Using an EMR to Solve Problems

If someone came to you with a solution to 3 out of the 5 biggest problems you face, you would probably take it--or at least listen to their proposal, right?

Imagine if someone said to you, "you know that persistent problem you have with your filing system, I found the perfect solution and you'll never have to deal with that again."  I don't know, I'd be all ears.

Every doctor has problems.  Filing and retrieving, lab tracking, order tracking, prescription refills, handwriting issues, messaging handling; these just name a few.   I certainly had my issues.  Many of them are now past tense issues.

Prescription issues:  99% solved.  On rare occasion I forget to initial a narcotic script or my rx printer malfunctions.


Message handling:  100% solved.


Handwriting issues: bye bye!


Filing/retrieving:  see ya.


Lab tracking: 90% better.  I am still learning my EMR's functionality.


I still have problems, but just not these problems.


A good thing.

Information Management: The True Essence of Medical Practice

Twenty five, 30 years ago, doctors could keep track of their patients on index cards. I know some of these retired docs. They tell me that in some instances a 30 year patient relationship could be held on a 4-6 index card, front and back.
Seems insane in these information rich times.
Medicine, the business of medicine, that is, has become if nothing else, information heavy.
Clinical data, billing data, legal & compliance data, laboratory data; it could fill a warehouse if stored in paper format.
What is the best way to handle this mountain of data?
Digitally.
Either purchase the system or develop it yourself, but get a system that can store and more importantly manage information digitally.
You’ll be much better off for it in the future.

(Reprinted from: iLabTQM.com/blog

Information Flow

One of the best aspects of a good and integrated EMR and PM system is the rapidity with which information can flow through your practice. A patient phone call can result in action within minutes, even seconds, after the phone call is made. The same with the doctor's orders or a staff member's questions. Processes just get done with speed and efficiency.

Information at the speed of thought, to paraphrase Bill Gates. Truly amazing.

Forms the Easy Way

Scheduling surgeries at the hospital has become somewhat painful due to none other than hand writing issues. I have decent handwriting, and I print so as to make it that much more legible. Still, every 3rd or 4th OR scheduling form ultimately bounces back to us for clarification or re-do based, no doubt, on legibility. I suggested that the hospital make the booking forms available on-line, and they said "great idea", but nothing happened. Here's how I do it now:

• OmniPage 5.1 ($89.00, Staples)
• Forms are scanned in and then converted to digitally amendable forms on my computer
• We configured the forms so that my information is stored and automatically entered into the form without the need for duplication of data entry.
• My staff enters the patient demographic data and insurance information
• I enter the diagnosis and code (if I know the code off hand) and the procedures and CPT codes (if I know them off hand).
• The form is saved in the "OR scheduling directory" and the patients chart
• We then "print to efax" and the form is faxed directly from desktop to OR scheduling office

We just began doing it and the increase in efficiency is readily apparent. Plus, I enjoy home grown solutions, though hat tip to Sunrise Urology for the OmniPage tip.

Thanks,

The IU.