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Benefits of EMR 

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Compared to paper records, utilizing an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system is a rapid and efficient method to preserve critical medical information. The art and science of medicine is practiced within a very information-driven environment and most of the information in a clinical setting is based on patient records and related information.  Many clinical information systems were designed as financial systems - then incorporated detailed clinical patient information as a second thought.  This did not create well-integrated patient-oriented information systems.

Paper records are bulky and take up costly space. Filing, retrieval of files and the re-filing of paper records are very labor intensive methods with which to store patient information. Plus if a record is checked out for one department another department can't access the chart. The impact of not having immediate access to key information in emergency situations can be serious. Paper medical charts also cannot be effectively searched and used to track, analyze and/or chart voluminous clinical medical information and processes.  They cannot be easily copied or saved off-site. Physician's orders and the corresponding results (meds, labs, etc.) can also be issued, saved and maintained much more efficiently in a comprehensive EMR system.

Studies have repeatedly proven that paper records are costly, cumbersome, easily misplaced and cannot be used for any meaningful decision analysis. This information "mining" analysis is needed by clinicians and administrators alike to improve and fine-tune clinical practices. MsdC's medEncounter electronic medical record (EMR) applications are designed to solve these issues through a powerful, flexible and yet easy-to-use clinical information system targeting point-of-care, decision support and research uses.  medEncounter can transform your paper clinical processes into a 24x7, immediate-access, integrated and comprehensive information resource.  This can be at one site or a network of distributed care sites.

MsdC provides comprehensive clinical Electronic Medical Record (EMR) information systems based on obtaining and maintaining the key information needed to practice medicine in support of the patient.  This allows a medicine oriented view designed around the natural workflow of clinicians and healthcare organizations.  The medEncounter system approach is unique in providing a direct clinical information system that works with the financial system rather than a financially-based system that includes patient information. The key differences: comprehensive medical information integrated from all sources in the clinical environment and presented in a manner familiar to clinicians-instantly. MsdC's medEncounter is designed to support financial billing applications (typically ICD-9 or CPT coding) and other information needs throughout the clinical environment.

 

Medicine-oriented information integrated in a clinical setting

 

In the U.S.A., 14% of U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was spent on healthcare in 2001 (U.S. OECD) or $1.5 trillion (U.S. HCFA).  $250B was spent on healthcare-related communications services, administrative and transaction services.   According to a 2001 Arthur D. Little study $100B of the $250B was directly attributable to inefficient communications.  25% to 40% of the $250B represents excessive administrative and paperwork overhead.
 

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Paper-centric communications and poorly connected medical departmental systems proliferate in healthcare organizations eroding the efficiency of the clinician and preventing effective cost-management gains.

Price Waterhouse Cooper estimated in their 2001 study that the burden of paperwork was about 30 minutes for each and every patient hour.

As an example of realized savings a recent article in Health Management Technology  (4/2002) highlighted the considerable savings of an electronic medical record (EMR) system versus manual methods at the California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) in San Francisco, CA

Savings Using EMR Vs Manual Methods

 

Chart Preparation Physician Time Study Utilizing the CPMC Daily Baby Center

Chart Abstraction and Coding Time Savings as Compared to Manual Processes

A centralized, easily accessible, and secure patient information network is a key to putting patient information at the center of your clinical environment. Benefits that have been realized are:

  •  Share patient information everywhere assessment, diagnosis and treatment decisions occur.

  •  Reduce costs by shortening billing cycles and other core administrative and clinical operations - including storage and copying costs of medical records.

  •  Direct data entry by clinicians and staff greatly reduces transcription costs.  Direct links to a transcription system also saves time.

  •  Create higher quality documentation (auditable, legible and organized charts and records).

  •  Document visits to a consistent level of quality/service.

  •  Improve the accuracy of coding at the appropriate level - according to a recent study by Arthur D. Little in 2001 the typical lost revenue for inaccurate coding ranges from 3 to 15 percent of total practice revenue.

  •  Minimize the issues of incorrect or conflicting drug prescriptions.

  •  EMR systems greatly aid clinicians in immediate patient treatment and in capturing key information.

  •  Electronic medical records form the basis for improved clinical / IDN operating economics.

  •  New regulatory mandates (e.g. HIPAA) require better, more complete, secure and auditable medical records.

  •  More complete records helps clinicians and staff to avoid mistakes and to manage the cost of malpractice insurance.

  •  Research and Decision Support are key uses for patient-related data.

How you benefit

Integrate vital information into a comprehensive clinical information repository
With an MsdC integrated electronic medical record system you can manage, share, collect together and protect all of the critical medical information.  Access medical records at the speed of modern computers. EMR records don't get lost or misplaced.

Lower costs and better manage risk
By consolidating information across your clinical operations, from admission to treatment to labs and beyond, you increase the pace of information flow including service delivery, coding/billing accuracy, and better document patient encounters and work — all while reducing your operating costs. Further, EMR systems provide for more consistent application of medicine protocols. The rapid availability of information 24x7 contributes significantly to better decision making, reduced errors, improved outcomes, and lower malpractice risk.

The Medical Group Management Association recently calculated that staffing is currently at 4.31 FTE’s per physician….and that this can be reduced to 2.2 FTE’s per physician after implementing an EMR system.

Improve quality of care
Consolidating and integrating your patient information is the key to quality patient care. It provides admitting staff, physicians, and other care giving and business professionals appropriate access to common patient data while maintaining privacy requirements. This provides more timely clinical treatment decisions, tools to better manage the entire process and an overall improved patient experience.

Adapt to regulatory changes
Meet HIPAA and other legislative and regulatory challenges with organized, complete information.  Our clinical information systems allow administrators and management to more easily document and conform to the changes in the regulatory environment. These systems allow auditors and regulators to rapidly assess compliance.

Share integrated information
With better information integration capability, you can facilitate better quality care, contain costs, and better manage risks. MsdC's integrated solutions enable these clinical and business advantages by creating a clinical healthcare system that unites the crucial patient information with the varied departments. This creates a central clinical information repository and resource used throughout your integrated delivery network.

Administrative and management benefits

  •  Reduce or eliminate the costly tasks of creating and managing paper charts

  •  Decrease or eliminate labor-intensive chart pulls and re-files

  •  Provide rapid access to comprehensive information when needed - fewer misplaced or duplicate charts

  •  Fewer personnel are needed if clinicians enter some of the information - also save on transcription costs

  •  Communicate key information better and with more accuracy

  •  Provide rapid responses to chart/record requests and audits

  •  Improve and track overall processes

  •  Increase Return on Investment (ROI)

 

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Last modified: 08/11/08