Patient Notes in the Patient Header: User Guide

Patient Notes in the header gives you quicker access to the existing Demographics note for a patient, without needing to navigate into Details > Demographics first. It is a faster way to check, add, or update the same note field you already use today, right from wherever you are in the patient record.

Contents:

1. What Are Patient Notes
2. Where You'll See It
3. Recognising the Patient Notes Button
4. Adding a Patient Note
5. Viewing or Editing an Existing Note
6. Clearing a Note
7. Character Limit
8. Read-Only Access
9. Cancelling Without Saving
10. If Two Users Edit the Same Note
11. Keeping Information in Sync
12. If You Can't Save a Note

What Are Patient Notes

Patient Notes are not a new note type. They are the same Notes field already used in Demographics, so anything you add, edit, or clear from the header is the same note you would see under Details > Demographics > Notes, and vice versa. The header simply gives you a quicker way to reach it.

Recognising the Patient Notes Button

• If the patient has no saved note, the button appears with an add/plus-style icon, and the tooltip reads Add Patient Notes (Demographics). 

  

  
   

• If the patient already has a saved note, the button shows a blue dot indicator, and the tooltip reads View Patient Notes (Demographics). 

  

  
   

Adding a Patient Note

1. Open a patient record on a supported screen.
2. Click the Patient Notes button in the header.
   
    
3. In the pop-up window, enter your note text.
   
    
4. Click Save. 

After saving:

• The page refreshes.
• The note is saved to the patient's Demographics Notes field.
• The note becomes visible from Details > Demographics > Notes.
• The header note indicator updates to show a blue dot.

Viewing or Editing an Existing Note

1. Open the patient record.
2. Click the Patient Notes button.
   
    
3. Review the existing note in the pop-up.
4. Make any changes you need. The Save button becomes available as soon as you start editing.
5. Click Save.

Once saved, the updated note is reflected in both the header and the Demographics Notes field.

Clearing a Note

To remove a note, open the Patient Notes pop-up, delete all of the note text, and click Save.

When saved with no text:

• The note is cleared.
• The stored value is treated as blank.
• The header indicator is removed.
• The Demographics Notes field also reflects the cleared state.

Character Limit

Patient Notes supports a 2000-character limit for editing in the header pop-up.

• If you type within the limit, you can save as normal.
• If you try to type beyond 2000 characters, the additional characters are simply not entered.

Read-Only Access

You may be able to open and read Patient Notes without being able to change them. The pop-up is read-only when, for example:

• Your user access does not include update permission for Patient Details.
• The patient record is inactive or deceased.

In read-only mode, the note text box and the Save button are disabled, and the Cancel button remains available so you can close the window.

Cancelling Without Saving

If you click Cancel, the pop-up closes immediately. Any changes you made but did not save are discarded, and the last saved note value will be shown the next time you open the pop-up.

Note: Clicking outside the Patient Notes pop-up does not close it. This helps prevent accidentally losing what you are reviewing or editing.

If Two Users Edit the Same Note

If two users open the same patient's note at the same time, the most recent save becomes the stored value.

If You Can't Save a Note

Further Reading

• Patient Demographics: Quick Guide
• Customisable Patient Header: Configuration
• Admissions: The Admissions List, Admitting Patients, & Moving Patients