Medical EMR can simplify healthcare in many different ways. The best part is that it can streamline the whole physical therapy documentation process from start to finish without consuming too much time from the staff. Nitin Chhoda explains how this is all possible.

medical EMR healthcareThere are many ways that an integrated medical EMR system can help a practice to save money and become more efficient. But one benefit of EMRs that is often overlooked is the way a good system can simplify healthcare in general.

There are benefits to patients as well as clinicians that can help even the most confused patient to get the care they need at a better price, without costing the practice more money.

Billing Advantages

Healthcare providers already know how an integrated electronic medical record can make billing more accurate and efficient.

If everyone in the practice is using the same system, and all data are available through that system at any time, medical billing staff can pull the data they need and bill on a timely schedule.

Coding can also be easier, with a specific set of billable tasks and diagnoses, clinicians can provide medical EMR coding staff with the precise information they need to get the medical coding done more quickly and easily.

The billers can then take the information and file claims with the insurance companies and bill patients for their share of the cost. The improvement in efficiency that medical coding and billing departments are experiencing has been exciting for those practices that have implemented a medical EMR.

So how does this simplify healthcare and understanding the healthcare and insurance system in the United States? First of all, if the billing system requires specific information from patients, the billing department can implement procedures for determining what a patient will owe even before services are provided.

Patients Need Help

The fact is that the majority of patients who come into a medical practice do not quite understand how the healthcare system works in the U.S. They probably don’t know what their own deductible and co-pay will be, and it is likely that they will not expect a bill a few weeks or a month after their appointment.

So rather than taking the time to bill the insurance company, only to be rejected or denied based on a co-pay or deductible issue, the medical EMR billing staff can find out the details before billing.

medical EMR simplicityNaturally, this can be done even without a medical EMR, but to set up a system would be more of a challenge than purchasing it as part of an integrated medical EMR.

In fact, because medical EMRs companies are set up to handle exactly this sort of adjustment to a biller’s workflow, the transition is made smooth and simple.

Improving Outcomes

Additionally, a medical EMR can help improve patient outcomes. It may sound funny to say that a computer program or software will have an effect on how well patients respond to treatment.

But the fact is that with a medical EMR, it is possible to track treatments and outcomes much more closely. Reports can be generated quickly. The results of certain treatments are better than others, and at the practice level it is possible to identify advantageous treatment decisions with a medical EMR.