Tool D: PMS alerts to identify at risk people

The practice management system (PMS) is a useful tool for identifying people at risk of developing diabetes.

Depending on how each of the risk factors (page 14) is recorded, it may be possible to perform a search for patients based on these risk factors.

Creating an alert for people at risk of diabetes

This following example demonstrates how to identify all Māori men aged over 40 years who are registered at your practice and add an alert to their patient files to remind you to assess their diabetes risk.

It may be possible be possible to perform searches on some of the other risk factors, eg high BMI, adverse lipids, family history – depending upon how this information is coded into the system.

The example below is specific for MedTech. It may be possible to perform similar searches on other practice management systems, it may be worth contacting your PMS service supplier.

Step 1: To set up alert for people at risk of diabetes

1. From the menu select: Setup > Patient Register > Alert.
2. Put a code, perhaps “DIAB”, in the appropriate box and put “Check diabetes status” in the description box.
   
   Click OK, your alert is now set up for use.

Step 2: To run query to identify Māori men over 40 years

1. Complete the query builder form as shown below; selecting items from the box on the left and transferring them to the appropriate box on the right of the screen.
   
   Click Run Query.

Step 3: To merge alert to identified patients

1. After running the query click the merge button and select Alerts.
   
   Select the alert created in step 1, enter a note if required and tick auto prompt if preferred.

Click for full size image.