You can specify how Dentrix Enterprise handles chart numbers for your patients. The chart number settings can help you eliminate duplicate chart numbers, speed data entry for new patients, and maintain the integrity of your chart numbering system.
Notes:
These setting do not apply to patient records that are imported into Dentrix Enterprise from external sources through the HL7 interface.
Setting up chart numbers requires the "Chart Number Setup" security right.
To set up chart numbers
While logged in to the Central clinic, in Office Manager, expand the Maintenance menu, point to Practice Setup, and then click Chart Number Setup.
Note: This option is available only if you are logged in to the Central clinic.
If applicable, do one of the following:
If the Password - Chart Number Setup dialog box appears, user verification has been assigned to the "Chart Number Setup" task. Do one of the following:
If your user account has been granted the "Chart Number Setup" security right, enter your credentials in the User ID and Password boxes, and then click OK.
If your user account has not been granted the "Chart Number Setup" security right, have a user with permission temporarily override this restriction so you can set up chart numbers this one time. The overriding user enters his or her credentials in the User ID and Password boxes and then clicks OK.
If a message appears, informing you that you do not have rights to this operation, your user account has not been granted the "Chart Number Setup" security right. To have a user with permission temporarily override this restriction so you can set up chart numbers this one time, do the following:
On the message, click Yes.
In the Password - Chart Number Setup dialog box, the overriding user enters his or her credentials in the User ID and Password boxes and then clicks OK.
The Chart Number Setup dialog box appears.
Set up the following options:
Chart Number Entry - Select one of the following options:
Manual Chart Number Entry - To not use chart numbers in your office or to assign chart numbers manually.
Numeric Auto Chart Numbering - To have Dentrix Enterprise automatically assign a numeric chart number to each new patient.
Alpha/Numeric Auto Chart Numbering - To have Dentrix Enterprise automatically assign a combination alpha and numeric chart number to each new patient. This option will create a chart number using the initial two characters of the patient's last name and then a unique numeric ID. For example, John Smith might be assigned the chart number SM0001.
Select Chart Number Length:
Minimum Length - From the list, select the minimum length (anywhere from 5 to 10 characters) that chart numbers must be, or select None to not have a minimum length.
Exact Length on Manual Entry - To require that chart numbers be exactly as long as the selected Minimum Length when someone enters chart numbers manually, select this checkbox.
Note: A chart number's length may differ from these settings in either of the following cases: if a prefix or suffix is added to the chart number, or if the chart number is not required and a value is not entered.
Patient Status - For each of the patient statuses (Patient, Non-Patient, Inactive, and Archived), select any of the following checkboxes:
Require Chart Number - A chart number is required for a patient record with the given patient status selected.
Make Chart Number Read-Only - The chart number is read-only when editing a patient's record with the given patient status selected. However, a user with the "Chart, Override Read-Only Setting" right selected can edit the chart number in such a patient's record.
Do Not Auto Assign - Dentrix Enterprise does not automatically assign a chart number to a patient's record with the given patient status selected. This option is not available for any patient status if the Manual Chart Number Entry option is selected.
Click OK.