Tricks of the Trade: Using Meditech Client Server NPR to Keep Everyone on the Same Page

By: John Sharpe, President, Comstock Software, Inc.

People agree on common definitions; except when they don’t. Example, healthcare professionals might define a PEDS patient as: a) a person under the age of 18, OR b) a person under the age of 14, OR c) another range. Without clearly defined terms, even the simplest and most common of things can get confusing.

Hospitals using the Meditech Client Server System use NPR Reports as a primary source of information. As NPR report writers, we can help by clarifying these terms at report run time.

The ‘General Population Report’ is a case in point. In this report, the terms ADULT & PEDS are clearly defined and available at the time the report is used. Let’s review the techniques used to customize the screen and present available choices.

Step 1: Define Custom Fields

We can use a custom field 'xx.population.segment' to present the ADULT / PEDS choice. Then use the 'xx.age.selection' field to do the work of selecting and filtering out records.

Both fields will be defined under the report Picture as custom fields.

xx.population.segment custom field definition:

xx.age.selection custom field definition:

Step 2: Define Choices

To present the ADULT & PEDS choices, use option 9. Entering a ‘Y’ to access the field attributes.

The CH attribute is used to build the list of items presented in a ‘Lookup’ box at report run time.

Step 3: Type Definitions

Using option 8, type in the definitions for ADULT & PEDS so that they are visible at report run time.

At run time, the report looks like this.

Now, when someone at the hospital is talking about the PEDS population report, everyone will be on the same page.

NOTE: If future report maintenance requires changing report SELECT fields, recheck this information as Meditech CS NPR clears out customizations when the SELECT screen is changed.

John Sharpe is President / NPR Consultant at Comstock Software, Inc. Learn more about NPR Report Writing at the MEDITECH NPR Report Writing Blog.