This release contains a lot of background work to prepare for future functionality, therefore has fewer small enhancements. These include - updates to the Clipper feature, where you are now able to add notes to the side of clipped patients, plus - we have added extra test codes to MiLabs (the Laboratory test provider), so you can now order all the current MiLab tests. Other improvements include, a new filter added to the diary to help manage surgeon disciplines, stock level is now displayed when managing batch traceability plus bug fixes. 

Small Enhancements

 

Clipper feature – When adding a patient to the Clipper feature ‘to-do’ list, you can now add a short note next to the clipped patient, which you can use as a reminder on any action required. 

What is the Clipper feature? 

The clipper feature allows you to add patients to a ‘to do’ list or a holding file. So, when you get busy and are unable to action tasks you can create a ‘to do’ list, to action them later. 

What change have we made? 

Feedback from customers was that they get so busy and easily forget why a patient has been added to the list, and it would be helpful to add a short note to act as a reminder. So, now - when you add a patient to the clipper, there is an extra option to also add a patient and a note.  

Where can I find the clipper? 

The clipper is located within the top icon bar, within activities, click on the + and the clipper board will drop down, you can access this wherever you are within Merlin (the tool icon bar is always visible.

How do I add a patient to the clipper? 

There are 3 ways of doing this: 

1. Right clicking on a pre booked appointment within the diary screen will bring up a menu in a pop-up box (right click options), click on the clipper in the list and you will now see both options available to either, ‘add patient’ or ‘add patient and a note’ 
2. When visiting the reception screen and you have searched and selected a patient, you can select the clipper from the tabs available above the patient name list 
3. You can also right click on a patient name and the options menu will appear   

How do I add a patient and a note?

• When you select to add a patient and a note you will be able to type in the text box next to the pinned patient within the clipper box.
• To save the note hit return (or enter)
• To edit the note, click back inside the box where you can either delete or overwrite.
• The most recent notes will appear at the bottom of the list with older entries at the top

*Note - that all Clipper patient notes have a 150 character limit, there is also a tool tip available at the top right hand corner of the clipper board, which highlights instructions on how to use this feature. 

Please view the video enclosed for a full demonstration.  

Laboratory test codes added for Milabs

We have added additional Milab Lab test request codes to Merin. When you create a lab test request you will see these newly added codes within the list. These include, CPC200 Comprehensive Panel, HCPC200 Health Check Panel, LPC200 Liver Panel, KPC200 Kidney Panel, EPC200 Electrolyte Panel, PSPC200 Pre operation Panel, CRPC200 Canine CRP Panel, FSAAC200 Feline SAA Panel and PRG Progesterone Panel 

 

Improvements

 

1. View the stock Level when managing batch traceability

As part of a review of repeat prescription in Merlin the ‘Batch Traceability’ screen now displays the stock level. Given that the treatment setting "Destock stock items" is set to true, the stock status details will be visible in the top right-hand corner of the ‘Batch Adjustment’ screen when: 

• Adding or managing existing stock items – Navigate to Utilities->Stock Control->Stock Adjustment->Batch Adjustment 
• Adding batch treatment items to a Treatment – Navigate to Treatment Screen->Add Treatment (Tab)->Select Item (Code) where in the table "Batch Req" is true  

2. Documents can now be replaced for non-editable documents

We have improved the user experience when the edit option is selected for a document that is not editable (such as a pdf). The new functionality allows the document to be replaced.

Users are advised that editing the document directly is not possible and that the contents may be replaced by downloading the current version of the document, editing it externally and then re-uploading it into Merlin using the file upload functionality on the dialog.

This provides a consistent behaviour and replaces functionality where the document contents would have either been displayed in read only mode (either as a PDF, HTML or plain text) or downloaded directly to the user's machine.

The existing behaviour is still available using the view option (either by selecting the view button or by double clicking on the item).

3. Duration of appointment time now adjusts correctly to the Practitioners appointment time for that day

What has been changed?

Before this change, an appointment value could be edited manually, or when an appointment reason was selected – this would result with the value unable to match the Practitioners identified appointment time.   An error would then appear, making the user correct it before they could save an appointment
 
This has now been changed so that that appointment reasons will now adjust correctly to the Practitioners appointment duration for that day, plus durations of appointments can no longer be manually updated, see below for more details:

• When creating an appointment, the duration will be the length of the Practitioner's appointment slot for that day
• When creating a follow-up appointment, the duration will be increased, if required, to ensure it fills full Practitioner's slots, e.g. if the Practitioner's slot is 15 minutes and the requested follow-up appointment is 25 minutes, the duration will be adjusted to 30 minutes, covering 2 full slots for the Practitioner
• When selecting an appointment reason, the duration will be increased, if required, to ensure it fills full Practitioner's slots, e.g. if the Practitioner's slot is 15 minutes and the requested appointment reason is 25 minutes, the duration will be adjusted to 30 minutes, covering 2 full slots for the Practitioner
• The duration cannot be manually updated, only changed by the up and down arrow on the duration
• Increasing or decreasing the duration will do this in increments and decrements of the Practitioner's slot time
• The duration can no longer be reduced to 0 minutes, making the default duration to be a single slot
• The appointment end date automatically updates as you change the duration time

We have also fixed

 

• HTML Documents are now correctly displaying images
• Vetstoria bookings no longer display a ‘500 error’ in the case of an appointment Note 
• Images and videos added to the Swift app are now successfully synced back to Merlin
• Attaching files to a Merlin email that already had attachments, no longer results in the previously attached files being removed
• An issue where price updates were being triggered and emailing users outside of the specified schedule time, has now been resolved
• We have resolved an issue whereby debtors emails were not being recorded in client communications when the template contained an image, - these are now being recorded correctly