EHR Issues ments may set a response time for a patient query over the patient portal. Design operational methods to meet requirements and track performance: each requirement should be mapped to various features in the eHR. For example, the practice may need to establish a daily check on the time needed to answer a patient question or verify that patients received a call within four hours after returning home from a procedure. note that the key issue will be to record information in the eHR that can be used to report on and track compliance with the required standard. monitor performance on a periodic basis: The practice will need a midday, daily, and weekly checklist to monitor the various performance measures needed for the payable measures. Failure to track performance will only result in surprises and lost revenues. assign payments based on design: The practice will have to decide how to post appropriate payments for profit tracking and management purposes. note that payment assignments may require a different management strategy and tools. For example, a clinical call center may be used as a profit center to meet a number of performance issues as well as free up providers to spend more time serving patients in the office. The key issue for third-party billers is how to guide your clients through this transition and provide added value to these evolving payment mechanisms and standards. In the final analysis, your clients will be dealing with new requirements that may have costeffective solutions and increase profits. On the other hand, the new requirements may be inappropriately addressed with traditional fee-for-service strategies. Your ability to design new mechanisms using eHR systems in creative ways, backed by progressive financial management tools, may make the difference to your clients and your billing service. Ron Sterling (800-967-3028, www.sterling-solutions.com) publishes the popular EHR Blog Avoid-EHR-Disasters.blogspot.com. He also authored the HIMSS Book of the Year Award–winning Keys to EMR/EHR Success. He is a nationally recognized thought leader on EHRs. HBMA EVENTS HBMA National Conferences SPRING EDUCATIoNAL ExECUTIvE SyMPoSIUM april 7-9, 2014 (mon. – Wed.) naples, Fl FALL ANNUAL CoNFERENCE 2014 september 14-16, 2014 (sun. – Tue.) las Vegas, nV owners & Managers FALL CoNFERENCE TBa Compliance Conference april 29-may 1, 2014 (Tue. – Thur.) Baltimore, mD Please visit www.hbma.org for more details. THe jOuRnal OF THe HealTHCaRe BIllIng anD managemenT assOCIaTIOn 41
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