Document Templates

Use the Document Template window to create and edit the templates used in Communicare that are not imported.

Open the Document Template window from the Communicare Templates window.

To create a new template in Communicare using the Letter Writer:
  1. Select Tools > Communicare Templates.
  2. In the Communicare Templates window, click Add iconAdd document template.
  3. In the Document Template window, in the Template Name field, enter a unique name.
    If you modify a template owned by MEDISYS, give the template a new name so that the next upgrade does not overwrite your changes.
  4. In the Template Description field, enter information about how the template should be used.
  5. From the Document Type list, select the document type.
    By default a new template is a Letter. Once added, it can be selected from the Letter Editor in the clinical record. Alternatively, select:
    • Care plan template - for use as patient care plans. Access from the from the Care Plan tab of the clinical record.
    • Discharge Summary Letter - for use with hospital discharge summaries. These documents are linked to clinical items with this document type selected in File > Reference Tables > Clinical Item Types, Advanced section, Letter Type field.
    • Health check report - for use with health checks. These documents are linked to clinical items with this document type selected in File > Reference Tables > Clinical Item Types, Advanced section, Letter Type field.
    • Paper based clinical form - typically, you should use clinical items to record data that can be used throughout Communicare. However, occasionally you may prefer to collect information in this document.
    • Referral letter - for use with referrals. These documents are linked to clinical items with this document type selected in File > Reference Tables > Clinical Item Types, Advanced section, Letter Type field.
    • System template - these templates are used in the system for various tasks. For example, details sent to MeHR.
  6. From the Viewing Right list, select a viewing right, that determines which users can see and use this template.
  7. From the Default Topic list, select a category.
  8. If you want to share the template with anyone with the appropriate viewing rights, set Public. Otherwise only the owner, the user who created the template, can see it.
  9. Click Edit Header or Edit Footer to open the Letter Writer and add the required header and footer information.
    Headers and footers appear on every page of a letter or other document.
    Tip: You won't see the header or footer when you add a document to a clinical record, but these are visible when you print the document.
  10. To add content to the document template, click Edit Document Template. This opens the Letter Writer.
    Set the page layout and add text, data objects (on the right) or other items.
    Tip:
    • If you want more control over the layout, put your text and items into tables. You can remove the borders to make the table invisible.
    • To make the new document template fit within the default page width, set tables to 100% wide, rather than a fixed number of pixels so that you don't lose the right hand margin when the document is printed. To do this:
      1. Add a table.
      2. Right-click anywhere in the table and select Table Properties.
      3. On the Table tab, in the Width fields, set 100% percent.
        Example document template with table width set
    • Remember that the data objects will resize when an actual letter is created. For example, a patient's name may be long or short.
    • Page layout settings such as page orientation and page margins may not be retained.
    • If you want an interactive check box, use the menu item Insert - Check Box rather than the data object Miscellaneous - Tickbox. It will appear on the template as a check box rather than a data object. If your template is for a Care Plan, use the check box.
  11. To save the layout, close the Letter Writer. If the template is ready for use, set Enabled.
  12. Click Save.
The template is now saved and ready for use by users with appropriate access rights.
Tip: If a document template is updated, it is also updated in any document you open that was created previously.