20 eClinicalWorks Keyboard Shortcuts

eClinicalWorks is known for its comprehensive features and ability to optimize patient care workflows. The popular EHR system helps providers streamline patient management, from scheduling and documentation to billing and reporting. However, many users are unaware of the potential to enhance their efficiency through the platform’s built-in shortcuts. 

This article presents some unique keyboard shortcuts and macros available in eClinicalWorks. Mastering these shortcuts can help reduce administrative burdens and allow providers to focus more on care delivery.

20 Common eClinicalWorks (ECW) Keyboard Shortcuts

1. New Patient Record – F8
2. Search for a Patient by Name – F9
3. View a List of Macros – Type ‘.macros’ (Macros are configured under Menu > EMR > Misc. Configuration Options > Configure Macros)
4. Resource Schedule – CTRL+ALT+R
5. See Available Shortcuts – Hold ALT
6. Page Shortcut – ALT+(underlined letter)
7. Messages Tab – ALT+M
8. Rx Tab – ALT+R
9. Labs/DI Hx Tab – ALT+X
10. Notes Tab – ALT+N
11. Addendum Tab – ALT+QD
12. Log History Tab – ALT+L
13. Visual History Tab – ALT+I
14. Fax – ALT+F
15. Print Script – ALT+P
16. Send Rx – ALT+S
17. ‘Ok’ Button – ALT+O
18. ‘Cancel’ Button – ALT+C
19. Chief Complaints – ALT+QC
20. HPI – ALT+ZH

Tips for Saving Time in eClinicalWorks

• Create Quick Consult Notes: Click “Fax” or “Print.” Select the date on which you would like to send the note. Select the referring physician from the pick list.

• View Previous Patient Visit Information: Use dropdown menus next to HPI, Exam, Physical Exam, ROS, or Assessment to investigate up to four visits ago. This feature works especially well for patients with chronic conditions. 

• Access Referral Options from Progress Notes: After creating your treatment plan, you can send a referral from the same screen. Select your referring physician from your pick list and then select the option to include a previous progress note, lab, imaging, patient document, or medical summary. These referrals can either go out by fax or can be printed in your office.

• Navigate Quickly with Dashboard: The dashboard provides access to previous labs and image results, medical summaries, alerts, patient documents, and encounters. This dashboard can be found right above the progress note. With this dashboard, you can navigate through eClinicalWorks to find information quickly.

• Tracking Orders: By default, a bubble with a number and color indicator appears on your Progress Notes screen, on the bottom left next to send. When you click this number, orders and their status will display. For example, an injection ordered but not given will appear as a gray “1” whereas a completed injection will appear as a green “0”.

Other ways to limit repetitive typing

These tips can optimize your workflow and increase your productivity when navigating eClinicalWorks, but there are even more ways healthcare providers can improve efficiency.

Many eClinicalWorks customers also use TextExpander in their day-to-day workflows. TextExpander boosts efficiency by creating custom shortcuts for frequently used phrases, medical terms, and patient instructions. The software integrates seamlessly with eClinicalWorks to streamline documentation processes. Instead of manually typing out lengthy and repetitive text, users can enter a custom abbreviation (called a snippet) and TextExpander will automatically expand it to the full text. This saves valuable time and ensures accuracy and consistency in documentation. 

Learn more about how TextExpander healthcare customers saved an average of 79 hours in the past year with TextExpander.