Assessing and Updating Conditions

Introduction

Tracking patient progress over time requires regular updates to existing conditions. This article explains how to assess conditions, document changes in patient status, and review comprehensive condition histories in Canvas Medical.

User's Guide

Adding an Assessment

The Assess Condition command updates and documents progress for existing conditions.

To assess a condition:

1. Add the Assess Condition command to a new or existing note through one of the following

   • Add the Assess Condition command directly to a new or existing note

   • Hover over the condition in the Patient Summary and click Assess

     If the cursor is not positioned in a note before clicking Assess, a Chart Review note will be created to store the command.

2. Complete the fields within the command

   • Background: The most recent background details from prior Diagnose or Assess commands carry forward automatically. Update if necessary.

   • Status: Select the current condition status:

     • 🟢 Improved

     • 🔘 Unchanged

     • 🔴 Deteriorated

   • Today's Assessment: Update observations made at the current visit based on condition status

3. Click Record to update the patient's record

Using Carry Forward

To transfer data from a previous Diagnose or Assess Condition command:

1. Click the triple dot menu on the new Assess Condition command

2. Select Carry Forward from the dropdown

3. Matching fields from the previous command will replicate in the new command

   Any new information entered will overwrite existing content, ensuring the record stays current for the next carry forward.

Viewing Condition History

Clicking on a condition in the Patient Summary opens a modal with comprehensive historical information.

To review condition details:

1. Navigate to the Patient Summary which is the left panel of the patient's chart.

2. Click any condition to open the modal

The modal displays:

• Background: Most recent and historically documented background information

• Associated Medications: Medications where this condition is listed as an indication

• Labs and Imaging Orders: Orders that reference this condition as an indication

• Assessments: Complete history of all assessments in reverse chronological order, including condition changes or resolutions

Each timeline entry links directly to the originating command in the patient's chart.

Understanding Timeline Behavior After Diagnosis Changes

When a diagnosis is changed using the Change Diagnosis command, Canvas creates specific timeline behaviors to maintain accurate historical records.

Original Diagnosis Timeline:

• Change Diagnosis automatically resolves the original condition and the modal will display "Change of diagnosis to [new diagnosis and ICD-10]"

• Clicking the resolved condition in the modal timeline will link to the Change Diagnosis command

• The modal timeline displays all assessment history up until the diagnosis change

• Lab and imaging orders appear only if their ICD indication code matches the original diagnosis

• The modal timeline will not include assessments made after the diagnosis was changed

New Condition Timeline:

• The modal timeline shows complete assessment history from both the original and new conditions

• First assessment entry displays: "Change of diagnosis from [original diagnosis and ICD-10]"

• Clicking the first assessment entry links to the Change Diagnosis command

• Lab and imaging orders appear only if their ICD indication code matches the new diagnosis

• The modal timeline does not display the resolve event that occurred for the original diagnosis

Configuration & Set Up

No special configuration is required. The Assess Condition command and condition history modals are available by default in all patient charts.

FAQ & Troubleshooting

Q: How do I access the condition timeline?

A: Click on any condition in the Patient Summary to open a modal that displays the comprehensive timeline, background information, associated medications, and all historical assessments.

Q: Why doesn't my new assessment show the previous background information?

A: Background information carries forward automatically from the most recent Diagnose or Assess command. If it's not appearing, the previous command may not have included background details.

Q: What happens when I change a diagnosis?

A: The Change Diagnosis command creates a new condition with the updated diagnosis while preserving historical data from the original condition. The original condition is resolved with a note indicating the change, and the new condition includes the full assessment history from both diagnoses.

Related Resources

• 📄 Documenting New Diagnoses

• 📄 Managing Historical Conditions

Keywords: assess condition, condition history, patient progress, condition status, clinical documentation, timeline, carry forward, assessment history

Categories: Clinical Documentation, Condition Management