EHR Personalization: Enable End-Users and Get the Most Out of Your IT Investment

Unlock the Full Potential of EHR Personalization to Optimize Your IT Investment

Technological advancements in the healthcare ecosystem have enabled safer medical workflows, efficient communication, and better clinician-patient management. With the natural progression of paper records to digitization, these systems have proved to benefit clinicians, administrators, and patients. Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems are a robust version of patient’s history, diagnosis, and treatment. When implemented effectively, personalized EHR healthcare technology transforms patient care, making it easier for doctors to spend more time with patients and spend less time doing paperwork. 

In this article, we’ll discuss the integral elements of Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, training, implementation standards, and the positive impact EHRs have on healthcare when personalized and implemented effectively.

The Convergence of Technology and Healthcare: Electronic Health Records

EHR systems have proven to be a game-changer, now replacing paper records on a grand scale. Here are some of the meaningful benefits of EHR Systems:

Easy access to patient data 

Patient records, history, diagnosis, and reports from other clinicians are seamlessly shared without worrying about writing out forms, filing, and time-consuming administrative work. 

Consistency and quality management 

With records accessible in real-time, there’s less chance of human error in reporting, dramatically improving workflows for clinicians. 

Secure data 

Unlike paper records, EHR systems are built for authorized users, making them less vulnerable to being lost or stolen. The cloud is a reliable source of data storing, with backups saved to ensure it’s safety. 

Patient satisfaction 

Providers can ensure a smooth administrative process to make the patient experience less uncomfortable. By being able to access information on the go, it takes logistic hinderances away from the process.

Traditional EHR Training Methods

Healthcare institutions use traditional training methods to train their staff for using EHR Systems. These include the following:

Arranging Workshops 

In these workshops, a trainer guides the team step-by-step through a proper demonstration of the system by helping the staff become familiar with the system.

Hands-on Experience 

Although workshops are beneficial for learning, demonstrations alone do not familiarize clinicians enough to become expert users. Hands-on experience is an integral part of the process. By completing tasks repeatedly over time, clinicians better understand how to use the system. 

Team-based Training Methods 

Making teams consisting of different patient care professionals is also an essential training method, as it helps the staff understand how the system works, and how their interactions will change with the implementation of this system. 

The Gap Between EHR Technology and Healthcare

Traditional methods of implementation lack a vital step in the digital shift: the personalization of EHR systems. Supporting clinicians and showing them how to maximize their workflow is best done by… well, clinicians. 

The traditional methods of EHR implementation involve training a group of clinicians together, instead of being personalized to each clinician individually. As a result, it is highly likely that the clinician is not able to understand how EHR technology can make a positive impact on their practice, and thus may not take an interest in the training at all. 

Apart from this, some clinicians may be reluctant towards this change and may not accept it wholeheartedly. Healthcare administrators must deal with this problem head-on as it can cause significant problems, especially if the clinician is solely responsible for data management.

Bridging the Gap between Healthcare and Technology

For successful EHR implementation training, organizations should focus on using an EHR consultant with a clinician background, as well as making the training exercises more personalized. ReMedi Health Solutions designs customized training solutions that incorporate real clinical workflows, evidence-based content, associated financial performance, and keep the patient experience at the center of it all.

In conjunction with formal classroom and training sessions, ReMedi physicians engage in one-on-one meetings with healthcare clinicians and conduct training tailored to the duties they carry out in a highly professional and knowledgeable manner.

A 30,000 foot view of ReMedi’s EHR Personalization process:

  1. ReMedi leads clinicians through the development of preference lists and custom order set defaults within the new EHR system. 
  2. ReMedi hosts small team-based training sessions, where clinician team members shadow EHR super users for additional user support. 
  3. ReMedi provides post-go-live service and support, where ReMedi consultants assist clinicians with issues that they might have immediately after the implementation of a new EHR System. 

The Bottom line: EHR Personalization is Key

Working with ReMedi Health Solutions results in several core improvements for healthcare providers: improved operational efficiency, better knowledge about the EHR, and, most importantly, a greater clinician acceptance towards the system. Ultimately, our mission is to work with healthcare providers to positively impact the future of patient care.

If your organization is migrating to a new EHR system or is looking to optimize its existing EHR, get in touch with ReMedi Health Solutions. We would love to have a friendly chat to see if we can make a substantial impact on the operational and financial quality of your healthcare organization.

Email us at info@remedihs.com or send us a message.

In-house vs. Outsourcing: The Benefits of a Chart Abstraction Service

Optimize Your Patient Data Migration: Key Advantages of Outsourcing Chart Abstraction Services

Sometimes you have to let go. As an entrepreneur, business leader, and a father, it took the longest time in all three roles to figure out that maybe, just maybe I was holding on too tight to the daily minutia of my role. As an entrepreneur I wanted to make all of the decisions regarding the direction of the companies I founded, as a business leader I could take on my role and everyone else’s just because I needed it to get done, and as a father, well… I’m still learning.

When it comes to healthcare organizations taking on new or existing projects, I’ve experienced similar sentiments. I’ve heard phrases such as “my team can handle that” or “we do that in-house”. This is no discredit to the leaders in our industry or the faith that we have in our teams’ capabilities, but rather a nod to today’s staffing shortages, increase in employee burnout, and the rising cost of resources.

Outsourcing services is nothing new to healthcare – but it is more important today than ever. For example, let’s talk clinical data/chart abstraction. When acquiring or merging with other healthcare entities, or even transitioning to a new EHR system, healthcare organizations have the skillsets, know-how, and overall expertise within the four walls to provide chart abstraction in-house. This seems to be the smarter, more affordable, and most convenient option. But that’s not necessarily true. Enlisting the help of a clinical abstraction service can provide more complete and accurate patient charts without placing any additional burden on your clinicians.

The end result – making an acquisition or EHR transition more efficient and often at a lower cost than managing the process on your own.

Less burden on clinicians

Clinician burnout is at an all-time high. We are not just speaking of physicians, but our nurses as well. Clinicians are committed to providing the best care possible and if that means completing or correcting patient charts at home, many will do it. But is that really in the best interest of your organization, healthcare staff, or patients? Probably not. A little more personal time goes a long way for morale and better patient care.

More accurate, timely patient data

By outsourcing your chart abstraction to a clinically experienced team, providers find the information they need when they need it, allowing the best delivery for quality care. Clinicians don’t feel like they are rushing to access accurate data into the patient chart (risking certain data points like medications, allergies, etc.) and existing patients get the familiar attention they deserve. Clinicians feel valued and patients feel cared for, keeping everyone’s satisfaction levels high.

Lower costs, higher efficiency

With staffing shortages and increasing wages, keeping your chart abstraction in-house can become expensive. Clinicians are working overtime to ensure that charts are complete. With that comes higher overtime rates. Those costs add up quickly. Outsourced services typically offer a rate that is more competitive than what you’d wind up paying your clinicians.

Outsourcing chart abstraction can also improve the quality of care and increase patient volumes. When providers can focus solely on care, each visit moves faster, taking up less time and creating space for increased patient volume. It also improves care by making each visit more patient-centric resulting in higher patient retention – a topic for another day.

Final thoughts

Is it possible to manage your chart abstraction in-house? Yes. But should you? I’d argue you shouldn’t.  With the rise of clinician burnout, wage increases, and the competitive landscape of healthcare, outsourcing chart abstraction to clinical experts leads to more accurate data that’s available to providers when they need it. You can avoid burnout by not overloading your team with additional abstraction responsibilities while improving the overall efficiency of the process… and potentially save a few bucks along the way.

Scott Collins is the Chief Revenue Officer for ReMedi Health Solutions. Learn more about Chart Abstraction Services or contact Scott at s.collins@remedihs.com.

The Future of EHR: Automation, Interoperability, and Value

How Advanced Technology is Shaping the Future of EHR Systems and Healthcare Delivery

Now more than ever, technology has the potential to change every aspect of our lives. Given the current health crisis, our healthcare system is evolving to meet the current crisis which will shift into lasting changes. Electronic health records (EHR) are the digital version of your health records. Using EHR efficiently has enormous potential to change the landscape of the future of healthcare.

Electronic Health Records, or EHRs, are real-time, patient-centered records that are available to anyone that is authorized to see them. Patient electronic health records (EHRs) contain a wide range of medical information, including:

  • Medical histories
  • Diagnoses
  • Medications
  • Treatment plans
  • Immunization dates
  • Allergies
  • Radiology images
  • Laboratory test results

EHRs can enable intelligent evidence-based tools to help doctors make better, informed decisions on the best treatment for patients. When used proactively, EHRs help automate clinician workflows so that work is done more efficiently and the quality of care improves.

The Future of EHR Will Shift Into a Tool For Communication Between Healthcare Professionals

There are several important reasons that EHR have the potential to change the healthcare world for the better. For starters, there is interoperability. This allows patients and providers to provide access to health records no matter where they go. EHR can be moved from one medical setting to another to help with communication and relevant medical data. This allows doctors to communicate with other doctors and those who are conducting a test, pharmacies, medical imaging facilities, emergency facilities, and even school or workplace settings. Healthcare patients can confidently visit various healthcare providers, and trust that their medical records with travel with them.

The Data Stored In Your EHR System Will Help You Automate Processes and Decision Making

Hospitals collect vast amounts of data from patients, and EHR systems provide a way to store and organize this data. The data stored in your EHR system can then be used to start the process of automating your processes throughout your healthcare office. This occurs when the hospital’s IT and healthcare workflows are synced up.

The Future of EHR Will Increase Value for All

EHR can also significantly improve the quality of care that patients receive. When a doctor has access to the most current and complete healthcare record of a patient accessible, it allows them to make better decisions in regards to their treatment. This ultimately helps to improve the care and treatment that the patient receives.

Over the long-term, EHRs have the potential to save patients money. This can only occur once the EHR, like Epic or Cerner, has been successfully implemented and optimized. Once once this happens, there can be an efficient reduction of labor, and that will reduce the cost to provide healthcare to patients.

Conclusion

Electronic health records have the potential to change the landscape of the healthcare industry. They allow doctors to communicate better which can help provide better care to patients because doctors can make a better decision based on what the record is showing. EHR can also benefit patients by lowering the cost of medical care and make it easier for patients to bring their records from one doctor to another. Finally, EHR is beneficial for the hospitals with a sound data migration strategy, because they can better utilize the large amounts of data that they collect and can start to automate their system. As the technology behind EHR systems grows, they’ll quickly become the core operating foundation of any healthcare facility.

At ReMedi Health Solutions, we believe healthcare IT projects shouldn’t cause stress for physicians and staff. 

As trained clinicians, we recognize the need to create value using technology and data solutions that help hospitals and physicians provide better care for patients in a highly sustainable manner. Our EHR solutions coupled with our empathetic approach not only cuts costs and reduces expenses, but it allows for our clinically-driven resources to make a direct impact to your medical workflows. 

If you have questions or would like to connect with our team, email us at info@remedihs.com.

7 Reasons Why Physician Personalization is the Key to EHR Success

Improve EHR Adoption with Physician-Led Personalization

Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems are becoming a large part of the medical community. EHR systems offer a range of collaborative and customizable tools that help centralize patient care.

However, with all the different opportunities that EHR offers the medical community, some hospital systems and especially doctors find it hard to transition to this new, digitized solution.

Change is rarely easy, but adopting an EHR system into your practice is an advancement that can help everyone in your practice, from the staff to the patients, become more connected, organized, and efficient.

The best way to adapt to using an EHR system is to personalize it for each end-user as much as possible. At ReMedi Health Solutions, we believe that Personalization should be conducted by physicians with clinical experience in the new EHR. Now, from the Virtual Command Center, ReMedi physicians can support more doctors than ever before with their EHR Personalization needs. The virtual solution enables just ten ReMedi physicians to support up to two thousand practicing physicians with Personalization lab sessions!

Here are seven reasons why physician Personalization is key to EHR success:

1. Adoption of the New EHR

Personalization is important for a physician because it helps patients and doctors adopt new EHR systems. A 2019 study conducted by KLAS’ Arch Collaborative found that the adoption and evolution of EHR are cultivated best in an environment where physicians personalize their patients’ systems.

The EHR system or usability does factor into the adoption of new EHR. However, every EHR system is a tool that improves clinical workflow. Similarly to every tech innovation, every EHR system has different functions and interfaces.

Yet, if physicians don’t make it a genuine part of their practice, it will never reach its full capabilities.

To make an EHR system a part of your practice, ensure that every physician sees the benefits of using this powerful technology. Then, doctors need to use it and understand its functionality to become comfortable with it.

Once doctors and staff become genuinely comfortable and excited about the technology’s capabilities, patients will follow suit.

2. Specialty-Specific Workflows

Everyone in the medical industry has an important job to do. Yet, every position in the medical field has a specialty-specific workflow. A doctor and a nurse have two different workflows, schedules, and duties. When you evaluate the means by which surgeons versus anesthesiologists versus primary care physicians see their patients, you realize that each one is tangibly different and will completely use the EHR in a unique way. Therefore, any EHR system you use must adhere to each staff member’s specialty-specific workflow. 

The best way to do that is to personalize the system with someone with an understanding of each specialty. This opportunity is a wonderful way to get your staff involved and invested in learning the system. When people understand that you are helping make the system great for their use, they are more inclined to learn the design and use the system to tailor it to their needs.

3. MD to MD (Peer to Peer)

A 2019 survey indicated that poor EHR training largely impacted the system’s personalization and usability. This survey solidifies the importance of learning from a clinician with background and end-user experience with each EHR system. At ReMedi, our approach to peer to peer training helps our physicians explain and personalize the EHR focusing on the “why” we do things in a specific way with the new system. Most EHR trainers simply show you “how” the EHR works — leaving room for uncertainty, error, and inefficiency. One step further, we share why we document things in a certain way, why we utilize the InBasket/Message Center in the appropriate way. It’s hard for a non-physician to teach a physician why things should be done a certain way, so we have found the MD to MD training to be the most beneficial of all during EHR implementations. 

A clinician with such experience can offer real-world data, best practices, and shortcuts that reduce clicks, making the process much easier. Plus, in this environment, trainees can have all their questions answered for their specific system.

Physician trainee confidence levels grow exponentially when trainees see that another clinician has learned and found success with an EHR system.

At the end of the day, an MD is more inclined to listen to and learn from another MD. Especially when the training EHR physician is outside of their institution, there is little bias involved, and the approach is strictly based on strategy, efficiency and ease of use. The doctor now has a peer who is assuring them that they can understand the EHR system and it will be beneficial to their productivity and patient care practice.

4. Preferences, Favorites, and Customization

A system can only passively pick up on so many preferences. So, the more an individual personalizes a system to fit their needs, the better it performs. However, while professionals personalize their desks, phones, mousepads, and other office supplies, 66% of professionals surveyed by KLAS had little to no personalization added to their EHR system.

The personalization of your EHR system is an integral part of the experience. If you don’t personalize the experience, you disregard a large portion of the system’s overall capabilities.

With most EHR systems, you can input note templates and favorite data unique to the user. Therefore, as the doctor gets accustomed to the EHR, the system tailors itself to optimal customization and productivity.

Our Personalization team at ReMedi has found that if the physician is taught how to correctly use the EHR within the first weeks of the implementation, every hour they spend personalizing and learning the system results in a saved working hour every week from then on.

5. Ease of Use / Functionality

The overall EHR systems design responds well to customization. The system’s best informational asset is the people who are using the system. The more they can offer the system in terms of personalization and customization, the better it can provide ease of use and optimal functionality.

The design intention is what makes it beneficial to have peers teaching peers during the initial setup. However, cultivating ease of use and functionality extends to the willingness of co-workers to train new hires.

Every medical office has specific jargon, ways of filing, and customization of unique operations. Therefore, when a person is new to the practice, even though they will have the ability to customize their own EHR systems workspace, a peer must explain how to use the system.

Similarly to the overall teaching experience, when a peer teaches a peer about the practice’s system, they can share their knowledge and offer tips to make the transition easier.

This collaboration improves usability and functionality overall because everyone is on the same page and can help anyone with a range of aspects throughout the system.

6. Better Patient Care

Ultimately, every medical technological advancement gets implemented to help physicians improve patient care. The implementation of EHR systems is no different.

Personalizing your EHR workspace makes it easy to find everything from patient information to form templates. You have control over the look, organization, and information you have close at hand.

When physicians apply the prior personalization points to their practice, each doctor can focus their full attention on the patient, using this technology as the dynamic tool it is designed to be.

7. Physician Satisfaction

Physician satisfaction occurs when the doctors can navigate the EHR confidently. The confidence they gain while continuously using and learning the EHR system’s capabilities allows physicians to serve more patients promptly, with a better focus on outcomes. Physician burnout goes away when the physician can finish their work inside of their working hours, and head home for some ‘pajama time’ with their loved ones. 

Ultimately, EHR systems are a powerful tool that can help physicians garner satisfaction in their work by organizing the medical process. However, that tool is only as useful as the extent it gets implemented. So, to reach the heights and get the best experience any EHR system can provide, physician Personalization is vital.

Conclusion

At ReMedi, we’re focused on serving physicians in the clinical environment. To learn more about how ReMedi supports its hospital partners with physician Personalization, send us an email at info@remedihs.com.

COVID-19 Updates and Resources

In the midst of the COVID-19 national emergency, the ReMedi team hopes our clients, partners, and families are doing well. 

We’ve compiled a list of resources and updates regarding the COVID-19 national emergency. Please check the World Health Organization first for the most important and up-to-date news about the Coronavirus.

Notification of Enforcement Discretion for Telehealth

Telemedicine will play an integral role in dealing with the Coronavirus outbreak.

In an effort to help protect at-risk individuals, the U.S. Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has issued a notice for discretion of telehealth and telemedicine remote communications during the COVID-19 national emergency. The OCR will exercise its enforcement discretion and will not impose penalties for noncompliance with the regulatory requirements under the HIPAA Rules against covered healthcare providers in connection with the good faith provision of telehealth during the nationwide public health emergency.  The notice is effective immediately. 

Using discretion, doctors can use 1-1 communication tools to serve its patients during the emergency that may not have previously been HIPAA compliant. I.e. Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger, Zoom Video Conferencing, Skype, Google.

View the complete update here: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/emergency-preparedness/notification-enforcement-discretion-telehealth/index.html

Medicare Telemedicine Healthcare Provider Fact Sheet

This resource provides guidance on Medicare coverage and payment of virtual services. Includes: expansion of telehealth, types of virtual services, virtual check-ins, e-visits and HIPAA compliance.

View the fact sheet here: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/medicare-telemedicine-health-care-provider-fact-sheet

A summary of medicare telemedicine services
A summary of Medicare telemedicine services.

LOINC Prerelease Terms

Special Use medical codes are developed in response to an urgent or emergent situation. These codes are based on the most up to date information available at the time of their creation. They have undergone the normal QA terminology process. LOINC supports their use in the unique situation that resulted in their rapid creation. However, be aware that downstream users may not be ready to handle prerelease codes until they are published in an official release.

View the LOINC prerelease term updates here: https://loinc.org/prerelease/

Check back for updates and resources as we learn more. To contact our team, email info@remedihs.com.