Create and Edit Qualifiers

You can add qualifiers to one or multiple clinical items, clone qualifiers, edit qualifiers and remove them from clinical items if required.

Adding qualifiers

To add a qualifier:
  1. Select File > Reference Tables > Qualifier Types.
  2. In the Qualifer Type Maintenance window, click Add iconAdd and add qualifier properties, as described in Table 1.
  3. Click Save iconSave.

Editing qualifiers

To edit a qualifier:
  1. Select File > Reference Tables > Qualifier Types.
  2. In the Qualifer Type Maintenance window, click Edit iconEdit.
  3. Edit the required qualifier properties, as described in Table 1.
  4. Click Save iconSave.

Cloning qualifiers

Note: When a qualifier is cloned, only the data that you can edit in Qualifier Type Properties is cloned. Related Charts, Clinical Items and Recalls are not cloned.
To clone a qualifier to use as the basis for another qualifier:
  1. Select File > Reference Tables > Qualifier Types.
  2. In the Qualifer Type Maintenance window, right-click on a qualifier in the qualifiers list and select Clone Selected Item.
  3. Open the new qualifier and edit its properties.
  4. Click Save iconSave.
The cloned qualifier is coloured purple to denote that it is a local qualifier.

Qualifier properties and value types

Table 1. Qualifier Properties
Property Description
Qualifier Description Name of the qualifier. This should uniquely identify the data even when the qualifier is reported on without the context of the clinical item to which it is attached.
Summary Set to add this qualifier type to the qualifier summary in a patient's clinical record. This shows the latest date and value for this qualifier for that patient. If this checkbox is ticked or unticked for a qualifier that already has a lot of data then saving the change may take a few moments because patient data is being processed.
Show on Alert Summary Set to add this qualifier type to the alert summary section in a patient's clinical record.
Export Code The code used to facilitate identification of qualifiers for reporting purposes.
System Code A code used to facilitate specific behaviours in the Communicare program. Nothing should be entered here without consultation with Communicare to confirm the behaviours that will arise for that code. Unrecognised codes will have no effect.
Aboriginality Determines whether this qualifier is only for persons of a particular Aboriginality. Leave blank if it should be applicable to everyone. This cannot be changed once the qualifier has been created.
Gender Determines whether this qualifier is only for persons of a particular sex. Leave blank if it should be applicable to everyone. This cannot be changed once the qualifier has been created.
Value Type Determines the way in which the qualifier appears in the clinical item. For more information, Table 2 .
Definition This section is displayed above the qualifier on the clinical item when a user is entering data. It can be used to clarify the measurement description or to add extra specific instructions as to when and how the qualifier is to be used.
Currency The period of time that the qualifier will be current or up-to-date. If a qualifier is added to a patient's qualifier summary, it will be current for the amount of time specified here. If a qualifier is older than its currency period, the date value is highlighted in red in the qualifier summary list. If you leave this field blank, the qualifier will always be treated as current.

When adding a new qualifier, you are required to select the type of value it should store. This cannot be changed once the qualifier has been created.

Table 2. Value Types
Type Description
Address Book Lookup Allows the user to select an address book record that is available for secure communications from the Communicare address book.
Date Value is any valid format date.
Date Time Value is any valid format date and 24 hour time.
Drawing A preset template image to draw on for examinations and so on. This qualifier type is not currently user-definable. Contact Communicare Support for requests for further drawing qualifiers.
Dropdown list A single value can be selected from a predefined list. Define the options in the lower grid. For more information, see Dropdown List Qualifiers.
Free text Values can be any short text to a maximum of 40 characters.
Image An image file can be loaded into the clinical item. Supported file types are:
  • JPEG (*.jpg;*.jpeg)
  • Windows Bitmap (*.bmp)
  • Icon files (*.ico)
  • Windows Metafiles (*.emf;*.wmf)
  • GIF (*.gif)
  • Portable Network Graphics (*.png)
Investigation Request Select to include a button in the clinical item that opens the Add Investigation Request window. The investigation keyword included in the Keyword field identifies one or more investigation requests. Clicking the button generates an investigation request with the identified tests associated with the investigation keyword automatically selected.

When the clinical item is saved there is a record that the investigation request was generated from that clinical item. In future this will allow results of specific tests to be matched to the item (say, antenatal check) that generated the request.

For more information, see Investigation Keywords.
Memo Value is an unlimited amount of free text.
Numeric

Values can be numbers, including decimals. Units must be defined.

Specifying a range of values: numeric qualifiers can have maximum and minimum values defined. This will prevent users from entering values below the minimum or above the maximum. If the user enters a value outside the range, they are warned. For example, Hb (Haemoglobin) (g/L) must be between 18 and 220. Users must correct the data before they can save the clinical item.

Person A person (patient) in the Communicare database.
Tick box A check box that can be set. Defaults to unselected.
Time Value is any 24 hour format time.
Title A section header. Does not collect patient data.
Yes, No Values can be Yes, No or blank (not stated). Defaults to blank.