How do you keep track of continuity clinic patients

[Perrotfish]

---

Members do not see this ad.

As the title said: how do you guys keep tabs of your continuity patients? As in who lives where, who needs follow up, etc? Do you keep a running 'sign out' of all of your patients? Sticky notes reminding you who to follow up with? See them and forget them? What's your system for keeping your panel straight?

 

[Top Gun]

As the title said: how do you guys keep tabs of your continuity patients? As in who lives where, who needs follow up, etc? Do you keep a running 'sign out' of all of your patients? Sticky notes reminding you who to follow up with? See them and forget them? What's your system for keeping your panel straight?

Its all in the chart. You look at the last note, whatever labs or studies you ordered last time, and the patient's address and other information is usually listed on a face sheet. If you've been following patients for some time, you often have some idea of what their problems are and how they are being managed.

 

[Cali2]

Our EMR has a 'to do list' section, which I maintain for the highest priority items (typically < 10 tasks total for my whole panel on it).

I also have an Excel Spreadsheet where I track things like most recent appointment, when next appointment is due, any significant things I want to follow up, or notes to myself that I don't want in the formal chart. I update it every few months or as needed.

As above, I also try to maintain relatively detailed notes, particularly for things like preventative healthcare - it makes things so much easier the next time I see the patient.

Would be interested in seeing how other people keep track of these things.

 

[FutureInternist]

As the title said: how do you guys keep tabs of your continuity patients? As in who lives where, who needs follow up, etc? Do you keep a running 'sign out' of all of your patients? Sticky notes reminding you who to follow up with? See them and forget them? What's your system for keeping your panel straight?

Most of "keeping tabs" is following labs that were ordered which should automatically come back to you via EMR
The important thing is to make sure you do an addendum to your previous note reflecting what you did based off of those labs which helps not only you the next time but also whoever may see the pt in clinic or for an admission

 

[brotherman]

Agreed. Esp with EMR, its very easy to follow up. and if you're seeing a colleague's patient then you can easily send them a message. Otherwise, its informal communication.