While most of the buzz around ICD-10 has been around what it can do for the patient — creating more accurate diagnoses, reducing associated costs and improving overall care — this shouldn't gloss over the range of benefits that the new coding system can have for the clinics themselves. The wider accessibility and chiropractic EHR compliance offered by ICD-10 is not only key to creating more stabilized inter-office workflows, but can also help set the groundwork for a successful practice as it grows and expands.

EHR Intelligence recently spoke with Cornelius Cathcart, MD, owner and president of North Carolina Pediatric Associates. Like many other physicians across the country, Cathcart recently implemented ICD-10 into his clinics ahead of next year's deadline. Not only have the new codes proven useful in treating patients, they've also helped facilitate the successful expansion of his practice.

"For me and my practice, I started out with one location and as the practice grew and we added locations it became advantageous to have electronic medical records," Cathcart tells the source. "[ICD-10 allows] you when you have multiple locations to have your providers available to your patients regardless of where they are. They are able to pull up records from one location or another. We all know people tend to fall in love with a provider or two."

Cathcart also stresses the importance of adopting both ICD-10 and Meaningful Use Stage 2, and the necessity in having chiropractic EHR software compatible with different medical records, patient portals and diagnostic codes. As Cathcart notes, meaningful use provides "a stepping stone to continued patient safety and improved care coordination," ensuring that patients are yielding just as many benefits out of a clinic with up-to-date medical records as the physicians are.

Investing in the best chiropractic EHR software as soon as possible can help facilitate any practice's transition into a more patient-friendly destination. 

The post Creating a more successful practice with ICD-10 appeared first on EHR Software News | BackChart.

Previously on this blog, we've covered a wide range of chiropractic marketing strategies largely centered on social media applications. This includes maintaining a regular, informative blog and taking every opportunity to broadcast your online presence at conferences and other speaking events. Bolstering your website and devoting time to social media accounts is an important way to enhance your visibility online — which, after all, is where many potential patients begin their search for a chiropractor.

However, as beneficial as these avenues can be for your practice, referrals remain the most potent tool to draw new patients. As such, it's important for chiropractors to devote time to expanding their referral networks through current patients, working relationships with other medical practitioners and other underused avenues. Yet understanding the value of a referral network and knowing how to make use of these resources are two distinct things.

For that reason, health care marketing and image development consultant Cheryl Bisera is holding a webinar on referral network strategies to help you build a thriving practice. The webinar, hosted by Kareo, will take place on Wednesday, March 19, at 1:00 PM Eastern, 10:00 AM Pacific. During this informative session, Bisera will address the following components of a strong referral network:

• Building physician referrals and appealing to new providers
• Appealing to current clients to become advocates
• Empowering referral sources to identify people who may benefit from chiropractic care.

This type of networking is an essential skill in any profession, but it's understandable if the ability doesn't come naturally at first. By learning more about best practices for building referrals, you can help more patients experience the benefits of chiropractic care. Click here to register for Cheryl Bisera's referral network webinar.

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The deadline for ICD-10 conversion is less than 200 days away, and given its convergence with meaningful use stage 2, many health care practitioners are understandably apprehensive. Change, no matter how beneficial, is often met with uncertainty and fear. However, while the onset of ICD-10 will inevitably spur a few growing pains, it has ultimately been developed to improve patient care and streamline the administrative process in practices across the country. Plus, as one news outlet recently noted, there is nothing to be gained by falling victim to fear-mongering or hysteria.

Michael Daconta of InCadence Strategic Solutions penned a piece for GCN on the misconceptions that have fueled widespread fears about ICD-10. ICD-10, Daconta, is not a new species. It is simply a taxonomy that falls in line with past iterations while providing greater detail.

"ICD [...]is a taxonomy for diseases. As a classification scheme it is no different than any other hierarchical or drill-down scheme where data items or nodes flow from parent to child (and where the child is more specialized than its parent)," Daconta writes.

Though ICD-10 will consist of considerably more codes, Daconta explains that more options do not necessarily equate to more difficulty. Some critics have singled out relatively obscure codes — such as those that refer expressly to dolphin-related accidents — to indicate that the additions are ultimately excessive and even comical. However, any medical practitioner can attest that even rare circumstances must be recorded accurately to ensure proper care for every patient. Even codes that aren't frequently used have value if they help just one physician make an educated diagnosis.

Though ICD-10 may not be quite the bogeyman that some critics suggest, chiropractors must still be prepared for the switch. Investing in chiropractic management software that is equipped for ICD-10 can minimize workflow disruption while enabling you to reap the benefits of chiropractic EHR.

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Now that officials from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have officially confirmed that the ICD-10 deadline will not be delayed any further, health care providers are starting to panic about their preparedness. The new coding system — which represents the first change in more than 30 years — is poised to take effect on October 1, 2014,  giving chiropractors just over six months to make sure their chiropractic management systems are up to snuff.

ICD-10 was a hot topic at the HIMSS14 conference last month, but despite efforts to educate health care providers and equip them with the tools they'll need to weather the coming storm, it seems that many practitioners are still woefully unprepared for what's to come.

"I attended a presentation when they did a physician's survey, and one physicians said, 'ICD-10? What's that?' The other quote that stood out at me was, 'Just send me a list — make sure that you send me a list of the codes.' Okay. We'll send you a list of the 170,000 ICD-10 codes, and then you'll be ready, right?" remarked Nuance Health Chief Medical Information Officer Dr. Nick van Terheyden in an interview with EHR Intelligence. 

The transition to ICD-10 is undoubtedly daunting, but remember that this change, much like the shift to chiropractic EHR, has been developed to ultimately improve patient care across the board. ICD-10 will introduce more codes for physicians to contend with, but this increase actually reflects a greater degree of specificity that will ultimately enhance your record-keeping abilities. Growing pains are inevitable, of course, but the best way to ensure minimal disruption to your practice is to invest in chiropractic documentation software that is fully equipped for ICD-10 and any other changes on the horizon.  

The post Are providers falling behind on ICD-10? appeared first on EHR Software News | BackChart.

The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) convention is in full-swing in Orlando this week, and many medical practitioners have their ear to the ground for rumors about the upcoming ICD-10 deadline. Currently, all health care professionals are expected to switch over to the new coding system by October 1, but many industry leaders have spoken out against the viability of this date. 

Following an all-day symposium on ICD-10 on February 23, attendees speculated that the powers that be may announce an extension of the deadline in response to mounting concerns. Modern Healthcare reports that a representative from the Office of E-Health Standards and Services at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) intimated on Sunday that relief measures may be rolled out during the conference. However, HIMSS vice president of government relations Tom Leary has said there were no expected announcements from the federal government regarding ICD-10 compliance adjustments.

Signifying the first change in medical coding language in 30 years, ICD-10 has always been poised for some pushback. The deadline also coincides with the onset of meaningful use stage 2, which will also impose a new stream of documentation requirements on this industry. Both of these advancements are intended to improve the quality of care physicians provide while essentially cutting the fat in terms of administrative hours and delays in accessing patient information, but these long-term benefits can be hard to appreciate when you're scrambling to adjust to such drastic changes. 

ICD-10 is certainly a hot topic at HIMSS, with many forums focusing on how physicians can make this transition as painless as possible while harnessing the full analytical capabilities of healthcare IT. To simplify this shift, it's important to find the best chiropractic EHR software available. The right chiropractic management software should be equipped to work with ICD-10, and paired with extensive training and post-sale technical support.

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The U.S. population is getting older, as a surge of Baby Boomers have reached the big 6-0 and have started exploring their options for independent living and eldercare. With this demographic shift, an already cash-strapped health care industry can expect a higher volumes of patients requiring a greater degree of care. Senior care providers are also bracing themselves for  the growing demand and turning increasingly to healthcare IT solutions to support their expansion while cutting costs.

According to the industry news outlet Senior Housing News, EHR software is one of the most common avenues by which these professionals are improving their quality of care. In fact, an estimated 83 percent of senior living providers who took part in a technology adoption survey conducted by LeadingAge said they had introduced digitized documents to stay on track.

"In 2014, we will see more and more of the EHRs that are deployed being used in a more meaningful way to drive quality improvement initiatives and also drive strategic positioning for long-term care and post-acute care providers," explained LeadingAge representative Majd Alwan. 

Considering how much pressure the eldercare industry is facing specifically, medical practitioners of all specialties should keep an eye on this sector to identify innovations that truly produce effective time- and money-saving results. In that light, the willingness of so many senior living providers to back EHR software may be a more substantial endorsement than any press release from the Office of the National Coordinator of Health IT.

Chiropractic EHR presents an opportunity to access comprehensive medical records almost instantly, cutting down on storage space and forgoing lapses in communication between health care providers. The end result is a reduction in the time spent on administrative tasks, less space dedicated to storage and an increased ability to make the most informed decision for each patient's care.

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We know that chiropractors, particularly ones with smaller practices, are always on the lookout for chiropractic marketing ideas to help better promote their business. The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) may have just the tip.

In a July 30 press release, the ACA announced that for this fall's National Chiropractic Health Month, it will be urging chiropractors across the country to promote the importance of physical activity, and the role it plays in ensuring healthy and pain-free joints.

The theme for this year? "Get vertical."

By making simple changes to your daily routines—getting off the couch and office chair more, spending just a little more time standing or moving around—clients can easily improve the longevity of their joints and avoid the increasingly common trend of joint replacement surgeries.

Courtesy of the ACA, here are a few tips chiropractors can pass on to their clients via social media:

• Exercise: Commit to at least a half hour of working out for three to five days a week. Include stretches like neck rotations, arm dangles, shoulder shrugs and fist clenches.
• Healthy diet: With an emphasis on fruits, vegetables and healthy fats—coupled with limited amounts of refined sugar, white flour and red meat—the right diet can go a long way in reducing inflammation and joint pain. Plus, it's just good for you.
• Stand up: For those punching the nine-to-five clock every day, consider investing in a standing desk or even go for just a short walk every 20 to 30 minutes to stretch your legs.

Once you've established your online presence with chiropractic management software, sending out helpful pieces of advice like these can act as a great way of establishing a friendly and trustworthy rapport with your clients.

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As often as we may tell you that adopting chiropractic EHR in your practice can streamline workflow and ultimately free up funds down the road, these assertions just don't hold weight without data. Thankfully, there is certainly of wealth of research to back up these claims. 

Recently, Healthcare IT News covered a study from Mathematica Policy and the University of Michigan on the Healthcare Information Exchange (HIE), which includes the use of chiropractic EMR, and rates of redundant imaging including CT scans and X-rays. The researchers focused on emergency departments [EDs] throughout California and Florida from 2007 to 2010. Overall 27 of the departments observed relied on HIE while 410 did not.

"Hospital EDs participating in an HIE had reduced imaging in all of the modalities, compared to those without an HIE link," the source states. "On average EDs using an HIE were 8.7 percent less likely to repeat CT scans, 9 percent less likely to repeat ultrasounds and 13 percent less likely to repeat chest X-ray." 

By cutting down on repeat examinations, the researchers posited that the healthcare system as a whole may be able to save millions of dollars a year – which would certainly make up for any initial confusion during the EHR implementation process. Some may argue that this is a relatively small sum considering how much money is devoted to healthcare in the United States, but the benefits of improved communication are sure to prevent costly misunderstandings and lapses in several contexts.

Emergency departments tend to be a bit more chaotic than most medical environments, but healthcare practitioners across the board can still benefit from having access to comprehensive records that accurately convey each patient's treatment history. One of the greatest benefits of chiropractic EHR is that it enables the simple and immediate transmission of such information among the medical professionals who need it most, which both helps reduce rates of redundant exams and potentially calamitous oversights. 

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"Usability" may be one of the biggest buzzwords to emerge from the chiropractic EHR debate in recent months, particularly as reports have emerged regarding widespread frustrations with this technology. But what exactly is usability in this context, and what changes can be made to prevent it from impairing EHR adoption and implementation.

Recently, Dr. Jacob Reider, who is currently serving as acting national coordinator for health IT before Dr. Karen DeSalvo takes the reins this month, elaborated on this issue for the government office's official blog.

"Traditional market forces generally keep products that are difficult to use from succeeding, and as any user of an Apple Newton remembers, the promise of an innovative solution isn't always realized and will/should fail in the marketplace," he wrote. "Yet some have argued that the meaningful use incentive program altered market forces in a way that prevents well-intentioned products from failing as did Apple's first 'personal digital assistant.'"

Reider notes that usability is much more difficult to gauge for chiropractic EMR software than it may be for consumer-facing products, in part because the decision makers often aren't the end users. In addition, these programs often must work in conjuction with other aspects of a hospital or clinic's existing healthcare IT, which can cause further stalls. Even the hardware currently in place can radically transform user experience with the best chiropractic EHR.

So, with these obstacles in mind, what can physicians do to ensure they select chiropractic management software they can actually use? The key is to find a provider who recognizes the unique challenges that your practice may face, and is willing to troubleshoot, provide training and generally work toward your complete satisfaction. Offering software that can be adapted both to changing federal regulations (ICD-10, anyone?) and your specific needs is also essential.

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Previously on this blog, we referenced the widespread mistreatment of back pain across the country — namely with regard to needless X-rays and prescription painkillers before more basic avenues of treatment have been explored. Chiropractic EHR software provides an invaluable tool in identifying such trends, but the benefits of digitized documents don't end there. A recent report analyzing records from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey over the last decade has shed light on another concerning pattern, this time in the treatment of respiratory infections among adults.

According to a press release from the American Society for Microbiology, researchers have found that antibiotics are consistently overprescribed for adult patients with acute respiratory tract infections. The researchers note that this avenue of treatment has been largely curtailed among children, but that same oversight and care has not been applied to older individuals.

"The observed lack of change in antibiotic utilization for adult acute respiratory tract infection patients, especially those with infections where antibiotics are not indicated, is concerning," the study states. "This may indicate that efforts to curtail inappropriate antibiotic use have not been effective or have not yet been implemented for this subset of patients."

The issue with these prescriptions, the source posits, is that the vast majority of such infections are the result of viruses, not bacteria, and are thereby resistant to antibiotic treatments. This means that these drugs are being administered inappropriately, placing undue costs on patients and the healthcare system as a whole. This is just one of many trends that the longitudinal data afforded by chiropractic EMR software may be able to unearth, as medical practitioners and policymakers will have more access to bigger-picture issues that extend beyond specific communities.

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