As a large NDSO with offices in multiple states on the same shared database, we are having issues with referrers with the same name.
For example: I might have a John Smith in both MA and GA, yet they are obviously different referral sources.
Since the system will not allow you to add the same name in twice, we have gotten "creative" with our work arounds. But they are just that...a work around. And work arounds cause other issues.
Right now, we are adding periods or commas to the end of the last name.
However, that is messy when the staff go to do letters and have clean up the name to make it look more professional.
The other issue is that it causes issues with our SQL reporting and dashboard on the back end.
The ideal solution to this problem would be to add a unique identifier to each referring doctor, like a patient ID number or master key. It should also give you the option to add a duplicate name as long as this unique ID is different.
Janette Whittington
