Doctor User Guide

This guide covers all features and workflows for doctors using CareLog.

Getting Started

Logging In

1. Navigate to CareLog
2. Enter your doctor account email
3. Enter your password
4. Click Login

Doctor Dashboard

Your dashboard provides:

• Appointment Overview: Pending and scheduled appointments
• Recent Activity: Latest patient interactions
• Quick Actions: Fast access to common tasks
• Notifications: Important updates and alerts
• Statistics: Patient metrics and workload summary

Managing Appointments

Review and manage patient appointment requests.

Viewing Appointment Requests

1. Navigate to Assign Appointments from the sidebar
2. See all pending appointment requests
3. View patient details:
   • Patient name
   • Reason for visit
   • Requested date/time
   • Urgency level

Assigning Appointments

1. Review the appointment request
2. Click Assign to Me
3. Optionally set:
   • Appointment date and time
   • Duration
   • Location
   • Notes
4. Click Confirm Assignment

Appointment Statuses

• Pending: Awaiting doctor assignment
• Assigned: You've accepted the appointment
• Scheduled: Date and time confirmed
• Completed: Appointment finished
• Cancelled: Appointment was cancelled

TIP

Prioritize appointments marked as "Urgent" to ensure timely patient care.

Viewing Patient Medical Records

Access comprehensive patient medical histories.

How to Access Medical Records

1. Navigate to View Medical Records from the sidebar
2. Search or select a patient
3. View complete medical history:
   • Diagnoses: All diagnosed conditions
   • Prescriptions: Current and past medications
   • Health Logs: Patient-reported health data
   • Appointments: Visit history
   • Emergency Calls: Urgent care incidents

Understanding Medical Records

Diagnoses Section

• View all diagnosed conditions
• See diagnosis dates and treating doctors
• Review treatment notes and recommendations
• Track condition progression

Prescriptions Section

• Current active medications
• Past prescription history
• Dosages and administration instructions
• Prescription dates and prescribing doctors

Health Logs Section

• Patient's daily health tracking
• Physical and emotional status trends
• Symptoms reported by patient
• Sensitive logs (all visible to doctors)

INFO

Sensitive Data: Unlike family members, doctors can view all health logs including those marked sensitive.

Creating Diagnoses

Document patient conditions and treatment plans.

How to Add a Diagnosis

1. Navigate to Add Diagnosis from the sidebar

2. Select the patient

3. Fill in the diagnosis form:

   • Condition: Name of the diagnosed condition
   • Diagnosis Date: When the condition was diagnosed
   • Notes: Detailed findings and recommendations
   • Treatment Plan: Recommended course of treatment
   • Follow-up: Next steps or follow-up requirements

4. Click Submit Diagnosis

Best Practices for Diagnoses

• Be Specific: Use clear, specific medical terminology
• Include Context: Reference relevant symptoms and test results
• Document Treatment: Detail the recommended treatment plan
• Set Follow-ups: Specify when patient should return
• Update Regularly: Keep diagnosis information current

Prescribing Medications

Create and manage patient prescriptions.

How to Create a Prescription

1. Navigate to Add Prescriptions from the sidebar

2. Select the patient

3. Fill in the prescription details:

   • Medication: Drug name
   • Dosage: Amount and strength (e.g., "500mg")
   • Frequency: How often to take (e.g., "twice daily")
   • Duration: How long to take medication
   • Instructions: Detailed administration instructions
   • Warnings: Any important warnings or side effects

4. Click Submit Prescription

Prescription Guidelines

• Verify Allergies: Check patient's allergy history
• Check Interactions: Consider other current medications
• Clear Instructions: Ensure instructions are easy to follow
• Appropriate Dosage: Verify dosage is correct for patient
• Follow-up: Schedule follow-up for long-term medications

WARNING

Important: Always verify patient allergies and drug interactions before prescribing.

Patient Health Monitoring

Track patient health trends and status.

Reviewing Health Logs

1. Access patient medical records
2. Navigate to Health Logs section
3. Review daily health entries:
   • Physical symptoms
   • Emotional status
   • Reported symptoms
   • Trends over time

Identifying Concerning Patterns

Look for:

• Sudden changes in condition
• Recurring symptoms
• Worsening trends
• Missed logging (may indicate problems)

Acting on Health Data

• Reach out to patients showing concerning patterns
• Schedule follow-up appointments
• Adjust treatment plans based on data
• Escalate to specialists if needed

Responding to Emergency Calls

Handle urgent patient care requests.

Viewing Emergency Calls

Emergency calls are routed to nurses first but may be escalated to doctors:

1. Check notifications for escalated emergencies
2. Review emergency details:
   • Patient information
   • Urgency level (CRITICAL, HIGH, MEDIUM)
   • Symptoms or situation description
   • Time reported

Emergency Response

1. Assess the situation from provided information
2. Contact the patient directly if needed
3. Provide immediate guidance
4. Schedule urgent appointment if required
5. Mark emergency as resolved when handled

DANGER

Critical Emergencies: For life-threatening situations, ensure emergency services have been contacted.

Communication and Collaboration

Working with Nurses

• Nurses handle initial emergency response
• They escalate complex cases to doctors
• Review nurse notes in patient records
• Collaborate on patient care plans

Working with Administrators

• Administrators manage your schedule
• They assign patients to your care
• Report system issues to admins
• Request resources or support as needed

Patient Communication

• Use the notification system for non-urgent communication
• Schedule appointments for detailed discussions
• Document all patient interactions
• Maintain professional communication standards

Appointment Follow-ups

Complete the care cycle after appointments.

Post-Appointment Documentation

1. Add diagnosis from appointment findings
2. Create prescriptions as needed
3. Update patient medical records
4. Schedule follow-up appointments
5. Document any recommendations

Completing Appointments

1. Navigate to patient's appointment
2. Update appointment status to "Completed"
3. Add appointment notes
4. Record any outcomes or next steps

Workflow Examples

Typical Patient Visit Workflow

1. Review Appointment Request

   • Check patient's reason for visit
   • Review medical history before appointment

2. Accept and Schedule

   • Assign appointment to yourself
   • Set appropriate date/time

3. Pre-Appointment Preparation

   • Review patient's recent health logs
   • Check current medications
   • Note any concerns or patterns

4. During Appointment

   • Examine patient
   • Discuss symptoms and concerns
   • Review findings

5. Post-Appointment Documentation

   • Add diagnosis if applicable
   • Create prescriptions as needed
   • Schedule follow-up if required
   • Mark appointment as completed

Emergency Response Workflow

1. Receive Emergency Notification

   • Check emergency details
   • Assess urgency level

2. Initial Response

   • Contact patient if needed
   • Provide immediate guidance
   • Determine if in-person care needed

3. Schedule Urgent Visit

   • Create urgent appointment
   • Prepare necessary resources

4. Follow-up

   • Document emergency response
   • Update patient records
   • Monitor patient progress

Tips for Effective Use

1. Regular Review: Check appointments and notifications daily
2. Thorough Documentation: Always document diagnoses and prescriptions completely
3. Proactive Monitoring: Review patient health logs regularly
4. Timely Response: Address appointment requests promptly
5. Complete Records: Ensure all patient interactions are documented
6. Collaboration: Communicate effectively with nurses and staff

Privacy and Compliance

Patient Privacy

• Only access records for patients under your care
• Keep login credentials secure
• Log out when finished with sessions
• Don't share patient information inappropriately

Documentation Standards

• Use professional medical terminology
• Document thoroughly and accurately
• Include all relevant clinical information
• Date and attribute all entries properly

Audit Trail

• All your actions are logged for compliance
• Audit logs cannot be modified
• Administrators can review activity
• Ensures accountability and transparency

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Can't Find Patient Records

• Verify patient name spelling
• Use search function
• Check if patient exists in system

Prescription Not Saving

• Ensure all required fields are filled
• Check for valid date formats
• Verify patient is selected

Appointment Not Appearing

• Refresh the page
• Check appointment status filter
• Verify appointment was saved

Next Steps

• Understanding Medical Records
• Prescription Management
• Appointment System
• Developer API Documentation