5 Hidden benefits of implementing

1. 5 HIDDEN BENEFITS OF EHR ADOPTION
WHAT HIDDEN BENEFITS PHYSICIAN PRACTICES CAN
EXPECT FROM THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN EHR PRODUCT
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2. 5 HIDDEN BENEFITS OF 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.
BENEFIT 1 INCREASED OPERATIONAL FLEXIBILITY
The first hidden benefit is the chart to consult its content. If a physician was rounding in
flexibility that comes when a hospital setting, details of that consultation necessary
the EHR system can for billing the insurance company were typically captured
be accessed & on a notepad, or on any small piece of paper until the
used remotely. physician returned to the office and could deliver the
When a clinician has notes to the office manager or billing manager.
access to the complete
patient chart and record from other locations at any When the physician can capture information at the point
time, a major constraint on the way he or she practices of care, regardless of the setting, claims can be more
medicine is removed. Previously, charting and chart accurately and timely submitted – which equals stronger,
consultation happened in the care environment – the more consistent cash flow to the practice and fewer
physician’s office or clinic. If an urgent call comes in from errors in the submission of claims. Mobility also allows
a hospital or pharmacy after hours, in most cases the the physician the ability to leave the office at a reasonable
clinician would have to return to the location of the paper hour and maintain a better work/life balance.
BENEFIT 2 GREATER BILLING CONTROL
Over the past ten years, the majority of very small The newest EHR software versions
practices (three or fewer physicians) have contracted with have focused specifically on
third party companies who provide claims compilation, streamlining the billing process,
administration and collection services. However, the including robust eligibility checking
implementation of a 2011 certified EHR includes the that can prevent many errors,
ability to perform the billing functions inside the practice. real-time updates to Medicare and
In fact, most small practices are surprised to learn that other payer reimbursement rates.
the processing of claims has become a highly automated With the going rate for this service
and electronic process that they can manage without any typically 5-7% of collections plus any administrative
increase in personnel resources. costs, these are direct bottom line savings that a
practice can realize immediately and annually.

3. 5 HIDDEN BENEFITS OF EHR ADOPTION ...CNT’D
BENEFIT 3 MORE ACCURATE REIMBURSEMENT + REDUCED
RISK OF UNDER - CODING
...more significant is the additional revenue the
practice is able to generate as a result of the EHR...
Another benefit often overlooked with This feature is a large time saver due to elimination of
the adoption of an EHR is the increase manual process by sta . In addition, the software works
in accuracy and efficiency of claims as an objective determinant of the code, versus the
processing and automated E&M doctor’s subjective judgment regarding the appropriate
(Evaluation & Management) coding code. However, far more significant is the additional
and tracking. The EHR will review revenue the practice is able to generate as a result of the
and prompt the appropriate code to EHR providing more accurate coding. The Medical Group
be used based on documentation Management Association (MGMA) estimates the average
and will generate a more appropriate physician practice can add 15% to their annual gross
code. The higher the code, the higher the reimbursement revenue through better management of coding through
and in the event an insurance company audits or rejects the use of an EHR.
a claim, this point-based code has been documented to
validate the claim.
BENEFIT 4 ELIMINATING MISSING PATIENT CHARTS FILLING ERRORS
In any size physician practice there is a high risk of their possession. The attempt to
misfiled/missing charts. Patient charts are pulled for locate a chart in this scenario is
charting purposes, the insertion of labs and x-rays and exceedingly time consuming.
when the clinician meets with the patient. Charts are The same is true for charts that
handled by a multitude of clinical personnel and each have been misfiled alphabetically.
transaction increases the risk of the chart being misfiled All of this results in poor time
or misplaced. The chart can reside for weeks on a nurse’s management of clinical sta and
desk waiting for a prescription to be refilled or on the drags on the ability of the practice
billing and collections manager’s desk when charges are to see patients and generate
being entered. revenue. With the entire history of a patient at the doctor’s
fingertips through an EHR, other sta members (RNs, NPs,
There typically is not a login and logout system in place so etc.) can be performing other procedures, addressing other
consequently a patient’s chart is not easy to locate when it patient needs and bringing significantly more financial (and
is needed if another clinician or office personnel has it in workflow) value to the practice.

4. 5 HIDDEN BENEFITS OF EHR ADOPTION ...CNT’D
BENEFIT 5 WATING ROOM EFFICIENCY
Finally, in an office without a loss of patients. With patient check-in and waiting
comprehensive EHR system, tracking, a patient can be told what to expect in terms
physicians can lose track of of a wait when he or she arrives. If the projected waiting
the status of the waiting room. time is unacceptable to the patient, then the visit can be
Typically there is little physical easily rescheduled within the EHR. If the backup is visible
visibility between the waiting throughout the practice to all clinicians, the sta can also
room and the examination rooms, which react accordingly and make proactive e orts to speed up
are often behind closed doors to the waiting patient flow.
r oom a nd fr ont de s k a r ea . P a tient ba c k l ogs don’ t get
noticed until they are severe, ultimately resulting in the
SUMMARY
The ambulatory practice business is an environment practice administrators should be prepared to find a
where every mistake has consequences to both the partner who can help select the EHR appropriate to
overall care of patients and the bottom line of the practice. the individual practice and stay involved to ensure that
The proper evaluation & adoption of an EHR adds immediate, visible
benefits & allows for the collection of federal stimulus funds.
The proper evaluation and adoption of an EHR adds operational workflows go hand-in-hand with technology
immediate, visible benefits and allows for the collection adoption. This provides the physician practice with the
of federal stimulus funds. However, there are other greatest opportunity to ensure the greatest return on
less visible benefits that can impact the success of their investment in EHR as well as increased financial
the implementation and sustainability of the practice. performance of the practice moving forward.
In order to uncover these benefits, physicians and
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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.
To learn more about MBM eHEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS visit mbmehs.com -or- http://ehrroadmap.mbmehs.com/.com.