Epic Provider Tips and Tricks

[djmatte, ADN, MSN, RN, NP]

I am starting this thread as a spot for provider level NPs to share tips and tricks in using epic. Things like smart phrases, lists, or other things we are doing to make our lives easier as we navigate these often complex charting systems. I want this to be a spot for people to ask questions and hopefully get some answers.

To get things going, I have made quite a few smart sets for my colleagues to take advantage of to get the plans quickly documented for some of the more mundane workups we see. Things like UTI's, sinusitis, etc that have standard treatment plans. I am wondering if anyone knows how to set up a smart list to list selected steps in a line per selection format? Currently, my smart lists show up as a giant paragraph. I'm a format junkie and like my documentation as easy to read as possible. Is this possible?

And by all means please share other comments on how you document in epic or shortcuts you take advantage of.

[babyNP., APRN]

I do a bit of epic optimization in my own group, although it's acute care, not outpatient. One thing to keep in mind that is that epic is different with each healthcare facility and there are different levels of epic. Like the gold version that is rainbows and butterflies and the lead version that is a bit more difficult with which to work.

Creating a smart phrase that you can customize is probably the easiest way to do what you're asking. You would login to epic, click on the "epic" button on the top left, and then click on "my smart phrases" and create it there. In order to create a drop down menu, I found a workaround that allows you to create your own rather than having IT folks do it:

{Blank multiple:19196::"yes","no"}

This creates a drop down box that you can then select what you want (just add the " " and the comma like above.

I've done this to create notes for delivery attendance procedure notes that pulls in the relevant info that is needed for billing like the OB who asked me to come, indications, APGARs, etc. It used to take 10-15 minutes to write out a delivery note, even the uncomplicated ones and now it takes about 30 seconds for my group.

[djmatte, ADN, MSN, RN, NP]

10 hours ago, babyNP. said:

I do a bit of epic optimization in my own group, although it's acute care, not outpatient. One thing to keep in mind that is that epic is different with each healthcare facility and there are different levels of epic. Like the gold version that is rainbows and butterflies and the lead version that is a bit more difficult with which to work.

Creating a smart phrase that you can customize is probably the easiest way to do what you're asking. You would login to epic, click on the "epic" button on the top left, and then click on "my smart phrases" and create it there. In order to create a drop down menu, I found a workaround that allows you to create your own rather than having IT folks do it:

{Blank multiple:19196::"yes","no"}

This creates a drop down box that you can then select what you want (just add the " " and the comma like above.

I've done this to create notes for delivery attendance procedure notes that pulls in the relevant info that is needed for billing like the OB who asked me to come, indications, APGARs, etc. It used to take 10-15 minutes to write out a delivery note, even the uncomplicated ones and now it takes about 30 seconds for my group.

Sweet. I'll play around with it sometime today. We can create smart lists where you can choose one or multiple options from a menu. But as I noted they all show up in a single paragraph vs separating out by lines.

[djmatte, ADN, MSN, RN, NP]

So after thinking about it, I decided to check out other smart lists that I knew were doing this. Turns out there is an option to separate options by "and", "or", "sentence", "paragraph", etc. Paragraph is the option to choose so each option gets a line. So when options are selected for my annual physical plan, it shows up like this:

Labs evaluated and reviewed with patient.
Reviewed diet with patient and encouraged healthy choices in the future.
Screenings ordered related to USPSTF recommendations regarding patient's age, sex, and comorbidity. Discussed the importance of these screenings with patient.

Opposed to like this if I chose the default "sentence":

Labs evaluated and reviewed with patient. Reviewed diet with patient and encouraged healthy choices in the future. Screenings ordered related to USPSTF recommendations regarding patient's age, sex, and comorbidity. Discussed the importance of these screenings with patient.

[LilPeanut, MSN, RN, NP]

I'm a superuser and "physician builder".

For my personal dotphrases that I need frequently, I often will start it with an odd letter, so it doesn't conflict with anything but it is the fewest number of characters I have to type.

For example, mL/kg/day is something I type ad nauseum, so .qm for me is that. No acute events/changes overnight is .xn

Learning how to use the help report to find fields and printgroups you want to use is invaluable.

Order preferences are great too. I have a preferences for d10 @ 80 ml/kg/day, or a d10 2 ml/kg bolus for hypoglycemia. All those are prepopulated using the patient's dosing weight. Or antibiotics that automatically expire after the patient has had the 48 hour rule out sepsis eval. Head ultrasounds that are prepopulated with indication (f/u ventricles). a PICC placement xray, again prepopulated with the indication. MRI details that are common are good too. Automatic timing for labs like a bilirubin every morning x 5 days.

It would be hard to function for me without all my shortcuts and smartphrases ?

[djmatte, ADN, MSN, RN, NP]

Order preferences were always a huge help for me. Especially on the favorites side of the house.