For the database to properly store records, and for many functions to work properly, it is necessary to enter most of the information on this page. Not only is it needed for in-office practical reasons, but also it is needed for insurance purposes, practice marketing, collections, and communication with the patient. Six items are critical for compliance with Medicare’s Meaningful Use, specifically Communication Preference, DOB (date of birth), Sex, Race, Ethnicity, and Preferred Language. The fields highlighted in blue are the minimum required by the system to save the entry.
Figure 3