Quoting for Work

We've already seen how the clinical screen is used to record work carried out and apply charges to a client's account based on the procedures and stock items used. Obviously the easiest way to produce an estimate is by pricing out the work you expect to complete in exactly the same way - but, of course, you don't want the client to be charged yet!

Estimates are accessed using the commands 'B'ill -> 'E'stimate from the clinical record prompt (the same keystrokes will allow you to produce an estimate from the management record card). You are asked to enter the procedure name, and the screen will refresh, displaying the categories available down the right hand side.

Premvet 5 will then prompt you for any automatic pricing codes. Enter these exactly as you would when adding work to clinical records, but remember that some automatic pricing metacharacters will make no sense when pricing an estimate. No form of destocking is carried out, for example.

Once you have finished entering the codes you will be returned to the prompt line and the following options:

Quit

Return to the clinical record.

Edit

You can move the cursor through any of the options and change the price as required.

Note: When editing records the system will assume that VAT has been added at the standard rate and correct the vat figure as necessary so be careful of zero rated items.

Print

Prints out the estimate. Premvet 5 will ask you how many copies you need. (You can enter zero if required). The form will then be printed, and a new line will be added to the clinical record: 'Estimate xxx.xx Procedure name', with an analysis code of 228.

Note: If the procedure name contains a quote symbol this line will be highlighted.

Save

The 'Save' option will create a record that has the full estimate prices and the Automatic pricing codes used to create it. (This is the same as selecting 'Print' and printing 0 copies). In addition, a note will be added on the client card.

• You can save up to 999 sheets.
• Estimates will be cross updated.

You can use the 'W'rite option from the management card to display and select any stored estimate, if you press RETURN at the 'Estimate Description ...' question the last saved estimate will be displayed on the screen, use 'Q' at the : prompt to return to the client card.

Limit

This is the 'authorised' limit, which will be printed on the bottom of the estimate form. If you are customising the appearance of your estimate forms using estbot.def, the reserved word is &auth.

Upper

This option allows you to re-price the estimate to enable an upper limit to be generated. It's use is identical to normal pricing. The upper figures will be printed along with the normal ones. If upper figures are present the edit option will allow you to edit either the Normal or Upper figures. The upper figure will also be included on the clinical line.

Customising estimates