Buying Tips for a Medical Records or Billing System
Investing money and time into a new electronic medical records or billing system is a huge undertaking. Such systems can be very complex. Although not a comprehensive list, here are top issues to consider when purchasing such a software system.
Software is HIPAA-Ready
This goes without saying, but all components of an electronic medical records or medical billing system should be certified as being HIPAA-Ready. This is needed for your practice to become HIPAA-Compliant.
Data Interoperability and Portability
At a minimum, make sure the medical records or billing system has an HL7 interface. HL7 is a data protocol and interface that allows different systems to interoperate. You shouldn't have to manually export data from a medical records module and then import it into a medical billing module for example. In addition, if you upgrade to a new system, you want to make sure you CAN access and export all your data to a new system.
Ability to scan documents and images
You will always need to input paper documents and images into your electronic medical records system. Being able to use a scanner and optical character recognition (OCR) software will have huge amounts of physical storage time and record retrieval time. Choose a system that allows multiple image formats to be saved, this will give you the best flexibility and balance between input device used, image quality and storage space. In addition, you should have the ability to add various file attachments to a record.
Multiple Data Input and Output Modules
To be flexible and meet the needs of doctors and other healthcare providers, any electronic medical records system should have modules for voice recognition (for dictation), handwriting recognition (for pen-based PDAs), and interfaces for radiology, spirometry, EKG and endoscopy. In addition, a patient call log with audit trail and automatic phone messaging is also useful.
Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) Tool
This allows one to order tests or medications from any computer connected to a network. Orders are transferred to a lab, pharmacy or other medical unit. This is critical for efficient prescription management. The better packages have a medication databases that automatically checks for drug interactions and contraindications.
Automatic CPT and ICD Code Updates
The electronic medical record and billing system should have the ability to download and update all new CPT and ICD codes automatically.
Continuity Care Record (CCR) Creation
This is an emerging standard that an electronic medical records software system should have the ability to produce. The CCR is a minimum clinical and other data that a physician needs to make informed decisions.
Data Backup and Restore
A medical billing or medical records package should have the ability to automatically backup data to tape, CD, RAID and other formats, both full backups and incremental backups, daily. In addition, a reliable data restore function must also be available.
Remote Communications
A medical billing or medical records package should allow a physician to access, enter or modify data from a remote computer or from a handheld PDA device using a secure Internet connection.
Medical billing & medical records software providers
|
