Alert for front desk from backop

[Rickliftig]

I'm wondering how some of you do this in your offices...IOW, do you use the messaging system or what?

Here's the typical example - The pstient is finished in hygiene and needs a new restoration and recall appointment. The procedure is added onto the planned treatment list in the hygiene op. But then - how do you signal the front desk to pay attention to the need for a restoration? (Frequently overlooked in our office and usually it's jsut poor communication)

Thanks in advance,

Rick

[Debbie OD Support]

So you are saying the the Doctor diagnosis this restoration at the exam for the cleaning appointment? If so, he or the hygienist can create the Planned Appointment that is in the Chart Module. Then when the patient goes to the front and she is in the Appointment Module she will go to the Make/Find Appt button and there will be the Planned Appointment. If they wanted to schedule both you could select the Planned Appointment and push Copy to Pinboard and then she would go back into the Make/Find Appt button and then push Schedule Recall and both appointments will be on the pinboard for her to schedule.

[Rickliftig]

That's exactly what we do Debbie. We've even made the planned appointments highlight in hot pink. It still gets missed. Maybe we could attach a klaxon horn sound?

[Debbie OD Support]

Lol, well I guess you could. That is the best we can do at this point. The front desk should always be checking for Planned Appointments when they are scheduling a patient for anything.

[jordansparks]

An alert should not be needed. This is a training issue. EVERY SINGLE TIME, the front desk needs to start by looking at the planned appointment. If "done" (that checkbox checked) then that means nothing needed except next recall. If the front desk is not checking this every single time, they are flat out ignoring your communication. Go stand behind them and make sure they check it. Correct them pointedly when they don't check it. Call them on every failure.

[Rickliftig]

Maybe I'll stand behind her and blast the Klaxon horn, too.

[jordansparks]

Also, for this to work, the chairside assistant needs to fill out the planned appt section 100% of the time. If they forget, then the front desk needs to tell them. So, a simple test for the front desk is to send a patient to the front desk without anything in their planned appt section. If the front desk person doesn't immediately come back looking for a planned appointment, then it gives you a chance to provide them with immediate "feedback". It should only take a few times to turn this into a habit, although it will need periodic reinforcement.