The Dilemma of "EMR"

EMR assist real time communication with patients during their clinical visits through immediate access to patient information, allowing Doctors to interact with patients rather than searching for information from paper records. However, for some, aspects of EMRs pose a distraction during patient visits. 

Because physicians do not have to call a lab for any test result, they spend more quality time (with the patient) in a more context-rich way. Similarly, because staff can pose questions to the physicians via the EMR’s electronic instant messaging (IM) function, rather than opening the exam room door, doctor-patient communication during a visit can continue uninterrupted, at least physically.

Many of us believed that EMR’s help in assigning responsibility for a particular task to a staff member via SMS or E-mail increased the efficiency for communications that do not require face-to-face interactions with them, such as scheduling a follow-up visit. On the other hand, some believed that the convenience of communication in EMRs decreased the likelihood that real-time communication would occur when needed most, for example, during patient emergencies. One of the physicians we met explained us the importance of discussing with staff the types of urgent or sensitive issues that should be communicated orally, such as notifying a physician about a patient’s arrival at the emergency department. He also added that- “You have to use electronic communication when appropriate and voice when appropriate, and even paper when it’s appropriate”.

Overcoming EMR-related challenges to interpersonal communication will likely involve continued refinement of their design by vendors and also use by clinicians to decrease the possibility for distraction during the patient visits. Efforts around the implementation of EMR’s at various levels like any Hospital or a private clinic must incorporate training to them to improve interpersonal communication skills for them. The modification of clinical workflows to maximize interpersonal communication while using an EMR is also likely to be helpful.

Maximizing eye contact with patients with strategic placement of monitor and also engage patients in relevant parts of EMR screen, such as problem list or medications, will help Practitioners in patient education purposes and also accuracy of information gathered. At the same time patients feel safe and more comfortable knowing that information from other Doctors are available.

So until and unless the adoption of EMR’s will increase, we can't get the convincing answer about the importance of EMR in the process of communication in Healthcare.

For More Information Visit our Website: http://www.hlis.in/  

Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) in Healthcare

The term Revenue Cycle Management or RCM as it is abbreviated is a common term in medical practices. At initial contact with a patient the revenue cycle begins and closes once the charges are paid in full and a zero balance is shown on the accounting register. For example: A Physician might see a patient for some problem, correct the patient’s complaint, see them for follow up, and done. It may be that doctor may never see that patient again. So the RCM related with that patient opened at the time of consultation and ends once the visit is completed and is closed with a relatively short shelf life.

Like any other businesses, there are various costs associated with medical practices. Considering the relation between a doctor and a patient, medical practices comparatively have a difficult time maintaining the RCM or to manage balance in their medical practices. The cost associated with a medical practice can be seen as:

• Medical staff: Salaries, insurance benefits, sick leave.
• Rent for the clinic/Hospital space, other utilities
• Taxes
• General Supplies: Paper, Folders, Pens
• Storage space needed for storing past medical information in a traditional paper environment, etc.

So to maximize the profit like any other businesses, medical providers have to watch closely the expenses with their income, which is a big challenge for them. So gaining efficiencies with an EMR will be a good step, which ultimately helps in reducing the expenses with its own benefits in their respective medical practices. The benefits of EMR are told and written many times on various platforms, but still it is most important to mention the benefits in terms of TIME & MONEY saved, which is the ultimate goal of implementing EMR in any type of medical practices:

• Quick and easy access to any patient information as and when required
• Automation of work flow helps in reduction of staffs, which ultimately reduce your expenses.

These are the basic but two most important benefits of EMR, which can’t be achieved without it. The medical practices can be made more efficient and more profitable with the addition of an EMR to track and bring closure to the RCM. Implementing EMR and to get its benefits, it is very important to understand that even the patients and clinical staffs are a part of it.

The best way to involve clinical staffs is to sit together with them weekly and keep the line of communication straight, simple and strong, so that they will also be on the same course as you are. The communication may be related with better patient care, improving efficiency in the clinical work flow, individual tasks and the like. It is for sure that every individual will not work on the same wavelength, but the lines of communication need to be kept open and ongoing, so that they can also discuss their issues or concerns and help the whole process of implementing EMR more clear and fruitful. The entire team needs to work together to insure the successful deployment of EMR and achieve the goals associated with this.

Also the patients have become more educated (thanks to Internet), and in most of the cases they have the information about their problems prior to the visit to a doctor. So your EMR will be the right tool to make them understand that their information is safe & stable than they are on Paper. So educating your patients, who are the primary beneficiaries- can help themselves by helping you. If Patients realizes that the information of them is more stable and safe, there will be no conflict.

Medical practices looking to gain and maintain strong revenue cycle performance should understand that there is a need to train the individuals associated, whether they are their clinical staffs or patients to achieve their desired goal.

IT INVESTMENT IN HEALTHCARE

Health care reform will mean disruption as well as the opportunity for greater efficiencies through better use of technology. Also mandated upgrades to health care IT will demand heavy investments by providers but will also help them minimize waste and standardize best medical practices across the nation. New regulations that require healthcare providers to use electronic health records (EHR), and adhere to strict data-coding standards will force them to spend billions over the next decade to upgrade their IT systems. 

A provider that creates a best-practice IT platform to house and share medical records, to manage hospitals/clinics resources more transparently, and to define precise guidelines for medically authorized tests and procedures can generate significant operating efficiencies. Such a platform minimizes paperwork, reduces the number of unnecessary treatments, and lowers the risk of drug and medical error. The productivity and resource savings often pay back the initial IT investment within two to four years while also producing better health outcomes for patients and the reasons for this robust growth and predicted consistency of high growth as well as return, is due to: 

•   Robust Economic growth.

• Expansion of “the Middle class” and increasing disposable income.

• An aging population and greater health awareness.

•  Government active impetus to this industry.

•  Aggressive penetration of insurance.

•   Lower base and hence higher growth and returns potential.

The Growth and Opportunities in this sector creates a thrust for comprehensive and organized IT architecture to support necessary tools viz. EMR, EHR, PHR, etc. This will facilitate shared knowledge and free flow of information which will provide the needed transparency, including the system’s performance on safety, cooperation among clinicians, and patient satisfaction. Such tools will also help in evidence based decision making.

Some Facts & Figures which will surely help IT players to invest in the healthcare sector:

•   The Indian healthcare sector is expected reach US$ 280 billion by 2020.

•   India with an expected GDP spends of 8 per cent by 2012 from 5.5 per cent in 2009.

•   The size of the Indian medical technology industry may touch US$ 14 billion by 2020 from US$ 2.7 billion in 2008

• Share of private expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure on healthcare has grown from 60 per cent to nearly 80 per cent over the last decade.  

• Expected to generate employment opportunities for nine million people by 2012.

For More Information Visit our Website: http://www.hlis.in/  

Importance of Websites for Medical practices

Earlier having an email address was like a status symbol, but now people use Internet more than any other medium to search for related information and research their choices, and searching an online presence for a doctor is no exception.

Having your own website is very important and in fact come with lots of benefits. In today’s time, it cuts down on the time and energy your office staff has to expend answering phones and making appointments and even the patients will get an option to contact their Doctors directly with their questions and concerns, and all together it will give your patients a sense of comfort knowing that they can interact as and when required and also expect timely answers to their concerns.

Connecting social media with your website will really boost your publicity and helps in creating a brand of yours, it will also help you to keep your friends and followers up to date about you and your practice. Doctors can use their website as a tool to connect with their current and potential patients with a sense of trust.

Benefits of having your own Website:

• Most Cost-effective way of promotion.
• Enhances Doctor-patient relationship.
• Improved Patient care.
• Increases patient traffic.
• Your virtual clinic/hospital window.
• Helps In Establishing global presence.
• 24 x 7 x 365 Days Open Window of Information for the Patients.
• Growth Opportunity.
• Effective Two way communication.
• Increases awareness of your Practice.
• Brand Building.
• Enhance your image / Reflect your spirit.
• Create a competitive edge.
• Patient education.
• Source of Information.
• Reduce staff hours and related costs.
• Provide Information / Articles / Case Study.

For More Information Visit our Website: http://www.hlis.in/

Paedi-Link (Software for Paediatricians)

PAEDI-LINK

Would you like to improve efficiency in your practice? Ensure accuracy in your medical notes? Work smarter? Leave the office earlier? And save money? Welcome to Clinic Practice Management a web-based document management, storage and retrieval system combining EMR functionality at a fraction of the cost of most software. Clinic Practice Management uses intuitive smart-prompts to make building notes easier.

Healthlink Infosystems Clinical practice management and electronic medical records software provides a comprehensive feature set, coupled with a friendly and intuitive interface. This results in a Practice Management/EMR system that is powerful enough for any Clinic, yet easy-to-learn and use. Here is a sample of some of the dynamic features contained in Clinic Practice Management.

Features

• Customizable Fields
• Customizable Functionality
• Customizable Reporting
• Electronic Medical Records
• SMS & Email Service
• Multi-Clinic
• Multi-Doctor
• Patient Records
• Patient Scheduling
• Physician Scheduling
• Prescription Pad, and MANY MORE... 

CLICK HERE FOR PAEDI-LINK LIVE DEMO 

Why Customized software???

Healthlink Infosystems provides fully-customized software system for small clinics and large hospitals. Healthlink Infosystems helps you get your clinic or hospital up and running within few days.

Simply put "one size does not fit all"!
You run your practice the way you like it. You have your own consultation forms and data that you like to capture. Your personal touch and the way you do things is what differentiates you from other doctors. So why give this up to fit into a mold that is forced on you.

Most off-the-shelf commercial software offer highly complex products which are mostly underused or not properly applied in clinical practice. You end up paying for a lot of features you do not need or are not exactly the way you want them.

What about ready-to-run software? Not something to consider unless you are willing to give up on your key differentiators and settle to fit the mold. Further, data extraction for analysis and customized reporting to facilitate practice based research and process improvements are either not possible or will be difficult to do when your data is outside your reach.

For More Information Visit our Website: http://www.hlis.in/ 

About Healthlink Infosystems

Healthlink Infosystems is a dream comes true of three young entrepreneurs, who has been successfully created unique software solutions by sincere focus on their customers' needs. Since it's inception in 2010, Healthlink Infosystems has always been working in 2 divisions.

• Product Division: Assisting small and midsized Clinic & hospital with a wide range of business flow management, applications and services.
• Project Division: Developing customized software solutions as per the customer needs.

Ensuring a high level of satisfaction among our customers and employees is the core component of business strategy at Healthlink Infosystems. 360 degree feedback is a company-wide policy to increase customer satisfaction and improve utility of our products and services. Through frequent customer surveys and product feedback efforts, we continue to listen and respond to our customers and are committed to improving their experiences of working with us.

For More Information Visit our Website: http://www.hlis.in/