Medical Billing Forum

Coding => Coding => : jwoodel February 08, 2013, 12:31:44 PM

: Locking of Progress Note for just a Nurse Visit
: jwoodel February 08, 2013, 12:31:44 PM
Hi All, we have a problem with our Pediatrics office.   We have just switched to an EMR in the last 4 months and when the office has a flu clinic, they put the patient's on the schedule which generates a blank Progress Note for the visit then the patient comes in and the nurse gives them the injection and they are sent on their way.  Now here is the problem,  the doctor's have tons of extra charts to lock because of the flu clinic and they don't feel they should have to.  Is there any way to get around this?  I can't find any information on the internet regarding this issue.  I don't believe the Nurse's can lock the chart and the billing company only bills encounters that are in Progress Note Locked status so therefore, these encounters sit.  Can someone please shed some light on this for me and tell me how it should be done??  Thanks.
: Re: Locking of Progress Note for just a Nurse Visit
: RichardP February 08, 2013, 02:01:46 PM
Is this link of any help?

http://www.aapc.com/memberarea/forums/archive/index.php?t-74133.html

That is, does your EMR have the ability to automatically lock the encounter after X amount of time has passed?  That would take care of anyone having to lock your flu-shot encounters.  For those other accounts that get locked automatically before the doctor is finished, can he unlock the individual account?  I know some EMRs don't allow you to do that once it is locked.