Physicians Practice - Tech Guide 2008 - (Page 42)

LESSONS LEARNED 3. Electronic patient records are secure. Once we close the electronic chart note for each patient and file them at the end of the day, those records are cast in electronic stone and cannot be altered. No other ofﬁce person or assistant besides me is authorized to close patients’ charts, thereby providing excellent security and integrity of individual records. 4. EMRs enable more accurate coding. In 2001, our EMR added an E&M calculator to its system, which has served as a very useful function in documenting E&M levels for billing purposes. Once a patient chart note is complete, the visit’s speciﬁc E&M level and CPT code amount are automatically tabulated — in accordance with industry guidelines — and listed at the end of the chart encounter. We no longer guess at E&M codes, and our use of the calculator has significantly increased our income. Without it, we were often mistakenly undercoding patient encounters. 5. We can now accurately track patient medications. EMRs have an unequalled pill-counting ability with an insatiable memory. Our system easily identifies problems with early refills for chronic pain patients, and they are brought to my attention. I cannot imagine a chronic pain management practice without an EMR to track pills and reﬁll dates. 6. We can accurately track potential medication interactions. Our system not only covers prescription medications, but also food allergies, herbal remedies, and over-the-counter drugs. No more embarrassing calls from pharmacists pointing out important interactions after I write prescriptions. 7. Patients like my “photographic memory.” Our EMR incorporates a reminder system in which we can embed pop-up messages during patient encounters. Those reminders may pertain to specific follow-up vaccinations or other procedures, or they may be as simple as information about a specific patient’s READ MORE ABOUT IT! For more advice on how to avoid EMR purchasing and implementation catastrophes, visit these stories on PhysiciansPractice.com: • Get another physician’s personal take on buying the right EMR for your practice by typing “How to Choose an EMR” in our Search Articles box. • Type “Avoid These EMR Disaster Stories” in our Search Articles box to learn from vendors who’ve witnessed first-hand implementations gone bad. • Examining your practice’s processes is the first step toward solving office inefficiencies. You may discover that low-cost, low-tech tools can help you more than a pricey EMR. Type “Work Better, EMR or Not” in our Search Articles box. billing services • electronic records • practice management • business intelligence What makes SSIMED different? We deliver results. Business automation tools and services designed to give you a better performing practice. Visit www.ssimed.com or call 1-800-276-6992 and find out what makes us stand out. billing services • electronic records • practice management • business intelligence 42 | PHYSICIANS PRACTICE | TECHNOLOGY GUIDE WWW.PHYSICIANSPRACTICE.COM http://PhysiciansPractice.com http://www.ssimed.com http://www.ssimed.com http://WWW.PHYSICIANSPRACTICE.COM

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Physicians Practice - Tech Guide 2008 TG Cover Story: Protect Your Practice and Sleep Better Operations: Paperless? Not Quite The Internet: You've Got Mail...Or Do You? Patient Relations: Attention Grabbers The Tech Doctor: All About Blogs Lessons Learned: 'My EMR Nightmare...And Why I'd Do It Again' Scheduling: No More No-Shows The Marketplace: Who's Got Your Back IT Enhancement: Time, at Last, for an Upgrade? Online: 'Yup, I'm a Junkie. And Proud of It.' In the Office: New Technologies in the Workplace: Blessing or Curse? Web Surfing: If You Build It...

Physicians Practice - Tech Guide 2008

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