May 18, 2021

eStar updates and changes

Correction: No Changes to Problem List

On May 12, changes were made to documentation in eStar to help improve documentation efficiency. Though originally communicated, there will be no changes to the problem list.

Please review Tip Sheet “Using Documentation Updates” (available in Hubbl) for more information.

Brief Consult Note

To enhance and expedite Clinician/ Consultant communications, there is now a new note type available in eStar. Known as the “Brief Consult Note,” it will be available to all clinicians who perform inpatient consults.

This brief note is used when a full consult note cannot be written immediately after consult. A Brief Consult Note:

  • Does not replace actual consult note
  • Will not drop a charge for a Consult Visit
  • Meets one of four criteria for closing consult
  • Does not replace verbal or in-person communication
  • Will not remove a consult out of the Physician Consult List
  • May be used in lieu of Consultation Initial Recommendations Communicated Order

View Tip Sheets (available in Hubbl) for more information:

Block Charting for Titration

As of May 5, block charting is used by nursing to document administration of titrated medications in urgent/emergent situations. This change will help comply with the Joint Commission’s requirement for titrated infusions and will impact all users who order or oversee titration of medications.

The Block Charting method allows nurses to document using a block of time vs. documenting each titration change each time. It may be used if a licensed provider assesses that the patient might accrue harm or death without the provider's ability to perform Rapid Titration of medications.

Block charting should be completed hourly with the following:

  • Current mediation rate (dose)
  • Max medication rate (dose) for previous hour
  • Min Medication rate (dose) for previous hour

Document completion of each Block Charting episode occurs:

  • When the patient no longer meets criteria for Urgent/Emergent status
  • When the nurse who started block transfers primary care of patient
  • After four (4)  consecutive hours

A single Block Charting episode may be used up to four (4) hours. If the Urgent/Emergency situation extends beyond four (4)4 hours, the nurse should start a new Block Charting episode.

Please review Tip Sheet “Using Block Charting for Rapid Titration of Medications” (available in Hubbl) for more information. Please review SOPs for more information: