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Should Patients Be Allowed To Access Their Physicians EHRs? Weighing The Pros And Cons

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Whose EHR Is It Anyway ? !

 This far and no further, is the approach physicians are taking when it comes to patient EHR access. Patient electronic access is an important objective of Meaningful Use. It can help physicians to deliver better quality of care.  And to bring everybody across the care continuum in one single, secure platform.

EHR-access

Data security risks is the key reason why the debate on patients access to EHR is still up in the air. Nothing can scare physicians more than a data breach. The average housewife in New Jersey may not be up to date on HIPAA regulations  And there is also the potential threat of patients misinterpreting their medical data.

A physicians understanding of a medical problem is not the same as that of a patients. It could cause unnecessary stress and anguish, and make patients vulnerable to self-medication dangers.

I Don’t Want My Patients In The Drivers Seat…

According to a recent survey conducted by Accenture, around 65% of doctors feel that patients should be given limited access. About 82% of physicians endorse the view that patients should be actively involved in their healthcare. Around 4% of doctors told they’d like to ban patients from having an online access to medical records.

Most physicians were of the opinion that other than demographics, patients shouldn’t be allowed to edit or update any other medical data.

The Way Around This Catch 22 situation !

  • Talk to your EHR vendor about including patient identity proofing and authentication features.
  • Standardize the information you want your patients to access.
  • Educate your patients about your EHR.
  • Work with a  biller who has experience in working with your EHR so patient billing is streamlined to a great extent
  • Follow a clear cut privacy policy and usage guidelines.

Make Sure Your EMR Doesn’t Make You Face Medical Billing Malpractice Charges

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EMR-Overbilling

Beware your EMR could land you in a tight spot !

There is a lot of dust raised about EMR’s again. According to recent reports an EMR can lead to inflated costs and fraudulent billing. Allegedly, physicians have added about 11 billion more to their fees, over the last decade alone. The Center for Public Integrity’s “Cracking the code” series, has found that the usage of EMR/EHR’s have resulted in widespread billing malpractices.

More to it than meets the eye…

Healthcare experts argue that this a strong marker of the negative impact, wishy-washy rules can cause. It can not only make physicians vulnerable to fraud and abuse charges, but also be potentially life threatening for patients. Mostashari, the National Coordinator for Health IT rues that “documenting care that didn’t occur, that’s not just fraud, it’s really dangerous medicine.”

It is being argued that the system is flawed. And it is high time the government sat up and took notice before it snowballs into a huge issue and causes irrevocable damage.

Has coding higher become par for the course ?

Upcoding is rampant. And emergency rooms in particular have been pulled up for assigning high level codes, despite the treatment not warranting it. Whistle-blowers  worried physicians and confused patients are making one collective demand. For, strong auditing tools, and transparent uncomplicated regulations.

The new CMS directive !

The centers for Medicare and Medicaid have issued a new directive to restrict billing malpractices. Federal authorities will be keeping a close eye on EMR users to curb this unhealthy trend.

Where the cracks appear…

Physicians are unusually busy people. Most doctors fume that EMR’s have reduced them to efficient machinery. Nobody likes to sit, and copy paste information. Or, working with straight out of a can, point and click templates. Long loading times and a maze of options can drive physicians round the bend. Impatience with the system, more than the willful intent to over-bill  might be the reason behind improper billing.

A quick guide to bill right !

  • Train your billing team to work closely with your EMR/EHR system.
  • Use an accredited medical billing software.
  • Conduct regular in-house financial audits.
  •  Ensure the same information isn’t entered again. Redundant data is the major cause of over-billing.
  • Educate your practice about CMS guidelines and updates.

Only 38 % of Doctors are Happy with their EMR. Are you one of them?

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EHR-Pros-and-Cons

Have EHR’s Reduced Patients to Faceless Data ?

The jury is still out on this one. Have EHR’s helped in bettering patient engagement or are stealing away the doc’s time? Patients complain that watching a medical practitioner silently collect data is the most frustrating sight on earth! After struggling to get an appointment from your busy neighborhood doc, it can drive you nuts to see that he is busy clicking on templates.

A Crude truth…

CRUD which means Create, Read, Update and Delete is not just another smart abbreviation. It is a sad fact that reflects what goes on in the physician’s office today. Creating information, analyzing it and editing data, eats up an enormous amount of time. Most docs are contemplating retirement to get away from the bureaucratic interference and hum drum of working with systems.

Has Someone lost the Plot ?

There is a growing disillusion with EMR’s because most of them are designed to be high-end data entry machines. A huge doubt is being cast on whether they actually help in bettering healthcare. EMR’s were supposed to reduce clinical documentation mistakes, prescription errors, retrieving data and saving on costs. And according to a few doctors fail on all counts.

Physicians fume that they are doing the same thing, several hundred times a week. Data entry takes time because of the frustrating loading times. E-prescribing is strenuous, as it is one drug at time. The, point, click, wait rigmarole results in point and click errors, and can be a potential hazard for patient safety.

Times they’re a Changing…

This immortal Bob Dylan cult number could well be the anthem of the healthcare industry today. Despite scathing criticism and the flak EHR’s face it is an indisputable fact that there are several upshots to using one. Accountable, traceable care, across all points in the healthcare continuum is a godsend for busy physicians without a photographic memory.

Data structures are improving. Integrated, inter-operable  and more secure data architectures that are more physicians friendly are rolling out. Contrary to what the naysayers complain, this could well be the best time to be a medical practitioner.

Treading with care…

Transitory phases can be tricky. It is the last man standing who comes out at the other end as a winner. Every medical practice should ensure that they sign up for a free trial with the EHR they are planning to use. So it is not the first time they’re handling the system. EHR users must demand better and frequent, tech-support.

It is important that physicians are healthcare IT savvy but we don’t want them to be reduced to impersonal, data collecting, super efficient machines. Do we ?

 

Its Time To Resuscitate Healthcare !

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[AnythingPopup id="13"] Time to Resuscitate Healthcare

The odds are stacked against physicians. Rising operational costs, hours lost due to data entry and compliance thresholds have made practicing medicine a nightmare for physicians. An increasing number of them are contemplating early retirement. With so much to deal with and a lot more to come, it is a testing time for the healthcare industry.

Buckling Under Pressure…

Slashes in reimbursement and compulsion to gravitate towards EHRs are the major reasons why medical practices are ailing. With divided opinions about ACOs and everybody blaming everybody else, the healthcare field resembles a war-zone. A recent study conducted by Bloomberg points that there is an estimated shortage of 13,000 doctors.

It is time the policy makers take remedial measures to help resuscitate physicians.

Over taxed slaves ?

Disincentives and pressures have made doctors feel like over worked slaves. After a long and expensive education, it is a bleak and challenging future that lies ahead. It doesn’t work for the doctor who is gasping for change and for patients who feel a strain in the physician-patient relationship.

Increasing Costs For Doctor Owned Practices !

The operating costs of a physician working in a full time in a physician owned multi-specialty climbed to 1.3% from last year. The commercial fee for service amounted to 51% of total charges.

A Few Bitter Truths…

  • Operational costs for running  a practice have increased over the last year.
  • Labor costs are the major money drainer for medical practices.
  • EHRs increase the amount of time spent on data entry tasks.

Solutions That Might Just Work…

  • Outsource to cut down on labor costs and operational expenses.
  • Train staff or vendors on using EHRs to reduce data entry pressures.
  • Select an EHR that automates workflow to a major extent, to save on time and resources.

Free EMR Critics Are Advised To Really Think Hard Before Painting A Dreary Picture

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[AnythingPopup id="4"] FreeEMR

Does Free Always Come With A Heavy Price Tag ?  

Of late there has been a spate of attacks against perfectly free EMR, on grounds that such a product is actually not free; that the increased hours/money spent on getting trained in such an EMR offsets the benefits of free implementation.  Also, another popular line of attack is that such an EMR is not certified for meaningful use and may beat the purpose of installing them in the first place.  Finally, doubts are being cast on the revenue generation models of such a product, in that they may be selling out classified patient information to all and sundry.

But there are some who argue that nothing can be further from the truth.

A free EMR like Practice Fusion has been voted the No 1 EMR among primary care physicians for two years in a row (2011, 2012,) and obtained meaningful use certification from ONC-ATCB in 2011.

Insufficient Support ?

The accusation of extra hours being spent in getting trained in a free EMR, because the support services are inadequate, is an ungrounded myth. Free EMRs n are simple to learn and free of unnecessary frills. There are a few billing vendors who pay for or offer free practice management software. This leaves the doctor with a tight budget, a choice to adopt an EHR without losing sleep over costs.

Unfounded Criticism…

Although the attack about the revenue generation model is the weakest of them all, let us make things clear here.  Free EMRs generate revenue primarily by running ads of Pharma companies etc.  As additional revenue, even if mined data is shared with federal healthcare bodies, it is suitably masked.  But hey ! Isn’t inter-connectivity of all patient databases one of the goals of the EMR project?

We really think that in the future, it would be wiser if the critics of the free EMR model to do bit of homework before firing their salvos.

Can Free EHR’s bring about big changes to the Small Practice ? Yes, According to a recent study.

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Busting a Few Myths !

The healthcare industry is evolving. From unwieldy and time consuming paper records to streamlined electronic medical data. As with every transition, there are bound to be a few myths. And by far the most widely popular among them is that EHR’s are expensive.

Are free EHR’s too good to be true ?

There is a long held belief that, anything that comes with a “free” tag is bound to be inferior and counterproductive. So you cannot blame people who turn up their noses at free EHR systems. It is bare boned and doesn’t offer training or support, are the usual complaints. But there are a few free EHR systems that have managed to hold their own in a highly competitive industry.

If free EHRs are half as bad as they’re claimed to be, they simply wouldn’t exist.

Nobody likes being out of Business !

It is a big lie that free EHR vendors are, non responsive, and offer no support. Unlike paid for models, charge-less EHR’s are largely dependent on advertisers for revenue. And we all know advertisers know where to invest. If the support leaves a lot to be desired, it means fewer clients. Fewer clients mean no big advertisers.

So, Obviously…

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that free EHR vendors should actually be pulling out all stops to offer their clients great support. It works for everyone, the EHR vendor, advertisers and the most important person in the equation, physicians !

Tie-ups that work !

Costless EHR’s tie up with practice management systems so users not just get all that they want but are also offered a great deal of flexibility. Users can integrate the PMS or medical billing software that works for them. But doesn’t all this sound like too much of DIY?

Oops ! so the physician will have to deal with technical issues ?

Thankfully no ! Most popular free ehr’s have partnered with certified consultants to offer integration support and training. There are also a few billing firms that go a step further and offer free practice management systems as well. This means the entire argument of paid ehr’s being a whole lot superior to free ones, doesn’t hold water anymore.

Not a Bad choice at all !

This is not to say cost free EHRs were designed in health IT heaven and have an edge over high end EHR systems. But for the small practice down the road saving on a few hundred dollars can mean a lot.

Here are a Few Facts and Figures that prove Free EHRs help Small Practices…

  • 60%  of doctors report they are doing better than last year due to the adoption of technology.,

  • 45% of small practices cite they’re doing much better than last year.

  • In 2011 only 26% practices said they were doing better than the previous year.

But what is all this got to do with free EHRs. Well, this survey was conducted by Practice Fusion, one of the leading free EHRs in the market.

Costless EHR’s can ultimately act as an incentive and motivation for those who are reluctant to make the switch, due to the costs involved. And that includes a majority of healthcare providers.

Practice Fusion – The free, web-based EMR

Why EHR is the Dinosaur in the Room for Pediatricians?

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[AnythingPopup id="9"] Pediatric

Pediatricians, it is reported are the most reluctant to take the ehr leap. A recent study conducted by the Seattle Children’s Hospital and APA, throws light into a subject that is often underreported.

According to the researchers pediatricians are a good one to two years behind physicians from other specialties, when it came to ehr adoption and use.

“I cannot Afford it”

Low pay checks, heavy Medicaid cuts, and ehrs that don’t cater to the specific needs of pediatric practices are backing pediatricians into a corner. The financial pressures that pediatric practices face can make pediatricians an endangered species in the near future.

Pediatricians have always been underpaid. There is a huge reimbursement difference when it comes to paying for treatment rendered to children and adults. And to add another log to the fire, pediatricians gain very little ancillary revenue. 56% of physicians surveyed, cited lack of money, the major reason for putting off ehr adoption.

The Pediatrician EHR wish list !

What are the features that can make pediatricians invest those big dollars into an ehr? Most of them feel that the majority of ehrs available in the market offer just straight out of the can templates and nothing much.

The needs of a pediatrician are more specific and distinct than other specialties. Most pediatricians would love to have features such as growth charts, immunization administration templates and an information sheet for vaccine information.

But how many ehrs really do provide the features that can make work easy for pediatricians, is a huge looming question.

A way to bring in the Sunshine Again !

The healthcare industry is changing for the better. And it is important that pediatricians are a part of the change. To join the race pediatricians will have to re-engineer their revenue cycle and make a collective demand for more pediatric specific ehrs.

To, identify where they lose money and explore avenues and opportunities to increase reimbursement, is now more important than ever.

What does Obama’s Second Term as President mean to your Practice ?

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The election frenzy is over. Everybody is sipping coffee and exchanging “I told you so” looks across the water cooler. But not everyone is as relaxed. Healthcare practitioners in particular will have to ensure their ehrs are interoperable and meet compliance standards.

Not just Digitizing Paper Records.

Adopting an Electronic Health Record is not just about computerizing existing workflow patterns. The core purpose of an ehr is to get rid of fragmented, incorrect and incomplete medical information and facilitate seamless exchange of healthcare data.

Failure to select an ehr that is highly interoperable means not just facing compliance issues, but losing millions of dollars.

                             

  Case in Point…

An Illinois hospital was in the news recently for losing millions of dollars due to interoperability issues. According to IOM the hospital lost a staggering 700,000 dollars every year. It includes the money spent on hiring five pharmacists to manually verify prescriptions. So, doctors who couldn’t access the ehr didn’t end up prescribing the wrong drugs and dosages.

The Road Blocks !

In a perfect world doctors would be able view and share data seamlessly. Patients needn’t be worried about their employers getting info about their medical problems. And nobody needs to lose sleep over data security. But the healthcare landscape is far from perfect.

Heavily proprietary, ehr systems, which fiercely, prevent competitors to gain access. Medical terminology, and abbreviations, that differ across specialties. And confusion about where to start, are the major hindrances towards achieving seamless interoperability.

Knowing What Matters !

But before deciding on where to look it is important that physicians have a clear idea of what to look for. There are four key components that experts believe, play a vital role in determining whether you meet interoperability standards.

  • How applications interact and communicate with users.
  • The way different systems communicate with one another.
  • The manner in which healthcare information is used and managed.
  • And the ability to work across different devices and platforms, like smartphones and tablets.

Getting it Right Without Learning the Hard way…

Physicians and practice managers need to keep a cool head. Being pressurized by promises, brochures and tight deadlines is not the way to go. The ehr is an expensive investment, which when done right can save a practice millions of revenue.

How Interoperable is your EHR ? A Quick Checklist

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Why must the Focus be on Interoperability ?

Most physicians are waylaid by features they’re hardly going to use. Smart, intuitive options are great. But if you are the only one who can access and work with them, you are way behind when it comes to interoperability.

It is essential that you can share data effortlessly. A closed door policy isn’t going to work and it is important that doctors speak up to their vendors about this.

Not just about Incentives…

It is not just about incentives and a pat in the back. Being interoperable means you save thousands of dollars. Cut down on additional staff. Reduce the time spent communicating with other physicians and technicians. And above all it means you are on the right path, as far as the future of your practice is concerned.

As with all important decisions, it is essential to be thoroughly informed before taking the plunge. And yes have a thorough check-list to ensure that the ehr ticks all the right boxes.

                                                                                                                      [AnythingPopup id="10"] ehr

Is your Medical Practice Ready to Face CQMs on 2014 ?

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The, final Clinical Quality Measures(CQM) for eligible professionals, is out. CQMs are hoped to bring about more structured and uniformed data on patient centered care. The update has caused ripples in the healthcare industry as it means another set of rules for physicians to comply with.

2014; A year most Healthcare Professionals wont look Forward to !

It is going to be hectic days ahead for the healthcare industry. From adopting a new coding system, to reporting on 9 of the 64 CQMS, there is a lot on the plate for physicians. Adopting a certified ehr that offers advantages in the generation of clinical quality measures, is tough enough!

Select a CQM that is Easier for your Practice to Report against…

This is a daunting task. But choosing an appropriate CQM based on the entire patient population, and collective patient information is half the battle won. It is easier to prioritize and streamline your approach after you’ve opted for clinical quality measures that are specific to your practice.

Clear Cut Roles…

It is essential that practice managers and physicians allocate their staff clearly defined roles. Physicians need to decide who collects data on forms, who enters information into the ehr, and who stays back after office to oversee the process. It is also important that a fixed time is set aside for entering data into the ehr. It would be ideal to key in information after a patient visit.

Every Detail Matters !

It could be the tax id number of your patient or national provider id, every, information determines, whether you are meeting CQMs regulations or not. Download the complete data element catalog. Assign a separate staff or team to document data elements in the ehr for every specific cqm requirement.

Select a CQM that is Easier for your Practice to Report Against…

This is a daunting task. But choosing an appropriate CQM based on the entire patient population, and collective patient information is half the battle won. It is easier to prioritize and streamline your approach after you’ve opted for clinical quality measures that are specific to your practice.

Hands on Approach…

If anything it is the time for medical providers to adopt a more hands on approach. Taking care of patients is unfortunately not the only priority of doctors anymore! Train your in-house staff on working with an ehr and meaningful use guidelines And of course, stay in the loop !