Compass PMR HELP me please

[v11nsx]

Hi

i am going to be working next week at LLoyds and do not know how to use the Compass system, i am a dispenser and am working there for 3weeks and i need to get to grips with the system, i can use nexphase and proscript and have found user guides online but i cant find one for COMPASS.

Can anyone help me? does anyone have any notes? any CD demo? anything? any help would be great.

[DavidS]

As far as Compass is concerned the only advance help you will get is through prayer. Specifically, pray that there is someone there who can show you how to use it.

Welcome to the forum, btw.

[v11nsx]

thanks, but i want to do a good job so need some proper help, do you know what happened to locum tang? has it shut down?
looked like that could have saved me some headache

[dizzyb23]

Hi
I'm no expert but I work with this awful system everyday.....
F12 key is your friend
Inputting a new patient record is the biggest pain but only do the first two pages and then exit. If you haven't got the Postcode which this daft system seems to demand, just put the postcode of your shop and then input the patient address manually.

To link more than one script together without printing loads of address labels press shift + insert at the same time and it will start a new script for ya

Don't forget when you get to the labelling page (last but one) don't forget to order (using + and - keys) and to use Alt and L keys together to sort out the amounts on your labels.

Swear at it regularly as it will freeze up on you every hour or slow and for some reason it takes ages to warm up in a morning.......

Anything else you need to know, just ask and i'll find out for ya....good luck

[v11nsx]

hi thank you very much for your help, do branches not have a simple user guide or handbook? if its not too much could you do me a quick walk through? is the above all id need to know? when i go in next week i want to know the basics and crack on as i am expected to do.

any extra help would be great. thanks again

[dizzyb23]

Hi again
Well, most branches are supposed to have user guides available but they probably are out of date and been lost in the mist of time....If you are lucky enough to be working with an experienced Tech or Pharmacist then they will be able to get you started.
You usually log in using the word locum and the password will normally be the branch number.

The only section of compass i'm not that great with is MDS and CDS as these are no my areas.

There are the usual shortcodes such as 1 meaning Take one and 2 meaning take Two and so on. There are short codes for the items such as amo5 = amoycillin 500 or met4 = metronidazole 400mg.

Sometimes you get a script where the item isn't listed on the system. You need to press View All to make sure your item is not in that picking list. You can also input drugs manually.

Remebering all your most used short codes can help speed things up a bit.
If you make a mistake, you have to go back to the beginning to undo it or just exit out of that record and start again.

This system is as far from user friendly as it is possible to be but once you get the basics sorted you will be able to get through.

Anything else you can think of or just pops up, let me know......

[bobbin]

As far as Compass is concerned the only advance help you will get is through prayer. Specifically, pray that there is someone there who can show you how to use it.

I've never had the pleasure of attempting to use Compass. Does it have any redeeming features at all? I get the impression that it's far from being as user-friendly and logical as ProScript.

[johnep]

No, it is just about one up from Smartscript.
johnep

[Pharmanaut]

No, it is just about one up from Smartscript.
johnep

Hate using short codes - they are different in every pharmacy.
Pharmacy Manager lets you type in AMOXI 500 CAP - cuts down the selection list dramatically - typing that extra bit in seems to speed things up as no scrolling through large lists like on Link.

Also Pharmacy Manager is not a 'flat file' you select the generic, then do CTRL-G to select the supplier if different from the default on screen. CTRL-B if you want to link to a brand for whatever reason.

[DavidS]

Pharmacy Manager lets you

Yes, PM is incredibly versatile but a real pain to learn. And from what I've seen so far its implementation of ETP release 2 is hardly what you would call intuitive.

Ditto Nexphase.