Open Dental Forum

Hi,

We are using version 5.9.9. In the Edit Appointment, the New Patient checkbox is always checked by default when making an appointment for a returning patient. When viewing the Patient Information table for that particular patient in the Family module the Status is Patient.

We are only using the Appointment Module right now. Is it because we haven't used Account, Treatment Plan, or Chart Module so when making an appointment for returning patients they are always considered as new? Also what is the purpose of the New Patient checkbox and how is it being used?

thanks.

if a pt does not have any completed procedures, then it will automatically default to New Patient because it knows they have never been to the office (assuming you are using the chart). The only thing it does is put NP on the appointment.

My advice would be to go ahead and use all parts of the program! It will make the appointment book work much better if it has input about the patient as a whole. It gets information on lots of things to make quick work of scheduling appointments. For example, if you don't use the chart, then you will miss out on features such as:
1) Planned appointments
2) tracking work to be done
3) scheduling recall appointments with intelligent placement of time and procedures
4) keeping track of people with the recall system (if works off of the last completed procedure)
5)lots of other things

if you are only using the appointment book, then the New Patient thing will not really hurt anything besides showing the NP on every appointment.

Thank you drtech for the reply. We are progressing slowly with OD, but will definitely use those modules in the future.