Creating a Temporary Patient ID

If you are using the patient's Social Security Number (SSN) as the Patient ID but that number is temporarily unavailable, you can create a temporary ID by typing #, T or @ in the Patient ID field of the Appointment Register screen and then pressing Enter.

SYSTOC will assign a number that is preceded by the letter T. This temporary number allows you to attach Orders to the appointment. In the Text field, type the patient's name, last name first. This will allow you to create and save an appointment with attached orders, but you will not be able to enter an Inj ID.

Note: Patients with a Temporary Patient ID also have a blank Inj ID field. Be sure that when you add a permanent Patient ID you also add the injury or enter the correct Inj ID for this appointment.

When the actual SSN is known (usually when the patient arrives), replace the temporary ID by pressing F5 when the cursor is in the Patient ID field. Search to determine if a patient record using the SSN as a Patient ID currently exists. If the patient is found, select him.

If the patient is not in the list, press Add from the list box to access the Patient data entry screen. Type in the full patient data and save the record, then use the Back button to return to the Appointment Register screen. The temporary SSN will have been replaced by the correct one; press the Tab key to accept it. When you save, the patient text box will be corrected and you will be asked various questions about the data.