In Basket is an electronic messaging system used within Epic Applications. Messages are sent and received similarly to email and can be directed to both individual recipients and to groups of recipients. Some messages are automatically generated when certain events occur such as results of a lab test are available or orders are placed that require cosignature. 

In Basket Pools are used to send a shared message to a group of recipients.

Resources

The following resources provide information on In Basket functionality.

eLearnings & Videos

General Resources

  • Automatic Purge of Old Messages - (Handout) Old In Basket messages slow the Epic system down. Learn how we are proactively addressing this issue.

  • In Basket Folder resource - (Handout) Quickly review the definition of In Basket folders, how messages in the folders are generated, and what type of action is required to resolve or satisfy the message.

  • Copy Staff Message to Patient Record - (Handout) Staff message sent through In Basket are not saved into the EHR. If you receive a staff message that includes clinical relevant information that you wish to include in a patient's chart you can manually copy the staff message into the EHR to ensure that it is saved in the medical record.

  • Creating Out of Contact Occasions - (Handout) Make sure In Basket work is covered when someone is away by creating an Out of Contact Occasion.

  • Create Personal Distribution Lists for In Basket Messages - (Handout) Save recipients you frequently route notes, results, or letters to in distribution lists called My Lists.

  • Email Reminders for In Basket Messages - (Handout) If you would like to receive email reminders notifying you of overdue In Basket messages, you may update your In Basket reminder preferences.

  • Grant Access to Your In Basket and Attach Other In Baskets - (Handout) Allow other users to view and work with your In Basket messages by granting access and having them attach your In Basket to theirs. This can be a persistent attachment or only while you are out of the office.

  • Managing Referral Notification In Basket Messages for *UICOM Outgoing Referrals - (Handout) When a physician places an external order for a procedure to occur at an outside organization, a referral is auto-created in the Epic system based on the ordering department.

  • Managing Referral Notification Messages for Outgoing Procedures - (Handout) At times, a UIHC provider may write an order for a procedure for a UIHC patient in which the patient opts to have the procedure performed at an external organization. After the UIHC provider writes the order, a referral record is automatically generated from that order (currently for only some orders). Based on the patient’s coverage, authorization may or may not be required prior to scheduling. Once scheduling is appropriate, a Referral Notification In Basket Message is automatically sent to the appropriate In Basket pool to communicate scheduling can occur.

  • MyChart Patient Messages Charge Capture Workflow Updates - (Video) MyChart allows established patients to message their provider for various medical questions they may have. If the patient question results in medical decision-making, then providers can bill for those services by dropping an approved Evaluation and Management (E&M) charge.

  • MyChart Patient Messaging: Billing Updates for Providers - (PowerPoint) Presentation of the new MyChart Messaging billing functionalities.

  • MyChart Patient Messages Workflow - (Handout) MyChart allows established patients to message their provider for various medical questions they may have. If the patient question results in medical decision-making, then providers can bill for those services by dropping an approved Evaluation and Management (E&M) charge.

  • MyChart Patient Messages FAQ - (Handout) MyChart allows established patients to message their provider for various medical questions they may have. If the patient question results in medical decision-making, then providers can bill for those services by dropping an approved Evaluation and Management (E&M) charge.

  • Processing Prescription Medication In Basket Refill Errors - (Handout) Information in Prescription Request Messages coming from SureScripts (external pharmacies) are not able to be automatically matched by Epic. This results in some prescription requests being put into a Refill Errors folder. These requests need to be triaged in order for the request to be effectively handled.

  • Processing Prescription Medication In Basket Requests for Nursing Staff - (Handout) Patients have many modes of sending initial (new) or renewal prescription medication requests to their care team. The Care Team will begin the process of getting an initial or renewal prescription authorized.

  • Reviewing Patient Calls In Basket Messages - (Handout) When a telephone encounter is created to document a patient call and routed to a clinician, an In Basket message will display in the Patient Call folder.

  • Search for In Basket Messages - (Handout) Quickly find specific messages in the In Basket by choosing the appropriate search criteria.

  • Sending Attachments to Patients from In Basket - (Handout) Send documents or files securely to patients via In Basket.

  • Send a Remind Me - (Handout) Patient Reminder messages are used to remind clinicians about topics to discuss with patients or of follow up tasks involving the patient.

  • Working the In Basket Letter Queue Folder - (Handout) Communication Management (Comm Management) allows encounter-specific information to be sent to the patient’s care team, as well as to other designated recipients. In most departments, documentation is routed automatically to the appropriate correspondence pool. Documentation may also be routed manually by the clinician/other user to the correspondence pool. Members of the correspondence pool monitor the Letter Queue In Basket folder and ensure that documentation is sent as indicated. Users should be logged into the appropriate department, as the login department determines which cover letter is generated.

  • Working with Plans from In Basket - (Handout) Treatment Plan details and related messages can be sent directly to a user's In Basket to streamline communications and facilitate access and modifications to the plan.

LIP Only

  • Closing an Open Clinic Encounter from In Basket - (Handout) Open Clinic Encounters may be viewed and signed (a.k.a. closed) from the My Open Charts In Basket folder. Note: Users other than the provider should NOT sign encounters unless authorized to do so.

  • Creating an Out of Contact Occasion for Outgoing Providers - (Handout) Departing providers create an Out of Contact Occasion from the In Basket activity. This ensures any lab/test results and/or important communication arriving in the In Basket after that provider leaves will be reviewed and managed in a timely fashion.

  • Managing Referral Triage Messages for Providers - (Handout) Referral Triage Messages are used to communicate referral information. At times, insurance prior authorization related requests may be sent to providers.

  • Recertifying Patient Therapy Needs - (Handout) About a month before a patient’s authorization for therapy will expire, a message will arrive in the referred-to therapist’s InBasket with instructions for documentation needed to obtain re-authorization.

  • Respond to Coding Queries from In Basket - (Handout) Respond to coding and CDI queries faster by writing your notes from In Basket. Use the toolbar buttons to create new notes or addend notes suggested by the coder without ever needing to open the encounter.

  • Reviewing Lab Results from In Basket - (Handout) Learn how results are released to MyChart and how to review results from In Basket. You can also send a result note right from the In Basket activity.

QuickActions

In Basket Pools

In Basket Pools are used to send a shared message to a group of recipients. The recipients all receive a single message that requires action from any one person in the group. When one person in the pool completes the task and marks the message as Done, the message disappears from all other pool members' In Baskets.

  • Managing In Basket Pools - (Handout) Users that have security to manage In Basket pools may add, remove or sign other users into a pool using the Manage Pools activity.

  • Send to an In Basket Pools - (Handout) A pool can be entered in the recipient field when sending a message or routing an encounter.

  • Working with In Basket Pools - (Handout) Signing in or out of a pool, indicate responsibility for a pool message, and transferring responsibility for a message.

Return to Epic Resources