Dentrix saves your office from repetitive data entry by posting procedures to both the Ledger and the Patient Chart. However, a different standard regarding record keeping exists for these modules. If the procedure has already been moved into history, which happens when the month is closed, the financial information cannot just be changed or deleted; it must be corrected using an adjustment. So, how do you fix an error if you discover it after the procedure is in history?
Dentrix allows you to invalidate procedures in history, which removes it from the Patient Chart, while leaving it on the Ledger. If you discover a posting error after Dentrix has moved a procedure to history, you can invalidate the procedure in history, then enter an adjustment in the Ledger and a corrected, backdated procedure in the Chart.
Watch this video to learn how to invalidate a completed procedure. (Duration 0:29)
Additional Tips
- Invalidating a procedure removes it from the Patient Chart, but leaves it in the Ledger as a “history” procedure. Dentrix also places a plus sign in front of the procedure to indicate that it has been invalidated.
- After you have invalidated a procedure, if you need to re-enter the procedure for the patient, backdate the entry to the date you performed the procedure, so your clinical records are accurate. In addition to invalidating and posting a corrected, back-dated procedure, you must post adjustments to the Ledger and correct the charges on the patient’s account.
- To learn more about invalidating a completed procedure, read Invalidating a Procedure in History in Dentrix Help.
Check Your Knowledge
If you have access to Dentrix, check your knowledge with this exercise.
- Switch to the Dentrix demo database.
(Skip this step if you are using the Dentrix Learning Edition software.) - Run the Patient Report (by filters) and locate any patient that has a completed procedure. (To do so, review the topic, Generating the Patient Report (by filters) and select the Procedures search button, select Completed, then run the Open List Manager Select any patient and open the patient’s Chart.)
- Invalidate the completed procedure for your selected patient.