Friday, June 10, 2011
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Monday, May 30, 2011
San Diego Medical Marijuana Patients Fight It Out http://www.theorangecountydefenseattorney.net/2011/05/30/san-diego-medical-marijuana/
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Five Ways Electronic Medical Records Can Make A Private Practice More Efficient
Electronic medical records, also called EHR, have been used by many HMO providers and large hospitals for many years. EMR, or EHR, software enables large companies to trace, access and store medical records. What's new is that smaller medical clinics and offices everywhere are now starting to reap the benefits of adopting this technology.
It has become clear that this product is just as important in a small clinic that does not handle as much volume as a larger medical center. Physicians who run a private practice can dynamically advance their operations by considering EMR software.
1. Workflow Benefits - It's a basic fact: medical practices and clinics that use paper medical records rarely have experts "design" their practice work process. Meanwhile, every electronic medical records developer with any credibility will automatically design a workflow process that is customized to the practice when a new adotpion occurs. The more efficient your practice is, the more time you'll have, and we all know that time is money.
2. Space - Much like time, if there's something the single doctor medical practice or clinic probably doesn't have an embarrassment of riches with, it's storage space. Paper medical records can fill up a whole lot of space. Often they have a huge footprint, especially in a practice with a smaller office. At the same time, electronic medical records are typically housed on a single database, accessible via network within the office. No longer is it required to have a special room for medical records. By computerizing, the space requirements are massively lessened.
3) More Accurate Information - Digital medical records are created using a consistent format and are subject to fewer errors. Handwritten material can lead to mistakes because handwriting is inconsistent. This is the source of a lot of miscommunication within a practice. All data that is entered into the EMR system will be presented in the same format, so any missing or improperly entered information is very visible.
4. Transportability - Today's medical practitioner is a mover. No longer is it the case that a doctor is in the practice for a large majority of the day. With outcalls, multi-practice setups and in-hospital consultations, today's medical practitioner needs the ability to access his patient records immediately, and often remotely. Electronic medical records makes this happen securely, and with speed. Using a simple PDA or smart phone, a physician can check out medical histories, add to notes or arrange appointments - all via wireless web. The savings in courier costs alone are amazing.
5. Incentives - The Recent Government Stimulus Program offers an additional $44,000 in Medicare rebate subsidies or up to $64,000 in Medicaid for doctors that "meaningfully adopt" emr in their practices. This means, quite obviously, that the Federal Government is in fact paying doctors to adopt EMR. What's more, if you decide against adoption, your practice will encounter Medicare and Medicaid payment reductions starting in 2015.
The government subsidies coupled with the need to avoid Medicare penalties should be enough to persuade any private practice owner to move their practice to electronic medical records now.
Getting your practice started with electronic health records can work wonders for your practice. Check out http://www.electronicmedicalrecords.org/ for a variety of tips on how to achieve "meaningful use", how time is your enemy when it comes to incentives, and how the best EMR offers extremely fast ROI.
It has become clear that this product is just as important in a small clinic that does not handle as much volume as a larger medical center. Physicians who run a private practice can dynamically advance their operations by considering EMR software.
1. Workflow Benefits - It's a basic fact: medical practices and clinics that use paper medical records rarely have experts "design" their practice work process. Meanwhile, every electronic medical records developer with any credibility will automatically design a workflow process that is customized to the practice when a new adotpion occurs. The more efficient your practice is, the more time you'll have, and we all know that time is money.
2. Space - Much like time, if there's something the single doctor medical practice or clinic probably doesn't have an embarrassment of riches with, it's storage space. Paper medical records can fill up a whole lot of space. Often they have a huge footprint, especially in a practice with a smaller office. At the same time, electronic medical records are typically housed on a single database, accessible via network within the office. No longer is it required to have a special room for medical records. By computerizing, the space requirements are massively lessened.
3) More Accurate Information - Digital medical records are created using a consistent format and are subject to fewer errors. Handwritten material can lead to mistakes because handwriting is inconsistent. This is the source of a lot of miscommunication within a practice. All data that is entered into the EMR system will be presented in the same format, so any missing or improperly entered information is very visible.
4. Transportability - Today's medical practitioner is a mover. No longer is it the case that a doctor is in the practice for a large majority of the day. With outcalls, multi-practice setups and in-hospital consultations, today's medical practitioner needs the ability to access his patient records immediately, and often remotely. Electronic medical records makes this happen securely, and with speed. Using a simple PDA or smart phone, a physician can check out medical histories, add to notes or arrange appointments - all via wireless web. The savings in courier costs alone are amazing.
5. Incentives - The Recent Government Stimulus Program offers an additional $44,000 in Medicare rebate subsidies or up to $64,000 in Medicaid for doctors that "meaningfully adopt" emr in their practices. This means, quite obviously, that the Federal Government is in fact paying doctors to adopt EMR. What's more, if you decide against adoption, your practice will encounter Medicare and Medicaid payment reductions starting in 2015.
The government subsidies coupled with the need to avoid Medicare penalties should be enough to persuade any private practice owner to move their practice to electronic medical records now.
Getting your practice started with electronic health records can work wonders for your practice. Check out http://www.electronicmedicalrecords.org/ for a variety of tips on how to achieve "meaningful use", how time is your enemy when it comes to incentives, and how the best EMR offers extremely fast ROI.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Gaining Benefits From Your Electronic Medical Record System
Electronic medical record systems have been a part of large Healthcare organizations for years, and are not going away anytime soon. In fact, now small clinics and single doctor practices have started installing and using them. The question many of these doctors ask, however, is, "what can an EMR system do for me?"
Quick Prescription Transfer - It's a classic part of the practice of medicine - doctor handwriting illegibility. Funny as it sounds (and it doesn't concern every practitioner, of course), this is a huge issue across North America. With an electronic medical record system, however, unlike handwritten prescriptions, there is little to no chance of incorrect prescriptions or dosage. Doctors will also have to take fewer calls regarding prescriptions, which can build up fast when it comes to patient time.
Web Based Lab Results - Waiting for couriers and telephone calls for test results has until now been a very necessary, albeit painful part of the physician's schedule. Meanwhile, patients call again and again to discover their test results, taking valuable minutes from your medical assistants. However, by allowing patients to get their test results via the web (a feature many robust electronic medical record systems include), much time and effort is saved.
EMR Mobility - One of the clear advantages of an electronic medical record system is that the physician (and the patient) has access to important medical history and records from wherever they access the web. Helping patients from remote locations is now possible, and doctors in other areas can be given complete and secure access from wherever they are. The patient benefits the most here, as the simple access to their information will ensure their treatment is very unlikely to be wrong.
Prescription Conflicts Solved - No doctor wants to prescribe a medication that will conflict with something a patient is already taking, but let's face it, it happens. With a well updated electronic medical record, however, there are rarely difficulties with conflicts, and often, warnings are built right into the application. Problem solved!
Besides the drug interaction issue, a well designed EMR system is extremely cost-effective. Many HMOs recommend using an electronic medical record system for prescriptions mainly because the overall paper processing costs are dramatically lower Also, generics can be automatically chosen for the patient, ensuring they get the best meds for the best price.
The entire diagnosis and patient interaction process can be completely redefined by a well designed and adopted EMR software system. By enabling better communication between the practitioner and patient and insurance company and doctor, huge cost can be had by the Healthcare industry. No longer is communication an issue with lab results and prescriptions. Suddenly, treating a patient that is quite far from your practice doesn't seem like such an impossible situation. With full electronic medical record system adoption, the American Healthcare system will benefit, and those benefits start today.
The amount of minutes spent both in regards to in-person patient diagnosis and also telephone conversations areslashed dramatically with a well-designed system. The Federal Government knew in 2009 that not only was EMR a great concept for the country, but for the future of healthcare in general. Have you benefited yet?
Carl Hardy is a educator at Electronic Medical Records Group and the editor of http://www.electronicmedicalrecords.org. Check out selection hints and read more about Medical Records Software issues here.
Quick Prescription Transfer - It's a classic part of the practice of medicine - doctor handwriting illegibility. Funny as it sounds (and it doesn't concern every practitioner, of course), this is a huge issue across North America. With an electronic medical record system, however, unlike handwritten prescriptions, there is little to no chance of incorrect prescriptions or dosage. Doctors will also have to take fewer calls regarding prescriptions, which can build up fast when it comes to patient time.
Web Based Lab Results - Waiting for couriers and telephone calls for test results has until now been a very necessary, albeit painful part of the physician's schedule. Meanwhile, patients call again and again to discover their test results, taking valuable minutes from your medical assistants. However, by allowing patients to get their test results via the web (a feature many robust electronic medical record systems include), much time and effort is saved.
EMR Mobility - One of the clear advantages of an electronic medical record system is that the physician (and the patient) has access to important medical history and records from wherever they access the web. Helping patients from remote locations is now possible, and doctors in other areas can be given complete and secure access from wherever they are. The patient benefits the most here, as the simple access to their information will ensure their treatment is very unlikely to be wrong.
Prescription Conflicts Solved - No doctor wants to prescribe a medication that will conflict with something a patient is already taking, but let's face it, it happens. With a well updated electronic medical record, however, there are rarely difficulties with conflicts, and often, warnings are built right into the application. Problem solved!
Besides the drug interaction issue, a well designed EMR system is extremely cost-effective. Many HMOs recommend using an electronic medical record system for prescriptions mainly because the overall paper processing costs are dramatically lower Also, generics can be automatically chosen for the patient, ensuring they get the best meds for the best price.
The entire diagnosis and patient interaction process can be completely redefined by a well designed and adopted EMR software system. By enabling better communication between the practitioner and patient and insurance company and doctor, huge cost can be had by the Healthcare industry. No longer is communication an issue with lab results and prescriptions. Suddenly, treating a patient that is quite far from your practice doesn't seem like such an impossible situation. With full electronic medical record system adoption, the American Healthcare system will benefit, and those benefits start today.
The amount of minutes spent both in regards to in-person patient diagnosis and also telephone conversations areslashed dramatically with a well-designed system. The Federal Government knew in 2009 that not only was EMR a great concept for the country, but for the future of healthcare in general. Have you benefited yet?
Carl Hardy is a educator at Electronic Medical Records Group and the editor of http://www.electronicmedicalrecords.org. Check out selection hints and read more about Medical Records Software issues here.
EMR Software: The Three Key Benefits
Most Americans work hard. Stay very busy. But until you've seen the routine at a physician's office on a daily basis, you may not truly comprehend the concept of "busy". Imagine seeing 50 or 100 patients each day, many encountering problems or managing pain. Now imagine having to diagnose problems, assign laboratory tests and X-rays and then prescribe the right medication to deal with illness. It's a lot to manage and take care of, to be sure. Fortunately, EMR software offers physicians the ability to manage and be aware of all issues with their patients, while also easing stress.
Despite the major advances in healthcare and medicine overall, it's a harsh paradox that medical practitioners themselves have been such late users of EMR and practice management software. Many medical practitioners still work with paper medical records, record treatments and billing statement on paper or with rudimentary UNIX systems, when they could be benefiting from the major efficiency advantages of today's graphically oriented EMR systems. Recent Federal Government stimulus funds have been focused on providing EMR software to medical practitioners, and the better awareness has led to a stronger installed base. The well-informed doctor knows that all systems are not the same however, and needs to realize these crucial EMR points:
Automation - Most industry-leading EMR software products provide a big selection of simple to use, but efficiency-generating automation benefits. Having an assistant repetitively type out letters should definitely be a thing of the past, particularly considering the database-to-print automation features in most EMR software products. Finding the most effective automation features for your clinic is certainly up to you, but don't forget to think big - dynamic companies can typically design features into the system for you, whether they are new or not.
Business Condition Reporting - With the assistance of Federal Stimulus dollars, many medical practitioners have been able to add in a complete practice management system with medical billing to their EMR software. The resulting benefits are huge, as it enables both medical office managers and physicians to get a financial bird's eye view of their business. Best of breed systems will usually provide templates for hundreds of key accounting reports, such as billings and treatment details, but also offer customizable demographic reports. Seeing the billing and cash flow picture in your practice with a simple click should be a benefit to seek out with your EMR.
Customizability - Any EMR software vendor who replies to a "Can your system do this...?" question with a "no, not possible" probably isn't your best choice. It's software, silly, and the main thing with software is that developers can always stretch the boundaries of their applications to where they need to be to please their customers. Be reasonable, of course, but requesting interface changes, specialized electronic medical billing templates and quick-click features for any practice management or EMR program is not too much to ask - this is the case where a "yes-man" that executes correctly may be your best friend.
Ask any physician, and he'll tell you that operating a practice in today's healthcare environment isn't going to get any easier any time soon. But, being competitive becomes more and more necessary as patients get older and start to be more choosy with their medical dollars. EMR software offers that ability to compete, and refine your practice to ensure its health in the new decade.
Carl Hardy is a system trainer, project manager and webmaster of http://www.electronicmedicalrecords.org. His company, EMRG, specializes in developing industry leading electronic health records and offers a free online demo.
Despite the major advances in healthcare and medicine overall, it's a harsh paradox that medical practitioners themselves have been such late users of EMR and practice management software. Many medical practitioners still work with paper medical records, record treatments and billing statement on paper or with rudimentary UNIX systems, when they could be benefiting from the major efficiency advantages of today's graphically oriented EMR systems. Recent Federal Government stimulus funds have been focused on providing EMR software to medical practitioners, and the better awareness has led to a stronger installed base. The well-informed doctor knows that all systems are not the same however, and needs to realize these crucial EMR points:
Automation - Most industry-leading EMR software products provide a big selection of simple to use, but efficiency-generating automation benefits. Having an assistant repetitively type out letters should definitely be a thing of the past, particularly considering the database-to-print automation features in most EMR software products. Finding the most effective automation features for your clinic is certainly up to you, but don't forget to think big - dynamic companies can typically design features into the system for you, whether they are new or not.
Business Condition Reporting - With the assistance of Federal Stimulus dollars, many medical practitioners have been able to add in a complete practice management system with medical billing to their EMR software. The resulting benefits are huge, as it enables both medical office managers and physicians to get a financial bird's eye view of their business. Best of breed systems will usually provide templates for hundreds of key accounting reports, such as billings and treatment details, but also offer customizable demographic reports. Seeing the billing and cash flow picture in your practice with a simple click should be a benefit to seek out with your EMR.
Customizability - Any EMR software vendor who replies to a "Can your system do this...?" question with a "no, not possible" probably isn't your best choice. It's software, silly, and the main thing with software is that developers can always stretch the boundaries of their applications to where they need to be to please their customers. Be reasonable, of course, but requesting interface changes, specialized electronic medical billing templates and quick-click features for any practice management or EMR program is not too much to ask - this is the case where a "yes-man" that executes correctly may be your best friend.
Ask any physician, and he'll tell you that operating a practice in today's healthcare environment isn't going to get any easier any time soon. But, being competitive becomes more and more necessary as patients get older and start to be more choosy with their medical dollars. EMR software offers that ability to compete, and refine your practice to ensure its health in the new decade.
Carl Hardy is a system trainer, project manager and webmaster of http://www.electronicmedicalrecords.org. His company, EMRG, specializes in developing industry leading electronic health records and offers a free online demo.
Three Ways To Investigate Your EMR System Vendor
Federal Stimulus money is finally on the table for doctors and small clinics to purchase and benefit from an EMR system. And because of this, hundreds of new electronic medical records vendors have come out of the woodwork, each looking for doctors' business. The doctor that is looking to go "paperless" has a number of decisions to make, frankly, and immediate cost is just one of them.
Let's face it... Shopping for an EMR software system is a decision that shouldn't be taken lightly. You're dealing with how your practice is managed here, and selecting the EMR provider that works best with you can be determined early, during the quote process. There is no "silver bullet" for choosing the best EMR system vendor, but these three things are critical:
1. Experience - Make sure the vendor you're looking for has at least five years of experience in the industry. The issue with the recent Federal Stimulus and EMR vendors is that companies have literally "created" their EMR product within the past two years mainly to profit from the government money. These EMR software applications can be shoddy in construction, and poorly supported. Get testimonials, and look at the company's history once a proposal has been received.
2. Training - First off, how rigorous is your EMR vendors ' electronic medical record training staff. Have they been with the company for a long time? Is there a number of different avenues through which your staff can be trained, or is there a single solution that means your staff must travel (a huge expense). An EMR system vendor is only as strong as its training team, and if something seems iffy, find out about it before it's too late.
3. How Do They Support You? - Particularly once your EMR software has been initially installed, support will be critical to your staff's ability to learn. If solving an issue with your software bogs you down every time one occurs, you'll soon be running for the hills. Is your vendor's support team available 24/7? Are there support costs you should know about? Ask the vendor for recent support references to ensure that you'll be OK when a problem occurs.
Keeping up with a changing EMR industry is not your job. But, being cautious about your medical records software consultant pays for itself over time. Finding the best EMR system company is all about patience, and ensuring your practice is properly served.
Need to know more about finding the right EMR system? Go to http://www.electronicmedicalrecords.org for a selection of electronic medical records purchase tips and tricks.
Let's face it... Shopping for an EMR software system is a decision that shouldn't be taken lightly. You're dealing with how your practice is managed here, and selecting the EMR provider that works best with you can be determined early, during the quote process. There is no "silver bullet" for choosing the best EMR system vendor, but these three things are critical:
1. Experience - Make sure the vendor you're looking for has at least five years of experience in the industry. The issue with the recent Federal Stimulus and EMR vendors is that companies have literally "created" their EMR product within the past two years mainly to profit from the government money. These EMR software applications can be shoddy in construction, and poorly supported. Get testimonials, and look at the company's history once a proposal has been received.
2. Training - First off, how rigorous is your EMR vendors ' electronic medical record training staff. Have they been with the company for a long time? Is there a number of different avenues through which your staff can be trained, or is there a single solution that means your staff must travel (a huge expense). An EMR system vendor is only as strong as its training team, and if something seems iffy, find out about it before it's too late.
3. How Do They Support You? - Particularly once your EMR software has been initially installed, support will be critical to your staff's ability to learn. If solving an issue with your software bogs you down every time one occurs, you'll soon be running for the hills. Is your vendor's support team available 24/7? Are there support costs you should know about? Ask the vendor for recent support references to ensure that you'll be OK when a problem occurs.
Keeping up with a changing EMR industry is not your job. But, being cautious about your medical records software consultant pays for itself over time. Finding the best EMR system company is all about patience, and ensuring your practice is properly served.
Need to know more about finding the right EMR system? Go to http://www.electronicmedicalrecords.org for a selection of electronic medical records purchase tips and tricks.
Are Electronic Health Records A Valuable Choice?
No matter what area of the medical field you are in, the chances are very high that you have already come across electronic health records. In fact, the majority of offices in the medical industry today are already fully integrated or are converting over to this electronic form of recording and storing medical records.
The true trepidation that many people have is that the new electronic medical record software will contain bugs that will compromise the way they function as well as their sensitive data. However, there are still others who feel that there is little superior to digital documentation and swear by it. No matter where you work or how your feel about the systems, doing strong research will help you develop a superb knowledge of the issues at hand.
There are many benefits to going digital. For example, many technologies include automation features that correctly code procedures. This may decrease the instances of incorrect entries in your documentation, while speeding up the documentation process. Additionally, since electronic medical records are easier to manage and fully access, if there is ever any question about your billing practices or patient care, an auditor can easily find issues within the documentation.
The Best For Multi-Location Offices
It is very common for practices to have several different offices that each specialize in a certain medicinal area, and oftentimes, patients will need to travel to different offices in order to get the high quality healthcare they need. To best offer each patient with superior, best of breed care, electronic medical records can be quickly transferred to the other locations instantly to virtually guarantee that the patient gets the necessary care. This process is far more efficient than trying to transmit paper documents via fax.
There is no need to rush an electronic medical records system purchase. Instead, planning is paramount when considering how it will impact your office and what the adoption issues may be. However, you should keep the advantages of adoption in mind also, such as cost reductions and more efficiently used storage space.
You may think that a smaller practice would find an EHR software adoption unnecessary. However, even single doctor practices can gain real advantages from electronic medical records. Some opportunities include paper, part-time staff, filing supplies, and medical transcription outsourcing. In some cases, it can even improve patient confidentiality by shoring up important documents with strongly encrypted databases.
Simplification is Critical
Because there are always so many advances in the tech world as well as the medical field, it is a good idea to implement a system that is easy to use and upgrade. For instance, whenever you have a medical billing system that is easy to use, you will find that reporting is quick and easy, mail out bills and much more. Such an accounting asset is a wonderful reward to having just the right electronic health records system in place.
Taking the leap and adopting electronic health records can be a real game changer for both you and your staff. Once you understand how to use it to your benefit, you will all likely be thrilled with its efficiency building advantages. In fact, you might even wonder how you ever managed to run your practice without an electronic health records application.
Carl Hardy is a product trainer, developer and editor of http://www.electronicmedicalrecords.org. His company, EMRG, specializes in developing high quality electronic medical records software and offers a free online demo. Check out the site for tips on EMR installation, adopting EMR as part of the Stimulus package and more.
The true trepidation that many people have is that the new electronic medical record software will contain bugs that will compromise the way they function as well as their sensitive data. However, there are still others who feel that there is little superior to digital documentation and swear by it. No matter where you work or how your feel about the systems, doing strong research will help you develop a superb knowledge of the issues at hand.
There are many benefits to going digital. For example, many technologies include automation features that correctly code procedures. This may decrease the instances of incorrect entries in your documentation, while speeding up the documentation process. Additionally, since electronic medical records are easier to manage and fully access, if there is ever any question about your billing practices or patient care, an auditor can easily find issues within the documentation.
The Best For Multi-Location Offices
It is very common for practices to have several different offices that each specialize in a certain medicinal area, and oftentimes, patients will need to travel to different offices in order to get the high quality healthcare they need. To best offer each patient with superior, best of breed care, electronic medical records can be quickly transferred to the other locations instantly to virtually guarantee that the patient gets the necessary care. This process is far more efficient than trying to transmit paper documents via fax.
There is no need to rush an electronic medical records system purchase. Instead, planning is paramount when considering how it will impact your office and what the adoption issues may be. However, you should keep the advantages of adoption in mind also, such as cost reductions and more efficiently used storage space.
You may think that a smaller practice would find an EHR software adoption unnecessary. However, even single doctor practices can gain real advantages from electronic medical records. Some opportunities include paper, part-time staff, filing supplies, and medical transcription outsourcing. In some cases, it can even improve patient confidentiality by shoring up important documents with strongly encrypted databases.
Simplification is Critical
Because there are always so many advances in the tech world as well as the medical field, it is a good idea to implement a system that is easy to use and upgrade. For instance, whenever you have a medical billing system that is easy to use, you will find that reporting is quick and easy, mail out bills and much more. Such an accounting asset is a wonderful reward to having just the right electronic health records system in place.
Taking the leap and adopting electronic health records can be a real game changer for both you and your staff. Once you understand how to use it to your benefit, you will all likely be thrilled with its efficiency building advantages. In fact, you might even wonder how you ever managed to run your practice without an electronic health records application.
Carl Hardy is a product trainer, developer and editor of http://www.electronicmedicalrecords.org. His company, EMRG, specializes in developing high quality electronic medical records software and offers a free online demo. Check out the site for tips on EMR installation, adopting EMR as part of the Stimulus package and more.
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