Electronic documentation

[Guest guest]

Hi -

I used TLC for about a year and have just stopped using it. It is handy, you can edit it somewhat (the problem lists, strategies, etc.). I was using it as part of a group. We stopped because the other folks found it too cumbersome. We initially got it because it allows you to create reports. The problem with it is that you cannot alter the program. The information didn't flow intuitively for the other folks and became burdensome. If you've used charting software before, you'll have no problem. They just felt like they were doing double charting since they didn't transition well to taking a few minutes to gather information from the mother, typing it in at the same time, and then proceeding to the consultation. We do in-office consultations.

I have now created a fill-in-the form document in Word that we use. It can be printed out on letterhead and the page can be protected so you don't accidentally change something you don't want to change. I'm liking it pretty well.

Wagner-

[Guest guest]

I too have TLC. There are definate benefits and obvious drawbacks.

One of the biggest reasons that I continue to use it (about 2 yr) is

that I can't always rememeber all of the tips/info that I want to

leave (or say) with mothers to help deal with specific things. An

example of this... I see gastric bypass patients about every 4-5

months, I can't remember which of the vitamin B's that they may need

to have supplements of, so I have it written as a stratigy under

the " dietary concerns " problem list. I also have dosages of all of

the different herbs, even the uncommon ones listed under the

stratagies for " low milk supply " . I also have listed under the

stratagies some questions that when I first started I feared that I

may forget to ask for particular problems, ex: mom on bcp? or

Pseudoephedrine? for Low milk supply, or what to look for when the

pain of mom's nipple was on the top vs on the bottom. If I remember

correctly there are about 500 stratagies, I have added more than a

thousand more. I plan to work this weekend on a new " problem " -

history of depression, that will have good info on handling the baby

blues too, but that will have all of the information concerning

Hale's ratings and concerns for the most commonly used

antidepressants in my area... I have to look them up weekly and type

them in for mother/md's. That way I will be able to click on only

the appropriate information for that mom.

I must say that he ability to keep track of inventory is wonderful.

It makes it very easy to do my monthly sales tax payments as well as

end of year inventory for my city's small business fees.

I do write a SOAP narritive progress note that I send to the OB and

PEdi, I have a template letter that I modify to help decrease my

time, but I only leave the Plan portion (usually less than 7 items,

including follow up) and the stratagies with the mother. I just

copy and paste from WORD into the progress note of TLC for my MD

report.

I do home visits, and have my laptop and a very small portable

Cannon Printer that I use to leave the plan and the bill that has

the CPT and DRG codes already chosen by the " problems " (only for

those that were put in place by TLC, as I don't have coding info)

that were chosen. 3 out of 4 mothers are impressed with the

professional appearance and the throughness of what I leave. Dad's

are ALWAYS impressed.

I don't use the rental portion as well as I wish I could. The

directions are a little thin, and the entire process not well

described. I agree with the fact that you don't get much tech

support from T. Hart, I have found that email is best. I haven't

gotten any new updates yet, but hoping that some of my suggestions

will come to reality.

Sorry for being so long. just lots of money to spend... but for me,

I feel that it is a great place for me to keep all the information

that I want to take, without taking books along with me.

Dalton RNC, IBCLC

[Guest guest]

I also have TLCW and am interested in hiring a programmer to adapt it. Would anyone be interested in pooling resources to do that? Pat www.breastfeedingcenter.org

[Guest guest]

I also have TLCW and am interested in hiring a programmer to adapt it. Would anyone be interested in pooling resources to do that? Pat www.breastfeedingcenter.org

[Guest guest]

Pat, That's a thought...I have been planning to call Terry Hart with my list of issues, and have him make the changes or instruct me how to customize it. If he won't, or can't accommodate my preferences, then I would be interested in collaborating with others...Perhaps I can get to it next week. I'll let you all know if I get anywhere...lee lee Hulburt, IBCLC, RLC Lactation Consultants of San Diego www.BreastfeedingSanDiego.com

[Guest guest]

Pat, That's a thought...I have been planning to call Terry Hart with my list of issues, and have him make the changes or instruct me how to customize it. If he won't, or can't accommodate my preferences, then I would be interested in collaborating with others...Perhaps I can get to it next week. I'll let you all know if I get anywhere...lee lee Hulburt, IBCLC, RLC Lactation Consultants of San Diego www.BreastfeedingSanDiego.com