EHR Implementation Moving Slowly

It's now June, 2011, and the implementation of EHR's around the U.S. is picking up steam. There have been many checks already mailed and the stimulus money is flowing. However, many small practices are still hesitant to make their move.

With so many Meaningful Use rules to follow, it's hard for doctors to understand just how to get from point A to a reimbursement check. Many doctors are already using an EHR. They just don't know what to do next. That's where the IT Consultant can help. At Technology Management Professionals, LLC in California's Central Valley, our job is to make it easy on the small practice to get reimbursed.

After the software vendor leaves, and you have the EHR implemented, what next? What follows are many of the basics. First, you have to fill out the paperwork. This is a process that is not that difficult, but it looks that way. The following link is where you go to sign-up: http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/?utm_source=AdWords&utm_medium=Search&utm_campaign=Ketchum

Next, if you are trying for the Medi-care reimbursement, you have to "meaningfully use" your EHR for 90 days. You then attest that you have done everything you need to, and you get paid. Easy, right? Not really. Your EHR vendor may or may not have a fully capable dashboard to help you know whether you have done everything right. The reports generated from your software will attest that you have. So, you must pick a vendor who is certified and has a dashboard to help you out. Unfortunately, many vendor packages have incomplete dashboards, despite being certified.

There are numerous core objectives that your EHR will automatically track. But, there are others and some menu set objectives that are quite elusive. Some objectives that seem easy like tracking vitals could trip you up if you don't understand which vitals you must record. It's the same thing for demographics. You have to record the appropriate demographics set forth in the guidelines to be using your EHR "Meaningfully."

Next, although you have bought and are using an EHR, not every module is automatically turned on. One of my client's is using Prime Clinical, but they aren't yet using the e-prescribing feature. This is not uncommon. Most practices aren't using their EHR to its fullest extent. But, to meet the criteria for getting paid, you must be fully operational.

Where we come in, is we break down the objectives into manageable bites, and work with the medical staff to change their workflows. We train the staff to fully utilize their system. We work with the doctors to get them to e-prescribe and do the computer order entry. We help with a game plan.

Small practices just don't have the full-time staff to be project managers. And, vendors, once they have the sale and the practice can't pay their $125-150 an hour training fee, it's off to the next site. That's when we help out the rest of the way. Or, sometimes, we start from the beginning. That saves the practice lots of money in unneeded project management and training fees.

We're here to help. For more information on meaningful use, go to http://technologymanagementpros.com/services/healthit/ehr.