The disclosure includes a method and system for initiating at least one workflow associated with a patient, the system enabling users to create electronic messages, the method comprising the steps of presenting an electronic message via a display wherein the electronic message includes at least fields, associating the displayed electronic message with a first patient, receiving a general event descriptor entered by a system user via an interface in one of the message fields where the general event descriptor can be used to identify at least one workflow being requested by the user, obtaining the general event descriptor from the field, identifying a workflow associated with the general event descriptor and associated with the first patient and transmitting an electronic message to at least one entity that is capable of handling the workflow being requested by the user.