PATIENT INTAKE TO PATIENT FOLLOW UP WORKLOW

Patient Intake to Patient Follow-Up
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Introduction
This paper gives the procedures involved in filing the Patient Intake and Follow-up Workflow Template. It will focus on Dorothy, a patient suffering from fatigue and constant headaches. Upon deciding to visit her personal doctor, Dorothy contacts the physician’s office and plans an appointment with the office to visit on the following day. Here, the author will identify ten steps to follow when guiding Dorothy through the patient intake and follow-up processes.
Keywords: Patient Intake, Follow-up, patient, steps
Steps Description
1. Dorothy arrives at the doctor’s office where she will be asked to verify her demographic information.
2. A medical assistant, receptionist or nurse will ask Dorothy to complete her medical history and her reason for visit as well as the symptoms of her health condition and record the answers in a computer-aided questionnaire.
3. The nurse will measure Dorothy’s weight and height and store the results in the EHR. He/she will also use a device to check vital signs for Dorothy’s temperature, pulse, and blood pressure.
4. Both the nurse and Dorothy will review the medical history and symptoms while editing and making clarifications, respectively.
5. The physician will conduct the physical examination whereas the clinician will perform a provisional diagnosis of Dorothy’s mental condition. The records are transferred to the EHR.
6. The clinician will use the EHR to prescribe medication, treatment, and other tests appropriate for helping Dorothy.

7. In case the doctor’s office orders lab work, a medical assistant will obtain the required specimen and electronically send it to the lab.
8. Given the efficiency and complexity of the EHR, the physician will counsel and educate Dorothy about the system’s functionality.
9. Dorothy will be directed to the checkroom, where the office professionals may call on her behalf to schedule an appointment for lab testing if there is a need for x-ray or any diagnostic test.
10. If the office ordered lab tests, the doctor will receive the results electronically, review them on the screen, and merge them into the EHR.
Conclusion
Doctor appointments are procedural and need proper preparation, especially when the health facility has to use health technologies such as the EHR. The procedures help the health organizations use these tools in providing appropriate care to the patients as well as avoiding misusing the machines. For that reason, this paper provides a marker for any hospital that plans to use EHRs and other technologies to treat patients.