Dragon Medical Case Study

1. Dra go n Medic a l P ra c tice Ed ition
Rheumatology Consultants Improve
Efficiency and Responsiveness to
Referring Physicians
“ ragon Medical Practice Edition makes
D
our practice’s communication more efficient
Rheumatology because I get my output on the spot.”
Consultants — r. Steven J. Klein
D
Rheumatology Consultants
Hagerstown and Cumberland, Maryland
CHALLENGE Summary
• eplace an inefficient process and prepare
R The private practice of Dr. Steven J. Klein,
the practice for the adoption of an EMR Rheumatology Consultants, is the sole provider of
rheumatologic and comprehensive osteoporosis
care in Western Maryland, with offices in
Hagerstown and Cumberland. The practice draws
patients from Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West
Solution Virginia. Since 1995, the practice has been at the
• se Dragon Medical Practice Edition to create
U forefront of rheumatologic research and care,
accurate real-time patient notes having participated in numerous Phase II and
Phase III clinical trials.
Rheumatology Consultants recently decided to
deploy real-time speech recognition to improve
results clinical workflow. As a result, the practice has
• ragon Medical Practice Edition is
D enhanced efficiency and responsiveness to
now used by one physician and one referring physicians. Dr. Klein and the practice’s
physician’s assistant to create high physician’s assistant are now both using Dragon
quality documentation unique to each Medical Practice Edition to complete their
patient encounter. Physicians, staff, and documentation.
providers now have instant access to
documentation, rather than having to wait A Desire to Improve Efficiency
one to two weeks. Referring physicians are When Rheumatology Consultants first
pleased with the quality of the notes they considered speech recognition technology, it
receive from Rheumatology Consultants was looking to improve clinical documentation
immediately following a patient visit. efficiency. “We were recording dictations and
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2. Dra go n Medic a l P ra c tice Ed ition
sending them to a transcriptionist. It took a week Getting Up to Speed
to two weeks to get back our transcriptions, Next, Scalese trained Dr. Klein to use
which was really inefficient,” recalls John Weikert, Dragon Medical 10.1, introducing him to the
RT, who is in charge of IT for the practice. commands, and explaining the best way to
”We wanted to speed turnaround time.” speak into the system to optimize recognition.
“My advice is to find a Tony,” says Weikert. “He
Additionally, Dr. Klein hopes to implement an created a binder for us with cheat sheets of most
electronic medical record solution in the near frequently used commands and more. It was nice
future and wanted to smooth the transition to to have that support when we needed it.”
the new system by installing speech recognition.
As Dr. Klein explains, “We had heard about the The practice recently upgraded to
difficulties other physicians have had obtaining Dragon Medical Practice Edition and Scalese
comprehensive notes from an EMR. We felt that trained the doctor on the new version as well.
speech recognition would improve the quality This version of Dragon Medical requires less
of the notes. Since we didn’t want to learn two training than previous ones.
systems at once, we decided to start with a
speech recognition solution that could work with “With Dragon Medical Practice Edition, I no
multiple EMRs.” longer need to have the physicians teach the
system their voices by reading special scripts,”
Medical Dictate Assists with says Scalese. “I simply have them use the
Implementation product in a clinical setting. We start at a slow-to-
After seeing a demonstration of Dragon Medical 10.1 moderate pace. After 10 minutes, we go to half
at an annual meeting at the American College speed. After another 10 minutes, we go to three
of Rheumatology, Dr. Klein was convinced that quarters speed. After an hour, the physician can
Dragon Medical could help him meet his goals speak at full speed and it’s very accurate.”
of improving turnaround time for his notes
and improving the efficiency of his practice. Rheumatology Consultants was very pleased with
Weikert installed the software, which was a the support they received from Medical Dictate.
straightforward process. “Tony is fantastic,” Dr. Klein says. “Tony brings
value to anyone who uses a product like this.
The practice then turned to Tony Scalese, Tony told me the right way to correct things and
CEO/President of Medical Dictate, to customize instilled a lot of confidence. He’s a fantastic
the product and train Dr. Klein. Scalese created educator and supporter and delivered on everything
16 templates for different types of exams as well he promised. He’s a very valuable asset.”
as macros to speed data entry using Dragon
Medical. For example, when the doctor calls up
a certain template, the macros automatically Improving Efficiency
populate the patient’s name and medical chart The biggest benefit Rheumatology Consultants
number. has achieved from Dragon Medical Practice Edition
has been rapid turnaround for exam notes.
“Using the templates and macros to insert Rather than having to wait one to two weeks,
information speeds documentation quite a bit,” the notes come back instantly.
says Devin Traynor, PA-C.
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3. Dra go n Medic a l P ra c tice Ed ition
“Dragon Medical Practice Edition makes our consider the cost of their time. When there are
practice’s communication more efficient because no costs other than paper, it’s easier to be more
I get my output on the spot,” Dr. Klein says. “If detail oriented.”
I need to get a report to another doctor quickly,
there’s no faster option.” Fewer Errors
Accuracy has improved. “I can review my output
Traynor concurs, “If a patient or doctor calls, we can on my computer screen and I know what the
get them the information they need instantly rather note will look like when I print it,” says Dr. Klein.
than making them wait a week. It’s good for other “I don’t have to worry about any errors from a
doctors or the hospital to have the notes right away.” transcriptionist. That’s a win.”
Weikert adds, “Within the practice, having an Satisfied Referring Physicians
instantly transcribed note in the chart means The fast turnaround time has also improved
that our doctors, practitioners, and staff can see satisfaction from referring and other physicians.
immediately what the doctor did or plans to do. “Doctors are pleased with this more rapid
It’s convenient. If you have to wait a week, the communication—I know I’m always pleased and
patient might return before the note is in the chart impressed when I get good, timely communication
and the provider would have to take the time to from other doctors,” says Dr. Klein.
call the provider who last saw the patient and ask
about their findings.” Implementing New Features
The practice has only recently implemented
Simplify Use of an EMR Dragon Medical Practice Edition and is looking
While the practice has yet to implement an forward to deploying some of its advanced
EMR, installing Dragon Medical Practice Edition features. In particular, they plan to store the voice
has allowed them to prepare for the eventual files the practitioners generate on a server, rather
adoption, which will further improve efficiency. than on local machines. Central storage of these
“An EMR has the potential to make my life even files will allow practitioners to share their profiles
easier and more efficient,” says Dr. Klein. “Other over the network rather than having to copy them
people will be able to enter parts of the patient’s onto each individual machine, which will make it
medical history, and the EMR will generate much easier to use Dragon Medical Practice Edition in
of the note in an automated fashion. its two offices. “It’ll be nice to have a single file
that’s updated centrally,” notes Weikert.
Dragon Medical Practice Edition will complement
the EMR by allowing me to pick up the mike and Highlights
dictate my customized assessment and plan to • ne physician and one mid-level practitioner
O
generate a meaningful note. Since most of the currently use Dragon Medical Practice Edition
exam would already be documented, it will take
• educes turnaround time for transcriptions from
R
me two minutes to dictate the note.”
one to two weeks to minutes
Improve Comprehensiveness • ncourages more comprehensive and
E
Notes are more comprehensive with accurate notes
Dragon Medical. As Dr. Klein explains, • s helping the practice prepare for the future
I
“I have become more comprehensive with adoption of an EMR
Dragon Medical Practice Edition. When you’re • ther doctors, staff, and practitioners can now
O
dictating to a transcription service, you have to instantly access comprehensive notes
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4. Dra go n Medic a l P ra c tice Ed ition
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