NextGen Keyboard Shortcuts and Hotkeys Guide

NextGen users often move through busy workflows: patient lookup, clinical tasking, provider approval queues, document filing, electronic signatures, and practice management windows. Keyboard shortcuts can make that work faster, especially in NextGen Enterprise EHR, NextGen Enterprise PM, and NextGen Document Management.

But there is one important caveat: “NextGen” does not refer to one single application.

NextGen Healthcare’s product family includes several systems, including NextGen Enterprise EHR, NextGen Enterprise PM, NextGen Document Management, NextGen Office, NextGen Therapy Suite, and Mirth Connect by NextGen Healthcare. The available shortcut documentation varies by product. Some products have clear Windows-style shortcut lists. Others rely more on context-specific menu hotkeys, templates, browser behavior, or configurable editor shortcuts.

That means this guide should be used as a practical starting point, not as a universal shortcut map for every NextGen product. Always verify shortcuts in your specific product, version, and workflow.

NextGen Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet

Here are some of the most useful NextGen shortcuts and hotkeys.

Product | Shortcut | Common use
NextGen Enterprise EHR | Alt + P | Open Patient Lookup.
NextGen Enterprise EHR | Alt + F3 | Open Workflow.
NextGen Enterprise EHR | F8 | Open PAQ.
NextGen Enterprise EHR | Alt + F5 | Open User Workgroups.
NextGen Enterprise EHR | Ctrl + S | Save.
NextGen Enterprise EHR | Alt + X | Exit application.
NextGen Enterprise EHR | Alt + L | Log off.
NextGen Enterprise EHR / PM | Tab | Move to the next field.
NextGen Enterprise EHR / PM | Shift + Tab | Move to the previous field.
NextGen Enterprise EHR / PM | Ctrl + C / Ctrl + X / Ctrl + V / Ctrl + Z | Copy, cut, paste, and undo.
NextGen Enterprise PM | Alt + F4 | Close NextGen Enterprise PM.
NextGen Enterprise PM | Ctrl + F4 | Close active PM window.
NextGen Enterprise PM | Alt + Tab | Switch between open applications.
NextGen Enterprise PM | Ctrl + Tab | Switch between open PM windows.
NextGen Enterprise PM | Esc | Close alerts.
NextGen Document Management | Alt + L | Open Patient Lookup during filing.
NextGen Document Management | Alt + F | File a document.
NextGen Document Management | Alt + N | Move to the next page in the viewer.
NextGen Document Management | Ctrl + T | Create a task from the viewer.
NextGen Document Management | Ctrl + Shift + F9 | Reuse previous patient information during filing.
Mirth Connect | Configurable editor shortcuts | Customize code editor key mappings.

Why NextGen Shortcuts Vary by Product

The biggest mistake users can make is assuming that one NextGen shortcut guide applies everywhere.

In reality, the shortcut landscape breaks into a few major groups:

Product area | Shortcut style
NextGen Enterprise EHR | Windows-style application shortcuts, function keys, and context-specific Alt hotkeys.
NextGen Enterprise PM | Windows-style shortcuts for window management, form navigation, patient groups, and e-signature workflows.
NextGen Document Management | A compact set of task-focused shortcuts for filing, viewing, and task creation.
Mirth Connect | Editor shortcuts that can be changed in settings.
NextGen Therapy Suite | Public documentation references navigation and documentation shortcuts, but a full public shortcut table is not available.
NextGen Office | Public product presence was confirmed, but a public official shortcut reference is not available.

For most clinical and administrative users, the highest-value shortcut coverage is in NextGen Enterprise EHR, NextGen Enterprise PM, and NextGen Document Management. For integration developers and interface teams, Mirth Connect is the product where shortcut customization matters most.

NextGen Enterprise EHR Keyboard Shortcuts

NextGen Enterprise EHR has a useful set of main-window shortcuts. These are some of the most important ones to know.

Action | Shortcut
Toggle top toolbar | Alt + M
Open Patient Lookup | Alt + P
Save | Ctrl + S
Open Workflow | Alt + F3
Exit application | Alt + X
Log off | Alt + L
Open User Workgroups | Alt + F5
Open PAQ | F8
Copy | Ctrl + C
Cut | Ctrl + X
Paste | Ctrl + V
Undo | Ctrl + Z

These are the shortcuts most likely to help with day-to-day EHR navigation. For example, Alt + P can reduce mouse use when moving to Patient Lookup, while Alt + F3 can quickly open Workflow. F8 is especially useful for users who spend time in the Provider Approval Queue.

NextGen Enterprise EHR Workflow Shortcuts

The Workflow module has its own set of context-specific hotkeys.

Workflow area | Shortcut | Action
Workflow module | Alt + C | Open Clinical Tasking tab.
Workflow module | Alt + P | Open Appointments tab.
Workflow module | Alt + Q | Open Provider Approval Queue tab.
Workflow module | Alt + L | Open Patient Portal tab.
Workflow module | Alt + M | Open Email tab.
Clinical Tasking | Alt + N | New Task.
Clinical Tasking | Alt + S | Send Task.
PAQ | Alt + A | Accept Item.

A keyboard-driven tasking workflow might look like this:

Press Alt + F3 to open Workflow.

Press Alt + C to open Clinical Tasking.

Press Alt + N to create a new task.

Complete the required fields.

Press Alt + S to send the task.

The exact available options may depend on the active tab, user permissions, and your organization’s configuration.

NextGen Patient and Person Window Navigation

NextGen also supports keyboard navigation within Person Information and Patient Information windows.

Shortcut | Common use
Tab | Move forward through fields.
Shift + Tab | Move backward through fields.
Alt + underlined letter | Open a specific tab, menu, or button.
Alt + A | Account button in documented contexts.
Alt + H | Chart button in documented contexts.
Alt + O | OK button in documented contexts.
Alt + C | Cancel button in documented contexts.

Several tab mnemonics may be available in patient/person windows, depending on context.

Shortcut | Tab or area
Alt + D | Demographics
Alt + S | Status
Alt + E | Client Defined
Alt + P | Provider
Alt + V | Privacy
Alt + M | Employer
Alt + R | Relations / Role
Alt + U | UDS
Alt + X | Ext
Alt + T | History
Alt + Y | Pharmacy
Alt + L | Chart Details

The key concept is simple: in many NextGen windows, Alt plus the underlined letter activates the related tab, button, or menu option. If a shortcut seems unclear, press Alt and look for underlined letters on the screen.

NextGen Enterprise PM Keyboard Shortcuts

NextGen Enterprise PM uses many Windows-style shortcuts for window management, form navigation, and editing.

Action | Shortcut
Close NextGen Enterprise PM | Alt + F4
Close active PM window | Ctrl + F4
Switch between open applications | Alt + Tab
Switch between open PM windows | Ctrl + Tab
Move to next field | Tab
Move to previous field | Shift + Tab
Save | Ctrl + S
Copy | Ctrl + C
Cut | Ctrl + X
Paste | Ctrl + V
Close alerts | Esc
Activate a control or menu | Alt + underlined letter
Open Workflow | Alt + F3
Exit application | Alt + X
Open PAQ | F8

For front-desk, billing, and administrative teams, the most useful shortcuts may be the simplest ones: Tab, Shift + Tab, Ctrl + Tab, and Alt + underlined letter. These reduce mouse movement in form-heavy workflows.

NextGen Enterprise PM Patient Group Search Shortcuts

Patient Group Search has a clear set of keyboard shortcuts.

Action | Shortcut
Clear | Alt + L
Find | Alt + F
New | Alt + N
Open | Alt + O
Close | Alt + C
Move to next field | Tab
Move to previous field | Shift + Tab

This is a good example of how NextGen PM shortcuts often work: they are specific to the active window. The same key combination may not mean the same thing everywhere.

NextGen Enterprise PM Electronic Signature Hotkeys

The Electronic Signature window also has its own hotkeys.

Action | Shortcut
Begin capture | Alt + B
Clear / Restart | Alt + L
Done | Alt + D
Cancel | Alt + C
Reset | Alt + R
Close | Alt + C

In the documented e-signature workflow, Cancel and Close can share the same hotkey, with one inactive depending on context. That makes it especially important to pay attention to the active screen state before using the shortcut.

NextGen Document Management Keyboard Shortcuts

NextGen Document Management has a smaller shortcut set, but the available shortcuts are very task-focused.

Action | Shortcut | Context
Open Patient Lookup | Alt + L | Filing window
File a document | Alt + F | Filing window
Move to next page | Alt + N | Viewer
Create a task | Ctrl + T | Viewer
Reuse previous patient information | Ctrl + Shift + F9 | Filing process

These shortcuts are useful for users who repeatedly file documents, move through scanned pages, or create tasks from the viewer. Ctrl + Shift + F9 can be especially helpful when filing multiple documents tied to the same patient, but users should still verify patient information before filing.

Mirth Connect Keyboard Shortcuts and Editor Settings

Mirth Connect is different from the clinical and practice management applications. It is used by interface, integration, and technical teams. It also supports Windows, Linux, and macOS, while the Enterprise EHR, PM, and Document Management shortcut references are more Windows-oriented.

The key point for Mirth Connect is that editor shortcuts can be configured.

Area | What to know
Shortcut customization | Editor shortcut key mappings can be changed in settings.
Restore defaults | Mappings can be reset with Restore Defaults.
Editor features | The JavaScript editor includes features such as auto-completion, code folding, comment toggles, and auto-indentation.
Find and replace | Search and replace tools are available from editor context menus.
Debugging | The Mirth Connect Debugger helps troubleshoot JavaScript issues.
Automation | Mirth Connect includes REST API, CLI, and User API options.
Portability | Channels can be imported, exported, cloned, and deployed.

For Mirth Connect users, the best shortcut advice is to inspect the current editor keymap in the application itself. If shortcuts conflict with local standards or operating system behavior, remap them in the Administrator Settings area and use Restore Defaults if needed.

NextGen Office and Therapy Suite Shortcut Notes

There is not an official shortcut table available for NextGen Office. That does not mean shortcuts do not exist. It means users should avoid assuming that NextGen Enterprise EHR or PM shortcuts apply directly to NextGen Office.

For NextGen Therapy Suite, public documentation references navigation and documentation shortcuts, as well as phrase-based productivity tools. However, we were unable to surface a full keyboard-combination table. The safest guidance is to use the product’s internal help resources and local training materials before building a team-wide shortcut sheet.

Windows and Browser Shortcuts That May Help

Many NextGen workflows use Windows-style conventions. Even when a shortcut is not unique to NextGen, it can still help users move faster.

Shortcut | Common use
Tab | Move forward through fields.
Shift + Tab | Move backward through fields.
Enter | Activate a selected item or button in many contexts.
Esc | Close alerts or exit certain prompts.
Ctrl + S | Save where supported.
Ctrl + C | Copy selected text.
Ctrl + X | Cut selected text.
Ctrl + V | Paste copied text.
Ctrl + Z | Undo.
Alt + Tab | Switch between open applications.
Ctrl + Tab | Switch between open windows within some applications.
Alt + F4 | Close an application or window in Windows contexts.

Because many NextGen shortcuts rely on Alt keys and underlined letters, keyboard layout can matter. Teams using non-US keyboard layouts should test shortcuts before adding them to training materials.

Best NextGen Shortcuts to Learn First

If you are new to NextGen shortcuts, start with the commands most likely to help across common workflows.

For NextGen Enterprise EHR users

Shortcut | Why it matters
Alt + P | Opens Patient Lookup.
Alt + F3 | Opens Workflow.
F8 | Opens PAQ.
Ctrl + S | Saves.
Tab / Shift + Tab | Moves through fields.
Alt + underlined letter | Activates tabs, buttons, and menu items.

For NextGen Enterprise PM users

Shortcut | Why it matters
Tab / Shift + Tab | Speeds up form navigation.
Ctrl + Tab | Moves between open PM windows.
Alt + Tab | Switches between applications.
Alt + underlined letter | Activates controls and menus.
Esc | Closes alerts.
Alt + F4 / Ctrl + F4 | Closes the app or active window.

For NextGen Document Management users

Shortcut | Why it matters
Alt + L | Opens Patient Lookup during filing.
Alt + F | Files a document.
Alt + N | Moves to the next page.
Ctrl + T | Creates a task.
Ctrl + Shift + F9 | Reuses previous patient information.

For Mirth Connect users

Feature | Why it matters
Configurable editor shortcuts | Lets teams standardize key mappings.
Restore Defaults | Helps recover from shortcut conflicts.
Debugger | Supports script troubleshooting.
Find and replace | Speeds up editor work.
REST API / CLI | Supports automation and admin workflows.

How TextExpander Can Help NextGen Users Work Faster

NextGen keyboard shortcuts can help users move through the application faster. TextExpander helps with a different problem: repetitive typing.

Healthcare teams often type the same language over and over again. That might include patient instructions, scheduling messages, referral updates, internal task notes, help desk replies, documentation support language, or administrative communication.

With TextExpander, a short abbreviation can expand into longer approved text.

For example, a user could type:

/apptprep

And expand it into:

“Please bring your insurance card, photo ID, current medication list, and any relevant paperwork to your appointment.”

Or type:

/portalhelp

And expand it into:

“Please log in to the patient portal and confirm that your contact information is up to date. If you have trouble accessing your account, contact the office for assistance.”

Common TextExpander use cases for NextGen-adjacent workflows include:

Use case | Example snippet type
Scheduling | Appointment preparation instructions.
Patient communication | Follow-up messages and general next steps.
Referrals | Standard referral status updates.
Clinical tasking | Reusable internal task language.
Document management | Filing notes or task descriptions.
Help desk support | Common troubleshooting responses.
Interface teams | Reusable Mirth Connect notes, handoff language, or support responses.

TextExpander should be used according to your organization’s policies. In clinical settings, snippets should not replace clinical judgment, required documentation, or approved EHR templates. But when used properly, TextExpander can reduce repetitive typing and help teams keep common language consistent.

Tips for Using NextGen Shortcuts Safely

Keyboard shortcuts can make work faster, but they should be used carefully in healthcare workflows.

Confirm the product first. NextGen Enterprise EHR, Enterprise PM, Document Management, Office, Therapy Suite, and Mirth Connect do not share one universal shortcut map.

Verify the active window. Many NextGen hotkeys are context-specific. A shortcut may only work in a particular tab, module, or dialog.

Use Alt to reveal mnemonics. In many Enterprise EHR and PM screens, pressing Alt can expose underlined letters for available buttons, tabs, or menus.

Watch patient context. Shortcuts can speed up navigation, but users still need to verify that they are working in the correct patient record.

Test non-US keyboard layouts. Many shortcuts rely on US QWERTY letter mappings and visible mnemonics.

Be careful with reused patient information. Shortcuts like Ctrl + Shift + F9 in Document Management can save time, but patient details should always be checked before filing.

For Mirth Connect, inspect the actual keymap. Editor shortcuts are configurable, so local settings may differ from another organization’s setup.

Final Thoughts

NextGen keyboard shortcuts are useful, but they are product-specific.

For NextGen Enterprise EHR, the highest-value shortcuts include Alt + P for Patient Lookup, Alt + F3 for Workflow, F8 for PAQ, and Ctrl + S for Save.

For NextGen Enterprise PM, users should learn Tab, Shift + Tab, Ctrl + Tab, Alt + Tab, Esc, and context-specific Alt + underlined letter shortcuts.

For NextGen Document Management, the most useful shortcuts are Alt + L, Alt + F, Alt + N, Ctrl + T, and Ctrl + Shift + F9.

For Mirth Connect, the most important shortcut concept is customization. Editor key mappings can be changed and restored, which makes local configuration more important than memorizing a universal list.

The best approach is to build shortcut guidance around the exact NextGen product and workflow your team uses. Then pair those shortcuts with approved reusable text snippets to reduce repetitive typing and keep everyday work moving.