# How to Add a Patient

### What this is

This guide shows you how to add a new patient to the system.

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### When to use this

Use this when:

* A patient is new to your clinic
* The patient does not already exist in the system

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### Before you start

Always search first.

Creating duplicate patients can cause:

* Confusion
* Incorrect records
* Reporting issues

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### Steps

#### 1. Go to Patients

* Open the **Patients** section

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#### 2. Search for the patient

* Type the patient’s name
* Check if they already exist

👉 If the patient is found, do not create a new one

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#### 3. Click “Add Patient”

* Select **Add Patient**

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#### 4. Enter patient details

Fill in the required information, such as:

* Name
* Contact information
* Any required clinic-specific fields

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#### 5. Review the information

Before saving, check:

* Name is spelled correctly
* No duplicate already exists
* Required fields are complete

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#### 6. Save the patient

* Click **Save**

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### After saving

* Confirm the patient appears in search
* Open their profile if needed
* You can now log visits for this patient

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### Common mistakes

#### Creating duplicate patients

Always search first before adding a new patient

#### Misspelled names

Double-check spelling before saving

#### Missing required information

Make sure all required fields are filled in

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### Important

Patient records are used across:

* Visits
* Inventory tracking
* Audit logs

Incorrect patient data can affect reporting and history.