Starter Sets
In the Fluency Direct Exchange, one can find pre-created Commands, Abbreviations, and Device Button Mappings to use with Fluency Direct. While many customizations are unique to a particular user or organization, some are consistent across all users of particular applications. M*Modal has created many Starter Sets to get you started with different applications such as popular EMRs and Microsoft applications. Starter Sets can contain helpful voice commands, abbreviation rules, and device button mappings that have been discovered to be useful in a particular application's workflow. They have been built and tested by M*Modal (often with the assistance of the application vendor) in the specified versions of these EMRs and applications. That said, they should always be tested in your own environment as EMR customizations are common and could affect some commands. The nice thing about the Starter Set is that they are just a starting point so commands can be edited, added to, or removed to suit the needs of your organization.
What's the best way to use Starter Sets at my organization?
Because Starter Sets are designed to be useful for all Fluency Direct users in a particular EMR or application, it is best to share them via Fluency Direct Groups. Local administrators have access to customize and share starter sets to groups of users through Fluency Direct Administration tools. If you think a starter set would be helpful for your whole organization, please contact your local administrator before adding them to your own command library.
Importing Starter Sets
Before downloading and importing new Starter Sets into your profile, it’s important that users check a couple of items:
EMR/Application version: Does the application version of this Starter Set match the application you are currently running or will be moving to in the future?
Fluency Direct version: Are you currently on a Fluency Direct version that supports the new starter set?
Command Groups: Are the commands already available in your user profile via a locked command group?
Once starter set compatibility has been verified, users can download Starter Set files (.fdc, .fda, .fdd) from the Exchange. Files should be saved to the local workstation. Users will need to be logged into Fluency Direct on their workstation and have the manage commands dialog opened before importing the new starter set.
What happens when we upgrade?
Upgrading Fluency Direct versions shouldn't affect any profile customizations - including any Starter Sets.
EMRs and other application version upgrades may be optimized with newer Starter Sets, but not always. Always check the versions listed in the Exchange to see if the Start Set version includes your current and future version of the EMR.
If there is a new Starter Set available, a similar process applies. Again, it is best practice to first ask local admins to add and test new Starter Sets for your organization's environment. However if commands aren't shared through for your organization they can be managed through your user profile. Best practice is to never combine two different Starter Set versions within your commands. Because many customizations will likely overlap, it is recommended that users only have one starter set for an EMR or application added at a time.
For example, you should only have the <EMR> 2018 Starter Set currently in your commands OR the new <EMR> 2019 Starter Set commands. To illustrate further, here is a specific example of a customization overlap - there might be a voice command for "Go to My Schedule" that exists in both Starter Sets, but is tied to different actions in each (perhaps Alt+S in the 2018 set and Alt+C in the 2019 set). Therefore, it is best for the <EMR> 2018 Starter Set to be removed before users add the <EMR> 2019 Starter Set. It is recommended to make this transition as close to the EMR's upgrade date as possible. Bulk changes to existing groups can be made by your local admin. If you would like assistance or have questions about Starter Sets, please contact your Adoption Specialist.