Setting the Default Status of New Encounters to In Progress

Depending on your kind of practice, you might prefer that all new encounters are created with the In Progress status set by default instead of users manually setting the status. Then, whenever a user creates an encounter, the In Progress check box will be automatically selected on the Create Encounter window.

Users cannot clear the In Progress check box unless they change the selection in the Encounter Types field to only Billable. Some encounters, such as point-of-sale, do not require an In Progress status. By changing the encounter type to Billable, the front office can then enter charges for the encounter. Because point-of-sale encounters are NextGen® Enterprise PM-only, setting the encounter type to Billable prevents the point-of-sale encounter from displaying in the NextGen® Enterprise EHR.

You can set the new encounter status default to In Progress in the Encounters Practice Preferences, select the Enable In Progress billing status check box, and then select the Default all new encounters to In Progress check box.