Use Ehrs To Your Advantage

By Author: Angela Martin
Total Articles: 205
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Thinking about switching to an EHR system? You might have heard how one can improve the efficiency of your billing processes; however you might also be frightened by the significant upfront costs.

So how do you balance the benefits with the expense? Read on for our expert's advice on how an EHR might benefit important areas of your practice:

EHRs are primarily a practice management tool used by providers and their back office staff. However when used to their full advantage, EHRs can also save you a lot of time on the billing side.

On a basic level, an EHR is a computer-based system for storing, retrieving, and managing patient health records over a secure network. However you may also be able to handle data for medical referrals, medical treatments, medications, demographic information and other non-clinical administrative information.

Billing plus: A good EHR system transmits claims to the insurers in a 24-hour period, calculates the right level of service (requiring physician confirmation) and matches the number of visits with an equal number of charges. Each of these ...
... tasks is a big advantage for billers.

Note of concern: Some systems might not be right for your practice, and could actually severely hamper your office's efficiency. As such, do your research prior to selecting an EHR for your practice.

Look for easier billing and appeals

Many EHRs automatically create charges from the note that is entered into the EHR. That feature does away with the need for charge entry and in most cases also takes care of payment posting as well.

Here's how: When a patient comes, her information enters a queue in the EHR, which the doctor can access when he sees the patient. He can enter the patient's signs and symptoms into the system. The information transfers to the billing department. Staff attaches the diagnosis to the doctor-verified charges created by the EHR. The system then generates a claim.

An EHR system does away with paper charts and step by step documentation. Everyone right from your doctor, to the front desk, to the biller has access to the latest real-time updates on your patients. This fact might be attractive mainly for third-party billers.

Ensure your physician likes the system

An EHR can be of particular advantage to your provider as he'll be using it the most. Your next consideration in choosing a system is finding one your physician likes and will use.

There is a learning curve with using new technology; but as many systems also make use of a touch screen or a handheld wireless tablet. Ensure your doctor knows he'll be spending more time in front of the computer and that he is geared to put in time and effort required to get familiar with the system. You might recommend that your doctor spend time watching another doctor use the system so that he will know what to expect.

Assess the needs of your practice

Just like any technology, EHRs come with all sorts of bells and whistles that may or may not be right for your practice. As you narrow down your choices, confirm that each system will be compatible with other systems your practice might use. Then let everyone in your practice who'll be using the system spend time watching other people using it and learning what you do and do not need.

For instance, a small office might not need a system which attaches voicemails to the electronic record; however a hospital practice might. For specialty practices, the doctor will want to ensure the system follows his routine for exam and treatment and that his specialty codes are easy to find and assign.

Bottom line: Go for a vendor that has long term experience in medical practice software prior to making a commitment to any system. Conduct research, shop around and talk to other practices.

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