PowerChart Allergy Entry
Table of Contents
ALLERGY ENTRY ...................................................................................................................................... 2
Accessing the Add Allergy Window from the Allergies section of the Menu ............................................. 2
Accessing the Add Allergy Window from the Demographic Bar ............................................................... 2
Accessing the Add Allergy Window from the PAL ................................................................................... 3
Accessing the Add Allergy/Adverse Effect Window from Powerforms in Ad Hoc Charting ....................... 3
ALL Allergies and Reactions are ENTERED using the Add/Allergy Effect Window below ....................... 4
No Known Allergies ................................................................................................................................. 5
Allergy substance is not available in the search tool ............................................................................... 6
Unable to obtain allergy information ........................................................................................................ 7
Canceling an allergy ............................................................................................................................... 7
Modifying an allergy ................................................................................................................................ 7
Catalog tab ............................................................................................................................................. 7
My Favorites tab: .................................................................................................................................... 8
Viewing Current Allergies only ................................................................................................................ 8
Allergy Verification Process..................................................................................................................... 8
Tips ............................................................................................................................................................ 9
Revised January 2013
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ALLERGY ENTRY
Allergies can be entered multiple ways in PowerChart and FirstNet: from the Allergies section of the Floating
Menu, from the Demographic (yellow banner) Bar, and from Tracking Lists. They can also be entered via the
Admission tasks on the PAL and from PowerForms in Ad Hoc charting. All methods use the Add Allergy /
Adverse Effect window.
Accessing the Add Allergy Window from the Allergies section of the Menu
1. Click Allergies on the Floating Menu.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Right click the white section of the Allergies window.
Select Add New.
Select Drug Allergy.
The Add Allergy/Adverse Effect window opens.
OR
1. Click on the + Add icon on the Floating Menu.
2. The Add Allergy/Adverse Effect window opens.
Accessing the Add Allergy Window from the Demographic Bar
1. Click the Allergies section of the demographic bar. The bar will either display
Allergies Not Recorded, No Known Allergies, or the patient’s drug allergies.
1. The Custom Information Allergy window opens.
2. Click the + Add icon on the window.
3. The Add Allergy/ Adverse Effect window opens.
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Accessing the Add Allergy Window from the PAL
1. Right click the Allergy Review task.
2. Select Chart Details.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Right click in the white area of the Allergies window.
Select Add New.
Select Drug Allergy.
The Add Allergy/ Adverse Effect window opens.
Accessing the Add Allergy/Adverse Effect Window from PowerForms in Ad Hoc Charting
1. Click the box in front of the Allergies.
2. Click Chart or double left click on the Allergies form name.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Right click in the white area of the Allergies window.
Select Add New.
Select Drug Allergy.
The Add Allergy/Adverse Effect window opens.
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ALL Allergies and Reactions are ENTERED using the Add/Allergy Effect Window below
Form to be filled out
Search tool
penn
1. Click in the field to the right of the Search button and type all or part of the name of the substance. A
minimum of 3 characters must be used; no abbreviations.
2. Click Search.
3. Click one of the listed substances.
4. Click Select.
Select button moves the highlighted
substance to the #1 field on the form side.
5. The Reaction Type (field #2) should read Allergy. If it does not, click the drop-down arrow and select
Allergy.
6. To enter a Reaction, click in the field to the right of the Search button. The system has already
changed the “Search for” option to Reaction.
7. Remove the previously entered substance in the Search field and type in the reaction. A minimum of 3
characters must be used.
 If the patient is unable to state the reaction, enter “unknown” in the Search field.
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8. Click Search.
9. Click the appropriate reaction from the list.
10. Click Select and the reaction moves to Reaction symptoms field.
11. Repeat steps #9 through #13 to add additional reactions.
“Search for” has
changed to Reaction
Select button moves the highlighted
reaction to the #3 field on the form side.
12. Do not enter Severity. MHC does not use this field. (field #4)
13. Enter the Info source by clicking the drop-down arrow and selecting an option.
14. Do not enter Onset date unless the allergy occurs during hospitalization.
15. If a comment is needed (field #5), click the Comments button and enter comment.
16. To enter additional allergies click ‘New’ and repeat steps #1 through #16.
17. Click OK.
Note: If the patient had an entry of No Known Allergies entered from a previous visit, the system will
generate the following warning:
 To add the allergy and cancel NKA, click Yes.
No Known Allergies
From the Demographic Bar
1. Double click on the Allergies section of the Demographic Bar.
2. Click No Known Allergies on the Custom Information window.
3. Click OK.
4. Close the window.
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From Ad Hoc Charting or PAL
1. Access the form.
2. Right click in the white area.
3. Click Add New.
4. Click No Known Allergies.
Note: Once allergies have been entered on a patient, the “NKA” button is dithered (grayed out). To reenter No Known Allergies the existing allergies must to be canceled first.
Allergy substance is not available in the search tool
The ability to enter free text allergies is available. Use this option with caution. Free text allergies entered in
PowerChart are potentially unsafe for patients. The system is set to search for the same or similar products
and alert the pharmacist to the allergy. Free text allergies are not recognized by the pharmacy system
when orders are being entered. No alert will display for the pharmacist. Entering a free text allergy
creates the potential for a patient to receive a drug to which they are allergic.
1. Click Free text box.
2. Click OK to alert.
3. Enter substance in white field.
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Unable to obtain allergy information
When the patient or other sources (family, old records or family physician) are unable to provide allergy
information, do not enter unknown in the Add Allergy window. The Add Allergy window should remain blank.
The Demographic Bar will continue to read “Allergies Not Recorded”. A No Recorded Allergy report is printed
at 0700 and 1900 daily as a reminder to the unit to obtain allergy information. Communicate the inability to
obtain allergies to Pharmacy by written order or phone.
Canceling an allergy
Allergies should only be canceled if entered in error or if there is a written physician order.
From the PAL tab, Ad Hoc Charting, Demographic Bar, or Patient Info tab:
1. Right click on the allergy to be canceled.
2. Click Cancel with drug name
3. In field #5, click Add Comment.
4. Enter reason for cancellation (Dr. order or clerical error) in the window.
5. Click OK.
Modifying an allergy
1.
2.
3.
4.
Right click on the allergy to be modified.
Click Modify.
Add or change the reaction.
Click OK.
Catalog tab
The Catalog tab is a list of common allergies and reactions for all PowerChart/FirstNet users. This list cannot
be changed or modified by the individual user. Items found on the Catalog tab can be added to the My
Favorites tab.
1. Click Catalog.
2. Click the + in front of the Common Allergies or the Common Reactions folder.
3. Click the desired substance or reaction.
4. Click Select.
Click the “+” sign
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My Favorites tab:
Each user can create a “Favorites” tab for both allergy substances and reactions. The Favorites tab can be
created from searching on the Search tab or from the Catalog tab.
From the Search tab:
1. After searching, while the list is displayed, right click on the desired substance or reaction and click Add
to Favorites.
From the Catalog tab:
1. Right click on the desired substance or reaction and click Add to Favorites.
The next time allergies are entered rather than searching, click My Favorites and select the substance or
reaction from there.
Viewing Current Allergies only
To view allergies without canceled entries, the display drop-down field should display active. To view cancelled
allergies, select all or inactive from the display drop down box.
Allergy Verification Process
Verification is the process of reviewing allergies and reactions that have been entered on a previous visit.
Allergies can be verified from the Demographic Bar, Floating Menu, or the Allergy form via the PAL or Ad Hoc
Charting.
1. Using one of the methods listed above, review allergies and reactions with the patient.
2. Add new allergies or cancel as necessary.
 If the patient states they do not have a listed allergy, the physician is to be notified and an order
written.
3. If all allergies are correct, click Mark All as Reviewed.
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4. If reviewing only part of the list:
 Right click on each specific allergy.
 Select Mark All as Reviewed.
Additional Information for the Allergy Review Process:
 Verify NKA in the same manner as any allergy entry.
 The allergy area on the PowerForms (Allergies or ED Allergies/Meds forms) does not have a ‘Review’
button. Follow the directions on the window: Depress CTRL key on keyboard and left click all allergies
to be reviewed; right click and select ‘Mark as Reviewed’.
Tips
 Enter or verify allergies within one hour of admission. The physician/provider and the pharmacist
need the information to ensure the patient receives the correct medication in a timely manner.

Verify the allergies on re-admission by selecting Mark All as Reviewed or right click on the drug and
review individually
 Avoid Free Text when entering allergies and reactions. Free-text entries will not cross reference with
the ordered medications. The pharmacist will not receive an alert if an ordered drug is listed as a freetext allergy.
 The Catalog tab lists the most common allergies and reactions. It is next to the Search and My
Favorites tabs on the Add Allergy/Adverse Effect window. This tab is helpful in avoiding free-text
allergies and reactions.
 Latex is listed in the Catalog tab. If Search is used, enter “latex”, not “Allergic to Latex”.
 The user does not need to fill in the Onset date or Source fields.
 Allergies must be written on any paper MAR. (printed for downtime, code blue, discharge etc.)
 The user must cancel an allergy that is a clerical error. Add the comment “Clerical error” when
canceling the allergy.
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 If the patient informs the user the current PowerChart Allergy list is not accurate, the provider must be
notified. An order to cancel allergies must be written before the disputed allergies can be cancelled.
Add a comment (field # 5) when canceling an allergy.
 To reactivate a canceled allergy:
a. Right click the allergy and select Modify.
b. In field #4, click the drop down arrow next to the word Cancel and select Active.
c. Click OK.
 When allergies have been entered on a patient the “NKA” button is dithered (grayed out).
To re-enter No Known Allergies the existing allergies need to be canceled first.
 Add hard to find allergy substances to My Favorites tab to avoid errors.
Incorrect
Novacain
Statins
Ace Inhibitor
ARB
Flu Vaccine
Tetanus Vaccine
Contrast Media
Sulfas
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Correct entry
Novocain
HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor
Angiotensin II Inhibitors
Influenza Vaccine
Tetanus Toxoid
Iodinated Radiocontrast Media (listed on the Catalog tab)
Sulfa Drugs (listed on the Catalog tab)
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