Imaging Categories
Imaging Categories name the imaging types your practice orders and files (for example X-ray, MRI, ultrasound). Setup is Edit Practice → Imaging Categories. Staff pick those categories on Orders → Imaging Orders and when filing Imaging results. Like labs, send options can go to the imaging facility, to PCP, or create a task—and clinical notes can ride along on fax packages. Notes Templates document visits; they do not replace imaging orders.
Edit Practice
Imaging Categories
Manage imaging categories for your practice.
No Imaging Categories
Get started by creating your first imaging category.
What Imaging Categories Are For
A category is a named, active bucket for imaging work: Name (required), Description (optional), Active on/off. Active categories appear when creating Imaging Orders and when organizing Imaging results. Inactive categories drop out of new work.
How to Add, Edit, or Deactivate
Open Edit Practice → Imaging Categories → Add → enter Name (and Description) → keep Active on for use → Save. Edit updates fields. Turn Active off to stop new orders/uploads under that category without deleting history. Delete only when nothing still depends on it. Needs imaging categories management permission (or Super Admin).
Where Staff Use Categories on the Chart
Orders → Imaging Orders: Create New Imaging Order and multi-select active categories. Imaging: Imaging Results—upload/view/sign/download by category. Dashboard Results: inbound imaging-related results and Order/Referral actions. Results are not managed under Clinical Notes (notes may only summarize them).
Usage: Create an Imaging Order
Open patient → Orders → Imaging Orders → Create → select one or more Imaging Categories → complete clinical/billing fields as the form allows → Choose Send Option → save/send. Track status and PDF on the Imaging Orders list. Without active categories, create cannot offer choices.
Usage: Send Options (Facility, PCP, Task)
Same pattern as labs: send toward the performing site (often labeled like To LAB in shared UI), To PCP for referring/primary care, or Create Task for internal follow-up. Fax package preview can include the order PDF, attachments, and clinical notes as supplements. Fix RingCentral/fax numbers and avoid encrypted PDFs when send fails.
Usage: When Imaging Results Come Back
File or receive results under chart → Imaging (category on the result matters). Staff preview, sign, and download when permitted. Dashboard Results may show inbound items. After results are on the chart, Clinical Notes sections for imaging/diagnostic results can pull them into the visit note for documentation.
End-to-End Imaging Cases
(1) Create categories → order from chart → send to facility → result returns → sign on Imaging → document in Clinical Note. (2) To PCP + note attached for coordination. (3) Create Task for “schedule imaging” style follow-up (Task Templates may also use Schedule Imaging). (4) Dashboard Results → Order when starting from an inbound study. (5) Inactive category: turn Active on again or pick another category—staff cannot select inactive ones for new work.
Notes vs Lab vs Imaging (How They Work Together)
Notes Templates → Clinical Notes = write/review/fax the visit note (can display lab/imaging results inside the note). Lab Settings → Orders → Lab Orders → Labs results. Imaging Categories → Orders → Imaging Orders → Imaging results. Order faxes can attach clinical notes. Never use Notes Templates alone to “order an MRI” or “order a CBC.”
Relation to Services and Tasks
Clinic Services Types (imaging) schedule imaging appointments on the calendar. Imaging Categories organize clinical order/result types. Task Templates with Schedule Imaging support operational follow-up. Practices often use all three for a complete imaging workflow.
Common Issues
No categories in create: none active or none created. Looking for result PDFs under Orders: open Imaging. Result under Documents only: re-file/upload as Imaging with the right category. Send/fax fail: fax setup, attachments, permissions. Confused with Lab Settings: labs vs imaging are separate catalogs and chart tabs. Confused with Notes Templates: documentation vs ordering.