EMR-EHRS Blog

Leading Pain Management EMR software vendor 1st Providers Choice is pleased to announce that members of our team will be attending the 2015 Scientific Meeting hosted by the Florida Academy of Pain Medicine (FAPM) in conjunction with the Florida Society of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and the American Academy of Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine.

The conference is set to take place at the Grand Cypress Hotel in Orlando, Florida from June 26-28. Health professionals will have the opportunity to earn their 20 mandatory credit hours at the meeting, in addition to networking with other pain medicine specialists.

1st Providers Choice will join other industry-specific product vendors and service providers in the exhibit hall to showcase our Stage 2 certified EMR software for pain medicine. The software offers a wealth of features to improve healthcare delivery and practice profitability. Plus, it integrates seamlessly with our billing and scheduling solution and online patient portal for total practice management.

E-prescribing Software for Pain Medicine

Our EMR software for pain medicine specialists includes an advanced e-prescribing module. It makes it easy for providers to automatically download a list of current medications, and it allows for e-prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS). EPCS improves prescription management and medication adherence and reduces medication abuse and fraud.

For more information about EPCS and our leading EMR software for Pain Medicine, call 480-782-1116.

The Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) is a program that encourages eligible healthcare professionals and group practices to report information to Medicare on the quality of care that they provide.

Using feedback provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), physicians can then easily assess the quality of care that they are providing, compare their performance to their peers, and make necessary adjustments in order to improve care quality. This ensures that patients always have access to the best care possible.

PQRs participants are eligible to receive incentive payments if they adequately report on quality measures – and starting in 2015, they may also get negative payment adjustments for failing to meet quality metrics.

With the June 30, 2015 deadline looming, the end of the reporting year for PQRS, 1st Providers Choice has put a team together to help clients get started. From getting your practice setup for PQRS reporting to explaining the steps that need to be taken to avoid penalties, our team provides comprehensive assistance – both for individual physicians and those reporting as a group.

How to Participate in PQRS

The first step is to find out whether you are eligible to participate in the PQRS program. Then you will need to decide whether to participate as an individual physician or as part of a group practice. (Practices with two or more physicians using the same Tax Identification Number may report PQRS measures as a group instead of individually.) If you are not sure what the differences are, we can help – just call 480-782-1116 today to speak with a PQRS expert.

Reporting methods will vary depending on if you are participating individually or as a group. Individual physicians may choose to report on quality information through one of the following methods:

1. Medicare Part B claims
2. Qualified PQRS registry
3. Using Certified EHR Technology (CEHRT)
4. CEHRT via Data Submission Vendor
5. Qualified clinical data registry (QCDR)

For more information about the Group Practice Reporting Option (GPRO), click here.

Getting Help with PQRS

With 1st Providers Choice’s fully certified EHR software, PQRS compliance is simple. Our team is knowledgeable on what is required for PQRS reporting, and we are committed to assisting physicians with successful PQRS submissions.

Contact us to learn more or to get help answering questions about PQRS qualifying and reporting.

EMR software is no longer an option – it is a necessity for improving patient outcomes, boosting productivity and reducing costs. The problem for smaller surgery centers, however, is that many surgery-specific EMR systems are designed for use in hospital settings and include features and workflows suited to larger organizations. Because of this, surgery centers often find themselves in a difficult position when selecting an Surgery Center EMR.

The good news is that there are suitable options available, including EMR systems like 1st Providers Choice, which can help surgery centers meet the health care triple aim and focus on preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative care.

If your surgery center hasn’t implemented EMR software yet, here are three reasons why you should:

1. Improve efficiency in the OR.

EMR software can significantly improve efficiency in all areas of your business, specifically the operating room. For example, instead of manually entering data into the EMR from different surgical monitors and devices, the software can be integrated so that data values are captured instantly and saved into the patient’s chart in real-time. The ability to use pre-loaded templates for specific surgeries and procedures also saves time, as it eliminates the need to enter standard data.

2. Enhance patient safety and care.

Surgery Center EMR software has the potential to improve care quality and treatment outcomes by providing physicians with detailed surgery reports that can reveal insightful trends. For example, you may choose to run a report on all patients who had a specific surgery and were seen after two days for a post-op and another for those who had the same surgery but were seen after five days. Comparing the results, you can determine whether it makes a difference to follow-up with patients sooner after surgery.

A well-designed EMR system can also alert users of important fields that need to be completed in the patient’s chart, ensuring that all critical data is entered at the point of care. Plus, it will notify you of things that could pose harm to the patient (e.g. drug-drug or drug-allergy interactions).

More importantly, the EMR ensures that all notes are completed before you can move forward, so that no important data is missed. This means that the intra-operative section cannot be opened until all pre-op notes have been entered and signed off on – and the same goes for discharge and post-op.

3. Increase staff satisfaction.

Implementing EMR software can be overwhelming for physicians and staff, as it forces new ways of doing things. Even though the new ways of working may be better, change is hard; so it is beneficial to choose software that minimizes disruptions and simplifies otherwise burdensome tasks. For example, EMR software that makes it easy for authorized users to access health records, billing and appointment information from anywhere is a definite must. With surgeons increasingly depending on their iPhones and iPads for instant access to all kinds of medical information, mobile EMR software is an automatic win with staff.

Additionally, because Surgery Center EMR software offers different functionalities for different users, it becomes easier for staff to understand their specific roles. All you have to do once the software is implemented is make sure that each person understands his or her role and what they are responsible for inputting in the EMR.

To learn more about our EMR solution for surgery centers, call 480-782-1116 or contact us online.

With so many electronic health records solutions in the market, selecting the right one for your sleep medicine lab can be a complicated process – especially if you have never used an EMR before and don’t know what to expect. After all, EMR software can be a powerful tool that helps sleep medicine facilities streamline operations and improve patient care, but only if it is designed to meet the organization’s requirements and to match its workflows.

Luckily, with the right resources and knowledge, choosing the best Sleep Medicine EMR software for your lab is within grasp. Here’s what you need to know before beginning the selection process:

1. Understand your sleep facility’s needs.

Choosing the right EMR software will depend significantly on what you want the system to do for your facility. Think about your sleep medicine lab’s needs and consider your long-term goals. For example, if you purchase an EMR simply because you need it for Meaningful Use, and you fail to pay attention to the system’s other features (or lack thereof), you may find yourself months down the road lamenting a bad investment.

If you are hoping to reduce expenses, you may want to consider a comprehensive solution that includes modules for scheduling and medical billing and maybe even a patient portal. Integration between multiple systems will automate charge capture and streamline the billing process. The inclusion of a patient portal with online bill pay will also make it easier for patients to pay their bills. Other portal features, such as appointment scheduling and requests for medication refills, will reduce workload for staff by moving processes online.

Advanced appointment scheduling is also important; specifically, Sleep Medicine EMR software that allows you to manage schedules by provider or bed. A feature like this can make your employees’ jobs easier, whether you run a single sleep medicine lab or several facilities.

For the purpose of improving patient care, you may also want a system that can produce detailed reports based on the criteria of your choosing. For example, in order to better follow at-risk patients, you may want to run a report that shows all patients who have sleep apnea and diabetes and who have had irregular labs.

2. Make sure the software can be customized.

After you have defined your sleep facility’s requirements and the feature-set that you are looking for in an EMR, you are going to want to pay attention to two things: compatibility and customization. This means ensuring that the Sleep Medicine EMR software can work seamlessly with your lab’s other systems and third-party sleep testing devices (e.g. continuous positive airway pressure machines) and that it can be customized to adapt to your organization’s needs.

Keep in mind that customization extends beyond the EMR simply having specialty-specific content, like templates and forms. Although important, this is something that many EMR vendors offer. What will really set the top vendors apart is their software’s ability to match your organization’s workflow. The best vendors will already take sleep medicine lab workflows into account and will design their software to be used with minimal customization.

3. Know what level of support you are going to get.

Even with the best EMR systems, problems will arise – whether it’s a technical issue or unfamiliarity with a specific feature that requires more in-depth training. In either situation, good customer service goes a long way, so don’t be afraid to ask about the level of support that the vendor offers or about the availability of their technical support staff. This will prevent surprises down the line in the form of surcharges for staff training or out-of-office-hours support.

Find out why 1st Providers Choice’s Sleep Medicine EMR software can work for you. Contact us online or call 480-782-1116 today.

The American Podiatric Medical Association will be hosting its 66th Annual Region Three Scientific Meeting next month, from May 6-9, in Atlantic City, NJ. The meeting brings together podiatric physicians and assistants from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, in addition to leading industry vendors, such as 1st Providers Choice, which will be exhibiting its leading ICD-10-ready Podiatry EMR software.

The conference will provide over 20 CME credits, with seminars covering a broad range of podiatric topics including:

• Interesting Case Studies in Podiatric Medicine
• Essential Pearls to Improve the Success of Orthotics in your Practice
• Creating a Solid Foundation in the Community for Your Practice and Your Patients
• Using Communication and Interpersonal Skills to Your Advantage
• The Art of Fusions, Technique and Preparation
• Your Social Responsibility to Social Media

Preparing Podiatrists for ICD-10

The Region Three Meeting will also include a full-day coding seminar. The seminar is meant to help podiatrists get ready for the upcoming October 1, 2015 deadline to transition to the ICD-10 coding system. Preparing for ICD-10 requires extensive planning from podiatry practices, in addition to the use of ICD-10-ready software.

At the end of the seminar participants will be better able to understand and apply ICD-10 concepts, assess the framework for implementing ICD-10, and use available resources for more accurate coding.

1st Providers Choice will be available to talk to conference attendees about the benefits of using our Podiatry EMR and Practice Management software to simplify the ICD-10 transition. Our software not only offers coding assistance to help podiatrists select the right code; we also provide comprehensive ICD-10 testing to ensure compliance.

Learn more about our leading EMR software for podiatrists. Call 480-782-1116 or contact us online.

Healthcare organizations have raised many concerns about the transition to ICD-10, which will introduce thousands of new diagnosis codes, citing that a lack of preparation could result in an increase in claim denials. The compliance date, however, is still set for October 1, 2015, and it is unlikely that the deadline will be pushed back yet again. In order to avoid cash flow disruption resulting from claim delays and denials, medical practices must be proactive and take steps to prepare for the compliance date.

ICD-10 testing is by far the most important thing that practices can do to get ready for the switch in code sets. It is not required but will make a huge difference in determining how quickly providers get paid, particularly in situations where the wrong diagnosis code could result in a denial and extra work for billing staff.

Getting Ready for ICD-10 Testing

When it comes to ICD-10 testing, the first step for practices is to contact their software vendors to ensure compliance. Come October 1st, ICD-10-ready practice management software and electronic health record software will be necessary for processing clean claims. Using software that is ready for ICD-10 will also ensure that physicians are able to meet the new standards without any complications or disruption to workflow. 1st Providers Choice’s software solutions are ICD-10-compliant, and we are currently helping healthcare organizations carry out testing.

Providers will also need to coordinate testing efforts with the payers with whom they regularly work. Note that it is not necessary to test with each payer. Practices may choose to focus only on the ones that process the highest volume of claims. To find out how a particular payer is supporting ICD-10 testing, visit their website or contact them directly. Medical practices that use a billing service will need to contact the billing service to find out how they are handling the testing process.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is offering two test cycles for ICD-10 testing. The first testing period will be from April 27 to May 1 for those who already registered. The next test cycle will take place from July 20 to July 24. Providers will need to contact their Medicare Administrative Contractor for details about signing up.

Creating Test Claims & Analyzing Results

When thinking about what to test, practices should keep it simple, focusing primarily on the most common diagnosis and procedure codes, as well as those that bring in the most revenue. This will prevent staff from feeling overwhelmed during the testing process. It is also important to throw one or two complex claims in the mix in order to avoid surprises.

Also, when creating test claims, remember to follow each payer’s instructions for doing so. Some may require a specific date to be entered or for specific data to be included in order to easily identify test claims.

Once test results are in, practices will need to check for ICD-10-related errors. If there are errors, staff should work with payers to understand what caused the errors and how they can be avoided. Once those issues are resolved, conduct further testing until all test claims processed are free from errors related to ICD-10.

To learn more about using our fully certified EHR software and ICD-10-compliant practice management system, contact us online or call 480-782-1116.

Despite the healthcare industry’s widespread adoption of electronic health record software and the push for interoperability, patient care is often fragmented. Medical information known to a patient’s primary care provider, for example, may not be known to the specialist treating the individual or to the hospital or urgent care center that the patient visits and vice versa. This lack of knowledge can lead to medical errors, higher care costs and gaps in treatment.

Health information exchange (HIE) addresses this issue by allowing providers to securely share and access critical patient information at the point of care. Rather than requesting medical records by fax or mail, HIEs allow for instant electronic access to patient health data. The data from one system gets stored seamlessly in another and is available for the provider to view at any time. This data may include past medical history, results for lab and imaging tests, current medications and more.

The two types of HIEs most commonly used by providers include:

• Directed exchanges (support coordinated care): allow providers to send and receive secure information electronically. For example, a primary care physician refers a patient with an abnormal heart murmur to a cardiologist. The physician sends the specialist the patient’s current health issues, medications and diagnostic findings.
• Query-based exchanges (for unplanned care): allow providers to find or request information on a patient from other providers. For example, a patient arrives at the emergency room and is experiencing seizures. The physician uses the HIE to access information about the patient, including a medical history, current medications, and potential drug allergies.

What Are the Benefits?

Health information exchanges allow providers to easily share patient health records, resulting in better care coordination, lower care costs and improved treatment outcomes. Studies have already shown that the use of HIEs in emergency departments reduces the number of duplicate tests and procedures – and the same is likely to be true for providers in medical practice settings. After all, when a provider has access to a patient’s complete health history, better decisions can be made regarding the patient’s diagnosis, treatment and care plan.

HIEs provide the following benefits for improving quality and safety of patient care:

• They ensure that all caregivers have access to the same information.
• They prevent medical errors often caused by a lack of information.
• They provide clinical decision support tools for more effective treatment.
• They reduce medication errors and prevent possibly harmful drug interactions.
• They eliminate redundant or unnecessary testing.
• They improve health monitoring and reporting.

How to Get Started

Participating in a health information exchange is recommended for medical practices looking to improve care coordination and attest to Meaningful Use. There are many data exchange options available including HIEs supported by EHR vendors, HIEs developed by accountable care organizations, and local and regional exchange networks.

For many practices, working with a certified EHR software vendor is one of the best ways to get started with an HIE. Not all vendors offer the functionality, so you will want to make sure that you work with a vendor like 1st Providers Choice that is fully committed to interoperability. Our EHR software is flexible and fully interoperable with a wide range of software systems. Furthermore, we use advanced technologies and offer comprehensive services to help our clients meet their data sharing needs.

Are you looking to learn more about health information exchange, or ready to get started? Call 480-782-1116 today!

Get away from the cold and join 1st Providers Choice in sunny Arizona! The leading Podiatry EMR software vendor will be attending the 2015 Valley of the Sun Podiatry Conference in Phoenix from April 16 to 19. Co-sponsored by the Podiatry Institute and the Arizona Podiatric Medical Association, the conference will be hosted at the Marriott Phoenix Tempe at the Buttes.

During the conference, attendees will get the chance to hear highly respected doctors of podiatric medicine discuss a wide range of topics, including innovations in podiatric medicine and surgery, what’s new in coding, and ICD-10.

There will also be several hands-on workshops featuring the latest industry-specific technologies and treatment techniques. The lectures, workshops and education sessions will help educate podiatrists to better understand the various updates and strategies in wound care, new devices for common surgical procedures, and more.

Health professionals will also have the opportunity to meet with Podiatry EMR software vendors, such as 1st Providers Choice, as well as other companies that offer podiatry-related products and services.

The Leading EMR Software for Podiatrists

1st Providers Choice’s 2014 Edition certified EMR software is the top choice for podiatrists nationwide. Because of the challenges that many podiatry practices are facing with EMR vendors not being able to provide the best support, our team has stepped in to help. We offer free data conversions and make it easy to transition to our highly rated EMR.

Our software includes the following features and capabilities:

• Podiatry-specific templates, letters and forms
• Billing codes specific to podiatry (ICD-9, ICD-10, CPT)
• Integrated online patient portal
• Built-in reporting templates and the ability to create custom reports
• Image library with hundreds of foot-related diagrams
• Extensive drug formulary database
• E-prescribing of controlled substances

Our team is also committed to helping podiatry practices attest to Meaningful Use and meet PQRS requirements. We are aware of the latest changes in Meaningful Use, such as CMS’s intent to shorten the EHR reporting period in 2015 to 90 days.

We not only offer Meaningful Use assistance, we also provide software that makes it easy to achieve Meaningful Use Stage 1 and Stage 2 goals. This includes a fully integrated patient portal that facilitates patient engagement, helps practices improve productivity and streamlines workflow.

For more information about our Podiatry EMR software, call 480-782-1116. To learn more about the conference, click here.

In 2009, more than 1 million emergency department visits were attributed to prescription drug abuse. Controlled substances have the potential for dependence and overdose; therefore, precautions must be taken when prescribing these medications. Electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS) is one way to improve safety and quality of care. It allows providers to write and send prescriptions securely and electronically to a patient’s pharmacy, which helps control prescription drug abuse.

The Drug Enforcement Agency first approved the use of EPCS in 2010, and it is now legal in 49 states, plus Washington, DC. EPCS not only helps control prescription drug abuse through refill request monitoring; it can also alert pharmacists to multiple prescriptions for the same patient by different providers.

Some of the other benefits of writing and transmitting controlled substances prescriptions electronically include:

• Fewer mistakes in dose designations
• Greater medication compliance
• Fewer forged prescriptions
• Ability to check for drug-drug drug-allergy interactions
• Improved clinical decision support

EPCS in New York State

Electronic prescribing of controlled substances will be mandatory in New York State starting March 2016 for drugs in Schedules II through V. To comply with the EPCS requirement, providers and pharmacists will need to use computer applications that meet federal security requirements for e-prescribing.

Using E-prescribing Software for EPCS

Whether your organization is in New York and needs to prepare for next year’s EPCS deadline, or you simply want to start writing e-prescriptions for controlled substances to improve patient care, there are two things you need to do to get started.

1. Find out if your e-prescribing software is certified to electronically prescribe controlled substances.
2. Find out whether local pharmacies plan to offer EPCS. You can find a list of EPCS-enabled pharmacies here.

1st Providers Choice’s EMR and e-prescribing software is designed to meet federal requirements for electronic prescribing of controlled substances. Our software improves prescription management and medication adherence, contributes to better health outcomes, and increases convenience for patients.

From March 19-22, 2015, pain medicine professionals will converge at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, MD for the American Academy of Pain Medicine’s (AAPM) 31st Annual Meeting. 1st Providers Choice will be in attendance, exhibiting its leading Pain Management EHR software.

Physicians attending the Annual Meeting will have the opportunity to attend various educational sessions and earn Continuing Medical Education credits. They will also have a chance to network with fellow pain medicine specialists and other industry leaders.

In addition, the conference will feature an exhibit space for vendors, including 1st Providers Choice, to showcase their pain medicine-specific products and services. This is a unique opportunity for physicians to learn more about electronic health record software and how implementing it can reduce operating costs and improve care.

Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances

At 1st Providers Choice, we understand that pain medicine practices must often prescribe narcotics and other controlled substances to their patients for pain relief. Our software provides intuitive features for improving prescription management and medication adherence – and it is designed to meet federal requirements for e-prescribing of controlled substances.

Our Pain Management EHR Software also delivers a full range of features for surgery centers, including an advanced appointment scheduling module and an EHR-integrated patient portal.

To speak with one of our Pain Management EHR software experts, stop by our booth at the conference or call 480-782-1116.