Full Description of CRK Plus

Summary

In today's clinical world, you need to be just as efficient as you can be to deal with the many demands on your time. You need a good method to create, access and use your clinical files.

• Handwriting at 20 words per minute just isn't adequate.
• Paper charts are:
  • Bulky
  • Often not legible.
  • Not easily portable.
  • Have to be pulled and put away.
  • Don't lend themselves to template use or editing well.
• Typing and a well organized computer program can help you get your records done in a hurry.
• Typing can be learned and is a much more useful method of record keeping (50 words per minute on average).
• Clinical Record Keeper Plus™is an efficient program designed by a clinician to avoid the typical problems that plague generally available software.
  • It provides a streamlined method for record keeping that will take less time, and leave you with more energy at the end of the day.

Details of the Program

Want to create and manage your documents easily?

• Explorer-like tree (outliner) on the left in the program means rapid access to all your files.
• Open and close folders to show their contents.
• A history navigator can take you backwards and forwards in the program.
• Navigation between files is fast and accurate.

Want to use a template?

• Templates can structure recurring data entry.
  • This lets you work faster.
  • They are much more versatile than fields you tab between.
• Use templates or free text (i.e. without a template).
• All templates are quickly modifiable.

Need simplicity?

Click on the link   Simplicity

For a look at a simplified version requested by a social worker: 

    Click Here

How about good visibility of your charts?

• Each chart is one continuous file on one large screen that is easy to see and use.
• No more disconnected "libraries".
• Font, font size, and size of the screen are adjustable to fit your customary way of working.

Specific Clinical Record File

• This file can hold the following:
  • Initial evaluation
  • All subsequent progress notes.
  • Authorization codes for managed care companies.
  • Next appointment date.
  • Reminder section.
  • Active problem list.
• Use templates or free text or any combination of these.
• See Screen Shot on the right for an example.

• Psychiatrists
  • The medical version keeps prescription information, current medications, pharmacy information, and labs in a compact format.
    • Key abbreviations make a big difference in data entry here.
  • The medical version also makes computer generated prescriptions possible if they are legal in your state.
  • Click on the link   Computer Prescriptions
  • I recommend an inexpensive abbreviation utility that can increase your speed and decrease your effort especially with regard to medication management.
• The utility is quite useful for all clinicians as well.
• I use Clinical Record Keeper software in my own busy outpatient psychiatric practice. I don't have a secretary. Never have. I handle everything and go home with energy. If I can you can too!

Your Progress Notes

• They follow the initial evaluation in the same file.
• No separate screens, libraries, or unruly commands to get in the way. Because they are sequential in one file, you know what happened when and your understanding of the timing of things is thereby improved.
• They can be template organized, or free text. Your choice.
• This program takes the stress out of record keeping and provides real record keeping efficiency.
• For more on progress notes:  Click Here

Psychotherapy Note File (if desired)

• Psychotherapy notes are kept in contiguous but separate files.
• They therefore meet the psychotherapy note exemption of HIPAA.
• Access to them requires one click. Review of last session's notes before an upcoming visit is quick and easy.
• Click on the link     Psychotherapy Notes

Address Book and Contact File

• Complete contact information.
• Supplemental files attached to each entry can hold E-mails, contract information, logs of conversations, authorizations, releases, records of consent, etc. User-definable fields can hold data that can be searched.
• Combine the contact information with the clinical chart if you wish.

Want to use an electronic schedule?

• Link to free or inexpensive calendars for fast appointment scheduling.

Do you need to print a file?

• Any file in the program can be printed. Envelope creation is uncomplicated.

Want to keep a Visit and/or Receipt Record?

• The Weekly Visit and Receipt Record combines a record of all dates of service and receipts.
• These records make updating the Statement of Account fast and easy if you use it.
• It serves as a deposit slip total for a checking account and does away with deposit errors.
• It can also serve as a quick check on quarterly income.
• Use it to keep information you send to a billing assistant!
• You can keep Statements of Account using Excel if you have that program installed. Then make a live link from the client's clinical chart to their individual Statement of Account spreadsheet. Update it and mail it to them as a statement.

Keep your eye on that time and energy saved by using a program like this. It is worth a lot!

Need to have Managed Care Out-Patient Treatment Requests?

• Keep an OTR for any specific patient. It can be quickly updated for future authorization requests saving time and effort.
• Managed care companies accept these reports even if you are a networked provider.
• This streamlines the process of asking for authorizations, and greatly reduces repetitive typing.

Do you use treatment plans?

• I have always found using an editable template to be the best way to do this.
• You determine the goals, interventions, etc.
• Simply keep an individual Rx plan and edit it in the future.
• Talk about easy!
• I hate to waste time!

Letterheads, Fax Sheets, Release of Information, Face Sheets, Intake forms, Information Sheets for Patients

• Kept as templates they can be used over and over saving you much time in the administrative work of your practice.

Super bill, Receipt for Payment, Practice policies, HIPAA Access Log, Statement of Account

• Save time by using the CRK Plus templates or create your own.
• CRK Plus does not do accounting.
• It does have a Statement of Account (ledger type) for monthly printout and mailing to patients if desired.
• Check out   EZclaim  for a stand alone accounting program.

Want to stay organized?

• Grouped To Do List.
• This is a great way to handle all the details of a clinical practice. No more scraps of paper.
• The grouping of similar items is very efficient. In time it may become the most used file in the program!

Have your eyes glazed over or do you want more details?

Pass Word Protected

• Each database can have its own pass word. That and other working procedures and policies make CRK Plus a great way to create a HIPAA compliant environment for your office.

Need an easy backup method?

• The program is easily backed up using inexpensive USB Flash drives, or CD's.

Complete flexibility of architecture

• Drag and drop nodes, branches, and files.
• Multiple pass worded databases.
  • Switch between them with a click.
• Complete flexibility so you can rearrange the architecture of the program without technical help to suit your working style.
• The result? Streamlined record keeping customized for your practice.
• With all this CRK Plus makes short work of clinical record creation and management.
• Custom configurations are available. Tell me your needs.

Comparison with the Original CRK

• CRK Plus is a more involved program than the original Clinical Record Keeper.
• It is suitable for more advanced computer users.
• I do have extensive direction files.
• If there is any doubt at all, get the demo.

Other Technical Aids and Software

• Dragon Naturally Speaking Preferred (obtained separately) can be used in this program for dictation at a high rate of speed (100 words per minute) once you have mastered the controls of Dragon. Link to Dragon
• Dragon is especially helpful for longer reports. You don't have to buy the expensive medical version. The $200 Naturally Speaking Preferred works fine. ( I have seen Version 9 on e-bay for $55!)
• Click on the link    Dictation
• Voice recognition has come a long way in the past few years. It is now very useful.
• Use a USB headset microphone, a Palm tungsten, or a handheld recorder.
• PCNotetaker is a separate utility with a digital pen that makes it possible to put digital drawings, sketches, notes into CRK Plus but it is awkward and not efficient. It serves for those occasional stick drawings, or images you can't get with a word processor.
• A simple utility (19.95) is an abbreviation program. You make a digest of commonly used words and phrases, and use abbreviations to insert these into the text you are writing.

What are you going to do with that free time you are going to save?

Want to keep scanned documents?

• You can buy an inexpensive power fed scanner with associated software for the price of a good quality filing cabinet.
• Then scan any paperwork to Windows folders. Make live links to them for lab reports, multi-page documents, consultations, psychological test results, contracts, or paper of any kind.
• The ability to scan paper and link directly to the files brings you much closer to a paperless office and it can dramatically lower the amount of copying, printing, filing, and pulling of charts in your office.

Create Live Links

• CRK Plus has the ability to create live links to files within itself, Windows folders, or any program or file on your computer.
• This means, for example, that you can toggle between Excel, Outlook, Palm, or other software you have installed and use them alternately. Funnel your E-mails into Outlook folders and link directly to them there.
• PDF files are becoming a standard clinical file.
  • Create folders and sub folders in Windows for PDF files.
  • Make live links to them from within a specific clinical chart.
• Links to the Internet and web sites means that research databases, drug interaction software, reference articles, and Internet functions and information can be available with a click. This is an important resource for practitioners that need to access to a wide variety of information in different places.

The Bottom Line

• Avoid handwriting at 20 words per minute. Type at 50 words per minute or dictate at 100 words per minute.
• Get rid of paper charts and get efficient.
• Whether you have an ultra simple record keeper, or you use the full functionality of this program you can have what you want.
• Use this program and your efficiency will skyrocket!

The Shape of Things to Come

In a few short years all records will be done electronically. In the meantime those who search for greater efficiency are already looking for better solutions. Clinical Record Keeper Plus™ delivers an efficient design, running in a familiar environment, with advanced features to help you.

The benefits are tremendous. You can become much more efficient with a great computer program and put some time and energy back in your day!

Charles M. Stewart, M.D.

Blueberry Harbor Software, Inc.

To purchase Clinical Record Keeper Plus   Click Here

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