Admin-->MS Word, but how do I get the template into my letters? Or how do I use the template?
Thanks!
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Post by erica on Oct 5, 2016 3:49:58 GMT -6
Erica, I see what you are talking about with creating the word template in Admin-->MS Word, but how do I get the template into my letters? Or how do I use the template? Thanks! Basically what you do is copy and paste the merge fields from the right column into a blank document to create a template. I made a document that will hopefully make the process a little easier - After saving the file, you'll want to right click it to extract the files Creating Word Templates.zip (762.87 KB) Let me know if this helps! Erica
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Post by friscoeyeassociates on Oct 6, 2016 15:49:33 GMT -6
Erica, I see what you are talking about with creating the word template in Admin-->MS Word, but how do I get the template into my letters? Or how do I use the template? Thanks! Actually, the word template is there so you can bypass the "letters" feature of Crystal altogether and create more robust documents using Microsoft Word's well established suite of word processing tools. Using this method, you are able to obtain a higher level of customization than you would be able to using Crystal's built in letters.. It is also useful for certain reporting functions because some reports allow you to export patient data and med rec fields to a word document for various internal uses. For instance, we run a schedule report at the beginning of every day for the previous day, which will list all the patients who visited the office the day before, and export this list of patients to a word document I created that pulls all of the trial contact lens data from all those patients the day before so our CL Techs can reorder them and keep our trial inventory full. I will attach a photo of what this looks like when built out for reference Hope that helps!
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