Electronic Medical Records System

The ARRA Program (also known as the Stimulus package) has split the implementation of EMR and meaningful use into three phases.  The first proposed "Meaningful Use" Rule has a component for a lab interface. 

The objective is to be able to send requisitions and receive lab reports back electronically through an interface from system to system. 

The advantages to a lab interface are easy to see in our Intergy EHR system.

          Time, Efficiency and Better Patient Care -

• Lab results are posted to client accounts automatically when reports are retrieved. 
• A task is automatically sent to the physician that results are available to be reviewed.  Flowsheets can also be viewed to look at results over time and can be graphed.
• The physician may review and forward tasks to staff members for whatever is needed in followup.
• The patient receives better care as a result of this process.

Have questions about purchasing and implementing an electronic medical record system?  Contact Bradford-Scott Data Corporation and let us show you a better way to practice medicine.


 

• Family medical history
• Existing conditions
• Allergies
• Medications
• Surgeries
• Hospital stays
• Labs tests and results
• Dental and vision records
• Religious information
• Immunization records
• Emergency contacts
• Living wills

Meaningful What? Stimulus What? Who's on first?  Can somebody explain this in 500 word or less?

Let me break down Meaningful Use as simply as I can.

• $19 billion have been allocated by the federal government to encourage the health care industry to adopt information technology (more specifically an Electronic Health Records System).
• To be eligible to get some of the $19 billion you must do 3 things

1. Be an eligible professional or hospital
2. Implement a certified EHR product between 2011 and 2014
3. Use it in a Meaningful Way

Okay, are you still with me?  Then let's go one level deeper. Let's make some assumptions:

• You are an eligible professional (doctors of medicine, etc.)
• You have or will have a certified EHR system.  (All vendors in the medical software industry will have to get their software certified (including CCHIT) or go out of business.  We are going to assume your system is or will be certified)

There are two types of incentive programs (The Medicare way or the Medicaid way).  You can pick either but you can't choose both at the same time!
 

• Medicare:  Physicians that treat Medicare patients can receive up to $44,000 payable over 5 years.

• Medicaid:  Physicians that treat Medicaid patients are eligible for up to $63,750 payable over 6 years

Are there strings attached?  Of course.  And the biggest string is called 'Meaningful Use'.  The Government isn't going to just give you some cash for buying or even implementing an EHR system.  You have to prove to them that you can use it in a meaningful way that improves patient health care.  And they plan to accomplish this string by outlining 25 objectives and ways to measure those objectives.  Most of the measurements are percentage based.  (For Example:   At least 50% of all clinical lab tests whose results are in a positive/negative or numerical format need to be recorded in the EHR as structured data.)

For a complete list of these objectives, I recommend that you check out CMS or contact Bradford-Scott.  One important note:  The Meaningful Use definition is still under a proposed state and can be commented on until March.

That's it.  That's the nutshell.  Oh, and there is one more catch.  Starting in 2015, those physicians who choose to not participate will receive a 1% reduction in their Medicare allowed charges.  This reduction will increase by 1% each year up to a maximum of 5%.

So the moral of the story is that if you have plans on implementing an EHR/EMR system don't wait.  If you begin using it in a meaningful way in 2011 you are going to get more incentive payments than implementing in 2014.  And if you don't implement by 2015 you  are going to lose Medicare reimbursements.

Do you need help on what to do next?  Whether you are cardiology, orthopedics, or family practice, contact Bradford-Scott and ask about our Sage Intergy EHR system and how it can help you prove your meaningful use and improve patient care.

(and I kept it under 500 words!)
 

Have you put your plans for an electronic medical record system (EMR) in "time out" until the Meaningful Use law goes into effect?

If so, the wait is almost over, as the law is currently in the comment period.  Once Phase I criteria has been signed into law, the push will be on as everyone will want to get their share of  the stimulus money. 

Here are a few things to consider:



TIME:  Implementing an EMR is not an overnight process.  First things first -   commit your time!  Converting paper processes into electronic ones requires that you determine what steps you currently do and then setup the most effective way to reconstruct those electronically.  With a proposed list of 25 criteria for Phase I, you can easily see that time will be a factor.

CHANGE:  Everyone from the receptionist to the physician will be affected.  Don't make the mistake of thinking that an EMR system will only affect the physician. Take the time to get the staff invested, so they respond positively to changes in the office.  Try short meetings or lunches to review where everything stands - it's a great way to soothe anxiety.

SUPPORT:  When you select your EMR software, it's also important to pick the correct vendor.  Bradford-Scott Data Corporation provides excellent service and support to our clients.  Sage Intergy EHR V5.5 is CCHIT 2008 certified and has existing templates for multiple specialties and is easily customizable.  We use a blend of onsite, webinars, classroom and computer based training to take you live on our Intergy EHR system.  Our trainers will work with you to make the transition from paper to an electronic world.

Talk to one of our medical consultants today and see why Bradford-Scott Data Corporation customers are successful with EMR.

• efficient use of your time with patients/staff 
• improved patient care

• better documentation equals better coding for higher reimbursement
• incentives for e-Prescribe
•  ARRA  - stimulus package- qualify for money for implementation and meaningful use of an electronic medical records software  

• Meaningful use
• HIT standards
• Policies
• Certification Requirements
• Implementation Specifications
• Time frames

• No time
• Costs too much
• Heard too many stories of failed implementations

• commitment from the office - from the doctor on down     and 
• a vendor who provides excellent support and training

Video on the progression of information technology, researched by Karl Fisch, Scott McLeod, and Jeff Bronman, remixed

You're busy and you need an electronic health records system (EHR) that can not only keep pace, but that is specific to your specialty!  One that provides instant access to images, and the ability to quickly document key physical exam findings, range of motion measurements, and pain scale values. 

With Intergy EHR by Sage, orthopedic practices can:

That's not all!  Sage Intergy EHR V5.5 is CCHIT 2008 certified and meets all of the requirements for stimulus (ARRA) rebates! Couple all of that with the outstanding service and support from Bradford-Scott and you can't lose!  We are a turnkey operation providing software, hardware and training, as well as implementation and support to our clients. All of this, plus exceptional customer service, results in accomplishments becoming less feasible for our competitors.

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• If you are the first client to notify us, and they become a Bradford-Scott Data Corporation customer, we'll pay you $500!!
  
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