Default an AutoText

  • 3 minutes

A default AutoText is a template that automatically appears when you begin a report, based on system preferences and procedure alignment.

How default AutoText works

  • A default AutoText is triggered when the Start with default AutoText preference is enabled.
  • One or more associated procedure codes determine when it appears in the workflow.
  • When you start a report for a matching procedure, the system automatically inserts the default AutoText.

Default assignment rules

  • You can't assign more than one default AutoText to the same procedure code unless another factor, such as age or gender, differentiates them.
  • If both a personal AutoText and a site AutoText exist with the same name, by default, the personal AutoText takes priority unless otherwise configured by your PowerScribe administrator.
  • By default, a personal default AutoText overrides a site default AutoText for the same procedure. Your site administrator can change this behavior in the portal.

Scope considerations

  • If no procedure codes are assigned, the AutoText appears for every report.
  • Assigning procedure codes limits the AutoText to relevant clinical workflows and improves efficiency.

Default types

You can define how the AutoText is used:

  • Report: Applies when creating a new report.
  • Addendum: Applies when adding an addendum to an existing report.

Understanding these rules helps ensure predictable AutoText behavior and reduces rework during report creation.

Procedural guidance

Create a default AutoText

  1. Open the AutoText that you want to configure in the AutoText Editor.
  2. Select Settings to open AutoText properties.
  3. In the Default dropdown list, select one of the following:
    • Report
    • Addendum

Associate the AutoText with procedure codes

  1. Add one or more procedure codes to the AutoText.
  2. Confirm that the correct procedures are assigned.

Decision point:

  • If you assign procedure codes, the AutoText appears only for those procedures.
  • If you don't assign procedure codes, the AutoText appears for all reports.

Save the default AutoText

Select Save to finalize the configuration.

Validate the configuration

  1. Start a report for a procedure that is associated with the AutoText.
  2. Confirm that the AutoText loads automatically.

Best practices

  • Always assign at least one procedure code to avoid unintended use across all reports.
  • Use clear naming conventions to prevent conflicts between personal and site AutoText.
  • Verify the default selection before saving to avoid workflow disruption.
  • Avoid assigning multiple defaults to the same procedure unless they're properly differentiated.

Applied scenario

You regularly create reports for two-view chest X-rays and want a standard template to load automatically.

You open the AutoText Editor, mark the desired template as a Report default, and assign the CR Chest 2 View procedure code. After you save the AutoText, the template automatically appears every time, you start a CR Chest 2 View report.

This approach removes manual searching or verbal invocation and ensures a consistent report structure across similar procedures.

Accessibility and usability notes

  • Use descriptive AutoText names to make identification easier.
  • Assign procedure codes carefully to prevent incorrect AutoText loading.
  • Avoid creating broadly scoped defaults unless they're required for general workflows.
  • Validate behavior after configuration to ensure the correct system response.
  • Use consistent naming across personal and site AutoText to reduce confusion.