Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Why IT Companies Are Important For Doctors?

2:46 AM Nrip Nihalani

Healthcare Information Technology (HIT) has the potential to transform global healthcare systems ensuring safer and more effective treatments while increasing the productivity, profitability and efficiency of practices. IT companies have integrated path breaking medical research with ingenious information technology, giving us medical tools, data systems, applications and devices that can change the way healthcare is practiced. Not only has it enabled doctors to connect with patients and other doctors in different parts of the world, HIT makes it possible for them to access a global database of precious medical information. 

Healthcare Information Technology promises to help doctors save money, attend to larger number of patients as well as allow them to implement a patient-centric model of care. The biggest breakthrough that Healthcare IT companies have made so far is the centralization and digitization of patient medical records, popularly known as the Electronic Medical Record or EMR, that has already begun to single handedly revolutionize healthcare as we have known it through the ages.

Benefits of Healthcare IT
 
The adoption of EMRs, contrary to what is popularly perceived, is as beneficial to doctors if not more, as it is to their patients. Since EMRs allow for the creation of one, single interaccesible national medical data system, medical records can be transferred anywhere in the country to help doctors provide effective, accurate and rapid treatment wherever required. So far, with paper based record systems, quick digital record transfers have been impossible, resulting in many unfortunate treatment errors and failures. 

However, IT companies have made it possible for doctors to improve the quality and safety of healthcare with the introduction of the EMR and other such revolutionizing healthcare tools. This has also significantly reduced the enormous assemblage of paperwork that has characterized physician offices and clinics all these years and has given doctors easier and faster access to information. Health insurance policy records and information are also easily retrievable from medical databases, saving practitioners hours of cumbersome and time consuming search work. 

Adoption of HIT has enabled doctors to optimize the cost of treatment and pass the same onto patients due to higher productivity and efficiency levels achieved in their practice. Features such as Computerized Physician Order Entry or CPOE, bar-code scanners and digital decision management systems increase the accuracy levels of administrative processes and treatments by introducing seamless, methodical practice management techniques. 

IT companies have empowered doctors to improve their practice on several fronts like,
 - Patient safety
 - Improved quality of care
 - Error free, accurate treatments
 - Higher doctor and staff productivity
 - Greater and faster access to patient information and medical research
 - Enhanced revenue
 - Lowered costs
 - Paperless offices and clutterfree working conditions
 - Efficient practice management systems

Doctors and Medical Networking
 
The Internet and social networking websites have made it possible for doctors to influence a whole medical community and establish themselves as thought leaders in their field. It has also enabled them to interface with a global clientele through video and web consulting tools, online medical diagnosis, web-based symptom analysis, and other mobile platforms that connect them to patients in remote locations. Doctors can join specialized medical social networks where they can exchange and discuss valuable ideas, diagnoses, complex cases and medical information with other dignitaries in their field. Real time industry news is easily available on such sites and is indispensable for keeping physicians updated and abreast with latest information in a field as dynamic as medicine. These forums not only help practitioners gain relevant and required medical information but also get them noticed and respected by peers and patients alike.

Healthcare IT companies are on their way to building a smarter, centralized and digitally managed healthcare system that will link doctors, patients and policy providers through a single, intelligible medical database. This fusion of medical knowledge and information technology driven by IT companies will not only lend patients a more pleasant and personalized healthcare experience, but will enable doctors to work with greater speeds and accuracy. 

However, for real change to come by, doctors must understand the importance of the game changers that healthcare IT companies are, and work in cooperation with them to contribute to a smart, intelligent and seamless global healthcare system.

References:

http://benefitof.net/benefits-of-technology/
http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Advantages-Of-Doctors-Social-Networking/2803300
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/health-information-technology.html

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

How Much Are The Typical IT Expenses In A Medical Office With EMR?

2:40 AM Nrip Nihalani

The introduction of EMR and Meaningful Use incentives has made it necessary for practitioners to undertake effective measures for successful EMR adoption and implementation. In order to maximize returns on EMR and resultant IT investments, physicians must perform a cost-benefit analysis and determine ways in which they can lower costs, save on expenses and utilize IT assets as efficiently as possible. This can be done by charting out a ground plan that underlines all projected expenses and revenue based on realistically researched data and information. 

Budgeting for EMR and IT Expenses
A primary requirement for accurate and realistic budgeting is identifying and understanding various elements that are involved in setting up your EMR and medical IT infrastructure. A good way to do so is by recognizing and incorporating factors that have contributed to successful EMR implementations at other physician practices. An effective EMR and medical IT budget will require you to look at a number of cost factors. Typically, these would include,
 - Hardware, software, networks, servers
 - Internet, wireless
 - Implementation, training
 - Maintenance, Upgrades, Updates, Technical Support
 - Anti-virus and other security systems
 - Emergency breakdowns and recovery
 - Data storage and backup systems
 - Digitization of existing paper files

You will also  need to account for year on year (or month on month) recurring costs and other hidden soft costs like time and money spent on staff training, revenue lost during the adoption process due to readjustment of workflow, resources utilized for internal IT management and so on. Many of these costs are not explicitly spelt out by vendors as they only surface after the installation has been completed. However, they markedly affect your overall profitability and must be carefully accounted and budgeted for.

EMR and Medical IT Infrastructure Costs

The costs of setting up the IT infrastructure for EMR implementations vary from practice to practice and installation to installation. However, to gain a rough idea or a general estimate about how much physicians can expect to spend on some primary variables involved in EMRs and medical IT set ups, we give you a few numbers (naturally, these will vary depending on market and situational factors).

EMR License – Between $1000 - $ 25,000 (depending on whether your system is an entry level EMR or a fully loaded one with advanced features and functionalities)

Hardware – Usually, Tablet PCs are recommended for primary providers and thin clients or workstations are suggested for assistant use. All these are centrally networked via a master server. Tablet PCs may be estimated at $2200, workstations at $1000 each and server at $5000-$10000.  

Implementation Costs – These are usually billed within the range of $90 - $150 per hour. Implementation includes setting up the network, customizing the software to the specifics of your practice as well as staff and employee training. 

In addition, you will need to incorporate projections for broadband connections and other soft costs that are specific to the nature and requirements of your practice.

It is also important to account for returns, benefits and added revenue that will accompany a fully implemented and adopted EMR system. Research by The American Journal of Medicine suggests that physicians can expect to save approximately $29,000 per year starting from their second year of EMR implementation, if the EMR system is used to its maximum potential. 
Another study reveals that EMRs worked to full capacity can increase the number of patients seen by as much as 15%, adding that much more to the physician’s annual revenue.

Optimizing Your Return on EMR Investment

Budgeting can help you draw out a roadmap to minimize unpredictable outflows of cash ensuring a secure financial environment for your practice to function. Even though your budget will focus on minimizing adoption costs and maximizing post-adoption value and returns, in the end, a budget is only as good as the efficiency and method with which it is followed. 

Here are certain guidelines that will help you extract maximum value from your EMR and IT investments.

 - Physicians must look at improving the speed at which the EMR systems are adopted and internalized in the daily workflow of the practice. This will save on a good chunk on staff training and downtime costs.
 - Look at upgrading your existing IT systems wherever possible, instead of replacing them altogether.
 - Try to have your EMR vendor include as much training time as possible, as part of the EMR package.
 - Ask vendors about the payment plans they offer (payment in parts or installments as opposed to complete down payments) and chart out an arrangement that best agrees with your financial interests.
 - Use antivirus software, firewalls and other security systems to prevent unprecedented system breakdowns and crashes.
 - Read all offer documents very carefully and get detailed information and clarifications on terms, products and services mentioned in the contract. Make sure that all verbal agreements are put in writing to avoid post-installation conflicts or confusion.

You can calculate your practice’s return on EMR investment using an ROI calculator similar to the one found at http://www.clinkareonline.com/clinkare-roi-calculator. This ROI calculator bases your return estimates on parameters like size of the medical office, number of providers, strength of staff, patient volumes, fees and so on.

References:

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

The Use Of Tablets In the World of EMRs

1:55 AM Nrip Nihalani

With a growing number of physicians adopting tablet PCs for their EMR implementations, EMR vendors and IT manufacturers are looking to build compatible native systems to facilitate user-friendly and efficient EMR execution. From table desktops to thin clients and now the tablet, EMRs have been tried and tested on a variety of hardware, each bringing its own benefits and drawbacks. However, the striking surge in EMR adoption on tablet PCs has made providers sit up and take notice of this remarkably promising technology.
 
Evolution of Tablets in the EMR Space

The tablet technology has found a significant number of users in the healthcare industry. A survey conducted by Manhattan Research reveals that practitioners are leaning largely towards mobile platforms in order to improve the productivity and quality of care, as well as for efficient EMR implementations. According to the research, it is estimated that around 30% of doctors own an iPad, which is the leader in the tablet PC market today. Supported by increased bandwidths and wireless internet speeds, the tablet is expected to become a popular choice among physicians, who are already displaying considerable interest in EMR adoption on tablets. Tracing this dramatic rise in the adoption of tablet PCs in the healthcare industry, IT companies are working on designing specialized platforms that connect smart devices like tablets and smartphones to EMRs. 

Tablets and EMRs  

Even though EMRs on wireless tablets are neatly poised to be the next big thing in the healthcare industry, they do have their detractors. Positively, tablets lend EMRs a host of benefits ranging from portability and enhanced patient communication to increased data accessibility and productivity. Physicians who have worked with EMRs on tablet PCs appreciate their connectivity, usability and design benefits. Tablets are small and light, easy to use and can be conveniently carried for patient visits (as opposed to old-world hospital carts carrying the EMRs on king-sized, unhandy desktops). Physicians can access data from hospital systems and complete their charting in real time while working with patients. Notes can be handwritten using tablets and documents can be wirelessly sent for printing directly from the device. Tablet interface also opens up communication channels between the patients and doctors, contributing to better relationships and improved quality of care. 

While tablet PCs are serving EMR implementations well by helping physicians devise a seamless and efficient flow of healthcare processes, users have nonetheless identified a number of pain points that need to be addressed for the tablet to deliver a dependable and sure-fire system to support EMRs. Firstly, most tablets are not designed specifically for medical use (though this appears to be changing as tablet marketers have identified compelling potential in the healthcare industry). Physicians may not be comfortable using the touchscreen on tablets that do not have a stylus. This makes the data entry process sluggish and eats into the valuable time doctors can spend interacting with patients. Tablets are also tough to clean and sterilize, and touchscreens don’t work with surgical gloves. Since it is a relatively newer technology, hospital IT infrastructure and wireless networking platforms are often not equipped to support and integrate EMR implementations on the tablet. It is easy to lose your wireless signal in old hospital buildings with limited IT support, and a tablet with dropped wireless is as good as of no use considering that most Medical Solutions for the Tablets today are pretty much web based solutions.  

Selecting a Tablet for your EMR

There are a number of factors physicians must consider before investing in a tablet to run their EMR. It is important to ensure that your tablet serves all the primary EMR functions and process requirements. To begin with, your tablet must have a good battery life. It must be easy to operate, user-friendly and durable. Tablets are available in two styles, the slate-style and the convertible-style. The convertible-style has a built-in keyboard and therefore, is heavier as compared to slate-style tablets that do not have a keyboard.  

It is always better to go in for specialized tablets that have been specifically designed for medical and EMR use. iPad and Android are introducing a number of features and apps that support a host of certified EMR systems. Samsung is also making custom Android operating system tablets for EMR and medical use. CNET editors list the highest-rated tablets in the market with Apple iPad 2, Samsung Galaxy Tab , Asus Eee Pad Transformer, BlackBerry PlayBook and T-Mobile G-Slate emerging as top contenders. Other models that have become popular with physicians are Motion LE1600 Tablet PC by Motion Computing and Fujitsu ST5000 Tablet PC by Fujitsu. They are both slate-style tablets and range between $2000-$2500. The Toshiba Portege, Acer C200 and IMB Thinkpad are also good convertible-style options.

References:

1.    http://www.medicaltabletpc.com/
2.    http://www.emrandhipaa.com/administrator/2006/01/21/pros-and-cons-of-using-wireless-vs-wired-for-your-emr/
3.    http://technology4doctors.blogspot.com/2011/06/what-emr-medical-software-options-are.html
4.    http://www.emrandhipaa.com/emr-and-hipaa/2009/06/05/top-5-wireless-challenges-for-healthcare-it/
5.    http://www.emrapproved.com/emr-hardware.php
6.    http://www.imedicalapps.com/2011/02/samsung-android-hospital-medical-use-tablet/
7.    http://www.smartphonehc.com/tag/tablet-emr/
8.    http://healthpopuli.com/2011/06/02/doctors-using-tablet-based-emrs-like-portability-productivity-and-patient-communication/
9.    http://palmdoc.net/index.php/2011/06/06/tablets-and-emrs/
10.    http://sdcms.org/article/tablet-or-not-tablet-right-question
11.    http://www.emrexperts.com/articles/electronic-medical-records-tablet-pc.php
12.    http://www.ophmanagement.com/printarticle.aspx?article=105621
13.    http://www.emrandhipaa.com/administrator/2009/08/03/tablets-vs-convertibles-vs-laptops-and-emr/
14.    http://www.itwriting.com/tablet.php
15.    http://www.hp.com/sbso/solutions/healthcare/drmillersuccess.pdf

Sunday, August 7, 2011

What Type Of Support Do You Need When You Go On An EMR?

3:47 AM Nrip Nihalani

A number of EMRs in the market today are loaded with stunning features equipped to help physicians meet their Meaningful Use objectives. However, it is not possible to utilize these features to their maximum potential without adequate EMR support and training that must be provided by your EMR vendor.

EMR Installation Support

To begin with, your EMR provider must undertake the entire installation of your EMR system. In case of a client-server system, a qualified and trained installation team must be sent onsite to set up the software and assist you in going live. The team must ensure that your system is configured to meet the requirements of your practice. It must seamlessly and diligently integrate the EMR in the existing work system without leaving any loose ends or installation glitches that may later bring the practice to a grinding halt until help arrives.

EMR Training Programs

Making the shift to an EMR based practice will require your EMR provider to walk with you every step of the way until and even after you are thoroughly and completely settled in. A good EMR company will offer training programs for users at all levels of the practice to help you and your team effectively accommodate the new technology in your daily work lives.

Onsite and web-based training is important to equip your staff with the necessary skills required to use the EMR in a way that contributes to the practice’s productivity and Meaningful Use objectives. EMR vendors must offer training programs conducted by certified and trained EMR experts. Learning centres, live online and telephonic EMR guidance, and other platforms for EMR assistance must be provided. 

Local and Onsite Technical Support 

Technical EMR support services must be available locally and onsite. Qualified and trained technicians must be assigned and duly deployed to help you with any situation that may arise pertaining to the working of the software, upgrades, customization or any other assistance required.  A single local point of contact must be provided, ideally free of cost, to help you with the required technical support with minimum response time or disruption of practice schedules.
 
Web-Based Online Support
 
Most web-based EMR systems offer online technical support and assistance. Client-server EMRs also supplement their onsite support services with online support as a faster and more convenient means of problem resolution and assistance. Additionally, web-based EMR systems provide online training, support services, regular and automatic software updates, usually at no extra cost.
 
Hardware Support

Your EMR vendor must provide hardware support and technical infrastructure analysis to help you set up your EMR software on a compatible hardware system. You can seek their assistance on computer specifications, internet or broadband options, devices like signature pads, mobile tablet PCs, printers and scanners that help you maximize the efficiency and productivity of the EMR software.
 
Complaint Management and Grievances
 
You must ensure that your EMR vendor has an efficient and responsive customer support and complaint management platform. Grievances must be addressed in the least possible response time with certified help available locally as well as online. The EMR provider must be expected to fix the problem efficiently, without interrupting the work flow and routine of the practice.

While most EMRs sell on features, they lose out on their customer support. It is easy to give in to the incredibly assuring presentations made by EMR vendors, but to ensure the long-term feasibility of an EMR implementation, you will have to look beyond this marketing veil and probe deeper into the EMR company’s service, support and training standards.

References: