Comments on: Do You Make These Mistakes And Run Behind? http://www.medicalrecordshow.com/make-mistakes-run-behind/ Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:40:10 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Nina Bryant http://www.medicalrecordshow.com/make-mistakes-run-behind/comment-page-1/#comment-527 Nina Bryant Fri, 04 Sep 2009 06:10:14 +0000 http://www.medicalrecordshow.com/?p=574#comment-527 Hello Walker, Converting 6000 paper charts is a huge task no matter how much or how little data you're extracting. However, you can prepare for an easier conversion by creating a plan which includes tiny steps toward a smooth transition. Pre-grouping surgical reports, labs, imaging, etc. can make conversion easier and faster. Also, updating and verifying patient addresses, insurance coverage, and medical directives will help speed electronic conversion. No matter where you are in your EMR investigation, starting with just two steps will give you and your staff a sense of accomplishment and control over a process that looms large because it's unfamiliar territory. Good luck to you. Hello Walker,
Converting 6000 paper charts is a huge task no matter how much or how little data you’re extracting. However, you can prepare for an easier conversion by creating a plan which includes tiny steps toward a smooth transition. Pre-grouping surgical reports, labs, imaging, etc. can make conversion easier and faster. Also, updating and verifying patient addresses, insurance coverage, and medical directives will help speed electronic conversion.

No matter where you are in your EMR investigation, starting with just two steps will give you and your staff a sense of accomplishment and control over a process that looms large because it’s unfamiliar territory. Good luck to you.

]]> By: Peter Beck http://www.medicalrecordshow.com/make-mistakes-run-behind/comment-page-1/#comment-514 Peter Beck Thu, 23 Jul 2009 06:56:48 +0000 http://www.medicalrecordshow.com/?p=574#comment-514 Also, remember: the entire chart doesn't usually need to be scanned. Depending on the specialty, it may be necessary to only scan a few pages, and abstract a few key items of info, like chronic conditions, meds, and allergies. What the doctors need at a minimum to hit the ground running is best determined by the doctors, but also by experienced "EHR midwife" organizations, which have experience in what practices <em>truly</em> need, as opposed to what they <em>think</em> they'll need. Also, remember: the entire chart doesn’t usually need to be scanned. Depending on the specialty, it may be necessary to only scan a few pages, and abstract a few key items of info, like chronic conditions, meds, and allergies. What the doctors need at a minimum to hit the ground running is best determined by the doctors, but also by experienced “EHR midwife” organizations, which have experience in what practices truly need, as opposed to what they think they’ll need.

]]> By: Peter Beck http://www.medicalrecordshow.com/make-mistakes-run-behind/comment-page-1/#comment-513 Peter Beck Thu, 23 Jul 2009 06:54:04 +0000 http://www.medicalrecordshow.com/?p=574#comment-513 It's definitely doable; for a medium sized primary care office, for example, this volume would be the norm (about 2,000 or so charts per doctor). And primary care charts are generally <em>much</em> thicker than specialist or surgery charts. The key is to start the scanning and abstracting process sufficiently in advance of the EHR go-live, about 3-6 months. Ideally, this should be coordinated by a group external to the surgery center/medical group, with experience in facilitating the particular EHR's adoption in the area. Part of that service includes assigning scanning and abstracting personnel to the task -- so the office staff and physicians don't have to. Some offices elect to do that duty themselves to save money, with mixed results. Most offices are already pretty busy, with little "spare time" to do dedicated scanning and abstracting, so what they end up doing is often incomplete, or with cut corners. That leads to some pretty frustrated docs downstream. It’s definitely doable; for a medium sized primary care office, for example, this volume would be the norm (about 2,000 or so charts per doctor). And primary care charts are generally much thicker than specialist or surgery charts.

The key is to start the scanning and abstracting process sufficiently in advance of the EHR go-live, about 3-6 months. Ideally, this should be coordinated by a group external to the surgery center/medical group, with experience in facilitating the particular EHR’s adoption in the area. Part of that service includes assigning scanning and abstracting personnel to the task — so the office staff and physicians don’t have to.

Some offices elect to do that duty themselves to save money, with mixed results. Most offices are already pretty busy, with little “spare time” to do dedicated scanning and abstracting, so what they end up doing is often incomplete, or with cut corners. That leads to some pretty frustrated docs downstream.

]]> By: Walker http://www.medicalrecordshow.com/make-mistakes-run-behind/comment-page-1/#comment-512 Walker Thu, 23 Jul 2009 03:18:09 +0000 http://www.medicalrecordshow.com/?p=574#comment-512 How do you address the large volume of paper charts during an EHR implementation? For example, a surgery center that has over 6000 charts that need to be integrated into the system. From my experience, they don't have the time or resources to handle a large backfile. How do you address the large volume of paper charts during an EHR implementation? For example, a surgery center that has over 6000 charts that need to be integrated into the system. From my experience, they don’t have the time or resources to handle a large backfile.

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