MEDITECH

MEDITECH is an old electronic health record program that is used widely and has a pathology module.

Look & feel

The interface has some likeness to the a DOS graphical interface, as was seen in the 1990s. Tasks, such as printing, may be quite complicated (see below). Getting information out of MEDITECH can be challenging.

The user experience often leaves one wanting.

Usage tips - basics

These tips apply only the local install. Configurations may vary substantially.

Accessing the pathology enter findings screen

• 1. LAB.GHC to enter lab component.
  • 10. FINDINGS ENTRY to find cases.
    • 1. ENTER FINDINGS (STANDARD) to actually do work.

Accessing cases in batches

• 1. LAB.GHC to enter lab component.
  • 14. PTH REQUISITION MENU.
    • 83. SPECIMEN BATCHES to enter batch screen.

Selecting cases:

• Enter .sel into the box immediately adjacent to the word Select and press return.
• Enter case identifier, e.g. SU123.
• Enter ESI in the box next to Function.

Note:

• F9 displays a menu of options.

Accessing a case

Enter:

• XXYYYYY

Where:

• XX = two letter code.
  • SU = surgical.
  • RI = referred in (consult from outside institution).
  • AU = autopsy.
• YYYYY = case number.

Example:

• SU17877

Searching for cases by name

Enter:

• LASTNAME,FIRSTNAME

Example:

• SMITH,JOHN

Note:

• A space cannot appear after the comma, i.e. it is "SMITH,JOHN" not "SMITH, JOHN".

Searching for cases by MCP number

Enter:

• "#123456789012"

Where: 123456789012 is the MCP number.

Re-assigning a case

• 1. LAB.GHC.
  • 14. PTH REQUISITION MENU.
    • 23. EDIT PTH
      • Enter ;su12345, where 12345 is the surgical number.
        • Delete the initials in the Assign To box and enter the initials of the new pathologist.

Clinical history

• Ctrl - only the right ctrl button (the left one does not work)!
  • 2 Link to PCI = clinical history.
    • Departmental Reports.
      • Medical Records.
  • 4 Related Findings = past pathology.

External reports:

• "EXTERNAL PEN PCI".

Note:

• "PCI" seems to be patient care information.

Medical imaging

• "Diagnostic Imaging" = older reports.
• "DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING Reports" = recent reports.

Note:

• These categories should really be merged. It speaks volumes that they aren't.

Laboratory data

CA-125

• Laboratory Data.
  • HORMONE CHEMISTRY.

CEA

• Laboratory Data.
  • HORMONE CHEMISTRY.

TTG

• Laboratory Data.
  • RENAL LAB Summary.

PSA

• Laboratory Data.
  • CLINICAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY.
    • PROS.SPEC.AG.

Gastrin

• Laboratory Data.
  • RENAL LAB Summary.

Helicobacter pylori serology

• Laboratory Data.
  • REFERRED SEROLOGY
    • H PYLORI IgG.

Editing

Copy & paste

• To paste into MEDITECH: ALT-V.

Highlight text

• Hit "F1" when cursor at beginning of desired text.
• Hit "F2" when cursor at end of dersired text.

Remove return

• Shift-F6.

Delete line

• F10.

Spell check

• Shift-F9.

Save diagnosis

• Usually: Esc.
• Sometimes: F12.

Clinical comment

"CLINICAL COMMENT" is used to record a discussion with the clinician, e.g. adipose tissue is present on an endometrial biopsy. The comment is not in the report itself.

Add synoptic report

• F4.
• TSCOLON - for (blank) colorectal carcinoma synoptic report.

Note:

• See the Canned text section for how to edit and create these.

Canned text

• 1. LAB.GHC to enter lab component.
  • 51. DICTIONARIES.

Enter/edit:

• 13. ENTER/EDIT CANNED TEXT.

View:

• 14. VIEW CANNED TEXT.

Errors

There are no eligible procedures to result for this specimen error

• Goto PATHOLOGY/ RESIDENT MENU.
  • 40. CHANGE USER SITE.
    • In Change To Site box enter "H".

Notes:

• "S" = St. Clare's Mercy Hospital.
• "H" = Health Sciences Centre.

Updating specs for req error

Updating specs for req ___REQUEST_NUMBER___ in progress.
By ___USER___ on device ___COMPUTER___ at ___TIME___ on ___DATE___.

Causes:

1. Case is being accessed by another user.
2. Case was accessed in session that timed-out.

Resolution:

• Ask other user to exit case.
• Call help desk - 1950.

MEDITECH WORKSTATION CONNECTIONS

Things to try:

• Check network cable.
• Confirm network connection working, e.g. go to Google home page with web browser.
• Re-boot.

Printing

1. 14. PTH REQUISITION MENU.
2. 83. SPECIMEN BATCHES.
3. Enter .sel into the box next to "Select".
4. Enter specimen, e.g. AU36, into the box that pops-up and then hit enter.
5. Click the box beside "Specimen #" - so that a check mark appears.
6. Enter ppr into the box beside "Function".
7. Enter all a in the box beside "Report Format" then hit enter several times and a box with Print on: will appear.
8. Enter HSC-LAB-P09 and hit enter.
   • Alternate printer HPATH-P2.

Sign-out

• Enter "F" in box "Type"
• Hit return - it then fills in the METITECH ID and name.
• Change Status "Y".
• Pop-up appears - choose first option ("File").

Addending a report

Main article: Addendum

• Case must be signed-out.
• Add text of addendum in field number 14.
• Sign-out addendum:
  • Goto PTH Sign Out With Electronic Signature - as when signing a case-out otherwise.
  • Goto Sign Out Addenda? - enter a "Y".
    • Select the addendum - usually "1".
    • Enter "F" at "Type" of signature. Then press "F12" and "F" (for "File") to complete.

Amending a report

• Should be used when a mistake was made - see quality.

Procedure:

• "PATHOLOGY / RESIDENT MENU":
  • 14. PTH REQUISITION MENU.
    • 83. SPECIMEN BATCHES.
      • Type ".sel" in the box beside "Select"
        • Type in the case number.
        • Select the case.
      • Type "ESI1" in the box beside "Function".
        • Enter electronic PIN.
        • Goto the sign out box at the bottom... Enter "F" and then delete the date. Then hit enter and a pop-up box will appear. Hit "F" for "File".

Staff directory

• 2 MOX Email/MOX - HCC **LIVE**.
  • 22 Employee Locator.

See also

• Informatics.
• Softpath.

External links

• Homepage (meditech.com).