Macros - What are they?
Macros are similar to shorthand, you have an abbreviation that the system takes and expands it.
System Macros
System macro can be used throughout the system where ever you are entering text.
They are set up via:
Main menu -> Utilities -> Macros (System)
The system will when entering text automatically check for macros. e.g. you could setup:
| Macro | Expands to |
|---|---|
| vd | Vomiting & Diarrhoea |
| ht | High Temperature |
Now when entering text you enter vd the system will replace that with the text Vomiting & Diarrhoea and ht will be replaced with High Temperature.
While this check is automatic you can switch it off/on on a per user basis. From the main menu select '=' then User-Info, select 'Options' and '118'.
Automatic Pricing
This is probably the main use of macros within the system. These allow you to specify multiple AP codes and AP codes that use Metacharacters.
These macros are setup and editing via:
Main menu -> Auto Pricing -> Utilities -> Add/Edit Macros
AP macros need a code (abbreviation) so they can be access easily:
With Castrate cat, a suitable abbreviation could be CC.
You then enter all the AP codes relating to that item e.g.:
Details: ga ; em ; sc1 ; ma ; asm ; yy2 ; casc
So when used on the clients card you get:
Items cc
26.03.97 Induction of Anaesthesia 62.15 62 1C
ECG monitoring of anaesthesia 62.15 62 1C
Surgery: Castration 62.15 70 1C
Morphine analgesia 62.15 62 1C
All surgical materials 62.15 200 1C
Antibiotic injection 62.15 254 1C
Fee to castrate KIM 26.12 92.84 75 1C
Macros can also be used to save you having to remember the meta characters e.g. a common macro is for weights:
Code = w (Weights)
Assuming the code WGT is set up as Weight the macro:
WGT ^7=
Will when used (e.g. 12 w) come up on the record as Weight 12 Kgs and update the animal card accordingly.
User Defined Files
You may find you are always entering the same text on various procedures. You can of course just setup an automatic pricing card with the text and include it as normal. However, you are limited to 999 automatic codes and you may find you are running out.
To get round this you can use the 'User Defined Files'. These are a set of files (26 in all) and each file can contain 999 lines of text. Entries from these files can be access via auto pricing with the % meta character. e.g. %l12 will take the text from file l entry 12.
Now combine these with a macro e.g.
Macro = labm1
Details = %l5 ; %l2 ; %l3 ; %l7 ; %l4
28.03.97 (Includes the preparation and 0.00 251 1C
processing of samples, laboratory 0.00 251 1C
charges, materials used, 0.00 251 1C
postage & packing, 0.00 251 1C
and the interpretation of results) 0.00 251 1C
Now you have your standard block of text, it can be included with any of the procedures involved in sending work to labs. e.g.
Macro = ACTH
Details = act : labm1
28.03.97 ACTH stimulation test 40.38 47.45 34 1C
(Includes the preparation and 47.45 251 1C
processing of samples, laboratory 47.45 251 1C
charges, materials used, 47.45 251 1C
postage & packing, 47.45 251 1C
and the interpretation of results) 47.45 251 1C
You can recycle lines of text easily,
The macro: %l1 ; %l2 ; %l3 ; %l4 ; %l6
(Includes the taking of samples 47.45 251 1C
processing of samples, laboratory 47.45 251 1C
charges, materials used, 47.45 251 1C
and the interpretation of results) 47.45 251 1C
Press 1 at Man Card for results 47.45 251 1C
gives you a similar set of detail but the 2nd and 3rd lines have been reused.
User defefined files are setup via:
Main menu -> Auto Pricing -> Utilities -> Mileage -> User
You have 26 different files ( A - Z ), you can group the work either into individual files relating to the work e.g. all lab related stuff into file 'L'. All clinical comments relating to surgery in 'S' or just put everything into the one file.
Note: While not yet implemented, the system does store when used the file and record the text came from. This will give the ability to analysis and report on the text being used. For this reason it is a good idea to use individual files.
Enter the file you want to use and then use the list/edit options as required.
Note: Ignore the 'Breakdown' option, this was added for a compeletly different purpose which never really got off the ground.
Using the Lab examples above:
Code Description Breakdown 1 (Includes the taking of samples ( ) 2 processing of samples, laboratory ( ) 3 charges, materials used, ( ) 4 and the interpretation of results) ( ) 5 (Includes the preparation and ( ) 6 Press 1 at Man Card for results ( ) 7 postage & packing, ( ) 11 "Laboratory results: ( ) 12 All parameters within normal range ( ) 13 * liver & kidney function normal ( ) 14 * Haematology normal (including ( ) 15 platelet count) ( ) 16 * Electrolytes all normal ( ) 17 No problems demonstrated, proceed ( ) 18 with anaesthesia as normal. ( )