prelink

Once you log in to the preLink System, Navigate to Capture >Data Capture to create a request.

Note the following highlighted sections in the capture screen.

Capturing Data

*Note: All information within a column (except the Additional Test column) can be deleted using the trashcan icon at the top of each column.

Mandatory fields & requirements include:

Enter R#, Site, Hospital (& Ward if "Yes" selected), Priority, Referring Dr, ICD, ID# (if no ID use DOB or N/A), Surname & Name, Patient search, Gender, DOB, Guarantor ID#, Guarantor Surname & Name, Guarantor search, Payment (& drop-down fields), Accepted By (appears with Cash payment method), and added Test(s).

These mandatory fields are indicated in red in the following details:

Request Info:

Enter R#: Type in the barcode number, or use the barcode scanner, to confirm the barcode number. 

Site:  Select the site that the request is being received/captured.

Hospital:  Select "Yes" or "No" from the drop-down list for whether or not the request is from a hospital. 

Ward: Search (& select) the hospital ward's doctor, location, or name by clicking the magnifying glass iconor by pressing "F9" on the keyboard to open the Ward search window.

*Note: The ward is mandatory if "Yes" is selected for hospital.

Priority:  Select the priority of the request from the drop-down list.

Refer Dr: Search (& select) the referring doctor using doctor's name, location, or code, by clicking the magnifying glass iconor by pressing "F9" on the keyboard to open the Doctor search window.

Copy Dr: Search (& select) the copy doctor using doctor's name, location, or code, by clicking the magnifying glass iconor by pressing "F9" on the keyboard to open the Doctor search window.

Collected: Type in the collected date, or use the the pop-up calendar to select it. Then type in the collected time in the field to the right. (Can be left blank if not supplied in the request form.

Coll By: Type in the name of the driver/delivery person.

Received:  Type in the received date, or use the the pop-up calendar to select it. Then type in the received time in the field to the right.

Specimen: Type in the number of specimen/sample types (E.g. 1xSST, 2xEDTA, etc.).

Comment: Type in a comment about the request/patient, such as extra clinical information written on the form by the doctor/nurse (e.g. symptoms of the patient).

ICD Code:  Type in the ICD code(s), if supplied on the request form.

Patient Info:

ICD:  Select "Yes", "No" or "Refused" from the drop-down list depending on if an ICD code was supplied or refused. 

Identity:  Select identity type, "Id Number", "Passport", or "Other" of the patient from the drop down list.

ID#:  Type in the Id/passport number of the patient. If not supplied, a number can be invented.

*Note: The ID# of the patient can be any format and length. However only a valid Id number will autofill the "Gender", "DOB" and "Age" fields.

Surname:  Type in the surname of the patient. If not supplied, use the ID#, birth date, a reference on the form, etc.

Name:  Type in the name of the patient. If not supplied, use the ID#, birth date, a reference on the form, etc.

*Note: Click on the magnifying glass iconon the right of the name field to search the patient. If listed in the database, the patient can be selected and all available information will be autofilled into the Patient Info column.

Initials:  Type in the initials of the patient.

Gender: Select the gender from the drop-down list. (Will be autofilled upon entering valid ID#).

Ethnicity:  If specified on the form, select the ethnicity of the patient from the drop-down list.

DOB: Type in the date of birth of the patient in the following format. DD MM YYYY. (Will be autofilled upon entering valid ID#).

Age:  Type in the numerical age of the patient (e.g. 37). (Will be autofilled upon entering valid ID# or DOB).

Folio:  Type in the patent folio number/code (if supplied).

Home Tel:  Type in the home telephone number of the patient (if supplied).

Work Tel:  Type in the work telephone number of the patient (if supplied).

Mobile:  Type in the mobile phone number of the patient (if supplied).

Guarantor Info:

*Note: If the Guarantor info is the same as the Patient info, click on the ‘copy’ icon at the top of the Guarantor Info column.

Identity:  Select identity type, "Id Number", "Passport", or "Other" of the guarantor from the drop down list.

ID#:  Select identity type, "Id Number", "Passport", or "Other" of the guarantor from the drop down list.

Surname:  Type in the surname of the guarantor. 

Name:  Type in the name of the the guarantor.

*Note: Click on the magnifying glass iconon the right of the name field to search the guarantor. If listed in the database, the guarantor can be selected and all available information will be autofilled into the Guarantor Info column.

Address:  Type in the address of the guarantor (if supplied).

City:  Type in the address city of the guarantor (if supplied).

Code:  Type in the address zip code of the guarantor (if supplied).

Email:  Type in the email address of the guarantor (if supplied).

Work Tel:  Type in the work telephone number of the guarantor (if supplied).

Mobile:  Type in the mobile phone number of the guarantor (if supplied).

Payment:  Select the payment method of the guarantor.

*Note: All drop-down payment fields below a payment method are mandatory in order to complete the request. The payment methods will also only be available if a doctor is selected.

Accepted By:  Appears only with "Cash" payment method. Search your (the data capturer) employee#, name, or surname, by clicking the magnifying glass iconor pressing the "F9" key on the keyboard to open to the User List window.

Additional Tests:

Test:  Type in a test and a drop-down list will appear and begin to be populated by tests in alphabetical order as you type. Select the test from the list and then click on "Add".

Code:  If the test Order Code is known, type in the code and then click on "Add".

Microbiology Orders:

Profile:  Select the Microbiology test profile from the drop-down list.

Site:  Select the Microbiology test site from the drop-down list.

Spec:  Select the Microbiology test specimen from the drop-down list.

Then click on "Add" below to add the microbiology test.

Complete the Data Capture:

Once all of the above has been entered and completed, you can now complete the data capture, and click on "Continue".

Remember to perform the requirements shown below. 

*Note: If an error/mistake in the capturing occurs, you may be required to redo the patient/guarantor search.

Various error messages besides the requirements above the "Continue" button will also appear if an error has been made. If a data capture does not process, check the columns for fields that are outlined in red where you may have missed a mandatory field or entered something incorrectly.

Sample Barcodes Printing:

After a request has been captured, the barcode(s) for the specimen(s) will then be automatically printed by the preLink system.

*Note: The preLink Print Station app must be open for the barcodes to print. 

To view the article on the correct way to label the specimens, click here.