# Vie wing Patient Record Flags

Patient Record Flags are displayed in the applications that use the patient look up, including the CPRS GUI. In the CPRS GUI, there are three places where users can see if a patient has PRF:

· The Patient Record Flag Pop-up Box

· The CPRS Cover Sheet

· The Flag button (available from any tab)

When the user selects a patient name from the Patient Selection Screen, CPRS begins to load the record, displays any releva nt messages ("means test require", deceased patient, sensitive record, etc.), and then, if the record is flagged, displays a pop-up box with the flag titles for the selected patient to ensure that the user sees the flags. The pop-up box is shown below.

Th e Patient Record Flags pop-up box displays a list of all flags for the patient, with the first flag in the list highlighted and the narrative for that flag displayed below the flag list and a list of links to notes that have been linked to flag actions. C a tegory I flags are displayed first, followed by any Category II (or local) flags.

The flag narrative is the text the person assigning the flag enters that they want the user to see. It should give the purpose of the flag and may also contain examples of pa st behavior and instructions for users to follow when encountering the patient. For example, the narrative for a particular Behavioral flag might state that a patient has been known to carry weapons and has verbally threatened VHA staff in the past. It ma y also recommend that users call the VA police if this patient comes in for care. However, the purpose of Patient Record Flags is not to stigmatize nor discriminate, rather it is protect VHA staff and patients and to ensure the efficient delivery of health care.

On the bottom of the Patient Record Flags popup box, CPRS displays a list of notes that are linked to specific flag actions. Links will only display for those notes that have been signed and linked to a flag action. When the user selects a link, CPR S displays the linked progress note for the action in a detailed display window.

Users can review the flags or close the box.

When the user is already in a patient record and wants to view Patient Record Flags, the user can use either the listing on the C over Sheet or the Flag button. On the CPRS Cover Sheet, a new box called Patient Record Flags has been added above the Postings area. Flags for the selected patient are listed in the box.

The Flag button is visible from all CPRS tabs. If a patient's record has been flagged, the Flag button with its red text displays next to the Remote Data button. If the patient's record does not have any flags, the text on the button is grayed out instead of red. The Cover Sheet and Flag button are shown in the graphic below.

This screen capture shows the red text on the Flag button indicating this patient record has PRF and shows the flag list on the CPRS Cover Sheet.

To view a Patient Record Flag when entering a record, use the following steps:

1. Select a patient from the Patient Selection screen by either double-clicking on a patient name or highlighting the name and pressing the <Enter> key.

Note: When the record loads, CPRS checks to see if the record is sensitive and displays a warning to the user that the user must acknowledge to proceed. Then, if the record has one or more flags, CPRS displays a pop-up box with the patient's record flags title. The first flag is highlighted and the narrative details displayed below. If CPRS displays the pop-up box, the user must close this box before CPRS will load the patient chart.

2. Then, bring up the flag narrative you want to view by selecting the flag name or highlighting the flag name with the tab and arrow keys and pressing <Tab> (note that the number of flags in each category is listed after the category label).

This graphic shows the Patient Record Flag pop-up box listing the patient's flags, the narrative for the highlighted flag, and the links to any signed, linked progress notes documenting the reasons for the flag. Using the Flag button or clicking on a flag title on the Cover Sheet also displays this pop-up box. Category I flags are in the orange field, they blink, and the text changes color from white to black and back. Category II flags are in the field below.

3. To view the linked progress note, select the appropriate link in the lower part of the dialog. When finished, select Close.

4. When finished viewing the narrative, close the narrative box by choosing Close.

To view a Patient Record Flag when already viewing a record, use the following steps:

1. Go the Cover Sheet by clicking the Cover Sheet tab or pressing Ctrl + S or use the Flag button by clicking Flag or pressing tab until you highlight the Flag button and press <Enter>.

2. Select the flag title to see the narrative details by clicking the title or using the Up and Down arrows to highlight the name and pressing <Enter>.

3. When finished, close the box by clicking Close or tabbing to Close and pressing <Enter>.

Related topics

Patient Record Flag: Overview