Patient Number Types
The Patient Number Type value is used on the patient numbers table and is normally shown on the patient demographics page to indicate the type of number.
Patients already have two internal numbers that are used in various ways, these are identifier and medicareNumber.
Patient numbers allow other numbers / identifiers to be added to a patient that are not included by default. For example, an external reference number could be added to the patient with a patient number type of F-Number.
This Patient Numbers table is displayed on the main patient demographics page. To add a record to this table:
Press the + button and then select an existing Type from the drop down list.
Enter the value into the Number field and always remember to Save.
The Patient Number Type must already be set up in preferences as described below.
Location
The Patient Number Types preference is located under the Administration > Preferences area of iGene.
In order to access the preferences area, a user must be a member of a role that has the Administration: Preferences and Administration menu permissions assigned.
- Navigate to Administration > Preferences.
- Find Patient Number Types in the table and click View by either:
- Navigating through the Preferences table until the Patient Number Types preference is found.
- Performing a search using an existing saved search for Name = Patient Number Types.
- Performing a search using a newly created search. See the searching guide for information on how to create searches.
- To create a new patient number type click the + button at the bottom of the table, or select New Item from the Actions menu.
- To edit an existing patient number type, click the Edit button.
The Patient Number Types table will display the code, name and the status of the preference.
The Status field indicates two pieces of information:
User / System: User records have been added by users manually and are fully editable. System records are generally added via a data import or provided by default. Only the name can be edited on a system record.
Active / Inactive: Shows whether the record is currently active or inactive. Inactive items will not show up for selection for new records but will continue to show on entries that are using them.
Configuration Options
When opening or creating a patient number type, users are presented with the below form to complete.
Always press Save in the bottom right hand corner of the browser window after adding or editing a preference.
Code
(Required, Unique)
The code is a unique short name for the patient number type.
Depending on how the data was placed into the system, the Code field may be readonly. User created patient number types generally do not have this restriction.
Name
(Required, Unique)
The name field is the display name for the patient number type. The name should also be unique
Active
The active checkbox controls whether the patient number type is currently in use. Deactivated patient number types can no longer be selected, but existing records that are using them will continue to work.
Use Nomenclature
When selected, any new numbers created with this particular patient number type will have an autogenerated number using the iGene nomenclature system. (TODO add links to nomenclature preferences)
Is Secure Field
When enabled, the contents of the number will be masked with asterisks and to view, a user must click the Reveal button. This will hide sensitive information from display until needed.
Deactivating / Activating
Each item has an active status that specifies whether the item is available for selection. When deactivating an item, it will no longer appear in autocomplete lists for selection, but will still be displayed on any records that continue to use it.
To deactivate (or reactivate) a Patient Number Type either:
- Untick the Active checkbox inside the preference and Save.
Or
- Right-click on the required entry in the table and select Toggle Active Status. Click Yes when prompted.
The state of the Patient Number Type will then be changed to either Active or Inactive.
Usage
The Patient Number Types preference is used to add new identifiers or numbers to patients. For example, it could add an external reference number or a number that is required by an external interface.