Ordering Radiology

To create a radiology request, click the  icon in the patient's Clinical window to open the Radiology Request window. You can also get to this window by right-clicking the patient’s name in the Patient List or Appointment Book and selecting the Radiology option.

In this window, you have two lists.

The list on the left shows various tests that can be requested. Locate the appropriate scan in the list by scrolling, or by typing into the search field above the list. Once you’ve located the appropriate scan, you can add it to the request by doing any of the following:

• Double-clicking the scan.
• Clicking and dragging the scan into the box in the middle of the window.
• Highlighting the scan and clicking the green arrow  icon.

New scans can be added to and deleted from the list using the blue plus  and trash can  icons in the top left-hand corner, respectively.

The list on the right shows the different areas of the body where the tests/scans on the left might need to be performed. This list functions the same as the other, so once you’ve added the scan from the list on the left, you can then add the area for the scan from the list on the right in the same way.

Once you’ve added the required scan(s), you can include a reason for the request using the box in the middle of the window. Click the Reason drop-down menu, and then select the reason from the list, or select the New… option to add a new reason.

If the patient has a current pregnancy record, their EDD will appear in this field automatically.

The Include Current Problems checkbox, as well as the Procedure Info and WorkCover Info buttons, can be used to include relevant clinical information in the Reason field as well.

The text field in the bottom left will have all of the patient's interested parties listed in red. You can edit the interested parties by clicking the doctors  button, or add a new CC by clicking the Copies to... button.

After adding the scans, the locations, and the reason information, you’ll be ready to print the request by clicking the Print button in the bottom-right. For information about the radiology templates you’ll be using to print the requests, take a look at the next section.

The template you use to print the radiology request can be selected using the Use Template drop-down menu toward the top of the window.

Unlike pathology companies, radiology forms are not broadly standardised, and only Victoria and South Australia have pre-printed forms available. This means that, for the most part, radiology templates need to be created to suit the radiology companies that you work with.

By default, Genie does include a few pre-configured templates in the Use Template/Edit Templates drop-down menus that you can customise. If you deal with multiple different companies who use pre-printed forms, you can click the blue plus  icon next to the Edit Templates drop-down to add a new template.

Note: If you work with companies who have no pre-printed form, you can simply select the Plain A4 template. This will print all the details of the request in a readable format, with your letterhead at the top.

When creating or editing a radiology template, you’ll have two different interfaces to work with, depending on which type of template you’re working on.

Selecting one of Genie’s default templates from the Edit Templates menu will present you with the following interface:

You’ll recognise this template window if you’ve ever edited the label templates within Genie. This window lets you click and drag the individual fields (like [Radiologist]XRayCompany) to make sure they line up with the fields on the pre-printed forms you’re using. The Property List you see on the right will let you edit the way any selected field displays, including sizing and font options.

It may take some trial and error to make sure the fields line up with the form. If you ever want to return the template to its original layout, you can click the small disk  icon in the top left.

When selecting a custom template from the Edit Templates drop-down, or creating a new template using the blue plus icon , this will open a normal letter template window. This window allows you to insert fields and expressions in the relevant places so that you can customise the template to suit your pre-printed forms. For more information about using fields and expressions, take a look at our Knowledgebase article, What are Fields and Expressions?

If, for any reason, you need to reprint a radiology request (e.g. the patient loses their copy), you can do so from the Investigations Audit. Just navigate to Open > Investigations Audit and locate the request in the list. Double-click the request to open it.

From here, simply click the Reprint button at the bottom. Genie will print an exact duplicate of the request, saving you from having to create a new one from scratch.