Jane was designed for multidisciplinary clinics, with optimizations for disciplines like massage therapy, physical therapy, and chiropractic. As such, Jane lacks integration for prescriptions, imaging, and lab orders. That means, if you have no interest in such features, Jane’s default layout includes less on-screen clutter. There are less features to deactivate or remove when customizing Jane for a free tattoo removal clinic. The billing feature cannot be removed completely, but it’s easy to work around without impeding workflow. Set all treatments/encounters to $0, and it’s done.
Jane has a few useful optimizations around intake forms. Firstly, intake forms can be manually pushed to a patient before the initial appointment is scheduled. Jane is one of the only EHR companies we’ve seen who offer this option. Secondly, Jane can be set up to use a patient portal, but it’s optional. Temporary direct links can be emailed to patients instead, bypassing the need for a patient portal login process. Given the demographics we serve, this feature is highly valued. However, one drawback to using Jane is that links (and therefore intake forms) cannot be sent to patients via text message.
Jane’s template editing features, for both intake forms and charting, are quite impressive. Their editor uses a series of drag-and-drop entry fields to allow custom-built and custom-formatted forms/charts. Entry fields include (but are not limited to) drop-down menus, check boxes, sliding scales, and a variety of text fields. Plaintext SOAP notes can be set up using a series of headings and text fields, but comparatively seem like a downgrade in efficiency and organization for the provider. Instead, charting with Jane appears more similar to electronic form-filling: checking boxes, choosing options from lists, or clicking phrases that auto-populate patient instructions. The major drawback we found regarding intake forms: Jane doesn’t have a notification system for when intake forms have been submitted. A provider would have to look at a patient’s chart to verify.
The process of charting with Jane will keep each treatment note separate, relying heavily on the “Duplicate Note” function to pull relevant information forward into subsequent treatment notes, already in the appropriate format. Chart notes can be easily renamed for quick referencing, and the name change will carry forward into any duplicated notes for subsequent visits. Customizable SmartText, often known as “dot phrases,” is available both at the administrator level (for all users) and for the individual user (for one user only). Entry fields of any type can be added on-the-fly while charting, as well.
Charts have a built-in photo upload section which integrates well with tablets. Photos are stored at the bottom of each set of treatment notes, allowing for quick referencing if notes are properly named. Important caveat: if notes are properly named… it will be vital for note-takers to maintain a consistent naming system for notes and photos. There is no limit to the size or number of photos that can be uploaded. Side-by-side photo comparison, however, left us wanting more. Simply put, they don’t do it. Our most viable workaround would involve using Jane’s “pin chart note” feature, which places a copy of a chart note (and its contents) at the top of a patient’s chart. In the interest of minimizing top-of-chart clutter, for each tattoo a provider will pin the original “before” photo (done on the patient’s first visit) and the most recent photo (taken after treatment).
Overall, Jane looks like a very appealing option. It caters to demographics with needs similar to ours, evidenced in the lack of lab/imaging/prescription features. Intake form features are nice, and charting looks great for our purposes. Our presenter clearly spent some time preparing herself for our demo, reviewing our particular needs and preparing chart/form templates accordingly. Though we strive to form objective opinions on each EHR product, it’s hard not to take the extra effort personally. With unnecessary features eliminated from the UI and tattoo removal chart templates already loaded, exactly how this EHR might work for us was clear.