How to add a method

A method is a collection of service items and stock items normally used to perform a certain procedure, like the stitching of a wound. Vets perform a lot of standard procedures consisting of a service item and certain standard stock items. It may happen that you use five to six stock items in one procedure. For example, with the stitching of a wound, you would charge for the service, as well as the following stock items: sterile tray, syringe and needle for injection, ethanol etc. It can become time consuming to add a consultation for each patient on whom the procedure is performed, as you would have to enter the service item as well as all the stock items used in the procedure. A quicker way to handle procedures would be to create a method for each procedure containing all the items you normally use in a specific procedure. When doing the transaction, select the name of the method from the list and all the individual items will be added to the transaction. You are not bound to your original method and you can change any of the items or quantities while in a transaction.

The method can also be used to create a new clinical record. If any information is entered in the notes field of the method, a new clinical record will be added when this method is used in a transaction. The clinical record window will open and you will be able to edit the notes.

A method can also be used to update the phone back date and phone back reason of a patient. If you want to phone a client a few days after a consultation, you enter a phone date and a reason why you want to phone him/her.

Click on TARIFFS on the main menu
Click on METHODS
Click on ADD METHOD

Name
The name must be a complete description of the procedure. If the NOTES are also filled in, the method name will also be added to the clinical record.

Notes
Fill in the notes if you want the system to add a new clinical record each time this method is used in a transaction. The clinical record will consist of the name of the method plus the lines of the notes that contain text.
Also see How to add a clinical record

Number of days to phone back
When the phone back reason contains text, the phone back date in the patient information will be updated. The program will take the current system date and add the number of days and replace the phone back date of the patient information.
Also see How to add a patient
Also see Phone back list report

Phone reason
If this field contains text, the phone back date and reason will automatically be updated in the patient information each time this method is used in a transaction.
Also see How to add a patient
Also see Phone back list report

WARNING
The method feature can save a lot of time when used in a transaction, but it is possible to make a mistake.

·         If you add a method in a transaction for a wrong patient, the phone back date of the wrong patient will be updated and will be incorrect. This is an irreversible action.

·         If you delete the line in the transaction, the updated phone back date will not change.

·         If you edit the line and change the name of the patient, the updated phone back date will not change to the new patient name - you have to manually edit the first patient's information and change the phone back date.

TIP: Practice this feature a few times on a dummy patient. When you are in a transaction, click on the PATIENT button and look at the phone back date and reason of a particular patient. Add a method to the transaction. Click on the PATIENT button again and see how the phone back date and reason have changed. If you made a mistake, you can always change the date and reason manually.

IMPORTANT NOTES

·      When using a method in a transaction the stock and service rates of the method will be replaced with the rate setup of the client.
Also see How to add a client

·      Beware of deleting stock or service items from the stock and service lists that are linked to a method. This will cause the program to choose the next item on the list and result in faulty method lines.

Also see Method listing report
Also see Method detail report

How to add a stock item to a method

Click on the STOCK button on the method window
Select the stock item

How to add a service item to a method

Click on the SERVICE button on the method window
Select the service item

You can use service items to automatically update the patient's information. When using these services in a method, the patient's information will also be updated when using the method in a transaction.
Also see How to add a service item

How insert an existing method in a method

Click on the METHOD button on the method window
Select the method to be inserted

How to edit a line item in a method

Select the line item
Click on the EDIT button on the method window

Description
You can change the description of the line item.

Rate
Select the appropriate rate.
Remember: When you add a method to a client transaction this rate will be replaced by the rate that you specified for the client in the client information window.
Also see How to add a client

Quantity
You can change the quantity.

How to delete a line item in a method

Select the line item
Click on the DELETE button on the method window

How to edit or delete a method

Click on TARIFFS on the main menu
Click on METHODS
Click on EDIT METHOD or DELETE METHOD
Select the method