5 hidden benefits of an ehr adoption

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5 HIDDEN BENEFITS OF EHR ADOPTION WWW.MBMEHS.COM | [email protected] | ©MBM eHealthCare Solutions2011 WHAT HIDDEN BENEFITS PHYSICIAN PRACTICES CAN EXPECT FROM THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN EHR PRODUCT

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Page 1: 5 Hidden Benefits of an EHR Adoption

5 HIDDEN BENEFITS OF EHR ADOPTION

W W W. M B M E H S . C O M | I N F O @ M B M E H S . C O M | © M B M e H e a l t h C a r e S o l u t i o n s 2 0 1 1

WHAT HIDDEN BENEFITS PHYSICIAN PRACTICES CAN EXPECT FROM THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN EHR PRODUCT

Page 2: 5 Hidden Benefits of an EHR Adoption

THE AMOUNT OF FEDERAL + INDUSTRY ATTENTION ON HITECH...and the need to adopt Electronic Health Record (EHR) software places pressure on physician practices to rush their evaluation and selection of technology. In this environment, most of the focus on why to adopt tends to center on the need to meet the government mandate and realize the stimulus incentive payments. However, the implementation of a 2011 certified EHR within a physician practice can easily lead to significant financial and operational benefits that are often missing from the discussion. These hidden financial and operational benefits are vital to the practices that adopt and are the key to ensuring physician practices remain financially sustainable over time.

Here are 5 hidden benefits that physician practices can expect by carefully selecting & implementing an EHR product.

patient chart and record from other locations at any time, a major constraint on the way he or she practices medicine is removed. Previously, charting and chart consultation happened in the care environment – the physician’s office or clinic. If an urgent call comes in from a hospital or pharmacy after hours, in most cases the clinician would have to return to the location of the paper

chart to consult its content. If a physician was rounding in a hospital setting, details of that consultation necessary for billing the insurance company were typically captured on a notepad, or on any small piece of paper until the physician returned to the office and could deliver the notes to the office manager or billing manager.

When the physician can capture information at the point of care, regardless of the setting, claims can be more accurately and timely submitted – which equals stronger, more consistent cash flow to the practice and fewer errors in the submission of claims. Mobility also allows the physician the ability to leave the office at a reasonable hour and maintain a better work/life balance.

The first hidden benefit is the flexibility that comes when

the EHR system can be accessed &

used remotely.

BENEFIT 1 INCREASED OPERATIONAL FLEXIBILITY

When a clinician has

access to the complete

Over the past ten years, the majority of very small practices (three or fewer physicians) have contracted with third party companies who provide claims compilation, administration and collection services. However, the implementation of a 2011 certified EHR includes the ability to perform the billing functions inside the practice. In fact, most small practices are surprised to learn that the processing of claims has become a highly automated and electronic process that they can manage without any increase in personnel resources.

The newest EHR software versions have focused specifically on streamlining the billing process, including robust eligibility checking that can prevent many errors, real-time updates to Medicare and other payer reimbursement rates. With the going rate for this service typically 5-7% of collections plus any administrative costs, these are direct bottom line savings that a practice can realize immediately and annually.

5 HIDDEN BENEFITS OF EHR ADOPTION

BENEFIT 2 GREATER BILLING CONTROL

Page 3: 5 Hidden Benefits of an EHR Adoption

BENEFIT 3 MORE ACCURATE REIMBURSEMENT + RISK OF UNDER - CODING

BENEFIT 4 ELIMINATING MISSING PATIENT CHARTS FILLING ERRORS

...more significant is the additional revenue the practice is able to generate as a result of the EHR...

Another benefit often overlooked with the adoption of an EHR is the increase

in accuracy and efficiency of claims processing and automated E&M

(Evaluation & Management) coding and tracking. The EHR will review

and prompt the appropriate code to be used based on documentation

and will generate a more appropriate code. The higher the code, the higher the reimbursement

and in the event an insurance company audits or rejects a claim, this point-based code has been documented to validate the claim.

This feature is a large time saver due to elimination of manual process by sta�. In addition, the software works as an objective determinant of the code, versus the doctor’s subjective judgment regarding the appropriate code. However, far more significant is the additional revenue the practice is able to generate as a result of the EHR providing more accurate coding. The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) estimates the average physician practice can add 15% to their annual gross revenue through better management of coding through the use of an EHR.

their possession. The attempt to locate a chart in this scenario is exceedingly time consuming. The same is true for charts that have been misfiled alphabetically. All of this results in poor time management of clinical sta� and drags on the ability of the practice to see patients and generate revenue. With the entire history of a patient at the doctor’s

In any size physician practice there is a high risk of misfiled/missing charts. Patient charts are pulled for charting purposes, the insertion of labs and x-rays and when the clinician meets with the patient. Charts are handled by a multitude of clinical personnel and each transaction increases the risk of the chart being misfiled or misplaced. The chart can reside for weeks on a nurse’s desk waiting for a prescription to be refilled or on the billing and collections manager’s desk when charges are being entered.

There typically is not a login and logout system in place so consequently a patient’s chart is not easy to locate when it is needed if another clinician or office personnel has it in

fingertips through an EHR, other sta� members (RNs, NPs, etc.) can be performing other procedures, addressing other patient needs and bringing significantly more financial (and workflow) value to the practice.

5 HIDDEN BENEFITS OF EHR ADOPTION .. .CNT’D

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Page 4: 5 Hidden Benefits of an EHR Adoption

BENEFIT 5 WATING ROOM

ABOUT MBM eHEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS

SUMMARY

MBM creates operationally sustainable, open solutions for seamlessly exchanging healthcare information. MBM works with healthcare providers, including physician practices, hospitals and regional/state healthcare organizations to seamlessly integrate health IT (HIT) solutions with minimal disruptions to operational and clinical workflows. Services include HIT readiness planning, meaningful use planning and reporting, EHR vendor selection, implementation and more.

The ambulatory practice business is an environment where every mistake has consequences to both the overall care of patients and the bottom line of the practice. The proper evaluation and adoption of an EHR adds immediate, visible benefits and allows for the collection of federal stimulus funds. However, there are other less visible benefits that can impact the success of the implementation and sustainability of the practice. In order to uncover these benefits, physicians and

practice administrators should be prepared to find a partner who can help select the EHR appropriate to the individual practice and stay involved to ensure that operational workflows go hand-in-hand with technology adoption. This provides the physician practice with the greatest opportunity to ensure the greatest return on their investment in EHR as well as increased financial performance of the practice moving forward.

teg t’nod sgolkcab tneitaP .aera ksed tnorf dna moornoticed until they are severe, ultimately resulting in the

loss of patients. With patient check-in and waiting tracking, a patient can be told what to expect in terms of a wait when he or she arrives. If the projected waiting time is unacceptable to the patient, then the visit can be easily rescheduled within the EHR. If the backup is visible throughout the practice to all clinicians, the sta� can also react accordingly and make proactive e�orts to speed up patient flow.

Finally, in an office without a comprehensive EHR system,

physicians can lose track of the status of the waiting room.

Typically there is little physical visibility between the waiting

room and the examination rooms, which are often behind closed doors to the waiting

The proper evaluation & adoption of an EHR adds immediate, visible benefits & allows for the collection of federal stimulus funds.

To learn more about MBM eHEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS visit mbmehs.com -or- http://ehrroadmap.mbmehs.com/.com.

5 HIDDEN BENEFITS OF EHR ADOPTION .. .CNT’D

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