Configuring Chief Complaints

The goal of configuring any clinical list is to provide a consistent set of options for the user (either patientNOW user or patient using myPatientNOW). Using this list and removing the ability for the patientNOW user to add to the list will make your clinical data more standardized and will prevent data entry errors (e.g. misspellings).

Warning: patientNOW does not allow you to delete configuration items because they may already be assigned to a patient. However, you may disable them so that they will not appear in patientNOW in order to be selected.

Note: This page includes generic Add, Edit, and Disable Functionality

  • Add New: opens a new record at the bottom of the window with all of the fields empty. Please carefully review the existing descriptions to see if one of them may work BEFORE adding a description to the system
  • Add as New: must be selected to save the information after completing the empty Add New screen. May be selected when an existing record is in focus and you wish to create a copy of that record instead of creating a new, blank record.
  • Save Modifications: must be selected when you have made changes to an existing record and you wish to save the changes.
  • Disable: select the disable checkbox and select Save Modifications.

Add Chief Complaint.

Navigate to Administration | Clinical Admin, Chief Complaints Tab.

Warning: Review the existing options before adding to make sure that you don't create a duplicate entry.

Select Add New and Complete the information.

  • Description. The common term for the Chief Complaint. In general, these terms are more generic (e.g. Aging Skin instead of Small Brown Spots on Cheeks)
  • ICD Code. If there is an ICD-10 Code for this symptom, you may enter it here. This is not required.
  • Snomed Code. If there is a SNOMED code that describes the condition, you may enter it here. This is not required.
  • LOINC Number. If there is an LOINC number that describes the condition, you may enter it here. This is not required.
  • HPI Template. If you are using HPI templates and wish to attach a specific template to this Chief Complaint, select it in the pull-down. This is not required.
  • Disabled. Checking this box removes the condition from the lists available to the patientNOW user in Patients | Clinical Information and to the patient on the patient portal. It does not remove it from patients who have been assigned the condition.