ICD-10, Electronic Medical Records, Analytics May Work Only 65% Of the Time – Or Not at All

Health care providers should ensure that the EMR vendor is on track toward ICD-10 compliance, however they should not rely on their EMR vendor as the panacea. Most hospital systems we work with have many more ancillary systems in radiology, etc. that are also impacted, and the EMR isn't the core system of record (yet) for everything that goes on in a hospital.

Continue ReadingICD-10, Electronic Medical Records, Analytics May Work Only 65% Of the Time – Or Not at All

ICD-10 Readiness Compromised by ICD-10 Revenue Cycle, Analytics Vendors

We find that most analytics and revenue cycle companies are ignoring the future role coordinated medical coding will have, the transition to ICD-10, and the clinical documentation and processes on the revenue cycle. The ICD-10 transition will re-write the book on revenue cycle management (RCM). RAC audits and Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) will be subject to a new paradigm with ICD-10.

Continue ReadingICD-10 Readiness Compromised by ICD-10 Revenue Cycle, Analytics Vendors

EHR Interoperability Standards

Electronic Health Records (EHR) or Electronic Medical Records (EMR) integration approaches depend on the strategy and priority in exchanging patient information between various healthcare applications, and the standards available:

Continue ReadingEHR Interoperability Standards

ICD-10 Implementation Contention – Only 55 Hospitals in the U.S. Are at Stage Seven for Electronic Health Records

ICD-10 implementations have competition for resources within hospitals.  According to HIMSS Analytics, Stage seven healthcare organizations support the true sharing and use of patient data that ultimately improves process performance, quality…

Continue ReadingICD-10 Implementation Contention – Only 55 Hospitals in the U.S. Are at Stage Seven for Electronic Health Records

ONC HIT Publishes List of Certified Inpatient EHRs

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology published the latest list of electronic health record solutions, vendors and certifying bodies. This list is for Inpatient EHR only. Many health care providers have been distracted with electronic health record implementations and meaningful use and are just starting to work through HIPAA 5010 and ICD-10 issues now.

Continue ReadingONC HIT Publishes List of Certified Inpatient EHRs

Meaningful Use Subsidies for Health Care Providers, Impacted Areas

Physicians and hospitals each have a list of objectives to qualify for subsidies. For physicians, the goals include: Incorporate at least 50 percent of all lab tests in the electronic…

Continue ReadingMeaningful Use Subsidies for Health Care Providers, Impacted Areas

Week of 10/29/09 Health Care Reform: Washington v. Insurers

Most insurers claim they continue to focus on important health care reform issues, but also claim that some members of Congress and The White House appear unwilling to stop or even slow the political attacks against insurers.

Continue ReadingWeek of 10/29/09 Health Care Reform: Washington v. Insurers