More UIM Epic Tools/Tips: FAQ
1. How do I send a message to a nurse or another resident without it becoming part of the
patient’s chart? “New Message” button in Inbasket - Goes as a message into a folder in their
Inbasket.
2. Is there an easy way in Epic for me to remind myself or my covering team about something
that needs to be done with one of my patients? “Reminder Flag” –found across the very top
toolbar. If you open this in a patient’s chart, it will save the patient’s information. Send the
message to yourself or colleagues at any date in the future you select.
3. I have a different LDL goal for my patient then you might find in guidelines. How can I save
this so that anyone seeing my patient will know? Use the “Overview” section under each
problem in the “Problem List”. Anything you save here will be listed under the Problem in small
print.
4. Can I document by problem within the chart? You can write about each problem in the
“Problem List” using the “Create Current Assessment and Plan Note”, then in your Progress
Note, simply use the smartphrase, “.probnotesall” (pulls in overview and assessment/plan
sections for all problems) or use the smartphrase, “.probnotesenc” (pulls overview plus
assessment/plan for only those addressed in the encounter.)
5. I need to let my teammate into my Inbasket messages. How is this done? Go in your
inbasketclick on ‘Attach’ (2nd horizontal bar across top) click on 2 Grant Accessenter
each name of your teammates (ex each resident name on pink1), your Nurse case manager and
your CMA.
6. I am in clinic this month and need to take care of all my teammates Inbaskets – please tell
me how.
Go in your inbasketclick on ‘attach’Under ‘1. General’in the user box enter each of the
residents names on your team# (example names on team pink1). All Inbaskets you can access
will now show on the bottom left of your Inbasket screen.
If you enter a resident name, and you are refused access, that resident has not done #5 above.
Page him/her and tell them – if they have not done this, they are responsible for messages.
7. I am trying to cosign orders for a colleague, but it won’t let me – what do I do?
-Click on the patient order needing signature—highlighting it
-Then go above it and click on “Reassign”
-Put your name in the ‘provider box’ -click accept
-Next, go into your own inbasket and you will find a folder named Cosign-Orders. You will need to sign
off on these orders in the folder.
8. How do I let patients know the results of their tests? Communicate results with the patient
by 3 methods: a) Letter b) Mychart (if active) c) Telephone call
a. Letter-“Inbasket””Result folder”click on patient name and review resultclick
‘letter’new letter opens upchange template to UIM Lab Letterswitch
templatecomplete the letter removing any labs not ordered. (use F2 function to enter
normal, unchanged, etc)route the completed lab letter to Donna Selvyn in the
‘Routing box’click ‘Accept and Route’. If patient has “MyChart” the system will not let
you send a letter.
b. Mychart- “Inbasket””Result folder”click on patient namethen click on “Result
Rel” (this is mychart) screen opens with the labs listed that have just come back-all
will be checked indicating results of these labs will be releasedclick in comments box
at bottom and this message goes to the patient (like: your labs look good-creatinine is
stable at 1.8—continue current medications) click accept.
c. Phone call – “Inbasket””result folder”Click on the patient nameclick on ‘Tel
Call’Telephone Encounter opens click outgoing callrelationship box fill in who you
spoke with (if patient click on box self: patient name)fill in contact
nameacceptdocument under ‘documentation’if need to add medication or
change this is available in a telephone encounteryou can route to nurseclose
encounter
9. What if the result is abnormal and I need to do something for the patient?
Result note- “Inbasket””Results folder” click on patient name and review resultclick
“Result note”type a message in the ‘result note’ box (EX-lipids were still high, increase
mevacor to 40 mg qhs. Remainder of labs stable. Let pt know and call in new prescription w
11 refills to pharmacy Route it to your case manger in the ‘Route note to’ (your case
manager’s name goes here) then click accept. Still need to change medication dose on
medication list so accurate- you can do this in the telephone encounter as well.
10. I got some medical records from another hospital and want to write a note in the chart.
Where do I do this?
You need a “Documentation Encounter”. “Epic” button  “Patient Care”  “Documentation”.
Send the records to be scanned.
12. How do I respond to my nurse about a Phone Call?
Highlight the phone message  choose “Quick Note” on the tool bar  Type your message 
type your nurse’s name in “Route As: Recipient” box  Sign
13. My patient has the wrong PCP assigned in Epic -what do I do? Notify your case manager.
CM will contact appropriate people to get it changed across all systems.
14. Is there an easier way for me to order the correct tests and studies? We have done some
legwork for you! Follow these steps: Epic buttontoolspatient care toolspreference list
composerbottom left click ‘Copy user’in the ‘from user’ box enter “Brownfield, Elisha”
check the boxes of what you want to copy—anything that has a number next to itClick
‘replace’close
15. Is there any easy way for me to add all the schedules I will need this month?
Creating schedule for unit resident:
Schedule (top toolbar)=> right click my schedule=> create schedule=> fill in a name for the schedule=>
click configuration tab=> enter “rt 8 uim residents” under provider=> click resource=>
Highlight: IM/GYN, Rapid ACCESS CLINIC, RAPID ACCESS 2, UIM SICKLE CELL ADD ON, UIM ER,
UIM GYN INTERN, UIM HOSPITAL DISCHARGE, UIM URGENT VISIT,
Add and accept
16. How do I see all those color team schedules again?
When you are on the schedule screen, simply click the magnifying glass next to Dept: RT 8 UIM,
and all the colors will appear.
17. Isn’t there a note template I can use?
In your Progress Note, type “IM gen” in the “Smart text” box for the UIM template.
18. How do I mark all my medications as “Long Term”, and why does this matter?
Epic automatically drops medications after 1 year into the historical category. When you are in
an open encounter, go under “Meds and Orders”. In this section’s tool bar, find “Options” --
“Choose Columns”. Open this and select “Long-term”. You will now have a red push pin in your
tool bar, and an open box next to each medication. Click the box to make the medicine “Longterm”.
You can also do this from the Blue Navigator “Medications” button. A chart with medications
will open there is a red push pin at the top a column to the left of medication names. Click
next to the medication in the “Push Pin” column.
Sept 04, 2012