How do I add an estimate?

Video Demo: How to Add an Estimate on the Admission Screen

You can add an estimate to the record by pushing the Estimate button on the admission screen.  

A new tab will load on the client screen with the estimate name.  

By default, Estimates will be named "Estimate + (Today's Date)" but this can be changed at any time before the estimate has been accepted by the client.

Simple Entry:  Low to High Estimate

Video Demo: Adding a Simple Estimate to an Admission

For simple estimate entry, you can always simply type in the estimate low and high, and save your estimate.   Write a comment describing what this estimate includes.

Build an Itemized Estimate

Video Demo: Adding an Itemized Estimate

The first tool allows you to manually add charges for what you know will likely be used to build an estimate based on the cost of items and/or services.  Itemized estimates will automatically update the Low and High for simple estimate as the items are tallied.

Using the Pick List or Estimate List tool to build an Itemized Estimate 

Video Demo: Using the Pick List Tool to Build an Itemized Estimate

To make the process of estimating visit costs for clients, you can have a Pick List built for your service area (or even for specific rule outs or medical conditions), and then utilize the pick list to quickly choose the potential costs for your clients and build an itemized estimate with multiple charges fairly quickly.   (Billing Pick Lists and Estimate Pick Lists are separate from the Catalog Item pick lists.  Billing and Estimate pick lists are created under Product Set Up.)

Quantities can be adjusted for products - if your annual visit includes a flea or heartworm preventative, you can include one box in the base estimate, and then adjust quantities upward if the client indicates they would like to purchase multiple boxes. 

Click on the Post button at the bottom of the estimate screen to apply the changes to the estimate. 

Build by Group

Video Demo: Adding a Categorized Estimate

You can also “build” an estimate by hand-entering ranges for various categories or estimate “groups”.  To do so, Select the “category” or "group" you are estimating the cost of, and then hand-enter the estimate for that category.  The Final Estimate high/low will build from those things you enter into this area.  

Note:  The categories you will find here can be customized to your hospital or clinic by navigating to the Product Setup screen (accessible from the Navigation menu) and clicking on the tab labeled "Product Category Setup".

Save, Accept, and Print your Estimate

Video Demo: How to Save&Accept and Print Your Estimate/Authorization Form

Once you have built your estimate, you can save it, which makes it available until such time as one is accepted and potentially printed and applied against the visit.  You can update, save, and accept additional estimates throughout the visit if necessary, as well.  This is where you would want to potentially hard code legal disclaimers on estimates you have clients sign prior to services being rendered. 

Accepted Estimates will lock the estimate in place, and it cannot be altered again.

Accepted estimates, if they need to be updated based on new information, can be Duplicated to create a copy.  

Estimates can also be moved to other episodes on the same patient, if the estimate applied will be performed against a future visit instead.

The Estimate Report opens when you click on Print Estimate.  This report can be customized for your hospital to include the logo and any required legal disclaimers.