Basic Patient Information

The basic patient information screen is very similar to the basic customer information screen. There are some notable differences.

Name and Other Basic Information

The information shown at the top of the screen comprises the basic information for the patient. The various fields are relatively self evident.

enlightenedTip: ID numbers in OpenVPMS are unique, even across customers and patients. This number may be the easiest way to ensure everyone's talking about the same patient.

enlightenedTip: Note the record above has an 'Active' field. There's never a need to delete records from OpenVPMS... just deactivate them when you don't want to see them anymore.

Further Patient Information

The remaining tabs at the bottom each serve a different function specific to patients. Below is a description of each tab, and how it can be used.

Customers

The first question might be "Why is this a list?" It turns out that sometimes a patient will have more than one customer. It may be the case that you have decided to make customers individuals instead of couples perhaps, or you might have a boarding farm as a customer as associated with a patient, as well as the owner of the patient. This makes sense for numerous reasons.

This list can be edited just as any other list in OpenVPMS.

Identities

Identities in this context are very similar to identities in the customer context. This is a list of alternate ways to identify the patient. These ways can include:

  • Alias: This would represent a secondary name, or nickname for the patient.
  • Microchip: The number associated with the microchip can be entered via this tab. It can be retrieved through the search functionality.
  • PetTag: Any tag that is associated with the patient can be put here.

As the need arises, patients can be found in OpenVPMS through these values.

enlightenedTip: In order to search for these items, be sure to click the "Search Identities" checkbox in the search window.

Referrals

Referrals provide a way to track where a patient was being seen previously, or where it will be seen in the future. The system allows specification of a single veterinarian stating whether it was referred from that doctor, or to that doctor.

Discounts

It's often the case that a particular patient will have a discount above and beyond what discounts the customer has. When a customer has a discount, it applies to all patients. When the patient has  adiscount applied, it applies only to that patient.

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