EMR News

In Touch EMR Eliminates Scanning and Uploading of Patient Documents

by Nitin Chhoda PT, DPT | Jan 25, 2014 | Electronic Medical Records, Physical Therapy Documentation, Physical Therapy Software

With the technology of an iPad and the In Touch EMR, there’s no reason to scan and upload documents to a patient’s record ever again. At this time, the In Touch EMR has the only dedicated iPad app for physical therapy.

In Touch EMR stores information securely in the cloud and can be retrieved at any time. Implemented on the iPad, the EMR offers a fast, easy and simple system with almost unlimited uses.

Say Cheese

With the iPad’s built-in camera, patients can take a photo of themselves for identification purposes, right in the office.

The photo automatically goes where it needs to be with the integrated In Touch EMR and it’s permanently stored in the cloud.

Patients can also complete forms and photograph them for inclusion in their records.

It’s essential to verify each patient’s identity for reimbursements, prevent fraud and avoid identify theft.

A photo of the patient’s insurance card can be taken and added to their file for quick verification of coverage and services, thereby increasing front desk efficiency.

Photographic Documentation

Clinicians can take photos of individuals during the patient encounter to document their posture, injuries and other visible data. The photos are instantly attached to the patient’s record to create a visual profile and establish medical necessity.

Clinicians can snap a quick photo of referrals, documents and records from other providers, all of which becomes part of the patient’s record almost instantly.

Education

Clinicians need to understand the various elements of Obamacare so they can provide explanations to patients.

The In Touch EMR is an important tool for patient education.

Clinicians can use the In Touch EMR and iPad as a visual aid to help clients understand what they’re being told verbally. Instructions, examples and pertinent information can be called up, printed and given to patients to peruse at home.

Automating The Workflow

In Touch EMR and the iPad automates the before, during and after patient experience.

Staff members spend less effort on time-consuming tasks and patients receive more quality time with their clinician. Billing can be completed and submitted, even before patients leave the office.

The combination of the In Touch EMR and an iPad eliminates the need for scanning, photocopying and uploading information to patient files.

The EMR in In Touch EMR stores data quickly, safely and securely in the cloud where it can be retrieved any time it’s needed.

Office processes are greatly improved for better efficiency, and clinicians have the ability to create a photographic profile of their patients, allowing them to bill quickly and reduce turnaround times on reimbursements.

EMR Software System — Transforming Patients into Referral Sources

by Nitin Chhoda PT, DPT | Jan 21, 2014 | Electronic Medical Records, Physical Therapy Documentation, Physical Therapy Software

It’s important for physical therapists to keep in touch with their patients throughout the year and not just when they make an appointment. Nitin Chhoda elaborates on how electronic medical record (EMR) software provides the tools to build and maintain an ongoing relationship with patients and transform them into a primary source of referrals.

Familiarity Breeds Referrals

Patients want to know that their business is appreciated. They’re busy and have dozens of options available when choosing a healthcare professional.

They want to feel that they’re more than just an insurance card or a paycheck. Clinicians must reach out to them.

An electronic medical record makes it easy, simple and streamlines the process.

Practitioners must strive to create an improved relationship with patients to increase the chances of referrals. They have to like, trust and be familiar with the therapist before they feel comfortable enough to refer them to friends and family.

Practitioners must keep their names in front of patients and an EMR provides the means to do that.

Modern Communications

An integrated solution, such as the In Touch EMR™, offers multiple methods of connecting with patients in traditional and modern ways to form and maintain long-term relationships. Practitioners can use the abilities of an EMR to provide patients with gentle reminders without being invasive.

Communication is the key to creating a long-term relationship between patients and practitioners.

Note: An EMR contains multiple mechanisms to communicate with patients.

When patient information is entered into an EMR, it provides clinicians with eight pieces of data that can be used to inform, educate and connect with their clientele.

Therapists should automatically collect the needed patient information, including their email address and cell phone number. Practitioners can take advantage of the built-in abilities and data residing in the EMR to send clients offers, announcements and eBooks, along with voice and text messages. Patients must give permission for the contact, with the option of ending the communication when they desire.

An EMR Facilitates Communication in a Variety of Ways

Clinicians can keep in touch with patients through mail, email, phone and cell phones, and voice and text messages.

All those methods can be used to mark the client’s anniversary with the practice, the patient’s birthday, and send a variety of patient reminders.

Most text messages are read within five minutes of receipt, making them a reliable vehicle of communication.

Electronic medical records provide practice owners with automated options that can be used to deliver newsletters, greeting cards and special offers. Clinicians should endeavor to use at least two or three of the available communication options. With the metrics contained in an EMR, practitioners can also track patients who make a large number of referrals.

Integrated EMRs will soon be the standard in private practices, hospitals, labs and pharmacies across the nation. They streamline all facets of the office and reimbursement process, and provide automated methods of connecting with patients to build relationships that generate referrals.

EMRs have the necessary tools to help practitioners expand their reach and transform patients into an ongoing source of referrals.

Physical Therapy Software Benefits to Physical Therapy Practices

by Nitin Chhoda PT, DPT | Aug 11, 2013 | Electronic Medical Records, Physical Therapy Documentation, Physical Therapy Management, Physical Therapy Software

The management of healthcare can be a tedious task due to the various divisions involved. Nitin Chhoda shares how using physical therapy software or EMR (electronic medical record) can provide several benefits to any healthcare facility, especially in physical therapy businesses all over the world.

Both large-scale and small-scale physical therapy centers will gain an advantage if a physical therapy software is utilized. Physical therapy software offers a number of features that can comply with the different aspects on physical therapy practice.

Reporting Capabilities of the Physical Therapy Software

Proper physical therapy software management is not considered complete without the reporting capabilities offered by the physical therapy EMR. As long as the reporting feature is utilized optimally, the average number of visits for each patient can be monitored easily.

This figure can be linked with referral indicators. Any problems or inadequacies can be recognized in which patients are more likely to self-discharge. Previously, this kind of exhaustive reporting takes a lot of time to gather. With the help of the physical therapy software, needed reports are made in just a matter of minutes.

It is a known fact that medical billing can be a burden together with insurance companies who pay approximately half on all the claims that were submitted. With the help of the EMR physical therapy software, submissions are improved.

Additionally, it eliminate errors, boost the efficiency of the overall process, as well as make the identification process on claims a lot easier. The physical therapy software allows the medical billing staff to access all the required tools to track the insurance companies that deny or reject claims on a regular basis.

Physical Therapy Scheduling Process

Inefficient therapy scheduling process in any physical therapy practice also causes money loss. There are instances that one of the patients might cancel without notice. Some cancelled appointments can be rearranged. But there are patients who do not show up, incurring losses.

Physical therapy software can also provide solutions that deal with physical therapy scheduling issues.

With the benefits offered by an EMR, physical therapy practices will become more efficient in terms of providing services as well as with its management.

A private practice that utilizes physical therapy software is considered more efficient, has an improved insurance claim acceptance rates and can deal with problems that might arise easily.

EMR – Electronic Data Interchange 101

by Nitin Chhoda PT, DPT | Aug 8, 2013 | Electronic Medical Records, Physical Therapy Documentation, Physical Therapy Software

When the Affordable Health Care Act goes into effect, electronic data exchange (EDI) will be the standard for submitting billing, communicating with medical facilities, and staying in contact with patients.

In this informative article, electronic medical record (EMR) expert, Nitin Chhoda, explains the basics and how an EMR can be used to accomplish all those tasks.

Reimbursement Claims

Perhaps the most important facet of an EMR for physicians is its ability to let billers submit claims to clearinghouses in real time.

Billers receive confirmation of the claim’s arrival and can track any reimbursement request as it makes its way through the payment system.

The communication is conducted in real time, eliminating long waits and allowing clinicians to collect payments in as little as 10 days.

Another advantage of an EMR is its ability to identify potential problems with claims. Any inconsistencies can be remedied quickly before reimbursement requests are sent. Clean claims are processed quickly and practitioners collect their funds quicker.

Security

Patient information is confidential. Data transmitted electronically through an EMR meets HIPAA’s stringent security requirements.

Communication

Practitioners have the ability to communicate with other physicians, medical facilities, labs and pharmacies. Referrals can be made, medications ordered and tests scheduled right from the office.

Electronic medical records provide enhanced communication with patients to remind them of appointments and any debt they owe. With an integrated EMR, medical providers can post test results in a client’s secure account and communicate with them through mail, phone, email, and text and voice messages.

Patient Care

EDI benefits patients by providing continuity of care. Client records can be accessed by authorized personnel from virtually anywhere in the world through EMR. In the event that an individual is unable to supply needed data, medical providers can access records through EDI to avoid treatment errors, learn about any health issues or allergies, and eliminate redundant testing.

Records are also available in the cloud in the event of a natural disaster

Portability

EMR technology can be employed on laptops and tablets, providing practice owners with new opportunities for revenues. The systems can be accessed anywhere there’s an Internet connection, allowing clinicians to offer services away from the office. Corporate wellness programs, senior centers, home care programs and spas are just some of the opportunities available with a portable system.

Savings

An electronic data exchange system saves practices time and money. There’s no need to maintain a room of file cabinets full of folders filled with paper records.

Patient information is maintained in the cloud for convenience and quick retrieval. Vendors are responsible for maintaining HIPAA compliance and security, and EMR systems can quickly notify other medical providers if there’s ever a security issue.

Before purchasing any EMR, clinicians should conduct sufficient research and examine several systems. All EMRs aren’t the same – practitioners should choose one specifically designed for the type of practice they have.

Selected EMR systems have low monthly fees, 24/7 support from vendors and updates, along functionalities to assist in marketing. Electronic data interchange represents the future of how those in the medical field communicate with clearinghouses, medical facilities and providers to offer a superior level of patient care.

Web-Based Billing and EMR – The Cutting Edge

by Nitin Chhoda PT, DPT | Aug 5, 2013 | Electronic Medical Records, Medical Billing, Physical Therapy Billing

Electronic medical record (EMR) systems have changed billing standards with cutting edge technology. EMR systems allow for cloud-based billing that’s quick, efficient and clinicians can receive payment in as little as 10 days.

In this insightful article, Nitin Chhoda explains how an EMR facilitates the reimbursement process.

The use of an EMR allows practices to conduct business in the cloud, also known as web-based billing. It eliminates the need for files full of paperwork and the space to maintain them.

With web-based billing software, claims can be filed, payments delivered and records accessed any time of the day or night for greater productivity. It’s an environmentally friendly solution.

Identifying Problems and ICD-10 Codes

Perhaps one of the biggest advantages of a web-based billing EMR is its ability to identify mistakes and potential problems. It’s a simple matter to make the appropriate corrections, ensuring clean claims that progress quickly through the system. An EMR can assist providers with up to a 91 percent payment rate the first time claims are submitted.

When a claim is questioned, an EMR makes it easy to address the problem online. The transition to ICD-10 codes can cause significant problems for practices that aren’t using an EMR. The web-based billing software system is capable of handling all the new codes with clarity and ease.

Equipment Costs and Savings

Practitioners save money and eliminate costs associated with web-based billing software, equipment and the need for upgrades. There are excellent EMR programs available for free that provide medical practices with a full service billing and management system. They keep monthly fees low, offer 24/7 customer support and online training for staff.

The vendor is responsible for all facets of the infrastructure.

Digital Delivery

Every medical practice is familiar with clearinghouses. They check claims for errors and forward them to the patient’s healthcare insurance carrier. A web-based billing EMRs transmit reimbursement claims electronically in real time and maintain an ongoing record of each claim, its details and current status in the chain of reimbursement.

An EMR is crucial for medical providers who want to work with government-sponsored healthcare insurance plans. They require claims to be submitted electronically and prefer to pay via electronic fund transfer. Submissions can be sent individually or as a batch. Real time adjudication and notice of denials or acceptance are received in moments when a web-based billing system is at hand.

Portability and New Venues

Integrated and web-based billing EMR software can be implemented on laptops and tablets. It provides practitioners with portability and the opportunity to forge trails into new venues for new revenue streams. Web-based billing software can be submitted from any location an Internet connection is available and remain in compliance with HIPAA security standards.

Other Services

Electronic medical records facilitate the payment process with cloud-based billing, but they offer a comprehensive variety of other advantages. They store information in a secure environment and allow staff to verify insurance coverage prior to treatment.

Electronic patient statements can be sent, payments made and clients can complete a variety of essential information online. Patients can be contacted by multiple methods, test results can be posted for clients and medications can be requested.

Web-based billing offers clinicians the ability to receive payments quicker, opportunities to extend their circle of revenues and submit bills in real time.

The web-based billing software systems represent the future for medical practices and billing procedures. Practitioners without an EMR face a loss of efficiency, productivity and revenues.

EMR: The Changing Face of Healthcare Management

by Nitin Chhoda PT, DPT | Jul 23, 2013 | Physical Therapy

EMR facilitates office processes, expedites revenues and enhances the quality of client care. These are just some of the advantages why Nitin Chhoda wants physical therapists and private practice owners need to implement an electronic medical record system now.

Throughout the years as technology evolved, healthcare management has adapted to meet the changing capabilities of the system.

Before a new eave of technological advances, offices were forced to rely on paper medical records, handwritten, and susceptible to casualty or loss.

These boxes and file cabinets filled back rooms of physical therapists’ offices. If the documents remained safe in the office, they were still at risk of being read by an individual who could compromise the patient information.

Now a new era of medical records has arrived called electronic medical records (EMRs). It has streamlined every facet of the healthcare practice, no longer forcing offices to rely on paper records

New Flow of Communication
Physical therapist and other private practice offices used to rely on postal system and copier to transfer information to other practices. The ability to fax records helped speed up the process but it still took time. If a patient relocated for employment or family, the patient’s medical records had to be transferred as well, a cumbersome practice that could take weeks or months of sorting, copying, billing for copies, and mailing.

With EMR, records are stored in the “cloud” or a healthcare database from which a physician can easily access a new patient’s previous records. EMR also allow doctors and physical therapists to coordinate treatment of their mutual patients, and the information is updated immediately.

Cost-Saving Procedure
Paying an employee to keep medical records can cost a physical therapist or provider up to $15 per hour. With new EMR software, medical records are kept easier and faster, and readily accessible to any individual in the office with the touch of a button.

Improved Physical Therapy Documentation for Third Parties
In the days before advanced technology, retrieving physical therapy documentation was a tedious practice. Insurance agencies were forced to rely on photocopied records or faxed copies. This delay in processing slowed the entire system. Personal injury attorneys had to retrieve a signed HIPAA from a patient, individually contacting each medical provider for patient records for legal analysis.

Now with EMR, attorneys can simply fill out a request form, and have the information provided within a few a days.

Streamlined Billing Practice
In the pre-EMR days, physical therapist billing used to be a shaky process at best. Providers had to submit individually to each insurance agency, and wait for the results. Few patients had insurance and if treatment was covered by a government agency, the waiting time doubled.

Income was precarious due to the long response time. Now EMR system allows physical therapist and other providers to bill with a few clicks, and insurance agencies are instantly notified with invoices. Gone are the days of billing via mail for insurance and individuals, payment processing is now available online.

EMR opens a new way of communication and billing process for patients, insurance agencies, and third parties. In the evolving body of healthcare, EMR improves the treatment of patients with up-to-date information.

As more providers embrace technology, EMR is also available on tablets and mobile phones, for instant consultation.