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Product update · Patient file

Allergy alerts and linked family members, always in view in the patient file

Two things matter at almost every encounter: whether your patient has an allergy, and whether you already know their family. Both used to sit at the top of the patient file and scroll out of sight just as you reached today's appointment. A new panel now keeps them pinned while you work, and steps aside when you need the room.

Why your patient's allergy status should stay in view

You make the decisions that depend on an allergy further down the file: when you consent, prescribe or plan theatre. The panel now sits at the top left of the patient file and follows you as you scroll, showing the reason for referral, any recorded allergy and how many family members are patients of the practice.

  • Allergies where you make decisions. When you're consenting, prescribing or planning theatre, the allergy is in front of you rather than tucked away at the top of the file.
  • You may already know this family. If you've seen a brother, sister or parent before, the panel tells you, so you can walk in already knowing the family's story.
  • A prompt when allergies haven't been asked. If nobody has confirmed allergies yet, the panel says so, as a quiet reminder to check.

See the allergy and family panel in action

Step through the five screens below. Click the highlighted parts of each screen, or use Next, to follow a paediatric ENT patient from her surgery appointment to her brother's file and back.

Allergies and family stay in sight as you scroll

As you scroll down to today's appointment, the panel stays with you. At a glance you can see why the patient is here, any allergy, and whether other members of the family are patients of the practice.

EXAMPLE, Ivy3 Feb 2020 · 6yr Female
Journey
Help
Recurrent AOM, OME, pre-op grommets and adenoidectomy
Amoxicillin 2 related ×
Dr HOLLAND Surgery
TODAY 8:00 AM
Referred by Dr Grace PATEL
"Bilateral grommet insertion + Adenoidectomy"
1. Review Patient
Patient OverviewUpdated 2 days ago
Consent4 months ago by Dr HOLLAND
2. Perform Surgery
TranscriptionNo recording consent
EXAMPLE, Ivy: Patient Overview

6 year old female referred by Dr Grace Patel for recurrent ear infections and nasal obstruction, pre-op grommets and adenoidectomy.

Presenting Complaint

Recurrent ear infections, four in the past six months, each treated with oral antibiotics, with reduced hearing between episodes. Nasal blockage day and night with mouth breathing. Teacher has noticed she often asks for things to be repeated.

Relevant History
  • Allergy: Amoxicillin (skin rash, swelling)
  • Born at term, uncomplicated
  • FHx: brother had adenotonsillectomy
Survey Signals
  • Snoring most nights, restless sleep
  • No witnessed pauses in breathing

On a small screen, scroll sideways to see the whole screen.

Why it movedThis information used to sit at the top of the file and disappeared as soon as you scrolled down to the consult, which is exactly when you need it.
Red means an allergyIvy is allergic to amoxicillin. Worth knowing before you write a script or go through consent.
2 relatedTwo other people on Ivy's Medicare card are patients here: her brother Oscar and her mum, Sarah.

Click the panel when you want the detail

Click anywhere on the panel and you're taken to the top of the file. There you can see what the allergic reaction was, who the family members are, and when they were last seen.

EXAMPLE, Ivy3 Feb 2020 · 6yr Female
Journey
Help
EXAMPLE, Ivy
Demographics
Recurrent AOM, OME, pre-op grommets and adenoidectomy
Allergies
AmoxicillinSkin rash, swelling
Medication
Related Patients
EXAMPLE, OscarLast seen 7 months ago by Dr HOLLANDAdenotonsillectomy
EXAMPLE, SarahLast seen 2 years ago by Dr HOLLANDSeptoplasty
Documents
Upload and view documents
EXAMPLE, Ivy: Patient Overview

6 year old female referred by Dr Grace Patel for recurrent ear infections and nasal obstruction, pre-op grommets and adenoidectomy.

Presenting Complaint

Recurrent ear infections, four in the past six months, each treated with oral antibiotics, with reduced hearing between episodes. Nasal blockage day and night with mouth breathing. Teacher has noticed she often asks for things to be repeated.

Relevant History
  • Allergy: Amoxicillin (skin rash, swelling)
  • Born at term, uncomplicated
  • FHx: brother had adenotonsillectomy
Survey Signals
  • Snoring most nights, restless sleep
  • No witnessed pauses in breathing

On a small screen, scroll sideways to see the whole screen.

The reaction, not just the nameIvy's reaction to amoxicillin was a rash and swelling, so you can judge how much it matters for today.
Who's who in the familyOscar was seen seven months ago and Mum two years ago.

Close the panel when you need the room

Once you've taken it in, press the X and the panel steps aside, giving you the full screen for the consult, letters and documents.

EXAMPLE, Ivy3 Feb 2020 · 6yr Female
Journey
Help
Recurrent AOM, OME, pre-op grommets and adenoidectomy
Amoxicillin 2 related ×
Dr HOLLAND Surgery
TODAY 8:00 AM
Referred by Dr Grace PATEL
"Bilateral grommet insertion + Adenoidectomy"
1. Review Patient
Patient OverviewUpdated 2 days ago
Consent4 months ago by Dr HOLLAND
2. Perform Surgery
TranscriptionNo recording consent
Consent (AI)
Investigations2 suggested
Start Surgery
EXAMPLE, Ivy: Patient Overview

6 year old female referred by Dr Grace Patel for recurrent ear infections and nasal obstruction, pre-op grommets and adenoidectomy.

Presenting Complaint

Recurrent ear infections, four in the past six months, each treated with oral antibiotics, with reduced hearing between episodes. Nasal blockage day and night with mouth breathing. Teacher has noticed she often asks for things to be repeated.

Relevant History
  • Allergy: Amoxicillin (skin rash, swelling)
  • Born at term, uncomplicated
  • FHx: brother had adenotonsillectomy
Survey Signals
  • Snoring most nights, restless sleep
  • No witnessed pauses in breathing

On a small screen, scroll sideways to see the whole screen.

It comes back next timeClosing it only applies while you're in this file. It will be there for your next patient, and again if you come back to Ivy from the day list, so an allergy is never hidden for long.
Tell us how this feelsIf the panel coming back gets in your way, tell us. Your feedback decides whether it gets an off switch.

Grey doesn't mean nothing

Every patient has the panel. Red is a recorded allergy. Grey can mean the patient or family has said there are none, or that no one has asked yet, and those are very different things.

What the panel is telling you

The four things you'll see, and what each one means for you.

Allergy recorded
Amoxicillin 2 related×

The patient has a known allergy. Click the panel to see what the reaction was.

No known allergies
No known allergies 1 related×

The patient or family has said there are none. Reassuring, and worth having on record.

Allergies not confirmed
Allergies not confirmed 1 related×

Nobody has answered the allergy question yet. Ask before you prescribe or operate.

No related patients
No known allergies×

No one else on this patient's Medicare card is a patient of the practice, so the related chip is left off.

On a small screen, scroll sideways to see the whole screen.

Not confirmed is your prompt to askBefore you prescribe or book theatre, check with the patient or parent and record the answer.
No related patientsIf no one else on the Medicare card is a patient here, the related chip is left off the panel.

All patient and clinician names, dates and clinical details in this walkthrough are fictional. Screens are rebuilt to show the layout and are simplified from the live app.

What red and grey mean on the allergy panel

Every patient file shows the panel. Its colour tells you where the allergy record stands.

  • Red, with the allergen named: an allergy is recorded. Click the panel to see the reaction, for example a rash and swelling with amoxicillin.
  • Grey, "No known allergies": the patient or family has said there are none.
  • Grey, "Allergies not confirmed": nobody has answered the allergy question yet. Ask before you prescribe or book theatre, and record the answer.

How related family members are linked

Anyone on the same Medicare card is linked automatically, so you don't need to link anyone yourself. The panel shows how many related patients the practice has, and the top of the file lists each one with when they were last seen and by whom.

The panel is most useful in paediatric practice, but it helps whenever you look after more than one member of a family, including the parent you saw years ago who now brings in their child.

Closing the panel

Press the X to close the panel while you're in that file. It comes back for your next patient, and again when you reopen the same file from the day list, so an allergy is never hidden for long.

This is new, and your feedback shapes what happens next. If the panel coming back each time you open a file gets in your way, tell the ApolloScribe team.

Related: operation report templates built with AI, and how the patient file fits the full pre-consult to report workflow on the ApolloScribe page for surgical specialists.

Open your next patient's file and check the panel.

Red, grey or not confirmed: you'll know before you consent, prescribe or plan theatre.

Open ApolloScribe