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Encounters
Open a service recording for patient interactions and add clinical items, record progress notes, prescribe medications, review investigations, write referrals and manage recalls.
Encounters
Record patient encounters in Communicare using any one of the following methods.
Service Recording
In Communicare, a service is where a patient interacts with a service provider. In general, it means to have a consultation with a health care provider, that is, a Doctor, Nurse, or Healthworker.
Service Record
Use the Service Record window to set the provider and encounter place and mode, record billing details and set any requirements.
Service Record - Detail
Use the Service Record > Detail tab to set the provider and encounter place and mode.

Encounters
Open a service recording for patient interactions and add clinical items, record progress notes, prescribe medications, review investigations, write referrals and manage recalls.
- Encounters
  Record patient encounters in Communicare using any one of the following methods.
  - Service Recording
    In Communicare, a service is where a patient interacts with a service provider. In general, it means to have a consultation with a health care provider, that is, a Doctor, Nurse, or Healthworker.
    - Recording a Service
      For each patient encounter, record a service.
    - Recording Telehealth Consultations
      Use one of these encounter modes to record telehealth services.
    - Service Selector
      When you open the clinical record for a patient or add a service recording, and a service has already been provided for that patient today, those services are listed in the Service Selector window.
    - Starting a Service
      Every time you open a clinical record, a service is started. You have the option of keeping the service or not when you close the clinical record.
    - Closing a Clinical Record
      To complete a service, close the clinical record.
    - Changing to a Different Service
      If you were part of a past service, you can edit that service.
    - Service Record
      Use the Service Record window to set the provider and encounter place and mode, record billing details and set any requirements.
      - Service Record - Detail
        Use the Service Record > Detail tab to set the provider and encounter place and mode.
      - Service Record - Medicare
        When a service is completed or paused, a Medicare claim can be submitted either by the provider or reception.
      - Service Record - Private
        Check the Private Billing items claimed on the Private tab.
      - Service Record - Requirements
        Select a requirement to display an exclamation mark icon in Service Recording.
    - Service Record Filter Selections
      Use the Service Record Filter Selections window to determine which service records are displayed in the Service Recording window.
    - Service Record status
    - Provider Mode Place Selection
      The Provider, Mode and Place and Program window is displayed when you open a clinical record and Communicare is unable to identify the provider and mode-place for opening the clinical record.
    - Preselecting the Provider
      You can set the Provider, Encounter Place, Encounter Mode and optional Program used for all future services.
    - Medicare Assignment Form
      You can print patient and service details to a Medicare form ready for signing.
  - Clinical Records
    The clinical record comprises all clinical information recorded for a patient in Communicare by your health service. It includes clinical items and recalls.
- Medications
  This topic covers all Medications Management functionality within Communicare.
- Clinical Support

Service Record - Detail

Use the Service Record > Detail tab to set the provider and encounter place and mode.

You can also set the type of billing and service details for the patient on this tab.
Example Service Record window

Example Service Record window

Claim Type - type of the billing, either Medicare or Private. The type of claim selected determines which billing tab is displayed, either Medicare or Private.
Providers - the healthcare service providers
Duration - displays the time the provider had the clinical record open. Edit the length of the service in the Duration field if required.
Claimant - set the claimant in the Providers list. By default, the claimant is the first provider added to the service with a provider number for the encounter place of the service, with GPs taking priority over other speciality types.
Encounter place - the encounter place of the service. For example, Millenium Health Service.
Encounter mode - the encounter mode of the service. For example, Aboriginal Health Service.
Patient arrived - the time the patient arrived.
Withdrawn - set if a patient arrives, but then leaves before a service can start. The start time records the time the patient withdrew.
Service start - the time the clinical record was opened and the service began, or the time the patient withdrew. To reset the service record status, delete the start time.
Service end - the time the service was completed. To reset the service record status, delete the end time.
Priority - set to change the order in which patients are to be seen, if the case is urgent or your health service uses grace periods.
Date Only - if your service doesn't record start and end times, set to record the date instead.
Multiple Days- when a service ends on a day later than the day the service started, set to record the date as well as the time that the service ended.
After Hours- if the service is by date only, set to record an out-of-hours service. This is set automatically for days when there are no clinic hours.

14 November 2023