Choosing an Electronic Healthcare Records is potentially the most important decision a practice can make today. Finding the right EHR to meet your needs can require a great deal of effort and research for the doctor or practice administrator charged with the task. It is important that every practice take pause and consider a few questions before making their initial investment. What will life be like after go-live, how stable is the software vendor, what is ongoing support and training like and how specific does it meet the needs of my practice?

It’s a new day in the medical industry. As of Sept. 23, new changes to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations have been sweeping the healthcare field, forcing physicians to keep a closer eye on the security of protected health information (PHI). The new revisions, also referred to as the “Omnibus Final Rules,” place added pressure on doctors to protect medical records with the threat of stiff fines for violators. Stemming from the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act of 2009, the new HIPAA regulations were announced Jan. 17, 2013, by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The revamping of HIPAA’s rules comes as the federal government continues its push for early adoption of electronic medical records (EHRs). With billions of dollars in incentive payments going toward early EHR adopters, federal legislatures are working to clamp down on security breaches when it comes to PHI. Operating as the enforcers of new HIPAA sanctions, the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) will work to ensure compliance through investigating complaints and conducting audits of businesses and organizations covered by the rules. Doctors found to be outside of compliance could face hefty fines ranging from $100 to $50,000 per violation with a maximum fine of up to $1.5 million in 12 month period.

It goes without saying; the healthcare industry is experiencing a technological boom. With the push for physicians to take their practice in a digital direction, doctors have been thrust into a new era of patient care. As if the burden to comply with government incentive regulations like Meaningful Use, PQRS, and ICD-10 weren’t enough, physicians are now experiencing increased pressure to jump into the online world of the healthcare social media community.

Elective Surgery physicians are often daunted with the task of competing for new patients. Because elective surgery works on an “opt-in” basis, physicians find themselves having to aggressively market to their target audience. Whether it is done through television, radio, newspaper or online, physicians must actively compete for business in an age where the Internet has made choosing a doctor as simple as online shopping. When a doctor’s marketing tactics pay off in the form of a lead, it is up to the doctor and the staff to close the loop on converting the lead into a new patient.

It is a routine the front desk staff of a doctor’s office experiences tens, maybe hundreds, of times a day. A patient walks through the door, goes up to the front desk and proceeds to go about checking in for their appointment. There was once a time when most patients carried reliable healthcare plans and checking in for an appointment with their physician was simple. Today, with shaky economic times and a continuously evolving healthcare system, making sure that patients have the necessary health coverage to cover the cost of their office visit is harder than ever. According to a study published by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), the single, most important piece of technology a doctor’s office can have is an electronic eligibility verification tool. With an increase of more than 35% of patients being underinsured today, NexTech and Gateway EDI partnered to bring joint clients the ability to check the eligibility status of patients before they walk through the door. NexTech’s Practice Management and Electronic Medical Record solution integrates with Gateway EDI to verify eligibility through their nationwide network of thousands of payers in just seconds.

Those looking to attest Meaningful Use (MU) for the first time ought to be on the lookout for a fast approaching deadline! The final reporting period to attest Stage 1 of the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program, without penalty, begins October 1, 2013. Practices must show they have successfully, and effectively, implemented their EHR and have a solid 90-day record of its use. Preparing to attest MU can be a daunting task. NexTech EMR Specialist Kathy Claytor helps clients prepare for attestation. She offers the following tips: Pay attention to deadlines Claytor advises working closely with your NexTech EMR Specialist to get a complete understanding of requirements and due dates. Although the clock starts ticking October 1, 2013 for a 90-day reporting period, physicians have until February 28, 2014 to attest MU for 2013. “The last thing you want to do is be on the attestation website and realize that you did not capture everything you needed to properly attest,” says Claytor. Prepare for an audit, just in case According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), 1 out of every 20 physicians participating in the MU program will be audited. Claytor recommends all participating practices be prepared to provide checks and balances in the event they are audited. Claytor says a thorough account of your EHR from implementation to attestation will make auditing a smoother process. “We help prepare offices when setting up their EMR by having them take screenshots of implementation in case they get audited,” states Claytor. Don’t confuse your staff … keep it simple Proper MU training for your staff is critical to attestation. Claytor advices all of her clients to designate one person, perhaps the office manager, to be the “go-to” person on all things MU related. Your new office MU champion will be charged with learning the EMR software inside and out, then designating specific responsibilities to staff members. “Once everything is set up and the staff is trained on their areas of responsibility, each department has their own part to play and knows what they have to worry about,” explains Claytor. NexTech is ONC Certified to support MU. All EMR Specialists are equipped to properly assist clients in their attestation process for receiving incentive payouts. NexTech clients, to date, have received more than $14 million in MU incentive payments. Contact your representative for more information on getting started.