There have been many exciting changes in the healthcare field in recent years that have been fueled by technology. While it is easy for doctors to see how things like EHRs and medical billing software can improve patient outcomes, billing accuracy, and engagement, patients might not totally understand the changes. As such, it is important to support patients through changes so that they can see the benefits.
Talk to Patients while Entering Information
Since EHRs have become a healthcare standard, it is very important to enter all patient information in during the visit. However, patients may not understand why you are typing away on computer or tapping on a tablet during their precious office visit time. As you enter information, tell the patient what you are doing and how this helps to keep records together to improve care.
If you utilize a computer or tablet to look up symptoms from a database or consult EHRs for medical history that may provide clues into an issue, also walk the patient through these steps. Talking to a patient about your process may help to increase feelings of trust while mitigating concerns that you are simply browsing the internet for symptoms as they would at home.
Sell Your Patient Portal
Patient portals are a great idea that can put patients in charge of their health in a real way and improve healthcare communications. Unfortunately, patient portals have not garnered the excitement that was expected and adoption rates are relatively low for most practices. Patients are busy and many practices simply provide pamphlets about the patient portals that may be overlooked.
Talking up your patient portal and letting patients know how easy it is to see test results and records, schedule appointments, and view bills may help to increase interest. Let patients know that it is possible to ask questions through the portal that may help them to save travel time while engaging with medical professionals free of charge.
Be Patient When Recommending New Health Technology
If you decide to recommend a health app or other telehealth services to supplement care, be patient when walking patients through how to use the service and why it is helpful. Some patients will inevitably feel skeptical and hesitant to use to the recommended technology. Taking the time to allay their fears and really connect with them can improve satisfaction, engagement, and potentially outcomes.
If you are looking to implement new technology in your medical practice, call 1-888-783-7818 today to find out about top quality solutions.
Electronic Health Records, or EHRs, give physicians an easy-to-follow snapshot of a patient’s health history. Systems also make recommendations and offer reminders based on specific details of each patient’s record. Additionally, EHRs can be viewed by patients, enabling patients to take a more proactive approach to their own care. There are many ways that EHRs help medical offices to improve the quality of health care.
Provide a Comprehensive Picture
EHRs provide a comprehensive picture of a patient’s full medical history. In the past, paper records had to be faxed from relevant specialists, general practitioners, and other professionals in order for a physician to get a clear picture of a patient’s health. This piecemeal approach left room for errors as the physician had to make decisions based on limited information that may be missing critical elements.
Improves Communications between Medical Professionals
Physicians can see a detailed profile of who is treating their patients and what medications and treatments are being prescribed using EHRs. If necessary, medical professionals can contact other care providers to discuss specific aspects of patient care and formulate a more strategic plan. EHRs can essentially help separate medical professionals become a team of care providers working together for the best interests of the patient.
Can Help to Reduce Errors
When physicians are able to review all medications and treatments that a patient has been prescribed, it greatly decreases the likelihood of medication errors and contradictory treatments. Physicians may be able to see treatments that would have otherwise been overlooked by both patients and physicians, such as medications prescribed by a dentist or therapist. EMR software may even recommend examinations and treatments based on given information.
Increases Patient Engagement
Patients can view their own health records online when offices use EHRs, which may help patients to feel more empowered and engaged. Patients can get a peek behind the curtain and see the reasoning behind the prescribed treatments. Patients can also do research on their own time based on the information in their records, allowing a more complete understanding.
Enable Statistical Analysis to Improve Future Care
EHRs not only put all of each patient’s information in one place, they also put information about all patients that are being cared for by the office in one place. This may make it easier to compile data and use it for statistical analyses that can help physicians to spot trends to improve future care. Being able to quickly and easily report medical statistics and information may also improve the quality of information available to the general public regarding health and risk factors.
Pediatricians help to keep children healthy and safe, which is no small feat. A pediatrics practice is different from other types of medical offices in several ways. These differences make medical billing services even more helpful and beneficial for pediatrics offices than for other types of practices.
Pediatricians Spend More Time with Patients
Pediatricians tend to spend much more time with each patient than doctors in other practices. Since the patients are children, pediatricians cannot depend on patients to understand how to communicate medical issues or to understand recommended treatments and lifestyle changes. Parents are often worried, so explaining diagnoses and treatments may take more time. Additionally, doctors may need to observe patients for several minutes to assess development and try to spot issues.
For all of these reasons, doctors may spend a large amount of time with each patient. Medical coding varies depending on the amount of time spent in visits and the way that the time in the visits was used for the particular patient. These differences in coding can mean big changes in the amount that is paid out for the insurance claim, so having assistance with medical billing can help to ensure that a practice is properly reimbursed for time spent.
Parents See Pediatricians without Patient
If a child is diagnosed with a condition or illness, it is not uncommon for the parent to see the pediatrician without the child to follow up. This time can and should still be billed to the insurance company. All components of each visit should be documented with the amount of time spent so that the service can be properly billed. It may get confusing and a single error can affect the amount of reimbursement or even the claim acceptance status, so a medical billing service can help.
Insurance Transitions Are Necessary for Newborns
Pediatrics offices face special challenges in transitioning newborns from the mother’s insurance to a separate policy. The process must be executed properly and all coding must be input properly every step of the way to ensure prompt payment. A medical billing service can help save the office time and frustration trying to figure out exactly how to perform transitions and bill properly, which is time that can be better spent taking on more patients or providing great service to existing patients.
Common Services Can Be Costly
Common services that are performed at pediatrics offices, such as vaccines, can be costly for the practice. Billing even a few procedures incorrectly can have a big impact on the revenues. Medical billing services can help to mitigate errors and make sure that the highest claims reimbursements possible are obtained for each service. This can have substantial benefit for a pediatrics practice, ensuring a good return for services performed.
If you feel that your pediatrics practice could benefit from medical billing services, call 888-783-7818.
It is no secret that increased patient engagement can lead to better overall care and more effective treatment. When patients take a proactive role in maintaining their own health and well being, it can make it easier for physicians to collaborate on care and can lower the costs of care. By focusing on ways to improve patient engagement, physicians and other healthcare professionals can work to align themselves with the goals of Meaningful Use Stage 2, improve patient satisfaction, and secure their own relevancy.
Since technology has helped to improve nearly every other aspect of healthcare, including treatment and medical billing, it makes sense that technology could be the solution to the patient engagement dilemma. The following recommendations may help to better engage patients. However, it is just as important as ever for HCPs to actually speak to patients in person to find out how to foster engagement and cooperation.
1. Make EMRs Available Online
Allowing patients to access their own medical records online can instantly make patients feel more included in their own wellness and/or treatment plans. Research has shown that patients who are able to view their own health information take more responsibility when working with their physicians to make health decisions. In surveys, patients have even reported that they would switch physicians if it meant they would have access to their own information.
2. Recommend mHealth Apps
mHealth apps give physicians a way to set patients up with highly intricate care plans and programs that are broken down into fun and easy-to-use programs. There are many different types of mHealth apps that physicians can prescribe to individuals based on their specific health needs. Whether health needs include better stress management, increased physical activity, a change in eating habits, or condition management-there’s an app for that.
3. Forego the Phone in Favor of Modern Communications
While phone calls have long been the favored form of communication for doctor’s offices, many individuals now view phone calls as disruptive and intrusive. Studies show that many individuals prefer communications through text, email, or even social media. While these communication methods may not be the best option for delivering important health news, they can be highly effective for simple check-ins and information sharing.
Communication preferences may vary widely, especially among different age groups, however. Instead of completely outmoding one communication method in favor of another, it may be best for HCPs to ask patients directly what type of communication they prefer. This will have the added impact of making patients feel that their views are valued, while also inspiring engagement.
4. Create an Online Presence
Creating an online presence can help hospitals and medical facilities to improve patient perceptions and foster greater engagement. When patients can visit a HCP’s site and read blogs, browse reviews, and connect to portals that allow EMR access, it can build trust and establish a high quality image. This can help the medical facility to generate new business, as well as improving engagement with current patients.
Medical billing can be complex for any type of practice, but can be even more difficult to understand when it comes to mental health services. Insurance companies are quick to deny bills that aren’t coded properly. Even tracking down patients can be difficult when there is just a small office staff – or especially if there is no staff at all. Outsourcing medical billing may help a small mental or behavioral health practice to operate more efficiently.
Assists with Time Management
When staff members or counselors are working on filing claims and sending out bills, that time is directly taken away from more lucrative endeavors. Counselors could be seeing patients and earning revenues. Staff members could be scouting new patients, working on marketing, or taking care of existing patients. When medical billing is outsourced, counselors and staff members are free to take care of the tasks that will help the practice to grow and thrive.
Can Help You Collect Money Owed
When services have been rendered and money has not been collected, it actually costs the practice money. Mental health practices have notoriously low rates of return for services compared to other types of medical practices. Outsourcing medical billing may help to increase the rate of return for services. Insurance coding is apt to be more accurate and the medical billing service has more time to spend calling patients and insurance companies to inquire about payments.
Allows You to Accept More Insurance
Some mental health practices stick to a cash only policy or only accept insurance from a few providers, hoping to “play it safe.” Unfortunately, this strategy may deter patients that have insurance that will cover counseling services, as they will look elsewhere and go to an office that does accept their insurance. Insurance companies will often pay less than the full cost of a regular session, but working with them can help to bring in greater numbers of patients. This could help to grow your business.
Can Yield Faster Insurance Payouts
Medical billing takes time, so outsourcing it can help you to get the bills in the mail faster. The bills are more likely to be accurate and accepted instead of denied, so you may save untold hours not having to re-file or dispute denied claims. These advantages may help you to actually receive the money for your services faster, especially if patients begin seeing you regularly and the bills begin to be submitted at about the same time.
Call 1-888-783-7818 today if you are thinking about outsourcing your billing.
Communication and technology are constantly moving forward in the healthcare field. Innovation has been fueled by global collaboration giving us more advancements every day. Our lives are constantly being made better with scientists striving to improve our quality of life. Here are five recent achievements that will have you believing the future is now.
Building Fish the Size of Blood Vessels
Microfish have been printed using 3D print technology at the University of California, San Diego. These nano-fish are equipped with a propulsion mechanism and navigation abilities. The fish are made of polydiacetylene, which inactivates some toxins and also emits a fluorescent glow when interacting with blood, allowing for them to be trackable. Researcher’s goal for these fish to eventually be able to deliver targeted drug therapy.
Using Magnetics to Fight Depression
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just approved a transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy system, the MagVita. This device has been used in the European Union since 2011, but now patients stateside suffering major depressive disorders can access the hardware. A Danish company, MagVenture, builds the therapy system that helps treat severe sufferers of depression whom fail to respond to all other forms of therapy. This device is noninvasive and stimulates small regions of the brain by generating a pulsating magnetic field with a handheld device.
Better Health Monitoring Through Mobile Applications
Continuing with FDA approved technologies, they have given the thumb’s up to Dexcom for it’s mobile continuous glucose monitoring system, the Dexcom G5. The bluetooth-enabled sensor communicates with Apple devices sending readings to the Dexcom Follow application. Readings can be shared with caretakers and an alarm will activate anytime glucose levels drop to a level detrimental to a patient’s health.
Detecting Breast Cancer with Blood Tests
In London, The Institute of Cancer Research has created a liquid biopsy, or blood test, that can detect breast cancer relapse. Compared to traditional scans, this blood test was able to predict relapse months in advance. This new technology is able to measure the DNA shed by circulating tumor cells, measuring the level of genetic mutations. With the test predicting the nature of the metastatic disease, doctors can apply treatments targeted at the genetic mutations.
All-In-One Diagnostic Device
A prototype device called The MouthLab was recently created at John Hopkins University. The sensor combines a thermometer, a blood volume sensor, breathing rate sensor, and a pulse oximeter. It fits into a patients mouth similar to how a snorkel’s mouth piece functions. The device was developed to help emergency medical technicians, doctors, nurses, and patients themselves to perform a medical diagnostic. The same team is already hard at work to add a sensor that measures saliva composition for glucose levels.
The Future in Healthcare is Now
It can become very easy for any of us to be desensitized by the evolution and advancements of our healthcare system. So many concepts and ideas that seemed impossible, or at the very least, unattainable in our lifetime, appear to be happening on a weekly basis. The healthcare industry is never settling for anything less than fighting disease and curing people of their ailments.
Contact QuestNS to see how we can provide you with superior business solutions!
Innovation and reinvention within the healthcare industry has seen more advancements in the last 100 years than the previous 2 millennia combined. Yet, the medical profession is always struggling to more efficiently diagnose and fight disease. IBM took a massive step in spearheading industry reinvention this year with their high-profile acquisitions and medical-related partnerships.
IBM Buys Into the Medical Industry
The technology super giant that has been around since World War II, IBM, just bought Merge Healthcare for $1 billion! This isn’t the first medical-related acquisition IBM has purchased, but it is the biggest. The company has slowly been investing in medical related companies over the last few years while making partnerships with Apple, Johnson & Johnson, and Medtronic.
Image Documents Account for Most Medical Information
IBM researchers estimate that CAT scans, X-Rays, and mammograms account for over 90 percent of all medical data. Doctors traditionally have had to review the images to identify abnormalities while manually cross-referencing the parts of their medical history that they have access to. The entirety of anyone’s medical records can be scattered between multiple hospitals and general practitioner’s offices.
Artificial Intelligence That Manages Patience Healthcare
Watson was created by IBM, and its various partnerships, to analyze text in documents and data on the web. It has a large language processing capability that was put on display by beating former Jeopardy! champions at their own game. It also works with CVS Health, the country’s largest pharmacy chain, to help patient’s better manage their healthcare.
Buying Merge Healthcare and Giving Watson Some Eyes
The Merge Healthcare purchase more clearly explains IBM setting up Watson Health earlier this year. Researchers have been busy giving Watson “eyes,” using complicated algorithms allowing it to cross-reference text data with Merge’s medical imaging software. Watson is an artificial-intelligence technology that can spot patterns from all data gathered.
Medical History Storage
IBM is building a comprehensive storage service, in the cloud, for the entire medical industry. It is believed that Watson will generate medical breakthroughs over the next few years. The tech giant’s goal is to improve healthcare by providing information that leads to more sound medical prognosis. This will reduce wasteful spending for patients, healthcare providers, and insurers.
Proactive Healthcare Diagnosis From IBM
Change doesn’t happen overnight, but IBM seems to be doing everything within their imaginative power to make that a possibility for the medical industry. Creating ways for doctors to be presented with certain medical history patterns of patients will allow them to fight current ailments while predicting potential issues. IBM is also creating a resource for storing everyone’s medical files in one accessible location instead of strewn about various doctor’s offices and filing cabinets.
Contact Quest NS today and see how we can help grow you practice with out medical billing solutions!
Insurance claim denials can be very inconvenient for patients and can affect a practice’s ability to receive payment for services rendered. Preventing insurance claim denials before they ever occur can help your practice to more efficiently receive moneys earned and to keep a better relationship with patients. Patients will be more likely to stay loyal to your office when their claims are routinely paid as expected. In order to prevent claim denials, it is best to understand some of the common reasons for them.
Waiting Too Long to File Claim
Insurance claims generally must be filed within 60 to 90 of services being performed in order to be paid. Disorganization often lies at the root of delayed claim filing. It is important to make sure there is a convenient system in place that allows claims to be filed quickly and efficiently, so that claims are not lost and filing is not delayed.
Submitting Duplicate Claims
If a duplicate claim is filed before an insurance company has responded to the first claim, it may result in a claim denial. Multiple employees may also submit a claim if there is not an established procedure in place for claim filing. Having a system in place with claims tracking can help to avoid this common error.
Claims Filed with Information Missing
Missing patient information may be an error on the patient’s part or may be an administrative error on the part of the practice office staff. Either way, if information such as the patient’s birth date or member number is incorrect or missing when the claim is filed, it may be denied. It is important to always double check this type of information before filing claims, as the few seconds spent on double checking can save labor hours and frustration in the future – and may help you to retain a patient.
Incorrect Coding
ICD-10 has a lot of advantages over previous coding systems used for medical billing, but the volume of codes can get confusing. Implementing high quality medical billing software can help to ensure correct coding. Most systems will flag potential errors before allowing you to send claims, which may be very helpful in preventing denied claims.
Failure to Identify Medical Necessity
Insurance companies require some sort of proof of medical necessity for certain procedures. Failure to provide adequate documentation may result in claims denials. If medical billing software is integrated with patient EHRs, it becomes much easier to provide the documentation required in order to ensure claim acceptance.
If your practice could benefit from implementing medical billing software, contact us today.
Electronic prescribing, or e-prescribing, is quickly becoming the main way in which physicians communicate with pharmacies regarding prescriptions. In 2010, the DEA introduced a rule called the Electronic Prescriptions for Controlled Substances Rule, giving physicians the option to submit prescriptions electronically without legal barriers. With improvements in technology and networks, this method for prescribing is now superior to older prescription methods in many ways.
Helps to Prevent Errors
E-prescribing greatly reduces the likelihood of prescription errors. Pharmacists do not have to read handwriting or try to differentiate the name of a drug that is very similar to the name of another drug. Electronic prescriptions are easy to read and very clear.
Works with Meaningful Use Requirements
Meaningful Use stage 3 will require that all physicians send at least 80 percent of prescriptions electronically. By switching to a system in which e-prescribing is the main method of prescribing, this requirement is more easily met. The fact that e-prescribing is a requirement of meaningful use shows that the advantages of this method are becoming evident.
Provides Alerts for Potential Reactions
E-prescribing platforms work with electronic health records, so all of a patient’s allergies, medical conditions, and other prescribed drugs are available to a physician when a drug is being prescribed. If a drug is prescribed that may negatively react with another prescription, exacerbate conditions, or cause an allergic reaction, the system alerts the physician. This can help to reduce injuries caused by adverse medication reactions.
Saves Patients a Step
When a paper prescription is written, a patient must deliver the prescription to the pharmacy and then wait for it to be filled. E-prescribing saves patients the extra step by sending the prescription directly to the pharmacy. This saves the patient time and trouble, while also eliminating the potential for the patient to lose the prescription.
Makes Controlled Substance Monitoring Possible
When a prescription is written, it is difficult to determine whether the patient got the prescription filled. Patients may decide not to get the prescription filled for many reasons, or they may forget, but the records will show that the patient was prescribed the drug and the assumption will be that they took it. This may alter medical care and record accuracy.
On the other hand, patients may also visit several physicians for a controlled substance due to addiction issues. This is difficult to spot with paper prescriptions and even with faxed prescriptions. E-prescribing creates a record of all prescriptions that a patient has received, allowing effective monitoring and tracking that can help with identifying abuse and can improve the accuracy of patient records.
To find out more about how e-prescribing could benefit your practice, give us a call today.
October 1, 2015 was the deadline for all medical facilities to officially switch medical coding and billing to the ICD-10 format. ICD-9 coding had been used since the 1970s, with periodic updates and expansions to the coding used. In 1999, ICD-10 was published and many developed nations of the world began to adopt the format. The United States was not on board at first and has repeatedly delayed upgrading to the new coding system.
Why Delay the Upgrade?
Changing the formatting of all medical coding is hugely expensive and time-consuming. For some small practices that have been doing medical billing manually, the change may be very difficult to implement. Training everyone on staff and changing the way that medical billing is done to suit the new system may hamper productivity and the ability of the practice to deliver quality care to patients. In addition to these woes, some practices could not survive the delays in payment resulting from billing errors during the adjustment phase.
Why Implement the Switch?
While making the switch has not been easy, it is worth it in the end. Using ICD-10 codes finally brings the United States into the loop with countries that have been using the coding system for years, fostering better communications between countries. The coding system is also more accurate. There is about 10 times the number of codes in the ICD-10 system as in the ICD-9 system.
Benefits of Larger Code Sets
In the years since ICD-9 was introduced, huge amounts of advancements have been made. New procedures, surgeries, and tests have been introduced. New diseases have been discovered. The limited ICD-9 set of codes made it difficult to code for many of the newer procedures and disease classifications. ICD-10 has much more versatility and was designed in such a way that it will be easy to add new codes as advancements in medicine are made.
Benefits of More Accurate Coding
The goal of medical billing should always be to bill as accurately as possible. Billing more accurately will allow insurance companies to more accurately estimate payouts, which may help to streamline claims payments. Having a more accurate medical coding system will also allow researchers to use the codes to identify patterns in medical diagnoses and treatments. This may help to improve the quality of the information available to the public and may even assist with finding better treatments for diseases.
Making the Switch
Making the switch to ICD-10 has been hard on some practices. In some cases, it may be easier for the office to switch to outsourced medical billing. Having qualified experts handle the medical billing can help to ensure a higher percentage of accepted claims and can take the pressure off of the office staff. Billing software that simplifies the new coding system and provides assistance with determining the right coding for different diseases and procedures may be the best way to go for other offices.
