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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.
Recording Telehealth Consultations
Use one of these encounter modes to record telehealth services.

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 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

Recording Telehealth Consultations

Use one of these encounter modes to record telehealth services.

Table 1. Telehealth service encounter modes
Encounter Mode	Consultation Delivery	Description	Included in reports	Automated patient status updates?
Telehealth Video	Video conferencing	Use to record services where the contact between the Communicare provider and the patient was using video conferencing.	nKPI and OSR	Yes
Telehealth - Provider	Telephone or by another device such as a computer, with or without video	Use to record remote telehealth consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic.	nKPI and OSR	Yes
Telehealth - Recipient	Facilitator only	Use where a consultation happened between a provider elsewhere and a patient, such as between a specialist and patient at a hospital, and the Communicare provider only facilitated the contact by providing a room and remote conferencing equipment.	nKPI and OSR	Yes
Telephone	Telephone	Use to record a clinical consultation performed over the telephone between the Communicare provider and the patient.	nKPI and OSR	Yes

For information about adding encounter places, see Editing Encounter Places.

Pandemic response

During the COVID-19 crisis, ensure that you log on to the Communicare User Portal weekly and take the following steps:

Download and install the latest MBS updates
Check for new ICPC-2 PLUS clinical items and advice on creating pathology requests
Download new COVID-19 reports.
Note: COVID-19 reports are generic and will only work if the descriptions of clinical items, test requests and incoming results are consistent with the logic explained in each report. For example, lab test results must contain one of the following terms to be included in the reports: COVID, CORONAVIRUS or CORONA VIRUS. If you use these reports, ensure that you review them after items are used, tests are requested and results have arrived. Raise a support request if the data you require is not included in the report.

14 November 2023