Clinical, Financial and Administrative Insights For Physicians

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Now that EMR has become commonplace in most medical practices, there have been many studies done on whether or not those practices are achieving a positive return on their investments, or ROI. Many are failing to achieve a positive ROI for the simple reason that they have failed to make the necessary changes within their practices. In fact, a survey in Massachusetts showed that only 27% of the practices that were surveyed have seen a positive ROI.

While it's true that there have been incentives offered for the purpose of off-setting the cost of implementing EMR, ROI goals are still not being reached by many physicians because they haven't started properly utilizing their EMR systems properly. If you have found that you're not seeing the ROI you expected to see after implementation, it could be that there are some changes you need to make in your practice as well.

Reduce Office Personnel

Many practitioners are reluctant to let a portion of their staff go, even when they've implemented an EMR system that eliminates the need for some of their occupations. Perhaps you've found yourself facing some layoffs that are difficult to go through with. This is understandable, especially since you may have a significant history with some of your employees, and they've done great work. Even so, in order to see a positive ROI, EMR use requires that you reduce the amount of staff you have in your office. For some of your staff, that might mean restructuring their jobs to include other duties. For others it might result in eliminating their position altogether. Even though it's hard to restructure your staffing requirements, you'll find it to be very profitable for you in the long run.

Make Use Of All Features

One of the problems many providers have that results in a lower ROI is failing to make use of all of the features of their EMR system. For example, many EMR systems have excellent billing software included, which not only allows for quicker reimbursement by insurance companies, but it also decreases the amount of billing errors that are made. Additional features such as E&M Coding, handwriting recognition and voice recognition can offer many benefits to your practice.  In fact, there are many features in EMR that will save you money, however unless you implement them in your practice, you won't see any savings in those areas.

Failure To Fully Commit

As surprising as it might sound, not all practitioners fully trust EMR, at least not enough to let go of old charting methods and billing practices. This might be for a few reasons, like poor training and poor implementation by the vendor. Continuing to use paper charts and billing methods will definitely increase the amount of money you spend on staff, equipment and supplies, which will not provide you with the results you were hoping to see with your EMR. Great results require a full commitment from your practice. Before long, you'll see an increase in patient flow as your patients receive even better care, as well as an improved ROI.

Studies indicate that even though EMR implementation can be costly, as long as it's properly done, a tremendous ROI can be seen over time. Your EMR vendor should provide you with excellent training and complete understanding of all of your EMR system's benefits in order to equip you for success. If that hasn't been your experience, or if you've been putting off EMR implementation within your practice, we'd love to talk to you. Contact us for more information.

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RevenueXL Inc. provides best value comprehensive solutions to medical practices. Our solutions include affordable Electronic Medical Records Software (a.k.a. EMR or EHR Software), Patient Portal, and Practice Management or Medical Billing software and revenue cycle services including medical billing, medical coding, coding audits and account receivables management services. RevenueXL offers a free consultation session to review your current challenges and answer open questions revolving around EMR and revenue cycle.

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Even though EMR is becoming commonplace in the healthcare industry, statistics show that the number of practitioners who are experiencing EMR dissatisfaction is on the rise. Most of these practitioners have been using EMR for a few years, yet they're still experiencing difficulties that are resulting in EMR dissatisfaction. Perhaps you can relate, and you're also not happy with the system you're using in your practice.

Through the studies that have been done in order to help us understand the satisfaction levels of physicians using EMR, there are a few reasons why the experts believe these EMR users aren't enjoying their EMR as much as they should be. By correcting these problems, satisfaction levels should increase, resulting in more profitable practices, happier patients, and content physicians and medical staff.

Lack of Vendor Support

Vendor support is a key component to ensuring EMR satisfaction. However, it is not only limited to the implementation stage, even though that stage is vital to the success of the system. The most recent Family Practice Management survey tested the satisfaction levels of practitioners using various EMR systems. While there were some that were happy with the support they received from their vendor, most of the physicians surveyed responded negatively. They felt that adequate support was not given during the training process, and they also felt that as time went on, their vendor was not responsive to their needs.

In order to ensure satisfaction, the clinic physician and staff must establish good working relationship with the trainer who in turn must be willing to go the extra mile to address genuine user concerns during training. The provider and vendor implementation staff must be vigilant during every part of the EMR implementation process, from beginning to end, and beyond.

If adequate vendor support continues to be an issue with the technical support team, do escalate the issue with the senior management of EMR vendor or the EMR reseller who you may have worked with during the EMR selection stage.

Not Ready to Make Changes

Another complaint many physicians have about EMRs is that they simply doesn't integrate well with the day to day operations of the practice. Efficiency in the practice is usually dictated by a routine that all staff members are aware of and abide by. When that routine is disrupted, it can cause chaos. EMR dissatisfaction is very pronounced in those practices that were not ready to make the changes necessary to successfully incorporate EMR use into their every day routines. Whether that means changing a few things about the patient encounter, or spending additional time understanding the system to ensure a more productive day, an EMR does result in changes in daily routine. It is the responsibility of the vendor to adequately prepare the staff ahead of time for these changes, to ensure a successful implementation and increase ease of use.

Ill-Fitting For The Practice Specialty

Perhaps you are a specialist and you've felt like you've been using the wrong EMR for your EMR specialty. You are in good company. Of those who are experiencing EMR dissatisfaction, 77% believe that this stems from the fact that their system is not useful for their particular specialty. This presents some serious challenges to you as a practitioner, because instead of being able to increase your level of excellence in caring for your patients, you end up feeling as though it's decreased. Once again, your vendor should provide you with all of the information you need to make a good EMR choice for your practice. While many of them are able to be modified for every specialty in the field, if these modifications have not been done, you're left with a system that won't benefit your practice at all.

EMR dissatisfaction can be very frustrating, especially when you're relying on these changes to make your practice more successful and efficient. If you've experienced EMR dissatisfaction in the past, or you feel that way currently, we'd like to talk to you. We're confident that we have an EMR solution that will provide you with everything you need.

For more information, contact us today!

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RevenueXL Inc. provides best value comprehensive solutions to medical practices. Our solutions include affordable Electronic Medical Records Software (a.k.a. EMR or EHR Software), Patient Portal, and Practice Management or Medical Billing software and revenue cycle services including medical billing, medical coding, coding audits and account receivables management services. RevenueXL offers a free consultation session to review your current challenges and answer open questions revolving around EMR and revenue cycle.

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In this day and age, when providers are switching EMRs right and left, we all know that they went wrong in one crucial part of their EMR purchase: vendor selection. While there are many different methods of EMR vendor selection used by medical practices, many of them have been left wishing they had used a different method, or chosen a different vendor. EMR vendor selection is very important for many reasons. In addition to poor selection being problematic for physicians who wish to attest to the stages of meaningful use, choosing the wrong vendor can also result in implementation and utilization issues. A great deal of research is required prior to choosing your vendor. Research is the only way to ensure that you've made an excellent choice, and that you'll be able to enjoy all of the benefits of your EMR system.

As you begin to look at EMR vendors, here are a few key areas you'll want to pay attention to that will help you make an excellent decision that you won't regret a few months or years down the road.

Reputation

Reputation might be the most important factor you should consider when you're shopping for an EMR vendor. How many customers do they currently have? Have any of those customers been able to attest to meaningful use at stage one? Your colleagues are a great resource for you when you're researching EMR. Ask them questions and find out their opinions of companies they've worked with. It's also a good idea to request that the vendor provide you with references. Be sure to follow up with the references you're given. If there is any reluctance at all in giving you the names of a few practices the vendor has worked with, it should be an immediate red flag.

Consider Your Needs

All too often physicians make the leap into EMR vendor selection without really taking into account what their needs and goals are for implementing it. They're very eager to get started with EMR, and they look at it as just another item to check off their to-do list. 

What are the goals you have for your EMR system? If you're hoping to take advantage of reimbursement for meaningful use, you'll want to choose a vendor who holds that as a high priority. If you're interested in a system that's going to provide you with mobile accessibility, it's important to eliminate those that do not provide that feature. Regardless of what your individual practice needs and goals are, stick to them, and don't settle for less than what you need to make your EMR vendor selection a good one.

Request Proposals

There are many practical factors you'll want to take into consideration in your search for your EMR vendor. One you've done some research, request proposals from the ones you feel the most comfortable working with. You might even request demonstrations, if the vendor offers them. At the very least, the proposals you get should include installation costs, training costs and any fees associated with upgrading the system in the future. Be wary of making your decision based on cost alone, as cheaper doesn't indicate better. Instead, focus on what the vendor offers in terms of IT support and training to help you make a decision that will provide you with everything you need. 

Above all, planning ahead is vital. Each stage of meaningful use will be more difficult to attest to, and you'll want to be working with a vendor who is prepared for any changes that need to be made in the future. An excellent EMR vendor selection will expertly guide you through implementation, giving you excellent support.

Whether you need advice on which vendor to select, or you'd like to see a demo from RevenueXL, we're standing by to help! 

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RevenueXL Inc. provides best value comprehensive solutions to medical practices. Our solutions include affordable Electronic Medical Records Software (a.k.a. EMR or EHR Software), Patient Portal, and Practice Management or Medical Billing software and revenue cycle services including medical billing, medical coding, coding audits and account receivables management services. RevenueXL offers a free consultation session to review your current challenges and answer open questions revolving around EMR and revenue cycle.

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Once EMR implementation has been completed within your practice, making the best use of it is vital to its success, as well as to ensuring that you are able to take advantage of its many features. All too often, practitioners begin using EMR without taking the proper steps that are necessary to give the system the chance to work well for them. There are many things you can do, even before you begin using EMR that will prove to be effective at helping you head off many problems you might encounter down the road.

Training Your Staff

Whenever any new system is introduced into a medical practice, training is essential. Whether that new system is a new telephone system, or electronic medical records, it's crucial to prepare your staff ahead of time, in order to make the transition as easy as possible. Quite honestly, there is no EMR system out there that is so self-explanatory that it requires little to no prior training or preparation. There's also no system that is completely free of glitches or problems. Your staff should know the system very well, as well as be able to identify any problems that come up and how to address them. This will ensure that the workflow in your practice isn't slowed down too much in the beginning weeks after EMR implementation. Every EMR system will also need to be periodically updated, so ongoing training is a must. There is a plethora of new updates being thrown at systems today which will keep your staff on their feet. Conducting yearly trainings are a great way to ensure that your staff knows about all system updates and are great refreshers. 

Staffing Changes

One of the goals in EMR implementation is to increase the efficiency of your practice. Because of the automation of many of the tasks your staff is now doing in paper charts by hand, you will find that it's necessary to do a reassessment of work your staff does on a daily basis. While it some instances that could mean eliminating positions, many practitioners find that they're able to simply reassign some job duties to other staff members in an effort to provide staff with more support. For example, if your billing person has never worked with EMR before, it might be beneficial for you to add an additional biller within your practice to compensate for the slower billing pace while the system is being learned. Preparing ahead of time will help you to prepare to make these types of necessary staffing changes.

HIPAA Compliance

Remaining HIPAA compliant is, of course, a priority for your medical practice. However, as you prepare for EMR implementation, it's advised that you consult with a specialist to ensure that your system has all of the requirements to remain compliant. Taking the steps to train all of your staff members in HIPAA compliance with your new EMR software, as well as setting up protocols and individual passwords are important steps that you should take as soon as possible. A professional will be able to advise you about any changes you might need to make to remain compliant and avoid any problems being found by a government audit. 

EMR implementation can be a very long process. However, you'll find that as long as you're prepared for any problems that might occur, you make the proper staffing adjustments, and you remain in compliance with HIPAA regulations, the transition doesn't have to be a painful one. Your practice will be able to see some incredible benefits from using EMR, and you'll find your patients appreciate the changes as well. 

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RevenueXL Inc. provides best value comprehensive solutions to medical practices. Our solutions include affordable Electronic Medical Records Software (a.k.a. EMR or EHR Software), Patient Portal, and Practice Management or Medical Billing software and revenue cycle services including medical billing, medical coding, coding audits and account receivables management services. RevenueXL offers a free consultation session to review your current challenges and answer open questions revolving around EMR and revenue cycle.

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Just when you think your office is working well with your new EMR system in place, ICD-10 comes along and starts to put you into a panic. Are you prepared for the changes that will take place when ICD-10 actually becomes a reality and a requirement? Being unprepared will cost your practice a lot of money. As with any big change in medical coding, preparation ahead of time is the key to ensure that your staff is ready to handle all of the new requirements. Even though ICD-10 won't go into effect until October 2014, there are many steps you need to be taking now to be sure every piece of your EMR puzzle is in place. 

Education Is The Key

If you have a billing department within your practice, it's crucial for you to begin preparing your billing staff now. Practices who use a third-party billing service don't have to be concerned as much, because those types of services are well-ahead of the game. Most of them have been preparing for months. It seems that those practices who have their own in-house billing department are the ones who are putting off acquiring the education for the new coding procedures. Even though October 2014 seems far away, it really isn't when you take into account everything that your billing department will need to know. In addition, it will be very beneficial to you if you plan for the types of challenges that often occur with major changes. Even if your coders and billing staff are equipped with the right knowledge, it will still take some time to get used to the new system. Plan for a slower billing process than what you're used to now. It's also a good idea to add more coders who are educated in ICD-10, even on a temporary basis, until your current staff gets up to speed and becomes more comfortable. 

100% Compliance

In order to be compliant with the new coding standards, medical practices will need to ensure they are not billing using old codes at any time. Those that do, will have to endure months of appeals and denials. The result could be thousands of dollars lost for the practice. Although there are expenses related to becoming prepared, those expenses are nothing compared to the ones associated with waiting too long. According to the ICD-10 experts, medical practices should be working hard right now putting the correct software into place. They should also be testing new codes within their practices and updating all of their forms to ensure 100% compliance. 

Avoid Relying on EMR Software Too Much

It's possible that many practices have put off preparing for the changes because they're hoping their EMR software will provide an easy transition into the new coding requirements. Although the recent 5010 transition should have ensured that the correct hardware and software transitions were in place, further upgrades will become necessary over the next few months. It would be impossible for even the best EMR software to provide a crosswalk to ICD-10, because whereas ICD-9 coding incorporated 14,000 codes, ICD-10 will incorporate over 70,000.

If you have yet to implement EMR within your practice, or if you're looking for a new system that will help make the transition a little easier, we'd like to talk to you. We're fully prepared for ICD-10, and we can help you get there, too. Contact us today for more information.

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RevenueXL Inc. provides best value comprehensive solutions to medical practices. Our solutions include affordable Electronic Medical Records Software (a.k.a. EMR or EHR Software), Patient Portal, and Practice Management or Medical Billing software and revenue cycle services including medical billing, medical coding, coding audits and account receivables management services. RevenueXL offers a free consultation session to review your current challenges and answer open questions revolving around EMR and revenue cycle.

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Modifier 25 is frequently used in the wrong context -- sometimes mistakenly but more often as a result of purposeful attempts to increase a practice's level of reimbursements. The modifier is clearly defined as an identifiable evaluation and management (E/M) service performed by the same physician and on the same day as the initial procedure. However, many attempts have been made to stretch this definition in recent years, with some practices trying to use modifier 25 for situations in which the E/M service was performed by someone other than the physician responsible for the procedure in question.

The consequences for misuse of modifier 25 can be great, especially now that the Office of the Inspector General has increased scrutiny related to the modifier's use and frequent abuse. Avoiding abuse of modifier 25 does not have to be difficult; it simply takes a thorough understanding of the situations in which the modifier is appropriate. Use the following guidelines to ensure full compliance:

Medical Necessity

Smaller procedures often involve quick examinations of the patient, but these are generally included as a built-in part of the procedure. However, in certain circumstances, the patient may require a separate and more thorough examination. If modifier 25 is used for a separate examination, this exam must be considered a medical necessity, without which safe execution of the procedure would be impossible. For insurance purposes, this medical necessity may be identified by the phrase "the patient's condition required."

Procedure Already Recommended

Sometimes, an evaluation will take place on its own accord, with no plans of a procedure after the evaluation is complete. If, during the course of the evaluation, the physician determines that a further procedure is required, this should not be considered a modifier 25. In this circumstance, modifier 57 would be more appropriate. Modifier 25 is only used if the procedure has already been scheduled, along with a separate examination.

Non-Routine Procedures

Modifier 25 is generally not used to designate evaluations taking place before routine, regularly scheduled procedures. It is more likely to be used on one-time procedures that are not viewed as part of a medical routine for the patient in question.

Visits by the same physician on the same day as a minor surgery or endoscopy are included in the payment for the procedure, unless a significant, separately identifiable service is also performed.

For example, a visit on the same day could be properly billed with the 25 modifier in addition to billing for suturing a scalp wound if a full neurological examination was made for a patient with head trauma.

Billing for a visit would not be appropriate if the physician only identified the need for sutures and confirmed allergy and immunization status. In the circumstance when the decision to perform a minor procedure is typically done immediately before the service, (e.g., whether or not sutures are needed to close a wound, whether or not to remove a mole or wart, etc.) it is considered a routine preoperative service and a visit or consultation should not be reported in addition to the procedure.

When determining whether use of modifier 25 is justified, don't get bogged down by the complex details. You will find your ability to identify circumstances requiring modifier 25 greatly improved if you simply remember that the evaluation and management must be separate -- and that the same physician must be responsible for both evaluation and management. Keep this simple guideline in mind and you are unlikely to incorrectly categorize an evaluation as a modifier 25.

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RevenueXL Inc. provides best value comprehensive solutions to medical practices. Our solutions include affordable Electronic Medical Records Software (a.k.a. EMR or EHR Software), Patient Portal, and Practice Management or Medical Billing software and revenue cycle services including medical billing, medical coding, coding audits and account receivables management services. RevenueXL offers a free consultation session to review your current challenges and answer open questions revolving around EMR and revenue cycle.

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One of the most common complaints physicians have about electronic medical records is the difficulty of balancing using the EMR and patient interaction. If you're like most physicians, you entered into your profession because of your desire to help other people. Regardless of the age group you work with on a day to day basis, patient interaction has always been high on your priority list. While EMR has proven successful in making your practice more efficient, the challenge of continuing to give your patients the personal attention they need from you still exists. However, by making a few small changes to your encounters with your patients, you can still maintain your interaction with them while successfully using your EMR system.

Your Physical Actions

You're probably used to being able to walk into an exam room with your hand extended, ready to sit down and converse with your patients eye to eye. There's no reason why this has to be abandoned. Your patients will experience your attention if you can keep as much of your interaction with them the same as it was when you used paper charts. Where you will run into problems and dissatisfied patients is when you walk into the room and immediately go to the computer. Take a few moments and sit across from your patients. Have a conversation about their overall general health. Ask your staff to enter as much information into the computer as possible before you get into the room. That will require you to spend less time at the computer. It will also be helpful if you can position the computer in a way that you can still maintain a considerable amount of eye contact with your patients even when you're typing.

Delegate EMR Documentation

While some physicians have chosen to enter information into their EMR after the patient has left in order to maintain a sufficient amount of patient interaction, this method undermines the usefulness of the system. However, many have opted to employ the use of a scribe during patient interactions. A scribe would take your notes for you, entering all information into the system during the appointment. This is a much more efficient method, especially since the information is entered during the appointment, leaving less room for errors than if you were to enter it later on. If having a scribe doesn't sound appealing to you, consider using dictation software along with your EMR system. You'll be able to speak your notes and they will be entered into the system automatically.

Combine EMR and Patient Interaction 

Many physicians are finding that if they're able to combine EMR and patient interaction, their patients are much more appreciative. As long as the privacy of your other patients is protected, allow your patients to sit beside you and look at the record together. The Microsoft Surface Tablet is an excellent example of a device that allows for both of you to view the record at the same time, giving you the opportunity to maintain eye contact and converse freely. 

As with any technologically advanced product, EMR takes some getting used to. Integrating it into your practice was probably much more simple than learning how to maintain excellent communication with your patients during their appointments. However, with a little bit of trial and error, and finding the style that works for you, you can successfully use EMR to enhance your patient encounters, just as it was intended to do. 

If you'd like more information on electronic medical records for your practice, we'd love to talk to you. Contact us today!

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RevenueXL Inc. provides best value comprehensive solutions to medical practices. Our solutions include affordable Electronic Medical Records Software (a.k.a. EMR or EHR Software), Patient Portal, and Practice Management or Medical Billing software and revenue cycle services including medical billing, medical coding, coding audits and account receivables management services. RevenueXL offers a free consultation session to review your current challenges and answer open questions revolving around EMR and revenue cycle.

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Electronic medical records have come a long way since physician Lawrence L. Weed first conceived of the concept in the 1960s. Actually, the healthcare industry was one of the last industries to embrace a computerized way of keeping records. Even when it began to catch on, many physicians resisted making the change from paper charts and hand-written notes. Instead, they focused on their billing and patient registration departments, and utilized electronic systems in those areas initially. 

The Beginning of EMR

Weed's goal was to provide patients with better care. He envisioned being able to automate and reorganize medical records to better serve the needs of the patient, in accordance with the needs of the physician. In 1967, the results of his work formed the PROMIS project, which was a collaborative effort from both physicians and IT experts. The PROMIS project had its humble beginnings at the University of Vermont, while those involved captured Weed's vision, and began working toward developing a system that would provide doctors with instant patient data, while allowing rapid data collection for epidemiological studies and various audits. Meanwhile, The Mayo Clinic was also working hard at developing their own EMR system.

The PROMIS project led to POMR, which stands for Problem-Oriented Medical Records.  In the 70s, POMR was used in the Medical Center Hospital of Vermont for the first time. This system featured touch-screen data entry technology, which was very new at the time. Over time, drug information was added to the system, which provided physicians with all-inclusive drug information, including drug interactions, allergies, side effects and dosage instructions. Over 600 treatment plans for common medical problems were also designed and implemented within the POMR system.

Popularity and Development Increases

During the 70s and 80s, EMR development continued. Academic and research institutions worked to perfect them, and add more features that would allow them to be useful in specialty practices, as well as in other medical disciplines.  Their work resulted in the development of such systems as the Technicon system, which was hospital-based and the Regenstrief record in Indiana, which was one of the first inpatient/outpatient systems ever developed.

The 90s brought increased use and widespread demand for EMR, as the benefits to patients and physicians became more understood. Technological advances made EMR more complex, and easier to learn and implement. More and more medical practices began making use of these systems, although most of them began by testing them only inpatient billing and registration. 

EMR Today

While it's been difficult to assist physicians in getting adjusted, EMR has now become the standard in most medical practices, hospitals and clinics. Even though a few still cling to paper charts, as the ICD-10 deadline looms ever-closer, EMR will become a necessity.  EMR will allow those practices to maintain 100% compliance rates by correct coding and billing procedures. 

To encourage EMR, Medicare and Medicaid have put Meaningful Use incentives into place that will provide funding for practices who utilize electronic medical records for twenty-five different platforms within their practices or facilities. In order to qualify physicians must use EMR for many different facets of their patients' care, including writing prescriptions and recording patient demographics. It must maintain a high level of privacy protection under HIPAA and it must also conform to various menu guidelines that have been specified by the government.

Has your practice implemented EMR? Are you satisfied with your current system? If you're looking for an alternate EMR system, we'd like to talk to you about what makes ours different. We're dedicated to ensuring that your practice runs as efficiently as possible. For more information about our EMR systems, contact us today.

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RevenueXL Inc. provides best value comprehensive solutions to medical practices. Our solutions include affordable Electronic Medical Records Software (a.k.a. EMR or EHR Software), Patient Portal, and Practice Management or Medical Billing software and revenue cycle services including medical billing, medical coding, coding audits and account receivables management services. RevenueXL offers a free consultation session to review your current challenges and answer open questions revolving around EMR and revenue cycle.

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Are you experiencing EMR dissatisfaction with your current system? Perhaps it's not living up to your expectations, or you're having issues with it that make charting more difficult.  Many physicians are finding that their EMR is not as impressive as they thought it would be.  If you're feeling that way, it might be time to take a closer look at your EHR system and try to figure out what you need to do to improve it.

Less Patient Interaction

One of the most common complaints that fuels EMR dissatisfaction is having to pay so much attention to the computer, and paying less attention to the patient. This often occurs because of a lack of training, or improper use of the system. Medical practices are very busy places, with patients constantly going in and out. Closing the practice for a day or two to offer complete training on the EMR system might sound like a difficult and even crazy idea, however in the long run, it will save you time and money. It will also allow you to spend more time face to face with your patients.

Unresponsive Vendors

The world of EMR is constantly evolving. As new products become available, they make changes to their system. If you have a specialty practice, and those changes don't involve the tools you're currently using in your EMR, you can end up feeling left behind with sub-par products. If your EMR vendor doesn't seem to be concerned over your issues, or in updating the tools you are currently using, it might be time to find a new vendor who specializes in EMR within your medical specialty. 

Disruptive To Practice Workflow

All practices, especially ones that have been established a long time, operate under a certain workflow. Because medical records are the heart of the practice, making changes to the system often causes EMR dissatisfaction. For instance, if your practice once used the paper chart as an indicator of what needed to happen within the exam room, the lack of a paper chart can (at least mentally) throw you off. The solution to this problem might be more efficient integration, and adjusting your EMR to work with the flow that you feel most comfortable with. A professional representative from your EMR vendor should be able to help you resolve the issues. 

Poor Integration

One source of EMR dissatisfaction is a lack of a system that integrates seamlessly with other programs frequently used by the practice. Poor integration, or none at all can cause a lot of problems for you and for your staff. For example, if you've been asking for a way to integrate your EMR with your practice management software with no solution in sight, you want to consider an integrated EMR/PM solution that encompasses both.

Meaningful Use Incentives

It's possible that one of the reasons you implemented EMR in the first place was because of the incentives that were offered to you for meaningful use. Ongoing training is an absolute necessity, especially with all of the updates EMR's are consistently undergoing. Your vendor should be providing you with opportunities for training at every stage of the EMR implementation period and beyond. Their goal should be to assist you in meeting your goals, and with new EMR requirements on the way in 2014, your vendor should be prepared ahead of time to help you receive your incentives.

Are you experiencing EMR dissatisfaction? We'd like to help you. Contact us today to find out how our integrated EMR/PM systems could make your practice more efficient, more profitable, and less of a headache. 

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RevenueXL Inc. provides best value comprehensive solutions to medical practices. Our solutions include affordable Electronic Medical Records Software (a.k.a. EMR or EHR Software), Patient Portal, and Practice Management or Medical Billing software and revenue cycle services including medical billing, medical coding, coding audits and account receivables management services. RevenueXL offers a free consultation session to review your current challenges and answer open questions revolving around EMR and revenue cycle.

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Many medical practices are becoming more efficient through the use of practice management software and electronic medical records.  These developments have proven to be effective at improving patient care, as well as increasing the profits of those practices who have implemented them.  However, they have not been without their challenges.  

Many providers prefer to keep the two systems separate.  Many of them already had practice management software before electronic medical records started to become popular.  Using two separate systems can come with many problems because the two don't always work well together.  Quite often, there is a breakdown in communication, even among programs who are supposed to work in sync.  

The best solution to this breakdown in communication between practice management software and EMR is by choosing an integrated practice management and EMR system.  This is an all-in-one answer that provides a seamless user experience, regardless of whether you're an office manager or a provider.  This integrated system provides many benefits to the practice as a whole.

It takes time to switch between programs when you're using separate systems for practice management and medical records.  Quite often, support staff need to access medical records for more information to help them code properly, or to do referrals.  These are only two examples of common actions performed with practice management software.  When staff are able to access the patient's record in tandem with their practice management system, the result is fewer errors and an improved experience for staff.  Billing, which was once a tedious task that took hours to complete, can be done with only a few clicks of the mouse.  Your staff's ability to perform these tasks is vital to your practice, however when they can perform them quickly, and with more precision, they'll be free to attend to the more pressing needs of your patients.

Medical billing has always been a very challenging task, even for an experienced medical biller.  It's vital to pay strict attention to details, as even the smallest error can result in a claim being rejected. Thankfully, we've come a long way from the days of processing patient billing by hand.  But, even with the use of practice management software, billing can still be difficult.  Not only are insurance companies constantly changing their reimbursement rates and coding requirements, but when ICD-10 becomes the requirement, those without integrated practice management and EMR will find it to be even more challenging.  Using an integrated practice management and EMR system for billing will cut down dramatically on the amount of time your billing staff spends processing claims, as well as entering payments.  You'll find less rejected claims, because accuracy will be at an all time high. The immediate results you'll see are increased profits.

Integrated practice management and EMR systems are very popular among patients, specifically those who require the ability to communicate with their doctors regularly.  Patients are easily able to request prescription refills and appointments.  They can also quickly access their own medical records, test results and medication lists.  Providers are finding that the continuity of care is much improved, and patients feel as though their needs are being met even more so than just a few years ago.

Integrated practice management and EMR systems have a great deal of benefits to offer your practice, regardless of whether you are a general practitioner or you have a specialty practice.  Your office staff will appreciate the simplicity it brings to their jobs, and your patients will love the improvement in patient care. 

RevenueXL offers an integrated practice mangement and EMR solution. Schedule a demo today! 

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RevenueXL Inc. provides best value comprehensive solutions to medical practices. Our solutions include affordable Electronic Medical Records Software (a.k.a. EMR or EHR Software), Patient Portal, and Practice Management or Medical Billing software and revenue cycle services including medical billing, medical coding, coding audits and account receivables management services. RevenueXL offers a free consultation session to review your current challenges and answer open questions revolving around EMR and revenue cycle.