Data Security and Backup Solutions in Health Care

Data security is like exercise: Everyone knows it's good. Few people care enough to do it…

Which is why it is important, to have the right strategy, and the right tools. 

Computers, Keyboards, Mice and Even Hard drives fail. It's a fact of computing life. It's not a question of whether your computer will stop working or even a matter of when. The question is how much it will disrupt your life, your processes, your practice and your patients - and it won't, if you have a backup copy. 

Backing up your data is most indispensable thing you do on your computer. The 2 important considerations one must have when deciding a backup strategy are the backup media and the backup tools.  

Local Backup Media: 

Using CD/DVD’s to store data backups 

Using CD/DVD’s to store data backups is popular. Blank CD/DVD’s are inexpensive, and copying data onto CD/DVD’s is easy. Unfortunately CD/DVD’s, like the floppy disks they've replaced, have a limited shelf life. We don’t recommend this method of data backup for any practice. 

Using tapes to store data backups 

Tape backups are a many times more reliable than DVDss, but tape drives and their associated media are many times more expensive than DVD writers and CD/DVDs. A good tape drive can cost over $1000, and individual tapes for the drive can cost up to $40 each. If one can afford the equipment, however, tape backup is far more reliable and recommended backup method. 

Using external hard drives to store data backups 

External hard disks are cheap compared to tape drive systems. They’re also easy to use as most of them support plug and play use with the computers USB port. And while hard drives do fail, their failure rate is much lower than that of other backup media such as DVD’s. A big factor to why we recommend External Hard Disks as the best Local backup medium is that a single hard disk drive or a maximum of 2 used for backups may well be enough to store your practice data. 

Online Backup in the Cloud: 

An online backup service offers the advantage of securely store your files at off-site server locations, so that your data stays intact and available even if your local disks, CD/DVD’s are corrupted or in a severe case stolen. 

With more and more emphasis on "cloud computing", it only makes sense that one should take advantage of this hot trend in technology for backups.

Factors to consider when choosing an online backup service: 

Does it upload new and changed files immediately? 

Does it allow syncing or sharing of data? 

Can it back up files while you have them open? 

Is there a Web client for restoring? 

Is there a mobile client? 

Does it offer a remote control feature via my mobile phone? 

Can I view my backed up files on an iPad? 

How much will it cost? 

Is it HIPAA Compliant? 

Limitations: 

The advantages of Online Backup solutions can be limited due to bandwidth problems. 

Secondly, the method is only as reliable as the company offering the online backup service. 

Thirdly, one should ensure that HIPAA requirements are met by the vendor who is offering the Online Backup Service 

 
If you'd like to know more about TechnicalDr's flexible and powerful HIPAA Compliant Backup Solution  please check the website http://www.technicaldr.com/tdr/hipaa-compliant-backup or Call 630 433 7453 for a Super Offer - Waiver on Setup and Training Costs

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Searching Online for Health Information

Many Physicians nowadays are relying on Google to help them find information sources which help them diagnose or treat their most difficult cases. Its no surprise then that a large number of physicians feel that regularly accessing the Internet has helped improve their practice as well as patient care.

A study by Google released in November 2009, found that 86% of physicians use the Internet to gather health, medical or prescription drug information, and 71% said they start with a search engine. It further showed that 57% use search terms related to conditions, 36% use terms related to treatments and trials, and 33% look for branded medication.

A more recent survey by Wolters Kluwer Health found that two-thirds of physicians use Internet search engines such as Google and Yahoo to look for information related to the diagnosis and treatment of patients.

In this article we look at ways to locate Quality Health Information Online. We will look at the popular search engines and then list popular sites catering to different categories of Health Information.  

Search Engines:

A search engine is a system that searches the Web. Search Engines help users sort through the huge amounts of information on the Web to find what they are looking for. Users type-in words or phrases, and the search engine looks for those words or phrases in Web sites.

A broad search engine is not recommended to locate health information, but it is helpful to find specific websites which contain quality health information. Also, google and other search engines serve as a great starting point in case you forget the URL of a previously visited website.

1. Google  http://www.google.com/
2. Bing http://www.bing.com
3. Yahoo http://www.yahoo.com
4. Search within HonCode Certified Websites: http://www.hon.ch/HONsearch/Pro/hunt.html

Patient Health Information Sites:

Searching medical literature is important to get information on clinical terms, symptoms and treatment options. Patients frequently use websites to locate health information. This is a cause of concern for many physicians as a misinformed patient may end up being their biggest woe. 

As such it is important that physicians guide them in the direction of Websites with High quality and authentic information.  Here is a small list of such websites.

1. MedlinePlus http://medlineplus.gov/
2. Merck Manual: Home Edition for Patients http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/index.html
3. Merck Manual: Online Medical Library for Professionals http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/index.html
4. MedicineNet http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/hp.asp
5. Mayo Clinic http://www.mayoclinic.com/health-information/
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/

Sites Specifically tailored to Medical Students

1. Student Doctor Network: http://studentdoctor.net/
2. E-Meducation http://www.e-meducation.org/

Sites which explain Medical Terms:

1. MedTerms: http://www.medterms.com/script/main/hp.asp
2. MedicalLexicon : http://www.medilexicon.com/

Websites which provide Information related to Medications:

The following websites contain information about  prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines which includes side effects, common dosages, drug-drug interactions, special precautions and more.

1. MedlinePlus http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html
2. DailyMed http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/
3. Drugs.com http://www.drugs.com/
4. FDA Index to Drug Safety Information http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm111085.htm

Medical Journals and Articles

1. PubMed http://pubmed.gov/
2. PubMed Central http://pubmedcentral.nih.gov
3. Medscape http://www.medscape.com/
4. MdLinx http://mdlinx.com/
5. Free Medical Journals http://www.freemedicaljournals.com
6. JAMA http://jama.ama-assn.org
7. New England Journal of Medicine http://content.nejm.org
8. BioMed Central http://www.biomedcentral.com

In the next article we will look at techniques to help search the web more effectively so as to get better and faster results. In case you feel there are websites which should be included in the lists above which I have missed out, please feel free to mention them in the comments below or connect with me (@nrip) via twitter.

Link to the next article: Understanding Search Engines to Improve Your Searches

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Medical Reference Apps For Android #mHealth

By providing the latest evidence based medicine updates at the point-of-care, Smartphones are proving to be a very important tool for improving quality of healthcare. These inexpensive handheld computing devices allow users to download third party applications (apps) which can perform specialized tasks.

 

5 Free Medical Reference Apps For Android Smartphones which physicians can use everyday for clinical purposes.

1) Medscape : Medscape is a popular web resource for physicians and other health professionals. This is a must have application which provides offline access to clinical reference tools like Drug Reference, Disease & Condition Reference and Treatment Guide, Procedures Reference, Tables & Protocols Reference and Drug Interaction Checker.

2) Skyscape Medical Resources : Founded by a group of Indian innovators, Skyscape is a worldwide leading service for providing trusted medical information via mobile devices. The Skyscape portal provides a number of free as well as paid medical apps for almost all specialties.

3) Epocrates : Epocrates is a publisher of mobile device software applications, designed to provide information about drugs to doctors and other health care professionals. The Epocrates application is the most popular of its kind providing a huge amount of information about pharmaceuticals. Regular use of this app can definitely help reduce errors in drug prescriptions.

4) PubMed Mobile : An uber useful app by the National Library of Medicine, PubMed Mobile allows the user to search its database with over 21 million citations for articles and journals, save articles and searches, view abstracts, and export selected abstracts and citations for future use. NLM also provides a number of other mobile optimized tools and apps. Check the NLM Mobile Gallery here.

5) WebMD : WebMD is the leading health information portal of the United States. It was founded in 1996 by Jim Clark and Pavan Nigam as Healthscape, later Healtheon, and then acquired WebMD in 1999 to form Healtheon/WebMD. The free app provides access to information regarding health and health care, including a symptom checklist, pharmacy information and drugs information

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Coleman 's 12 Laws of Medicine

Dr Vernon Coleman qualified as a medical doctor in the UK published an excellent series of books on health and wellness. Packed with wise insights and commonsense ; many of these are as true today as when they were first published !

COLEMAN’S 1ST LAW OF MEDICINE
 
If you are receiving treatment for an existing disease and you develop new symptoms then, until proved otherwise, you should assume that the new symptoms are caused by the treatment you are receiving.
 
COLEMAN’S 2nd LAW OF MEDICINE
There is no point in having tests done unless the results will affect your treatment.
 
COLEMAN’S 3rd LAW OF MEDICINE
If the treatment doesn’t work then you should consider the possibility that the diagnosis might be wrong. This is particularly true when several treatments have been tried.
 
COLEMAN’S 4th LAW OF MEDICINE
Screening examinations and check-ups are more profitable for doctors than for patients.
 
COLEMAN’S 5th LAW OF MEDICINE
It is doctors, not patients, who need annual check-ups.
 
COLEMAN’S 6th LAW OF MEDICINE
Hospitals are not suitable places for sick people. If you must go onto one, you should get out as quickly as you can.
 
COLEMAN’S 7th LAW OF MEDICINE
There are fashions in medicines just as much as there are fashions in clothes. The difference is that whereas badly conceived fashions in clothes are only likely to embarrass you, ill-conceived fashions in medicine may kill you. The fashions in medicine have, by and large, as much scientific validity as the fashions in the clothes industry.
 
COLEMAN’S 8th LAW OF MEDICINE
The medical establishment will always take decisions on health matters which benefit industry, government and the medical profession, rather than patients. And the government will always take decisions on health matters which benefit the State rather than individual patients. What you read, hear or see about medicine and health matters will have more to do with the requirements of the pharmaceutical industry and the government, than the genuine needs of patients.
 
COLEMAN’S 9th LAW OF MEDICINE
Doctors and nurses know little or nothing about staying healthy. In particular, doctors and nurses know nothing about food, diet and healthy eating. (Sadly, the same is true of nutritionists and dieticians).
 
COLEMAN’S 10th LAW OF MEDICINE
There are no holistic healers. There are only holistic patients.
 
COLEMAN’S 11th LAW OF MEDICINE
There is no such thing as minor surgery.
 
COLEMAN’S 12th LAW OF MEDICINE
Same patients will always be treated more equally than others.

P.S. Coleman 's 12 Laws of Medicine - something which all doctors should put up on their clinics, so patients keep them in mind when going to a doctor !

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Tweaks to make your PC experience better as a Doctor

Today a lot of Doctors are waking up to using the computer, maybe to surf the net, or they own a website or better still have an EMR solution. Below are some tips to help you make your time spent on the PC better.  These include some mundane ideas and thoughts and also some personal insights in what works best. So make your PC experience a good one, because it’s going to last you a life time.

a. Use the Internet: Today almost every PC is bought with the thought of going online. However for those who are hesitant, it is important to remember the usage and experience far outweighs the ghost of virus attacks and vulgar content. From the EMR software point of view, maximum benefit can be derived from our packages by those who have the Internet to send SMSes, Emails or get support directly online.

b. LAN connection in a clinic: For any clinic which is not a single doctor no receptionist, it is ideal to get a LAN connection with another PC to help manage the work. The efficiency of handling patients and workload multiples manifold by the simple move. Creating a LAN is simple enough and your local computer guy will be able to have it running within minutes. Wiring may take some time if it is elaborate or you can go the wireless way. Our EMR solution works best when used with a LAN connection, clearly dividing the workflows for doctors and receptionists/nurses who can handle the non clinical transactions.

c. Syncplicity/Dropbox: These softwares are simply fantastic. Most of us have nightmare about viruses and PCs crashing and losing all our information! Now with auto backup softwares that can never happen. Select which folders, drives and PCs you would like to back-up, it automatically syncs it to a virtual representation of your folders online. These can now be downloaded or accessed with a password by you anytime. The whole solution is secure and does not need a huge bandwidth.

d. Virtual memory:  Most computers use not just the RAM but also some part of the hard disk space as memory to run applications. This is called virtual memory as it is an extension of the RAM space into the hard disk. Lot of times your PC may appear slow despite having a decent RAM or gives a pop up saying Virtual Memory Low.  For application that use caching, paging and other virtualization techniques they require adequate virtual memory space.  Ideally your Virtual Memory should be set to 1.5*RAM.

The following procedure is based on Windows XP Professional.
1.    Go to right-click My Computer and choose Properties.
2.    In the System Properties dialog box, go to Advanced tab.
3.    Click Settings button that is from the Performance frame.
4.    Once the Performance Options shows up on the screen, go to Advanced tab.
5.    Under the Advanced tab, click the Change button from the Virtual Memory frame to access to the Virtual Memory setting.

Then the Virtual Memory dialog box appears on the screen. In there, you are able to check how much the Virtual Memory you set. If you would like to modify the size of Virtual Memory, follow the procedure that is shown below.
1.    In there, select the drive letter that is used to install the Operating System.
2.    Choose the option that says, "Custom Size:"

Once you choose that option, the setting for Initial Size and Maximum Size become available for you to set. Initial Size (MB) means the actual size of Virtual Memory, and Maximum Size (MB) means the maximum size of Virtual Memory that is allowed to use.

e. Clean Up the Temp Folder: A large section of your hard disk gets blocked over time by the Temp Folder where, partially downloaded files, applications in progress, copy pasted data is stored in parallel.
C:\Documents and Settings\{NAME OF USER ACCOUNT}\Local Settings\Temp, clear this Folder out from time to time.  A similar exercise can be carried out with the Temporary Internet Files located in the Windows Folder.

f. System Restore – Another handy little service that can get your computer back up and running sometimes, but again takes up a lot of extra space that is not needed is System Restore. But System Restore only recovers Windows files, not any of your data. So having System Restore enabled on any other drive other than your C drive (where Windows is installed) is completely useless. Hence keep it turned off.

To fix this one, right click on My Computer and choose Properties. Click on the System Restore tab, you will see all the drives on the computer, if you have a C and a D drive, turn it off for D drive. For system restore, a value between 2% to 4% will be fine in terms of space. The default 12% wastes loads and loads of space!

g. Use a Local Mail Option: Use a local mail option like Outlook, Outlook Express, Thunderbird, Eudora to sync your mails offline from multiple sources so you access them at any time. Even Google Mail provides this option now. Just go to the Offline Tab in your settings and read up about it.

h. Clean with CCleaner: CCleaner is a tool used to clean your PC. IT description on its site is given below – “CCleaner is a freeware system optimization, privacy and cleaning tool. It removes unused files from your system - allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space. It also cleans traces of your online activities such as your Internet history. Additionally it contains a fully featured registry cleaner. But the best part is that it's fast (normally taking less than a second to run) and contains NO Spyware or Adware!” So download it today and get your PC cleaned for free.

i. Out with the toolbars: Usually most people end up having numerous toolbars on their application windows. This is most common in browsers, but also tends to happen in Office applications where all the various tools are now on an ever descending bar. The user experience is diminished if half your seeable and workable space is cluttered with objects which take up your attention and are not even used. So my suggestion, for browsers uncheck all the external toolbars from Yahoo, Google and what not, these not only take space but also cause pop-ups and headaches. In case of MS Word or MS Excel, stick to the basic tools on the window, remove the unnecessary, they can be accessed any time anyway. These extra toolbars also cause delays in loading the software or browser.

j. A Free Desktop: Keep a neat clean desktop. It slows down start up and makes you and your PC sluggish to have uncountable number of items on your desktop. My suggestion is create a folder called Desktop items in your documents and create a shortcut on the desktop and dump everything in that. This is if the habit it too hard to shake off.  I find it much easier and quicker to work if the Desktop is clean or at least cleaned once in a week to make it fast and simple.

k. Use Bookmarks: Use bookmarks, stars, favorites and other such little programs to make your life on the net simpler. Why run around to search for the pages already found or remember the long URL which you never will. Just a single click to bookmark them and they are stored forever.

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A Guide to Improving your Patient Interaction and Outreach

Technology enables, but man disables by not taking advantage of opportunities given to him. As a Physicians today, you have many key touch points to increase and consequently improve your interactions with patients. Some are simple methods, some require a little bit of work, but what is the end advantage of it all? For one thing it makes you popular amongst patients;  and the side effect could lead you to get more business.

Second it helps educate and provide information to patients and people who may read just what they need, thanks to you! A little help goes a long way in accumulating blessings.

Third, contributing to the general knowledge resource of the community improves the very community you are part off, it encourages others to follow suit.

So now what do you need to do?

1. Reach out to many in the general audience: Start writing, the internet lets you update and express views, either as 160 character bursts on twitter, or a long blog detailing your experience.

Twitter: On twitter you can start putting up bursts of interesting cases you see, new techniques you here about, information about your local medical network which may help people in your area! Go onto www.twitter.com, register yourself and type away.

Blogging: Doing a lot of research which you think people should here about, or have an opinion which potential patients should here about, blog about it. Many people will find it online as they search for an information panacea for their problem and be happy to come across your blog.

2. Create a mechanism such that people can contact you: For a start, get a practice website. It helps you disseminate information about your services for people looking for the same. It isn’t advertising, it’s a service, people today face many choices and are hampered by lack of information, improving their ability to find information quickly is beneficial to them.

On your website, don’t only talk about you, tell the patients more about what diseases and disabilities you treat, what are the latest treatments, generic advice and maybe even help them going to right person if you weren’t involved.

Use tools like interactive patient forms which can be filled before the patient arrives at the center, saving time and giving you a heads up on the patient’s needs. Use query forms on the website so that people can ask you about their problems, patients their doubts; this gives the feeling to your patients that you are available to them 24/7 without actually being there. Technical Doctor encourages doctors to have their own websites through their initiative http://www.technicaldr.com/tdr/websites-for-doctors. We also offer advice and consulting to help your website create the best impact on your patients and potential clients.

3. Using Software tools: Use softwares which improve communications. Invest in software which doesn’t just keep your records and accounts. The software should come with communications tools integrated and can be used with ease. Emailing of schedules and reports to patients is a must.

The software should also allow using SMSes to send reminders, alerts, prescription reminders etc. This is a new level of service, and patients will be thrilled to know there is always an alert to give them confidence in their moments of doubt.

Online Medical records allow patients to access their records remotely, insist on looking at software which promotes this feature if not today, but at least is compatible with this extension in the future. Technical Doctor provides EMR software products which come coupled with email, SMS and online EMRs. We encourage doctors to use these services to improve their service quality. You can see our products on http://www.technicaldr.com

4. Accessing data and messages on your phone: Today you may be using you phone to send SMSs, read emails and play games online. Why stop there, use it to drive business wherever you are. Neat and simple apps provide you fingertip information, coupled with your own website, or software they can become powerful tools in your hands to handle patients remotely.

Access patient alerts via the phone or your actual software to pull up data remotely. Technical Doctor already has a suite of products and apps which can run on phone browsers.

5. Contribute to journals and medical website online: Numerous sources are present where doctors submit their stories, research and experiences. The medical and patient community will be greatly benefited by your inputs, a little effort online will show you exactly where you should be adding your data.

6. Using new cool online tools to make education interesting: Nowadays making a presentation, cartoon strip or a cartoon movie to help educate your patients or interested clients is easy. Many tools are available online which let you render very interesting collaterals that can help ease patient doubts and also make it fun. Tools like www.bitstrips.com which we use to make cartoons helps in creating awareness in an educational yet informal way. Putting these up on your clinic facebook page or on your website is the best option.

These are just some pointers on how technology can help you as a doctor to interact with patients and also general public looking for information in your areas of expertise. It’s time to exercise your power using technology, so see you out there soon.

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How Can Computer Viruses Affect Your Medical Practice?

As healthcare becomes increasingly dependent on information technology, system breakdowns due to viruses, worms and other malware can potentially stall the entire working of your practice. This article aims to discuss how practitioners can protect their computers against viruses to ensure the safety and confidentiality of their data systems.

What are Computer Viruses?

A virus is simply a software program or a piece of code that is developed to spread and break into computer systems to consume available memory, corrupt or erase data and eventually cause the system to stop working. 

There are many types of malware and computer viruses and they vary in characteristics, disguises and potency to breach security and spread across networks. 

Computer viruses are nowadays commonly spread by attachments in emails or IM messages. They can also be disguised as attractive images, lucrative discount deals, lottery announcements and other audio-visual files that are likely to arouse user-curiosity and consequent click or download response. Computer viruses and malware are easily spread using free Internet downloads and pirated or illegal programs and files. 

A computer virus infection can be detected from typical symptoms like lowered system speed, frequent hanging or freezing, unprecedented restarts, improper or sluggish functioning of applications, inaccessibility of disk or drives, unusual error messages, missing programs etc.

Even though these indicators may hint at other hardware or software problems, the safest option in such a situation is to run an anti-virus check and contact your data security provider.

How Can Computer Viruses Affect Your Practice?

EMRs and other electronic healthcare data systems hold confidential patient information and practitioners are responsible for their privacy, safety and security. Data theft, loss and system breakdowns due to virus attacks can be very detrimental to a practice and can even put people’s lives in danger.

While effective backup systems and regularly updated anti-virus software can help you avert these debacles, medical professionals must be informed about the repercussions and penalties that HIPAA mandates in case they fail to protect medical information. The federal law treats medical data security as a legal requirement and any compromise on this front is a punishable offense. HIPAA has also released guidelines to assist practitioners and data security professionals in building unbreachable data systems that protect electronic medical data in EMR and other software.

What Can You Do To Prevent Virus Attacks?

A comprehensive data security plan involves regularly updated system security, frequent data backups, employee education and effective administrative policies that regulate the use and accessibility of medical IT systems.

Antivirus Software

When implementing your EMR, ensure that your server and workstations are adequately protected against malware. There are many effective virus protection software programs that help shield your system from viruses, malware and spyware. Ideally, these virus protection programs must be installed and regularly updated as soon as you get your IT infrastructure in place, with or without the EMR. Some antivirus programs are freely available for download online (with paid premium versions) while others can be purchased for a fee. 

We list some of the most effective virus protection software programs that are popular for medical IT security.

1. ESET NOD32

Information: http://www.eset.com/

2. KASPERSKY

Information: http://www.kaspersky.com/

3. BIT DEFENDER

Information: http://www.bitdefender.com/

4. QUICK HEAL

Information: http://www.quickheal.com/

5. NORTON INTERNET SECURITY

Information: http://us.norton.com/

In the free to download segment, the most popular antivirus software programs are,

1. AVG

Information: http://www.freeavg.com/?lng=in-en&cmpid=corp

2. AVAST

Information: http://www.avast.com/index

3. AVIRA

Information: http://www.avira.com/

You may also ask your local computer vendor or EMR provider to guide you on the most appropriate protection program for your practice. Many reputable EMR vendors include antivirus and security programs in their services at no additional fee or cost of resources.

Data Backup Systems

Regular backups are an absolute must in order to prevent the loss of crucial medical information to disruptive computer viruses. All data must be backed up on remote servers that are professionally managed by data security experts. With a backup system in place, even if your local server were to get infected and your data were to get erased or corrupted, you would still have all your information secure and intact on this remote server.

Along with antivirus and data backup systems, practitioners and healthcare staff must adopt the following practices in order to build the practice’s defense against unprecedented virus attacks. 

1. Routers and wireless internet connections must be protected with strong, unbreachable password keys.

2. Install firewalls and always keep them on.

3. Do not download attachments or click links from unknown email messages, IMs and social media sites unless you are expecting them. 

4. Do not respond to unusual virus attack warnings from unrecognized sources or download rogue programs that offer to heal the virus. More often than not, they are viruses disguised a antivirus software. 

5. Do not be lured into downloading malware hidden in funny images and unknown audio/video files. Only download from trusted sources and websites.

6. Regularly install updates for all your software. Subscribe to automatic updates if available. 

7. Passwords should be strong and kept confidential. They should ideally include a combination of letters, numbers and symbols and be at least 14 characters long. Staff should be advised to memorize them instead of noting them down somewhere. Also, each application should have a unique password that is not repeated elsewhere in another application, website or program. 

8. Be cautious while using flash drives. Ensure that they are virus-free before running them on your system.

References:

1. http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/emr-software-from-the-cloud-5060639.html

2. http://www.ondd.org/the-top-100-open-source-software-tools-for-medical-professionals/

3. http://www.mdbase.com/Newpages/emrpdf/Guide_Part1_Chapter5.pdf

4. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/129972

5. http://www.microsoft.com/security/pc-security/protect-pc.aspx

6. http://hcpfcu.coop/protect.html

7. http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/How-Secure-Is-Emr-Software-/671247

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Difference Between Medical Billing Software and EMR

Medical billing and EMR software systems are often designed to have overlapping features that improve the functionality and usability of the systems in order to make them a “one-stop-solution” for a practice’s medical IT needs. As a result, medical billing software and EMRs end up being interchangeably used discounting the primary objectives of each of the systems.

Medical Billing Software vs. EMR

Many EMR companies are going the whole way to provide doctors with a single, comprehensive solution that will help them achieve Meaningful Use by incorporating crucial features like clinical notes, patient information and history, medication/prescription/drug allergies, diagnosis/treatments/procedures, patient scheduling, appointment reminders, e-prescribing, electronically available results, scans and reports, patient education resources, clinical decision support as well as full-fledged medical billing programs.

Specialized medical billing software on the other hand, is particularly programmed to maintain and keep detailed records of tests, procedures, examinations, diagnoses and treatments conducted on patients. It combines this medical information with the patient’s policy details to formulate a complete medical record that is used to generate bills. 

The software electronically submits these bills to the patient as well as the health insurance company for payment. Before a bill can be submitted to the policy provider, it has to be coded based on Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9/ICD-10) protocols. Medical billing software systems are programmed to automatically assign these codes based on the patient’s medical record. After reviewing the bill, the insurance company sends the appropriate payment (or notice of denial) notifying the patient and practitioner via an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) letter which is added to the patient’s medical billing record by the software. In case of a dispute, rectification of bills with errors or missing information and follow up on claims, the software will update the patient’s medical record and billing details with the revised information. 

Medical billing and coding software is thus equipped to seamlessly and accurately handle all complex processes and correspondence involved in medical billing.

A typical base package of medical billing software would contain features that are restricted to medical billing and accounting functions like patient recordkeeping, claims processing, electronic claims submission, receivables management, patient billing and accounting integration. However, many software providers extend their scope to include features like practice management, scheduling and other administrative and clinical functions that are generally a part of EMR software systems.

Therefore, the difference between medical billing software and an EMR is that of core functionality. While medical billing software focuses on a practice’s medical billing procedures and billing-related administrative and financial processes, features of an EMR are primarily concentrated on clinical functions, records and outcomes. 

Medical billing software may serve clinical EMR functions in addition to electronic billing and coding for greater versatility. The same is true for EMR systems that incorporate specialized medical billing and coding program features to supplement their clinical applications.

References:

1. http://www.wisegeek.com/topics/medical-billing-software.htm

2. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-medical-billing.htm

3. http://www.medical-billing.com/blog/medicalbilling/pid-303/list-of-best-medical-billing-software/

4. http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/content/43/8/6.3.full

5. http://technology4doctors.blogspot.com/2011/02/emrs-providing-indian-doctors-with-edge.html

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Cloud Computing in Healthcare

This article aims to discuss aspects of cloud computing that are relevant to the healthcare industry and can be applied by doctors to improve their practice.

What Should Doctors Know About Cloud Computing?

There is a sea of information available on the internet about cloud computing and how it works. As a doctor with limited interest in information technology, understanding all that jargon (most of which may not even be directly related to your work and computing requirements) can be quite intimidating and time consuming.

Simply put, the cloud is a set of hardware, networks, storage, services and interfaces that are equipped to provide computing power, infrastructure, applications, software, business processes and storage – in short, all your computing needs, as a service wherever and whenever you need it.

Migrating to the cloud 'can' help you reduce cost, space, time and power that would otherwise be utilized for traditional IT services performing the same functions. This is possible because the cloud puts together a large pool of computing resources available to be used as an assured service by anyone who wishes to use it, anywhere in the world. Traditional IT environments on the other hand, have a limited set of resources that are independently managed and delivered to a limited number of people confined to a certain geographic location, thus pushing cost, time, space and power factors.

Using Cloud Computing To Improve Your Practice

Cloud computing can transform the way healthcare is practiced by empowering professionals to deliver better care at lower costs. Cloud computing allows doctors, researchers and scientists across the globe to collaborate and form a centralized, integrated and regularly updated medical database that can be seamlessly accessed by healthcare professionals without having to invest in over-the-top infrastructure or software. Doctors can use the cloud for viewing reports, scans, EMRs, prescriptions and information required to solve complex medical problems anywhere in the world.

Patients’ health data and EMRs can be combined to form a single, comprehensive health record that can be instantly accessed from one single source. The cloud also brings together patient information like insurance claims, prescription and drug details, lab reports, patient history and progress in cases of chronic illnesses and other details and consolidates them to be available at the point of care whenever required.

This not only helps improve the level of accuracy with which care is delivered but also reduces the time and cost of treatment for physicians and patients alike. As all data is sourced from a single, homogenous center, it also brings down the possibility of conflicting treatments, prescriptions and medical data miscommunication in cases where multiple physicians and providers are involved.

Cloud computing is typically subscription based. In many cases, it works on a metered billing model of payment where you pay only for what you use. It also allows for flexible self-service by which you can enable and disable the provision of required services depending on your usage and needs.

Cloud computing users need not invest in heavy capital expenditure on hardware, software, and services. As resources can be unsubscribed whenever required, the risk of investment is considerably reduced. The cloud also addresses increased data storage needs of physicians without having them spend on expensive personal storage devices. Software updates and innovation are centrally managed by cloud service providers, helping doctors focus the best part of their day on patient care.

Cloud computing can thus help physicians meet meaningful use criteria as it demonstrates better quality of care, lower costs and higher insurance/government reimbursements.

Popular Cloud Services

Most of us have “been on the cloud” without even knowing about it (eg: Facebook is an example of a public cloud). Depending on the visibility of data there are three types of cloud platforms: Public, private and hybrid (a combination of public and private).

A more popular classification is based on the services offered:

1. Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) offers hardware related services like disk storage, database or virtual servers. Amazon Web Services (AWS),Rackspace Cloud Servers and Flexiscale are popular IaaS providers.

2. Platform as a Service (PaaS) offers development platforms. Google’s Application Engine, Microsofts Azure, Salesforce.com’s force.com are well-knows in this category.

3. Software as service (SaaS) involves software services on the cloud like web based software applications, email services and so on. Popular examples of SaaS services are Salesforce.com (CRM), Google’s Gmail, Google Apps, Dropbox, Zoho, QuickBooks, Piwik, Microsoft Hotmail and their online version of office called BPOS (Business Productivity Online Standard Suite).

A good read on top cloud platforms at http://www.liventerprise.com/news/3608/.

Cloud Security

Cloud security and data ownership is a major concern for users and new adopters of cloud computing. As there is very little regulation currently pertaining to cloud computing, there are many data privacy and security issues to be dealt with. New users must be informed about details on who owns the data, third parties that may gain access to the data and the jurisdiction of the contract. We will look at Cloud Security in detail via a separate article.

References:

1. http://ehealth.johnwsharp.com/2008/09/19/the-intelligent-cloud-implications-for-health-and-medicine/

2. http://thecloudtutorial.com/cloudtypes.html

3. http://lawandmedicine.wordpress.com/2010/07/03/cloud-computing-the-future/

4. http://www.wikinvest.com/concept/Cloud_Computing

5. http://www.goomedic.com/applying-cloud-computing-on-medicine-part-2.html

6. http://searchcloudcomputing.techtarget.com/definition/cloud-computing

7. http://www.infoworld.com/d/cloud-computing/what-cloud-computing-really-means-031

8. https://www.technologyreview.com/business/38473/page2/

9. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/10/18/bisa1018.htm

10. http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/32267.wss

11. http://socialmediatoday.com/garylevin/296483/why-cloud-computing-may-be-dead-healthcare-and-medicine

12. http://healthtrain.blogspot.com/2011/05/why-cloud-computing-may-be-dead-for.html

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