Meaningful Use ready EHRs saving physicians’ time CureMD 11:10

Physicians using EHR systems which meet Meaningful Use criteria are reporting significant timesaving benefits, according to a report published by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). 

The physicians surveyed by NCHS reported improved efficiencies with e-prescribing, lab results and having to spend less time replying to pharmacy calls. 

The data came from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and included physicians who have adopted an EHR system. The survey, which was funded by the ONC, looked at respondents for a three-year period from 2011 to 2013. The sample included nonfederal, office-based physicians and did not include anesthesiologists, radiologists and pathologists. 

The findings suggest most physicians have experienced a lot of clinical and financial benefits as well as practice efficiencies from using EHR systems. Additionally, physicians using an EHR system that meets Meaningful Use criteria also reported timesaving benefits.

82% of physicians using an EHR meeting MU criteria reported that sending prescriptions electronically saves time, compared to 67% of physicians using an EHR not meeting MU criteria. 75% of physicians said they receive lab results faster with an EHR that meets MU criteria, compared to 61% of physicians in the non-MU EHR group.

Respondents in both groups said the amount of time spent to plan, review, order and document care has increased (76% in the MU group, and 78% in the non-MU group).

More doctors in the non-MU group (34%) than in the MU group (28%) said the time spent responding to pharmacy calls has increased.

The survey also looked at clinical and financial benefits derived from using EHR technology.

·         Both groups (94% of MU EHR users and 91% on non-MU EHR users) said their EHR makes records more readily available at the point of care.

·         75% of MU EHR users said the technology allows them to deliver better patient care, compared to 69% in the non-MU group.

·         70% of MU EHR users said their EHR enhances data confidentiality, compared to 60% in the non-MU group.

·         50% of MU EHR users said their EHR disrupts the way they interact with patients, while 60% of non-MU EHR users said the same.

Want to achieve Meaningful Use benefits? Download an EHR White Paper and get paid for using a certified EHR technology.

How to avoid repeating mistakes during EHR replacement? CureMD 07:37

Replacing the EHR that has stopped to work for a provider can be a difficult and expensive decision. Is it worth going though all the hassle of implementing the new system to change the few aspects of your clinical workflow? No, if you are going to make the same mistake that forced you to make the switch in the first place. But how can providers identify what has gone wrong and how to fix it? Follow these simple tasks for a good work.

Create a wish list

With the rush to receive millions of dollars in incentive payments and to meet the stages of Meaningful Use, most of the providers selected whatever EHR they came across and figured out that they had to make them work. While the enthusiasm was admirable results weren’t as expected. Providers have been suffering for couple of years now and a large number of them had decided to quit their first choice.

But before you go into a new contract, you need to ask yourself some difficult questions. What is it that you like about your current EHR? What changes you would like to see in it? Purchasing an EHR is in the same way as buying a car or a house. Having a detail list can help you focus on a limited set of vendors that are best for your practice size and specialty, while eliminating the rest.

Analyze the situation from every angle

The common mistake first time EHR adopter makes is failing to consider the big picture when selecting the product. For the executive board price of the system will be of concern, while for physicians the focus will be on the clinical interface and mobility will be of concern to nurses.

It is not possible to please everyone every time but you should understand the issues that are bothering your staff if you are about to make a decision. Encourage your staff to make their complaints known and give them an opportunity to express their concerns to the EHR replacement team. Make sure you tell your staff that the new software may not be able to resolve the issues that they are facing but their concerns are heard and will be understood.

Keep realistic expectations

Your staff might be failing a little exhausted when failing to adapt the new EHR system, but it can be a blessing in disguise. It means the staff wouldn’t have any unrealistic expectations regarding what the new software can do for them.  The 2014 certification criteria demands more out of the developers and software systems will be more advance than they were in 2009.

As compared to before providers may have less money to spend on an EHR Replacement. Help your staff understands  that what you can afford in a new system and what you can’t, what tasks the staff will not be able to perform and what changes are needed in the workflow to make  the most of the software you are using.

Gathering your troops for another implementation

You need to be optimistic because you are buying a new system to fix the obvious errors that has made your life hard under your old EHR. It will require time dedication and will power to make the necessary changes that are required.

If your staff felt blindsided by the first EHR adoption then it is important that your staff is made aware of the implementation in advance so that the staff members can get used to the idea of switch. Be flexible regarding the educational and training activities for the clinicians.

Keep productivity high

Careful planning is very important to avoid any significant drop in the productivity level after the new EHR goes live. Make sure that your staff is comfortable with the workflow, technical requirements and interface of the system. Leading your staff for a new workflow, making sure that your software meets the majority of demands and keeping the spirits high will help you convert an initial failure into a success.

Selecting the best EHR for your practice CureMD 08:17

With various EHR options available, differences in practice operations and the intricacy in achieving the integrated paperless environment, it is of immense importance for physicians to create a strategy for the review of EHR systems. It will not only save time but will also save the unnecessary spending of money.

Some of the tips when developing the strategy while you evaluate the EHR systems.

Examine the vendor 

• check the vendor’s references and referrals
• Does the vendor have certified product for 2014 and ICD-10?
• How much experience does the vendor have? How many providers and sites per business entity?

Inspect the system

You also need to do your homework on the different EHR systems that you are considering.

• Identify the number of businesses and physicians that have adopted the system.
• Check whether the system is an integrated EHR with Practice Management or it is the PM interfaced with the EHR.
• If you are considering only an EHR system then get the information on the PM and see if it can be interfaced with the PM and what are the associated costs related to it.
• See the number of years that EHR system has been in active use.
• Check the ownership history of EHR or are there any mergers?
• If the companies offer other products and services then what are they?
• So what extent is the EHR product owner’s primary source of business?

Observe the EHR live

If Possible observe different practices using the system and it is important to see how the system works in the real time before you purchase it.

System costs

It is difficult to forecast the realistic cost expectations associated with acquiring an EHR. The cost of software alone will not give a real estimate. Practices without any existing hardware’s will have the highest cost. Those practices that are using IT equipment which is three or more years old will incur the same costs as with a practice with no hardware. Purchasing only an EHR will have less implementation costs but if a practice pay for EHR System integrated with Practice Management System then the totals costs would be close to a fully integrated EHR/PM system.

What to do after you have purchased an EHR?

The work is far from over after you have selected the EHR system. Here are some of the tips to follow to make sure that you get the most from your system.

1. Make use of Patient Portal

Start using the patient portal as soon as possible. Patient communication and document management are the two areas where practices gain efficiency and significantly improve the operations.

2. Interoperability

Interoperability has a significant value with the use of EHRs. Don’t try to save your costs by delaying your investment in order to interface with other systems that are able to provide patient data.

3. Usability

Make sure you consider the impact and usability for staff, provider and patient. Failure to assess the impact for staff and patient may become a problem for provider.

4. Ease of use

Once the system is fully operational, the staff gets comfortable with the use of EHRs rather than focusing on ease of implementation and training. Use of EHR will have a far greater impact on the cost of practice and working environment over the period of time rather than during the implementation period.

5. Make sure of  vendors knowledge

Ask your vendor so show you what are the configurations and options that will enhance the use of your system and that will make your job easier.

6. Adjust  your practice, not the EHR system

Consider the implication of changes in practice rather than altering the EHR system because in doing so the practice can realize operational improvements, considering them otherwise wouldn’t have been possible.

 

7. Assess your practice regularly

Annually assess the need to adjust your software contract and licenses in order to accommodate the changing needs of the practice and employees or the portability of employees or those providers who might need remote access to their EHR system.

8. Learning curve

As new system and procedures are included into the practice, there will be a learning curve that all employees need to accept. Those employees who possess the technology skills will adapt quicker than those who do not. Evaluating the employees readiness and giving initial training to those who require basic skills through local education classes will help the practice adapt to the new process.

Using EHR to build up Patient Physician Relationship CureMD 12:11

A strong patient-physician relationship keeps patients coming back for care and is maintained when patients know they will receive the best possible care. A quality EHR will keep your patients happy while making your hard work visible to your patients.

Online Interaction

Nowadays people are engaged in different kinds of online relationships. Just have a look at the followers of social media like Facebook, Twitter etc.

Having an EHR equipped with a patient portal allows you to build an online physician-patient relationship, which supports the personal connection that you already have.

Using the patient portal physicians can securely interact with their patients and give them access to view their lab results or set up appointments. Furthermore patient portals also let you share education material through the network.

Faster Patient Encounter

Letting the patients wait for hours or not being able to see them is sure is a killer of healthy patient-physician relationship. It gives the impression that you can’t address the needs and issues of patients.

Having a good EHR would solve this problem by speeding up the patient-physician interaction. Your EHR should be able to allow you quickly to chart patient conditions. In this way you will be able to spend more time with patients and treat them better.

Analytical Insight 

Recognizing health trends in an individual patient or a specific patient population used to be a meticulous process that consists of digging through countless patient records in order to discover patterns. Now using an EHR this type of information is available on a click of a mouse.

Enhanced Convenience 

EHRs allow patients to take control of their own health. This can take time to improve your patient-physician relationship. A feature that helps do this is an e-Prescribing. Before when you write a prescription for a patient they had to take it to the pharmacy and had to wait around to get it filled.

But now using e-Prescribing option you can send prescriptions to pharmacies electronically on a click of a button. Patient will pick up their refill at the desired pharmacy at their convenience and if they don’t the EHR informs you prompting you to send a friendly reminder to the patients to pick up their medicines.

The key to patient-physician relationship is displaying a valid interest in your patients’ health. Today EHRs make this easier than before.