This article explains how to add an observation schedule to a client's record.
Observation schedules enable workers to record observations related to a clients health condition or support needs for tracking and clinical review.
This article covers:
- observation types
- how to add an observation schedule
- where to add and view observations
- fluid balance chart
Observation types
The following observation types and readings are supported:
| Observation type | Observation fields |
|---|---|
| Blood Glucose | Millimoles per litre of blood (mmol/L), Actions Taken |
| Blood Pressure | Systolic blood pressure (SBP), Diastolic blood pressure (DBP), Beats per minute (BPM), Actions Taken |
| Bowel | Bowel Action, Faeces Type, Method, Amount, Actions Taken |
| Cough Assist Chart | Manual or Machine, Number of Cycles, Secretion, Actions Taken |
| Enteral Feeding Regime | Flush (mL), Feed (mL), Rate (mL/hr), Actions Taken Start Date/Time, End Date/Time |
| Fluid intake | Drink Item, Amount Served (mL), Amount Consumed (mL), Actions Taken |
| Food intake | Food Item, Amount Served, Amount Consumed, Actions Taken |
| Head Injury | Pupils different shapes or sizes, Blurry or double vision, Difficulty hearing, speaking or seeing, Sensitivity to light, Seizure activity or twitching, Sensitivity to noise, Confused or acting strangely, Numbness or tingling, Vomits, Does not “feel right”, Can’t recall events (hit, bump, fall), Difficulty eating or drinking, Headache getting worse, Has blood or discharge from nose or ear, Has trouble staying awake, Blacks out/loses consciousness, Balance problems or dizziness, Visual disturbance, Loses memory, Weakness, Actions Taken |
| Heart Rate | Beats per minute (BPM), Additional Information, Actions Taken |
| IDC/SPC Bag Change Chart | Reason for bag change, Reason for change, Date next change due, Actions Taken |
| IDC/SPC Change Chart | Reason for change, Date next change due, Actions Taken |
| Medication Administration | Medication Administered, Actions Taken |
| Menstruation | Amount, Cycle Stage, Period Duration (days), Other Symptoms, Additional Information, Actions Taken |
| Neurological Observations Chart | Best Eye Response, Best Verbal Response, Best Physical Response, Total Score, Actions Taken |
| Oxygen Saturation | SpO2, Actions Taken |
| Pain | Pain Symptoms, Pain Type, Location, Area, Actions Taken, Additional Information |
| Repositioning Chart | Positioned From, Positioned To, Actions Taken |
| Respiratory Rate | Breaths per minute, Actions Taken |
| Seizure | Duration, Type of seizure, Symptoms - Absence, Symptoms - Partial, Symptoms - Tonic Clonic, Sensations & Physical Responses, After Seizure, Actions Taken |
| Skin integrity Issue | New Issue, Location, Estimated Size or Scale of the issue, Area, Integrity Issues, Possible Cause, Incident Recorded, Actions Taken |
| Skin Monitoring Chart | Type of New Mark, Date Resolved, Location on Body, Actions Taken |
| SPC Flushes | Urine PH, SPC Flush Solution, Actions Taken |
| Temperature | Temperature (°C), Actions Taken |
| Urine | Urine Colour Hydration Rating, Additional Information, Method, Amount, Actions Taken |
| Vomit | Volume (ml), Onset, Appearance, Other Symptoms, Actions Taken, Additional Information |
| Weight | Weight (kgs), Weight Change, Actions Taken |
Additional observation types may be available in your system if they have been customised for your organisation.
The following observation schedule types allow users to capture multiple observation types:
| Observation Schedule type | Observation types |
|---|---|
| Fluid Balance Chart | Enteral Feeding Regime Fluid Intake Stoma (Bowel) Urine Vomit |
| Vitals | Oxygen Saturation Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Temperature |
How to add an observation schedule
To add an observation schedule:
- Go to the client's record.
- Click on the Support Needs tab.
- Click on the Observations tab.
- Expand the Observation Schedules accordion.
- Click on the New Observation Schedule button.
This will open a New Observation Schedule form. The following table describes the fields in this form. Mandatory fields are marked with an asterisk. Filling in some fields reveals or activates additional options.
| Field | Use and purpose |
|---|---|
| * Client | This field is auto-filled with the name of the client. |
| * Status | Set the status to Active. |
| Schedule Details | |
| * Observation Schedule Type | Select an option from the list. |
| * Schedule | To track observations at set times, select Specific Daily Times, or for less frequent of ad hoc observations, select General Schedule. |
| Also create Ad Hoc Schedule | Tick this option to automatically create an equivalent ad hoc schedule for the same Observation Schedule Type. This option is not available when you are already creating an ad hoc schedule. |
| * Specific Times | Tick the checkboxes next to the relevant times to this observation is required to be tracked. This field will only display if you selected Specific Daily Times above. |
| * Non-Specific Times | Select a value from the picklist: Weekly, Monthly, Ad Hoc or Custom. This field will only display if you selected General Schedule above. |
| * Custom Times | Enter custom observation schedule times or frequencies. This field will only display if you selected Custom above. |
| Additional Instructions | Record additional instructions for this observation schedule. |
|
Enteral Feeding Regime Schedule (this section will only display for the Enteral Feeding Regime and Fluid Balance Chart schedule types) | |
| Regime | Select a value from the picklist: PEG, PEJ, RIG, NGT. Record relevant details in the other fields as needed: Dietician Details, Feed, No. boluses each day, Water flushes in mL (Pre bolus), Water flushes in mL (Post bolus), Bolus via gravity or pump, Total feed volume (mL), Total fluid volume (mL). |
|
Targets or Restrictions (this section will only display for the Fluid Balance Chart schedule type) | |
| Daily Target (mL) | Enter the client’s daily fluid intake target for this observation schedule. |
| Daily Restriction (mL) | Enter the client’s daily fluid intake restriction for this observation schedule. |
|
Observation Escalations (this section will only display for the Blood Glucose, Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, Oxygen Saturation, Temperature, Vitals and Weight schedule types) | |
| * Low | This will pre-populate with the lowest value for the normal range, based on the observation type and the client's age. This value can be overwritten if the client has a different normal range. |
| * High | This will pre-populate with the highest value for the normal range, based on the observation type and the client's age. This value can be overwritten if the client has a different normal range. |
| * Escalation Ranges | This will pre-populate with escalation guidance information for when the captured values are outside of the normal range, based on the observation type and the client's age. This information can be overwritten on the client's schedule as needed. |
| Schedule Dates | |
| * Start Date | This will pre-populate with today's date. Select the date from which observations are to be recorded if different to today. |
| End Date | If applicable, select the date to end recording new observations against this schedule. |
- Click on the Next button.
A confirmation prompt with details of the Observation Schedule will be displayed.
- Click on the Next button to create the schedule.
The new record will now be listed under the Support Needs - Observations tab. If you selected the Also create Ad Hoc Schedule option, you will see another record listed here too.
To edit this record:
- Expand the Observation Schedules accordion.
- Expand the specific schedule.
- Click on the cog icon at the end of the row.
- Select Edit Schedule.
Where to add and view observations
Observations can be viewed on the client record under the Support Needs - Observations tab. Three expandable sections are shown, for:
- Latest Observations
- Observation Schedules
- Inactive Observation Schedules
To record an observation:
- Expand the Observation Schedules accordion.
- Expand the specific schedule.
- Click on the Add Observation.
- Fields shown will vary according to the observation type. Fill in the fields shown.
- Click on the Save button.
If any recorded observation values were outside of the client's normal ranges for relevant observation types, an Observation Alert window will be displayed with the schedule's escalation guidance.
Click the Close button to close the window.
From the cog icon, you can also View Schedule and Export Observation Data.
Fluid Balance Chart
Users can view information for observations recorded under a client's Fluid Balance Chart schedule. This includes visibility of the client's daily target or restriction, and their daily balance of input versus output for the last 7 days.
For desktop users, this information can be accessed by:
- clicking the View Report link from the Fluid Balance Chart schedule, or
- clicking on the Fluid Balance Chart link from the schedule's Latest Observation card
View access for the Lumary Reports folder will need to be shared with desktop users needing to view this report. Check out our article on how to share reports.
This will open the report in a new window, which includes a daily balance chart at the top and summarised daily input and output at the bottom. More detail can be shown by enabling the Detail Rows toggle.