Updating the Schedule

[Anon]

Good morning PracticeWorks community,

We are reviewing updates to PracticeWorks for the first release of 2018. One of our top priorities, and a long standing request, is for the schedule to fill the screen. This means getting rid of the green on the right and bottom on widescreen monitors, along with removing the schedule book graphics. 

Early work on the schedule looks like this:

On a side note, this carries over to the pending page so you'll be able to see more pending appointments on the screen. 

In this discussion, I'd like to know what other areas of the schedule will enhance the workflow in your practice. For example, one PracticeWorks user suggested adding the practice's monthly goals to the calendar. (If you're not familiar with setting up the practice's monthly goals go to File->Preferences->Office Monthly Plan). 

I'm looking forward to the discussion. 

[Anon]

I'm seeing some great suggestions! Thanks and keep them coming.

One of the ideas we're talking about is a patient information section on the schedule, similar to what you find in the clinical module. 

We could include this information, along with some core financial and demographic data, possibly even the patient portrait. The information would appear when you just click on an appointment and display on the far right of the schedule. 

If this is not beneficial we'll look for value on the schedule elsewhere. 

Thanks again for your suggestions.

[smile44]

I'd like to see an option to attach a document or x-ray right on the appointment in the scheduler. That way you do not have to go to doc's/x-rays etc - all info for that appointment would be right in one spot.

[Anon]

There's an updated imaging software, and by extension, imaging toolkit, coming down the line. We would need to wait on implementing something like this until the updated imaging toolkit was in. I'll keep this in mind for the future though. How often would you say you're attaching items to patients that require the current workflow?

[smile44]

several times a day- either with the doctor say a report pertaining to the pt from another doctor or for the hygienist as well with perio reports etc. I would really be a nice feature...also when going over the day everything needed would be in one spot for the appointment.

[dianeyoung]

I would like another option when right clicking on an appointment. The photo of the patient would be nice. That way I dont have to go to images and wait until they show up to click on the pic. 

Thank you!

[Anon]

Diane,

I posted a comment to the thread earlier this morning. We're considering a patient information panel that would appear no the right of the schedule which could include the portrait, along with other information. Would that be beneficial?

[Anon]

We're thinking along the same lines. I'll be posting some thoughts in the near future about what we're hoping to do regarding patient information on the schedule. 

[joedindo]

If you're going down that road, then I'd suggest that a user-configurable Actions option be added (much like what's on the picklist) so that we can decide what we'd want to be able to do with the right-click.

[Anon]

Considering how many user-configurable actions there are in PW I'm surprised there isn't one on the appointment right click menu. I'll check with the development group and see if there's a technical limitation. 

[gmrdmd]

If you do make the schedule a bigger screen size I would like to see you give us the option to make it any size that you like so we may if needed change the size to our likes and dislikes 

[Anon]

Dr. Rosenblatt,

I want to be sure I'm clear on the request. Would you like me to call your office sometime to discuss? Otherwise you can reply here.

Thanks!

[gmrdmd]

Monday afternoon would be a good time to call me. Between 2 & 4 I can answer the phone. I would love to discuss

973-379-4100

[Anon]

I've scheduled a time to call on Monday between 2:30 and 3. Looking forward to speaking with you.

[denise2215]

Adding additional tabs at the top of the appointment book for more customization would be great including a back button so you don't have to go to the calendar each time.   Font and readability are of high importance!  

[Anon]

Font has come up several times. We're looking into what's possible there. 

Can you elaborate on "additional tabs at the top"? 

Thanks!

[denise2215]

Jeremy, 

At the top of the appointment book there are currently 6 tabs Pending, Today, and then 4 customizable ( mine are set to .  I would love to see more tabs to customize and also a Back tab that moves the pages to previous days.  Have more short cuts to go through the appointment book instead of having to go to the calendar each time makes booking appointments faster and if a patient changes their mind and wants a day you have already passed.  Thanks

[Anon]

Thanks for the feedback!

We visited a long time PracticeWorks user's office yesterday and they love using the calendar. It seems to be a matter of familiarity; once you've used it to navigate for so long it becomes second nature. 

I'm intrigued by the idea of having other navigation options. What kind of shortcuts would you like to see?

We'll be solidifying our plans for the schedule changes in the next couple of weeks. I'd like to set the right expectation early. We are not doing a complete overhaul of the schedule. We'd like to introduce some high value changes that enhance your scheduling workflow, then build on it in future releases. Additionally we're looking at some of the major estimating pain points. I'll be posting about those in the next few weeks. 

[joedindo]

I would also lobby for a more practical way to enter producer goals. Currently, we have to go into File, Preferences, Office Monthly Plan. Then enter total production and collections, and then split it amongst each producer by percentage.  That is so cumbersome.  Why not allow a $ goal be entered for each producer per month?  That would be simple and straightforward...

[Anon]

I agree. I walked through this with the developer today and pointed this out. Based on the work we're looking at for the next release we can't get this in. However, it's something I'd like to evaluate for 2018. I've gotten a lot of feedback on how PracticeWorks handles goals and what can be done to improve them.

Please keep an eye on the PracticeWorks community for announcements on what changes we're planning for the first release of 2018.

[joedindo]

I would like to see block booking change made easier.  Currently, it's very cumbersome and difficult to use. More drag and drop ability would be very helpful.