There are several problems I see with setting up a Default Note in Open Dental.
- First, the default note is not attached to a new procedure note while it is still in tx plan status. The default note only appears after you sign the note and set it complete.
- If you need to make any slight edits to the note, you have to re-open it, edit it and then sign it again.
- If you sign all the proc notes attached to an appointment and click "OK" on each one, they remain in TxPlan status and the default notes are not visible. When you then go to the appointment and set it complete, all the procedures attached to the appointment are marked complete and the default note appears on the chart. The signatures are valid on all the procedures that did NOT have a default note. But the procedures that had a default note are marked "invalid signature". I believe this would be avoided if the default note was present in the tx plan, before the note was signed.
- If you follow the instructions in the Edit Procedure Code window to "...To do so, use the following format: [[AutoNote Title]]" You end up with a signed note that shows "[[AutoNote Title]]" in the body of the note. To actually get the note you want you have to set the procedure complete and then reopen it. When you reopen it you get your AutoNote Prompts and you can create your note and then sign it again.
This seems more like a bug than a feature request.
Example:
Procedure code D0431:
Oral Cancer exam - Examined soft tissues of mouth, cheeks, lips, tongue, palate, soft palate, uvula with illumination from oral cancer screening light. Palpated and examined soft tissues of oral cavity, submandibular glands and neck. No unusual findings. No clicking, Popping, or Crepitis noted in TMJ's.
Occasionally I have to edit the note to indicate a positive finding, such as clicking in the TMJ or a lesion on the soft tissue.
The logical work flow would be to see the note in txplan status, edit it if necessary, and then mark it complete. As it is currently so cumbersome I've stopped using default notes.