The AMRS Registration module was built to meet the registration needs of the AMPATH program, but was designed with the hope that it could be later adapted to meet the needs of a wider audience — i.e., other OpenMRS implementations — as well.

Overview

The purpose of the registration module is to allow patients to be quickly and efficiently registered into OpenMRS. It may also simultaneously serve as a check-in module for clinic appointments. Our assumption is that there is one particular type of identifier that is desired for all patients (for the AMPATH program, this is the universal ID card) and that the registration desk has the means to distribute/assign these identifiers.

For the AMPATH program, we are using a pre-generated universal ID card that has a unique identification number ending with a check digit and this same number represented as a bar code. The back of the card has blanks for collecting patient demographics (names, gender, birthdate/age, addresses, etc.). In most cases, patients are expected to present this card or, if they have not yet gotten a card, have a new card assigned to them during the registration process. The AMPATH registration desks are equipped with a computer connected to the OpenMRS server, a stack of unassigned universal ID cards, laminating supplies, and a laminator.

Workflow

There are four basic screens for the registration module:

1. Start Screen. This is the screen when the patient first steps up to the registration desk.
2. Edit/Search Screen. This screen displays an editable form for patient information. It is used both for searching for patients, entering new patient registrations, and editing existing patients' data.
3. Review Possible Matches Screen. If a new patient is being created or a patient has been selected and there are some other patients in the system that are close matches, then the registration clerk must agree that none of the matches are correct before continuing.
4. ID Card Assignment Screen. If a new patient is being created or an existing patient is being registered and they do not yet have an ID card, then this is the step at which a new ID is assigned.
5. Confirmation Screen. This is the final page that the registration clerk sees before registering the patient, offering an opportunity to confirm all details about the patient before finishing.

Start Screen

Patients can present to the registration desk in one of three ways:

1. Returning Patient With Card. Patient has their identification card.
2. Returning Patient Without Card. Patient has an identification card, but does not have it with them.
3. New Patient. Patient has not gotten an identifier card.

Edit/Search Screen

Registration clerks see this screen when they are creating a new patient record, searching for an existing record, or editing a patient's information. In all three cases, they are filling in patient information and, as they do so, the system scans for existing records that might represent the same person. If there are only a few likely matches, then these are presented to the user. The hope is that when entering patient information into the form, a matching record can help avoid unnecessary re-entry of information and will help reduce the creation of duplicate patient records.

Review Possible Matches Screen

After a patient record has been created or edited (the edit/search form has been completed), if the system identifier one or more patient records that closely match the current entry, these are displayed and the registration clerk must review these to ensure that none of them represent the current patient. This step helps avoid creating duplicate records for the same patient. If there are not any matching records (potential duplicates), then this step is skipped.

ID Card Assignment Screen

Before registering any patient who does not have an ID card, this screen prompts the registration clerk to assign a new ID card for the patient. For AMPATH, this step prompts the registration clerk to grab the next unassigned ID card and swipe it's barcode. Once the new ID card identifier has been entered, the system proceeds to the confirmation screen.

Confirmation Screen

This is the final step of registration. We expect the registration clerk to use this screen to review information with the patient and to verify that information in the system matches what it shown on the patient's ID card (whether the patient brought the card or the registration clerk has just created a new card).

If the information in the system needs to be changed, the registration clerk can click the "edit" button. If the information is correct, then clicking the "register" button completes the registration process.