How Does HIE Affect Your Practice?
How can an electronic medical record benefit my practice?
Just as you expect your bank to have computerized banking records, patients expect you to have computerized medical records. Adopting a fully-functional electronic health record or EHR system can help improve the efficiency of your practice in many ways:
- Electronic charts are easy to find and all important data is accessible at the point of care.
- You can easily track who looked at your electronic patient charts.
- Electronic charts simplify quality tracking and reporting.
- EHR systems improve workflow by providing treatment alerts and drug interaction reminders.
- Digital messaging among staff helps provide better care continuity of care for your patients.
- An EHR system improves billing accuracy and payment turn around time by ensuring complete documentation.
The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) offers a free Physician’s Guide 2008 at www.cchit.org and the eHealth Initiative offers EHR lessons and practice transformation models at http://www.ehealthinitiative.org/toolkit/.
Can I afford to install health information technology in my practice? Generally, the final cost will depend on factors such as the technology adopted and the size/location of the practice. Still, the HIPAA Security Rule for covered entities points to expenses being reasonable and technology offering providers a great degree of scalability.
For more details, visit:
https://texmed.org/Template.aspx?id=4605
http://www.deloitte.com/dtt/cda/doc/content/us_chs_hie-business-models_111306(1).pdf
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/securitystandard/downloads/securityfinalrule.pdf
Do I have to change everything to implement technology in my practice?
Probably not, but any changes would depend on what you implement – whether you start small and add functionality in incremental steps or implement a full blown EMR system to start. Your goal should be to have a continuous information flow throughout your office and improve the overall workflow for you and your patients.
To find out more, visit:
centerforhit.org/x1085.xml
With all the changes in the health care industry shouldn’t I wait to invest in technology?
No, technology will continue to advance and it is important for providers to begin using available technology now.
What technology do I need in my practice to participate in HIE activities?
At a minimum, you would need an internet connection, preferably high speed. You would also need a computer or electronic notepad, or PDA.
What steps do I need to take to connect my EHR with the hospital’s EHR?
An electronic health record system in a physician’s office may not be able to connect to an electronic health record system in a hospital, especially if the two applications are offered by different vendors. This is the role of the health information exchange, which provides the interface between the hospital system and the EHR in the doctor’s office.
For more details, visit:
http://archive.healthmgttech.com/archives/0207/0207paving_way.htm
http://www.himssehra.org/docs/EHRVAExpandedPositionStatement
final042905.pdf
Do doctors need patient consent to send medical records electronically?
No, as long as the records are being used for treatment, payment, or health care operations purposes. Most states have laws protecting certain classes of protected health information (PHI) such as HIV, mental health and substance abuse that may require additional patient consent.
For more details, visit:
http://www.ehealthinitiative.org/assets/Documents/ConsumerConsentfor
HealthInformationExchange-AnExplorationofOptions.pdf
Can my efforts to keep medical records secure and private in the HIE environment help protect my practice from liability?
While a recent study suggests that EMRs can reduce exposure to liability and the amount of actual malpractice claims, the issue of liability varies state to state. With that in mind, you should consult with reliable legal counsel in your area.
