A master problem is the discharge diagnosis of a patient problem in terms that are applicable to doctors. Master problems help to make sure that information about patient diagnoses is accurate. Master problems also help with reporting of clinical information.

In ezyVet, each master problem has a name and a description. The name and description is related to the patient health problem (for example, acute colitis). A practice manager uses ezyVet’s system settings to enter the name and description. When other staff use a master problem to identify a patient health problem, they cannot change the name and description. Thus, all patient records have the same name and same description for a related health problem. Because the name and description of each master problem is the same, staff can quickly know the patient health problems of many patient records.

When you add a master problem to a patient record, you can also record information about the problem that is applicable to the patient. Put the applicable information in the Condition Specifics box when you add the master problem:

You can use a master problem in a patient’s standard of care. For example, a patient could have a disease that is necessary to do regular blood tests. You can use a master problem to identify the disease and use a standard of care to monitor the tests. A master problem is not only for disease. For example, you can also use a master problem to identify a behavior problem (for example, hyperactivity).

Your ezyVet site has more than 3,500 configured master problems that you can use. A practice manager can also:

• Change the name and description of a master problem
• Make a master problem

Very important master problems

If a master problem is very important, you can select the Critical checkbox when you add the master problem to the patient record:

If you select the Critical checkbox, ezyVet shows a master problem in the patient record with red text:

If a patient record has a master problem with Critical selected, the record shows a special icon:

If a patient record has a master problem with Critical selected, ezyVet shows the Master Problems tab of the record with a red color:

Historical master problems

It is possible that a patient health problem is historical (that is, it is not a current problem for the patient). If it is important to record a historical health problem, clear the Condition Active checkbox when you add the master problem to the patient record:

If you clear the Condition Active checkbox, ezyVet shows the master problem in the patient record with a red cross and gray text:

If a master problem is not historical, ezyVet shows the master problem with a green check mark: