How do I add a new modality to the Plan Window?

You can Add new modalities or you can Clone existing modalities in MyEMR for Windows.  When adding a new modality. it is necessary to create new verbiage (Synonyms and Goals) as well.  If you 'clone' an existing modality, the newly created modality inherits the verbiage from the original.  However, you may have to change part of the verbiage (see Clone Existing Modality below).  

Parts of a Modality

There are four (4) parts to a modality.  They are:

  1. Mnemonic - The mnemonic is a code or an abbreviation used to identify the modality.
  2. Listbox Description - The Listbox description is the name of the modality as you want it to appear in the list on the Plan Window.
  3. Synonyms - The synonyms are part of the verbiage that generates in the note.  You may create several iterations to describe the modality to allow the text engine to randomize the verbiage.  However, you need at least one (1) synonym for the modality to appear in a note.  Synonyms should be entered using lower case letters unless capitalization is required.  Optionally, you may add a 'timed amount' to the synonym such as: 15 minutes of massage.
  4. Goals - The goals describe the expected results from the modality.  Like synonyms, you need to enter at least one (1) goal for the modality to generate in a note.  However entering several iterations will allow the text engine to randomize the goals when generating the note.  Goals should be entered as a sentence fragment without.

Modality Plan Templates

The factory plan templates are used to merge in the modality (synonym), region, and goals.  While you can add or modify these templates, it usually is not necessary.

Add, Clone, Edit Modalities 

As mentioned you can Add or Clone a modality.  Additionally, you can Edit an existing Modality.  Once you have completed all your changes, make sure you refresh the local verbiage.  Close any open patients, then Go to Tolls > Refresh Local Verbiage and wait for it to complete.

Clone existing modality

The easiest way to add a new modality is to 'clone' and existing one.  When you clone an existing modality, the newly created modality inherits all the verbiage from the original modality, meaning only slight changes to the verbiage are needed.  For example, if you 'clone' Hot Packs to create Cold packs, you only need to change the synonyms by replacing the word Hot with Cold.

To clone an existing modality:

  1. Go to Tools > Customize > Plan > Modalities.
  2. Click on the Modality you wish to Clone.
  3. Click the Clone Item... button.
  4. Change the Mnemonic and Listbox Description for the new Modality.
  5. Click OK.
  6. Click on Synonyms...
  7. Make any appropriate changes to the first iteration to reflect the new Modality.
  8. Use the Random Iteration arrows to scroll through any other iterations and make the necessary changes.
  9. Click OK.
  10. Go to Tools > Refresh Local Verbiage or (Shift+F5) to distribute the changes. 

Add New Modality

To add a new modality, you follow the same steps as you do to Clone an existing modality, with the following exceptions:

  1. Do not click on an existing item.
  2. Click the New Item... button.
  3. Create a new Mnemonic and Listbox item.
  4. Create new synonym(s)
  5. Create new Goal(s)
  6. Go to Tools > Refresh Local Verbiage or (Shift+F5) to distribute the changes.

Edit Modality

You can Edit the Listbox Description, Synonym(s) and/or Goal(s).  You cannot change the Mnemonic.  To Edit a modality:

  1. Click on the Modality you wish to edit.
  2. Click Edit Item...
  3. Make the changes to the Listbox, synonym(s) or goal(s).
  4. Go to Tools > Refresh Local Verbiage or (Shift+F5) to distribute the changes.