Creating a simulation patient

You can create a simulation (sim) patient, which is a dummy patient that can be used to train and practice using Ascend Academic without affecting the system's data. You can create one sim patient at a time. Once created, they display throughout the system with a SIM label, which is coupled with the sim patient's name.

Note: You need the Create simulation patients security right to create a simulation patient.

Tip: You can create multiple sim patients by duplicating a simulation patient template.

To create a simulation patient

1. On the Simulation Patients page, clicktap New SIM Patient.

   

   The Patient Information page for simulation patients display.

   

2. Complete the following fields as necessary:

   • Is a Simulation Patient Template - As you're creating a single simulation patient, set the toggle to No .

     Note: As the Template Name field is only for simulation patient templates, the field is disabled when the toggle is set to No.

   • First Name, M.I., Last Name - Enter the patient's first name, middle initial, and last name.

     Note: By default, the First Name field contains your initial search criteria.

   • Preferred Name - Enter the patient's preferred name when you address them. It can also be used on correspondence from your office.

   • Title - If applicable, enter a prefix for the patient's name, such as Dr., Mr., Ms., or Mrs.

   • Suffix - If applicable, enter a suffix for the patient's name, such as Jr., Sr., or III.

   • Gender - Select the patient's gender.

   • Birthdate - Enter the patient's birth date.

     If there is an existing patient record with the same first name, last name, and birth date, the record displays on the bottom half of the page.

     

     Review the listed record to ensure it's not the patient's record. If it is, clicktap the listed record to open the record. If the listed record is not the patient's record, continue entering the patient's information.

   • Status - The patient's status is set to New by default, but you can select a different status.

     Note: The status changes automatically from New to Active when the status of the patient's first appointment changes to Complete or when a procedure is posted for the patient.

   • Ethnicity - The patient's ethnicity is set to None by default, and it's not a required field. You can enter the patient's ethnicity by selecting it from the drop-down list.

   • Financial Status - The patient's financial status is set to None by default, and it's not a required field. You can enter the patient's financial status by selecting it from the drop-down list.

   • Special Needs - The patient's special needs is set to None by default, and it's not a required field. You can enter the patient's special needs by selecting it from the drop-down list.

   • Chart # - Enter a unique chart number of up to eight (8) alphanumeric characters or generate one by clickingtapping .

     Note: The button only generates a chart number if you've entered the patient's first and last name to the record.

     Tip: You can save the record without a chart number to auto-generate and save a chart number to the record.

   • First Visit - This disabled field is the date of the patient's first visit. It updates automatically when you post the first completed procedure for the new patient. It is for reference only and cannot be edited.

   • Last Visit - This disabled field is the date of the patient's most recent appointment. It updates automatically when you post a completed procedure for a patient. This date is for reference only and cannot be edited.

   • Primary Provider - Select the patient's preferred or primary provider.

   • Discount Plan - Select a fee schedule for treatment-planned procedures and charges that will be applied if the patient does not have insurance coverage. If applied, the difference between the provider's fee (if there's no provider's fee, the default fee) for a given procedure and the discount fee displays as a credit adjustment on the ledger.

     Note: If the patient has insurance coverage, the selected discount fee schedule is ignored.

   • Billing Type - Select the patient's billing type.

     Tip: To prevent accidentally billing this patient, it's recommended you set the billing type to $0 amount.

   • Fee Schedule - Select a fee schedule to use for the patient level. If set, the patient-level fee schedule overrides all other fee schedules (Provider, Insurance, or Location Fee Schedules) to calculate:

     • Treatment amounts on procedures.

     • What the patient owes.

     • What insurance will cover.

     Note: You cannot set up a patient with a Discount Plan and a patient-level Fee Schedule. If attempted, a Validation Error window displays.

     Tip: To prevent accidentally billing this patient, it's recommended you set the fee schedule to $0 amount.

   • This patient is confidential - Select the check box to set the new patient as a confidential patient.

     Note: You can only save a patient as confidential patient if you have the View confidential patient security right. If you do not have the security right but select this check box, Ascend Academic cannot save.

   • Use contact information of the household - Enter an existing patient's name and select their record to enter their address and contact information to this new patient record.

   • Address, City, State, ZIP Code - Enter the street address, city, state, and zip code for the patient's residence. All correspondence will be sent to the listed address.

     Important: If the patient is not their own guarantor, bills, account statements, and other financial documents are sent to the guarantor's address.

   • Phone Type, Phone number, Ext - Select a phone type (Home, Mobile, Work, or Other) and enter the correct number and extension (if applicable) for the patient's primary phone number.

     To add another phone number, clicktap the Add Phone button and enter the secondary phone number.

     Tips:

     • To change the priority of the patient's phone numbers, clicktap the icon next to a phone number.

     • To remove a phone number, clicktap the icon next to the phone number.

       Note: These buttons are not available for the primary phone number.

       

     • If you enter a mobile phone number for the patient and clicktap Save, the text Automated Text Reminders displays with a status message (Yes or Carrier not Supported) to indicate that the number you entered has been verified as a supported or unsupported mobile phone number.

     • If the patient already has a mobile phone number entered, the status message next to the Automated Text Reminders text for that number can be No if the patient is the primary contact for themself or another and has opted out of receiving text message reminders.

       Note: Any other patients with this patient as their primary contact are also opted out.

       

     • The patient's text message reminder status also displays in the details of the patient's appointments on the schedule when opened (in the upper-right corner and on the Contact Info tab).

       

     • Once a supported mobile phone number is entered, and the patient's record is saved, the patient is opted in automatically to receiving automated text message reminders. Any other patients with this patient as their primary contact or the same mobile number are also automatically opted in. However, if the patient has someone else as his or her primary contact, the patient will receive text messages only if the patient's primary contact has a supported mobile phone number and that person is opted in.

     • If you do not have patient consent or a patient no longer wants to receive text messages, you can turn off reminders by setting the Phone Type field to Home. Patients may also opt-out by texting STOP to 45827. Any other patients with this patient as their primary contact or the same mobile number are also opted out.

   • Email - Enter the patient's unique email address.

     Note: If the patient has someone else as their primary contact, the primary contact's email address is used. If necessary, you can enter a different email address.

3. When ready, clicktap Save.

   The new patient displays under Simulation Patients without Templates.

   

   Tip: You can add more patient information by selecting the patient and updating the record like a regular patient record.

4. (Optional) To exclude simulation patient's data from your reports, create a new fee schedule with $0 for all procedures and assign it to the patient.

   1. Create a new fee schedule that sets the cost of all procedures to $0.

   2. Assign the fee schedule to the sim patient by updating their discount plan.

   3. Set the Patient Portion/Balance to $0 through a Credit Adjustment/Payment.