How to use your iPhone to keep a patient list
The App store has opened in a huge fanfare, but we are yet to see any patient information managers. They will come, but probably at a premium. However, the software built in to an iPhone is sufficient to keep your patient list up to date, and backed up. Furthermore, there will be no additional cost….
Set up your system:
- Turn on password lock on your phone
- Create an all-day appointment in your calendar called “patient list.” It will sit above your day’s calender, and be relatively unobtrusive
Using the system:
- After your morning ward round, enter the URs (Unit Record numbers) of your patient in the notes section of your “patient list” appointment
- Take a photo of all the patient labels
- Each day, edit the list to reflect changes in your inpatients. Save it to replace all future occurrences of the event.
Using Operating lists:
- Create a recurring appointment for surgical or procedural lists
- Add notes in advance to upcoming lists, so you can remember what is booked
- On the day, add the UR number and the procedure code, and billing information, if needed
- When entering items, make sure you make changes to “this item only”
Optional tweaks
- Set up a separate all-day Appointment for your patient consult list
- Set up a separate list for your ED referrals, so you can track those that you saw and discharged, in case you need the information later
- Keep a separate weekly list of complications seen (perhaps on the day of your outpatient clinic)
When you sync your phone with your calender, the patient information will be updated and saved. If you back up your home computer, it is doubly safe.
You can use your electronic patient list to update your logbook, your electronic patient records, your path list - whatever you like. And you can toss your printed ward lists out.
This system doesn’t act as a medical record, but it does keep more information than a printed patient list, with minimum keystrokes.
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