Questions about what the new federally mandated EHR/EMR implementation means for you?

What's the difference between EHR and EMR?

Many people use EMR (Electronic Medical Records) and EHR (Electronic Health Records) interchageably. EHR is essentially a larger umbrella of the same thing. An easy way to think about it is this: an EMR is a digital version of your patient's chart, and it's maintained by your office. An EHR is a comprehensive digital chart for the patient, and it "follows" the patient and thus is accessible from different healthcare offices.

What are the goals of an EMR implementation?

An important part of answering this question is looking at what EMR stands for - Electronic Medical Records. An EMR system is an electronic (read: digitized) version of your paper charts. Successful EMR implementation assures patients and vendors that your IT network is technologically secure and provides for patient data confidentiality and integrity.

Does Bay Healthcare IT provide EMR solutions?

No. Bay Healthcare IT is neither an EMR designer nor vendor. Our job is maintaining and supporting your network. Most EMR vendors will require you to have your own IT consultant/staff to perform aspects of the implementation, which is where we come in.

So if you don't provide the EMR system, what do you do?

Good question. Our role in the implementation of your new EMR system is the hands-on work to make sure your network and systems meet the standards specified by your EMR vendor. Since many EMR vendors are not local, we can also provide the local "hands and eyes" on behalf of their tech support. Essentially becoming your first line of defense when technical issues arise.

What IT aspects should I be thinking about regarding a new EMR system?

The two biggest concerns are maintaining successful daily backups (including off-site backups) of your EMR system data, and maintaining your network security. Not only are these two factors important for any network, but they are also an important piece of HIPAA compliance with respect to data privacy. Your data must be secured from external access as well as unauthorized local access (such as customers using your wireless network).

When must my EMR solution be implemented by?

You must demonstrate "meaningful use" of your EMR system by 2015.

What exactly does "meaningful use" of my EMR system mean?

Meaningful use is not a term summed up in a single sentence. For more information regarding federal guidelines of meaningful use criteria, check here.

What if I don't have my EMR system implemented by 2015?

If you cannot successfully demonstrate "meaningful use" by 2015, your Medicare reimbursements will be reduced by 1%. The deduction rate increases by 1% per year in following years, and can go as high as 95% with other penalties factored in.

In that case, are there incentives for me to get this done by 2015?

Yes. You can receive up to $44,000 in Medicare incentive payments beginning in 2011 for implementing EMR systems. Physicians must be able to demonstrate “meaningful use.” The “meaningful use” standard is measured in stages. Stage 1 starts in 2011 and ends 2012. It requires that providers meet 14 to 15 core requirements and choose five more from a menu of 10 options. Some of these requirements include electronic file system for all patients’ health records, medical billing system, and transcription services. Stages 2 and 3 have yet to be defined.

Does a new EMR system require me to redo my network?

In short, all system hardware will need to be evaluated to determine if it meets the minimum specifications designated by your EMR system vendor. This might mean upgrading or adding the following hardware: EMR server, desktops, laptops, and/or tablets. However, if your existing sytem meets the minimum hardware requirements and you aren't planning on adding any new devices.

 

You may also want to evaluate your network infrastructure equipment, such as routers and network switches. Some of this equipment can run for years and years, and it is important to make sure your equipment is up to modern speed and security standards.

What about my existing paper medical records?

Physicians are required by law to maintain a medical record for each patient that completely and accurately documents the person's evaluation and treatment.  All records for must be maintained for 10 years - Obstetrical and minor patient records must be held for 10 years or until the patient is 20.5 years old - whichever is longer.

What about my existing film studies?

Existing film can be scanned using a digitizer, and then stored in your EMR system.

How do I select an EMR vendor?

In short, r esearching available vendors and talking with existing clients is a good starting point. Once you've narrowed down your choices, then your next step would be to meet with those vendors and see how well they match your own requirements. A good starting point is here.