Organization admins can create customized encounter templates in More > Admin > Configure > Encounter Types. You can create as many templates as you’d like to meet your organization’s needs.
Changes made to encounter templates do not apply to open encounters.
You can edit any encounter template on the Encounter Types page, but edits do not retroactively apply to open encounters that are using the edited template.
Create and Edit an Encounter Template
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Go to More > Admin > Configure > Encounter Types and do one of the following:
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Select the New Encounter Template button to create a new template. If you are creating a new template, you will be prompted to enter a title in the Name field.
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Select an existing template to open the editor.
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Configure the following options:
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Default?: Set to Yes to assign this encounter template to all appointment types that do not have a linked encounter type.
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Disabled by Default?: Set to Yes if this encounter template should only be available at specific locations. Then, select one or more of your locations from the Enabled Locations drop-down menu.
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Is Embeddable?: Set to Yes if this is an embeddable template and not a full encounter, such as a body map image.
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Veterinarian Required?: Set to Yes if a DVM is required as the provider for this encounter type.
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Assign the template to an Encounter Category: Exam (Default), Surgery, Consult, or Discharge.
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Select which attachments you want to include in encounter PDFs from the Default Attachments Included on PDFs drop-down menu. Lab Results and Attached Images are selected by default but can be removed.
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Edit the default encounter sections or remove them as needed. You can also drag and drop a New Section into the template from the right panel of the editor.
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Select Save.
Are macros supported in encounter templates?
Yes! Macros can be used in encounters to populate any text box that is not in a pop-out window. Please see our article on Macros for more information.
What is an Encounter Category?
By default, all encounter templates are categorized as Exam. When adding or editing an encounter template, you can change this categorization to Surgery, Consult, or Discharge.
Filters for each Encounter Category display on the left side of the Patient Chart timeline. By default, the Exam and Surgery filters always display. Consult and Discharge filters only display when the patient has an encounter categorized as such.
Encounter Categories enable you to filter a patient’s entire encounter history in a single click, giving you easy access to the exact information you need.
Video: Building an Encounter Template
Add AI Template Instructions
Organizations using Vetspire AI can add specific instructions for how AI Scribe captures, organizes, and summarizes information in each section of your encounter templates. The AI Template Instructions feature helps to ensure that:
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The right details are always captured for each customized encounter type
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Discharge letters are correctly organized and include key care instructions
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Communication is tailored to the intended audience, whether that’s an rDVM or a pet parent
Information must be verbalized to be included in the encounter by AI Scribe.
AI Scribe is an ambient scribe, meaning that it intuitively processes and summarizes your spoken conversations for you. In instances where you prefer to dictate notes instead of typing, you can instruct AI Scribe to use dictation in specific encounter sections.
Example:
Test AI Template Instructions
When you add or edit AI Scribe instructions for an encounter template, you can run a test to compare default or previously saved instructions to the new instructions using previous encounter transcripts.
Select Test Instructions, then choose a transcript from a recent encounter that used the template you are editing.
