Direct Messaging Guide- Secure clinical direct messaging in Elation

• Important Note: If the Contact is an Elation EHR User or an Elation Provider Passport User, the message will be sent as a regular Provider Letter or Referral instead of a Direct Message (even if the Contact has a Direct Address on file) as this routing method is more immediate and secure. The Letter will arrive in the user’s Provider Letters queue on their Practice Home page and in the Requiring Action section of their patient’s chart in their own Elation account.

1. Click the "Referral" button or click "Letter" -> "To Provider" button to start a Letter or Referral draft.
2. Select the recipient you would like to send a Direct message to from your Directory. To ensure the provider can send and receive Direct. messages, open their profile and check if they have a Direct Address on file. You can also add their Direct Address to their Profile Details if you obtained it.

3. Click “Select Chart Items to Attach” to attach the patient documents or reports you would like to include in your message.

4. Click "Sign & Send".
5. You will see a status at the top of the Letter or Referral once the Direct message is sent (as shown below).

Receiving Direct Messages

Receiving Overview

Provider Level Users can view received Direct messages in the Provider Letters queue on the Practice Home page and in the Requiring Action section of the patient’s chart. 
 

Supported file types - Receiving 

Elation supports receiving the following file types when attached to Direct messages. Attachments that cannot be converted to an image directly in the Elation chart can still be received, but are converted to hyperlinks. To view hyperlinked files, click and download the file to your computer. 

• .csv
• .doc
• .docx
• .html
• .jpeg
• .pdf
• .png
• .rtf
• .tiff
• .xlsx
• .xml (CCDA files)

How to receive a Direct message

To receive Direct messages in Elation, share your Direct Address with the sending provider or facility. As a Provider Level User, you can view your Direct Address in the Account Details section of your Profile settings.

1. Check your Provider Letters inbox on your Practice Home page and/or the Requiring Action section of a patient’s chart to view incoming Direct messages. Provider Level Users must sign off on Direct messages to file them into the Chronological Record of the patient’s chart.

2. Click on each attachment in the Direct message to view them.
3. If there is a patient summary (CCD or CCDA file) attached to the message, it will appear above the Direct message. 
   • If you receive a Direct message for a patient that does not have patient chart yet, Elation will automatically import the data from the patient summary into the patient's chart to create the chart.
   • If you receive a Direct message for a patient that already has a patient chart, Elation will not automatically import any data from the CCD or CCDA file into the patient's chart. You can open the patient summary and select which sections of the summary you want to import.