Learn how the front office team can benefit from using multi-codes in the Appointment Book and the Ledger.
Updated 11/9/21
You may think of multi-codes as clinical tools, and they are great for posting multiple procedures in the Patient Chart. But multi-codes are also a great template system that can be used all throughout Dentrix for the entire team, not just in the Chart. I love multi-codes. In fact, at my office, since the system only allows 8 procedure codes within a multi-code, I have some with multi-codes inside of multi-codes where it will treatment plan 12 procedure codes with the click of one button.
The front office can benefit from using multi-codes just as much as the clinical team. They can be used on the Appointment Book when scheduling or inside the Patient Ledger when posting or treatment planning.
Just in case some of you don’t know how to create a multi-code, I will start from the beginning.
Go to the Office Manager > Maintenance > Practice Setup > Multi-code Setup. If you have never added or edited the multi-codes, there will be a long list of Dentrix default templates that you can edit to meet the needs of your practice or delete if you will not use them. From here, click on New and enter the specifics for your new multi-code. Some examples include the different types of hygiene visits, steps involved with dentures and partials, implant procedures, and new patient exams.
Using multi-codes in the Appointment Book can make scheduling hygiene and new patient exams a snap. Many offices I work with, including my own, have attached multi-codes into the Initial Reason box on the appointment screen. With the click of one button, you have scheduled the patient for his or her exam, prophy, bwx, and fluoride. When you set the appointment complete, it will post all the procedures together.
Another way the front office can use multi-codes is in the Ledger. I find that many front office team members can be a little intimidated with using the Patient Chart (especially if they don’t have a clinical background). With that being said, you can easily treatment plan through the Ledger and still take full advantage of the efficiency of the multi-codes.
When you switch to the Treatment Plan view in the Ledger (Options > Treatment Plan), you can click on the Enter Procedure button (or from the menu click on Transaction > Enter Procedure), and you will see your multi-codes listed on the right-hand side of the screen. Now select the multi-code you want, Click Add, and then click and OK/Post. See how that is much more time-efficient than entering all the procedures individually?
In addition to using multi-codes for efficiency, they are also extremely helpful in ensuring that the correct procedure codes are being posted. Some clinical team members may not have a coding background and aren’t sure which procedure codes to use. Also, if you have a new member of your front office who is new to dentistry, it is important to set up safeguards to make sure proper coding is being used. Using multi-codes ensures that both the clinical team and new employees are coding treatment properly.
Maximizing the tools available in your Dentrix software and creating efficient systems make for a happy team and accurate coding.
Learn More
To learn more about setting up and using multi-codes, read Saving Time with Multi-Codes or see the Multi-code Setup topic in Dentrix Help.
For other charting tips, read A Patient Charting Primer.
Visit https://www.dentrix.com/solutions/clinical-efficiency for more ideas about improving your clinical efficiency with Dentrix.
By Dayna Johnson, Dentrix Certified Trainer
Dayna loves her work. She has over 25 years of experience in the dental industry, and she’s passionate about building efficient, consistent, and secure practice management systems. Dayna knows that your entire day revolves around your practice management software—the better you learn to use it, the more productive and stress-free your office will be. In 2016, Dayna founded Novonee ™, The Premier Dentrix Community, to help cultivate Dentrix super-users all over the country. Learn more from Dayna at www.novonee.com and contact Dayna at [email protected].
