I enabled Group Therapy in OpenEMR 8.2 through Global > Config. I was able to successfully create a group and add participants. However, I have encountered several issues with the Group Therapy functionality.
I also tested the same workflow in the OpenEMR demo environment running version 8.3 and experienced the same behavior. This makes me believe these issues may be related to OpenEMR itself rather than our specific implementation or configuration.
1. Duplicate “Past Therapy Group Encounters” tab
When I open a group either through Groups > Group Name or by clicking the group name from a scheduled group appointment on the calendar, three tabs open:
- Therapy Group Finder
- The selected group
- Past Therapy Group Encounters
However, the Past Therapy Group Encounters tab opens twice.
2. Error when updating group participants
When I open the desired group and go to the Participants tab, I can enter information such as the participant’s exit date and comments.
However, when I click Update, I receive the following error:
“An Error has occurred”
After this error appears, if I try to refresh any other OpenEMR screen using the OpenEMR refresh button, the same error appears across the screens and I can no longer access the application normally.
The only way I have found to recover is to log out of OpenEMR and log back in.
3. Incorrect navigation from General Data
While I am in the Participants tab, if I click the General Data tab to update information, I am unexpectedly taken to the Past Therapy Group Encounters screen.
To return to the group details, I have to manually click back into the already-opened group details tab.
This makes the workflow confusing and difficult to use.
4. Saving group information redirects to Past Therapy Group Encounters
When I update information such as Guest Counselors or Notes and click Save, I would expect to remain on the group details screen.
Instead, OpenEMR redirects me to the Past Therapy Group Encounters screen.
I then have to manually return to the previously opened group details tab to see the confirmation message:
“Details group was saved successfully.”
Additional observation
Throughout these workflows, I also encounter multiple error pop-ups and unexpected tab/navigation behavior.
I have attached a screen shots showing the steps and issues described above.
Could anyone confirm whether these are known issues in OpenEMR 8.2/8.3 Group Therapy? If so, are there any existing fixes, patches, configuration changes, or GitHub issues related to these problems?
Thank you.
