Running a practice management system with an electronic medical record system is much better then piecing together a bunch of disparate systems, like a stand alone electronic medical record and an e-prescription system.
In that case, the two systems might not communicate well with each other, and often even if they do communicate, they might fail to qualify for meaningful use.
That’s why practice management systems are now including features designed to help doctors not only schedule and bill, but also comply with meaningful use.
Chad Martin, Practice Manager for Beittel-Becker Pediatrics, uses Aprima Practice Management and electronic health record software and he “can‘t imagine not having the software“. It is such a powerful tool in the practice.
Aprima offers a single database for both the practice management and electronic health records.
Chad explains that billing is able to toggle directly to the chart to clarify coding issues. This has significantly reduced the number of miscoded items, which in turn helps increase revenue.
Aprima also allows Chad to interface directly with the claims clearinghouse. He can fix billing errors online and instantly resubmit.
In also give the doctors access to PQRI statistics on a dashboard, giving them an opportunity to correct any reporting errors.
Other companies have similar features, including Sage Healthcare. According to Scott Rupp from Sage Healthcare Division, Sage recently released Sage Intergy Version 6.10, the Meaningful Use Edition.
The software is specifically designed with the “the components required for physicians to be eligible for federal electronic health records incentives, a key provision of the 2009 American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (ARRA)”.
Sage designed Intergy Version 6.10 with enhancements to meet key industry certifications, and upcoming meaningful use certification.
Scott explains how the Sage Intergy release has a meaningful use dashboard. The dashboard allows the physician to “track performance against clinical quality measures included in the meaningful use guidelines.
“The MU dashboards also allow providers to scorecard performance against indicators that measure how they use the system in relation to the meaningful use criteria“
The report is in real time and if the doctor hasn‘t met the requirements they can use a drill down feature to find out how to a correct the problem.
Barbara Fahl-Watkins, Practice Administrator, for the Heart and Vascular Center of Arizona calls GE Healthcare’s Centricity “such a powerful product”.
The practice converted to Centricity in 2007 and she says, “She would never go back to paper charts”.
For the Heart and Vascular Center, Centricity made it easy to meet several meaningful use criteria such as PQRI reporting, e prescribing and a patient portal.
For physicians worried about the initial cost outlay for such a system AdvancedMD offers software as a service. Which give physicians access to AdvancedMDs product without out the initial upfront cost. Instead, it is a monthly fees based on use.
Another internet based software Avisena offers streamlined scheduling and billing making it possible for the doctor’s office to increase collections, reduce costs and improve the operating efficiency of their medical practices.
In addition, the software helps them navigate often difficult and changing regulatory landscape.
Recently, Avisena added Compliance Audits and Chart Reviews. This function reviews and audits coding charts, billing claims and reimbursements and lists areas where improvement needs to be made.
Avisena also offers continuous updates to their rules engine, content management and procedure and diagnostic codes. The billing software receives updates of new payer rules as well as ICD and procedure code combinations.
For physicians reluctant to switch from their current practice management system there is the latest release from Medical Informatics Engineering. The upgraded WebChart system is an easy-to-use EHR that integrates with current practice management systems.It will help physicians meet the Final Rule meaningful use guidelines.
Practice management systems have evolved from mere financial management tools, to total practice tools and they are becoming an integral part of the practices success with both patients and government regulations.
