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In addition to patients' names (which may not be unique), the Patient Selection plug-in displays just enough supplementary information to help you be sure you are selecting the correct patient. For most patients, this additional information includes the last four digits of patients' Social Security numbers (SSNs) and their birthdates, sexes, and ages. (Patients' full SSNs do not cross the network until you actually select the patients.) For sensitive patients, the plug-in displays only the word "Sensitive" in addition to their names. For deceased patients, the plug-in displays the word Deceased in lieu of their ages.
Patient-selection lists also include patients' room and bed information for inpatients, and their appointment times and statuses for outpatients.
When you click on a patient in the Patient Selection list, the plug-in presents a Confirm Selection button inline with the patient's name, where it won't greatly undermine your ability to quickly click through a succession of patients. This button has two purposes: It helps prevent you from inadvertently selecting a new patient, and it gives you an opportunity to confirm that you have selected the patient whose information you want to see. Clicking the Confirm Selection button enables the application to pull the patient's full SSN over the network, along with his or her clinical information.
For sensitive patients and patients who have flags on their records, the Patient Selection plug-in requires an additional confirmation.
As with the confirmation buttons that appear on the patient list, you must click these Confirm buttons before you can view the patient's medical record.