Clinical User Guide
Links Options

See also:

Tools > Options > Links Tab

 

Clinical has been designed so that other programs such as third-party billing packages can feed patient data into the MedicalDirector Clinical database when new patients are added or updated in the billing package. In this way, the patient database in Clinical can be kept synchronised with that in the third-party application.

This arrangement is referred to as 'Linking', and the Links tab allows you to configure linking Clinical with other packages.

Do not confuse LINKING with IMPORTING:

  • 'Linking' involves the transfer of a small amount of data at regular intervals. 'Importing' is usually a manual process and can involve a large amount of data and take a considerable amount of time to complete.
  • Although MedicalDirector Clinical has very strict linking specifications, it can import data from almost any type of file.
  • If linking a new installation of Clinical to an existing package, the normal procedure would be to manually perform an import BEFORE enabling any link between the two programs.

How Does Linking Work?

The third-party application writes out the data to be transferred to Clinical into a simple text file (referred to as a link file). The link file must be in a format that Clinical understands. If linking is enabled, Clinical (via a small application called the Link File Processor) checks this link file every few minutes (and also when the program is first started), imports any patient data in the file and then clears the file contents. Clearing the contents of the file after import prevents the file from becoming too large. Ideally, this link file should generally only hold a small amount of data which represents just the updated or new patient records.

For this system to work, both programs must co-operate. Each program must communicate using a common language and rules. This includes specifications for Link file formats, and network file locking procedures. For this reason Clinical only links with packages that have implemented Medical Director's own linking specifications.

If you are a developer or want to learn more about Clinical's linking specifications refer to the Technical Reference section which includes specifications for the standard PATIENTS.IN link file format.

While the link is enabled, addition of patients or amending the patient's name, address or date of birth using Clinical is disabled. This is necessary to prevent mismatch in the allocation of unique ID codes to every patient.

Access to Options is provided via user permissions.

Items of interest on this window

Link to Billing Package

Activates linking functionality in Clinical. This option also determines whether users are allowed to enter new patients manually using Clinical or to amend the patient's name, address or date of birth. Unless this option is selected, all other link options remain disabled. This option should be selected on ALL workstations when Clinical is linked to a billing package.

Note: Failure to set this option on all workstations may result in duplication of patient records and apparent loss of data.

Link to Pracsoft

This option allows Clinical to transfer patient information internally to Pracsoft.

Allow Full Editing

Allows you full editing permissions in Clinical.

Create Immunisations

Sends vaccination data recorded in Clinical to Pracsoft for billing of immunisations.

Add to Waiting Room

Allows you to add a patient to Pracsoft's Waiting Room. When this option is enabled, patients are added to Pracsoft's Waiting Room upon opening their record in Clinical. It is important to note that you must close their record in Clinical before you record their visit in Pracsoft.

Note also, there is another method of automatically adding patients to Pracsoft's Waiting Room. In this second method, patients are added when the doctor records a Medicare Item Number to the patient's Progress Notes. This functionality is enabled via the 'Auto Add Clinical Patients to Waiting Room' check box in Pracsoft's Global Settings.

Link to Other Billing Package

Allows you to link to other billing packages. This also enables the Set Advanced Link Options button.

Provides access to other link settings. These are generally not required and should not be changed unless instructed to do so by your administrator or a MedicalDirector Customer Service Officer. For more information, refer to Advanced Link Options.