Understanding Hospitalizations in Turbo Inventory's Veterinary Module

Author: Dave Joyce
Last Updated: 10/09/2025

Overview

In Turbo Inventory’s Veterinary Module, hospitalisations are handled differently from standard consultations. This guide outlines how to manage a patient’s stay when they are admitted for extended care — including how to track their condition, provide treatment, and correctly manage billing.

? What’s the Difference Between Consultations and Hospitalisations?

• Consultation:
  A typical visit where the patient arrives, receives care, and leaves on the same day — regardless of how long they stay (e.g., from 9 AM to 8 PM).

• Hospitalisation:
  Used when the patient stays overnight or for multiple days. This allows for extended treatment, regular monitoring, and correct billing once the care period ends.

? Step-by-Step: Hospitalising a Patient

1. Start with a Consultation

Begin by creating a standard consultation.

• Go to the Consultations module.

• Select the patient (e.g. Spike).

• Add notes (optional, e.g., "Very poorly").

• Assign a vet.

• Click Save Consultation.

✅ You do not need to add notes to hospitalise the patient, but it helps inform your team why the patient is admitted.

2. Admit the Patient to Hospital

• Within the consultation, click Admit Patient.

• This flags the patient as an inpatient.

• Staff can now find them listed under the Hospitalisation screen, making them easy to track for all shifts.

? During Hospitalisation

While the patient is hospitalised:

• Add medicine and assign batch numbers.

• Record additional clinical notes.

• All actions are automatically tracked and contribute to the final invoice.

? Hospitalised patients appear in the dedicated view so that night staff or other departments can monitor who is currently admitted.

? Important Note on Invoicing

While a patient is hospitalised:

• You cannot generate an invoice.

• Turbo locks the consultation until the hospitalisation is complete.

Why? Because all medication and treatment must be fully recorded before invoicing — this ensures billing is accurate and compliant.

✅ Discharging the Patient

When the patient is ready to go home:

1. Navigate to Hospitalisations.

2. Click Discharge.

3. Enter discharge notes (e.g., "Much better – ready to go home.").

4. Click Save.

The patient is now removed from the inpatient list, and the consultation can be closed.

? Finalising Billing

After discharge:

• Open the consultation record.

• Click Edit Consultation.

• Add any final charges or products (if required).

• Click Invoice.

• Choose to:

  • Take Payment Now

  • Charge to the Customers Account

  • Send to front counter

? The invoice is generated only after the discharge is complete.

? Optional: View Hospitalisation Summary

• From the Consultations or Hospitalisation module, select the patient.

• Use the View/Edit options to review full treatment history.

• Discharge flags are shown clearly.

? Workflow Best Practice

• You may decide to hospitalise patients for short-term stays (e.g., 12-hour monitoring). That is entirely acceptable.

• Just remember:

  • Invoicing is blocked until discharge.

  • All treatment, medication, and notes should be recorded within the same consultation.

Summary