Healthcare IT News - May 2008 - (Page 19)

www.HealthcareITNews.com phySIcIaN pRactIcES & amBulatoRy caRE May 2008 ■ Healthcare IT News 19 “We still have some clinicians who are reading their notes off index cards,” he said. “This is going to be an enormous amount of work and most are not looking forward to the learning process that will go along with the implementation,” he said. The physicians’ organization has hired seven full-time employees to provide training during implementation. More at PedIaTRIC Continued from page 16 physicians’ organization. Young says the major reason they chose to implement an EMR system throughout the network was to improve the deliverability of care. “We went with version 8.0 because it was more consistent with the way we want to manage care,” he added. “Children’s Hospital Boston is a known leader in advancing pediatric medicine,” said Navani. bers regarding anticipated return the network and others where the “The PPOC has more than 175 on investment. “I think we will see clinicians are nearing retirement. physicians who care for more a mixed bag among practice mem- There are also a few that have practice managethan 100,000 children in eastern bers,” he said. ment systems with All members are required to Massachusetts. We anticipate that a different vendor the system will have a substantial have an EMR in order to connect and will likely go impact on the care those children to the registry, or they will have to with that vendor’s leave the network. receive.” EMR. About 94 percent chose to sign The rollout will span over a twoYoung said the year period with the first practice on, said Young. A few practices Gregory Young, reasons for not already had an EMR system but slated to go live in July. MD wanting to adopt The average practice’s revenue have abandoned the old ones for would likely improve, Young said, the new one. There is one small the technology continue to be cost but he does not have firm num- practice that has decided toPM Page 1 resistance to change. HITN_NG_DrHolly_May08.qxd:Layout 1 4/2/08 3:06 leave and HealthcareITNews.com e ●Connect: PedIatrIC 0508 asC Continued from page 16 implement a new system. In addition, 49 percent of administrators had concerns that revenue could be lost in the IT implementation process. Nearly one-fourth of the ASC administrators do not know their current per chart document management costs, and among those who are aware, 69 percent place this cost between $3 and $9. “Relying on paper in an era of electronic documentation and communication is inefficient and expensive,” said Arvind Subramanian, president & CEO of Wolters Kluwer Health Clinical Solutions. Subramanian said there have been changes to ASC reimbursement that will call for careful cost management and accurate billing. “In 2008, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services begins a four-year phase-in of a new ASC reimbursement schedule,” Subramanian said. “CMS also added approximately 800 surgical procedures that qualify for reimbursement when performed in the ASC setting. These changes present both opportunities and challenges for ASCs and compel them to examine best documentation and billing practices, which directly impact revenue and reimbursement.” In the survey, the ASC administrators considered the CMS changes and estimated future revenue at their ASCs, making predictions based on full phase-in of the new reimbursement schedule. Forty-two percent of ASC administrators expect decreased revenue at their sites. Of these administrators, 50 percent indicated gastroenterology services would negatively impact revenue. Of those who anticipate increased revenue at their sites, 36 percent indicated orthopedic services would have a positive effect on revenue. Wolters Kluwer Health is a division of Wolters Kluwer, a global information services and publishing company with 2007 annual revenues of $4.8 billion. The company maintains operations in more than 33 countries worldwide. ■ More at Dr. Larry Holly with a few of his grandchildren Southeast Texas Medical Associates • Beaumont, TX Quality 6 audits - 0 deficiencies. 100% $ 340 K Reduced annual transcription costs by $340K. 27% Increased average revenue per encounter. As managing partner of a large practice, Dr. Holly spent many Saturdays finishing patient charts and reading management reports. Then he put his confidence in NextGen. Quality improved, costs declined $800,000 per year, and revenue increased substantially. Dr. Holly still reads on Saturdays, but now it’s a lot more enjoyable. Electronic Medical Records & Enterprise Practice Management HealthcareITNews.com e ●Connect: aSC 0508 For more information call 215-657-7010 or visit www.nextgen.com/HITN e ● Connect: NextGeN 0508 http://www.HealthcareITNews.com http://HealthcareITNews.com http://www.healthcareitnews.com/story.cms?id=9169 http://www.nextgen.com/HITN http://HealthcareITNews.com http://www.healthcareitnews.com/story.cms?id=9171 http://www.nextgen.com/HITN http://www.healthcareitnews.com/story.cms?id=9206

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Healthcare IT News - May 2008 Contents Help Wanted Speeding Up Government Silos Privacy Pressures Tracking Disease Rah Rah Health! TriZetto Suit Outcomes Watch Ambulatory EHRs

Healthcare IT News - May 2008

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