2. Tips for EHR users
• Physicians and staff will see a temporary drop in
productivity in the weeks succeeding an EHR
implementation.
Here are several tips from
Sarasota, Fla.-based Karen
Fuller, a principal at CSC's
Health Delivery Group, to
make sure that productivity lag
doesn't lead to dissatisfied
patients.
3. 1. Inform
• In the months leading up to implementation, be outspoken
with patients about the impending transition.
• "Just kind of let them know this is coming and what it
would mean to them as a patient [and] have a number
they can call if they want more information,"
-says Fuller, who is also a registered nurse.
• "If a patient portal is going to be part of this new
implementation, you can start, sort of, marketing and
messaging that as it gets closer."
4. 2. Practice PR
• Be optimistic about the EHR, even during those initial
developing pains.
• "I've essentially been in offices, as a patient, where they'll
say 'Well, we're placing in a new system and we're just so
overloaded, and we're just trying to make it through the
day,'" says Fuller.
• Instead, "Make it a good progressive spin, but be
convincing about it."
5. 3. Plan ahead
• "People can't be learning a new
structure and ways of doing
things and have the same
competences," says Fuller.
• During implementation, and a
week or so after, allow for
longer patient visits so patients
don't have to put up with long
wait times.
6. Optimize your EHR To get
attested for MU
• What is effective EHR implementation ?
• Is it the removal of patient charts?
• No more transcription charges ?
• A drop in medical records staff and no
more chart chasing?
• Fast admittance to patient information?
• Data mining for drug recalls?
7. • Easy and exact identification of patients overdue
for follow-up care or screenings?
• Physicians leaving home early ?
• Reduced staffing and supply costs ?
• Improved charge capture and/or enhanced ICD-
10 coding support for billing ?
• No more legibility disputes ?
8. • Remotely accessing patient information such
as medications and test results ?
• Tracking outstanding orders for test or
imaging results ?
• A reduction in telephone calls from
pharmacies ?
• Addressing incoming patient phone calls
without taking messages ?
• Gathering and reporting on clinical
information to participate in pay-for-
performance programs ?
9. • By optimizing your EHR implementation procedure, your
practice will have most of these features.
• Even for small practices, technology has levelled the
playing field and has changed what is possible for many
physicians.
10. Thank You !
• For help with
EHR implementation and MU attestation
Visit us
http://www.medicalbillingstar.com