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There has recently been a spate of items in the news about breaches in the privacy of patient information. It seems that electronic records, while transforming the accessibility (not to mention legibility) of patient information, have also presented a new set of security headaches for practices and hospitals alike. It’s therefore essential for those health professionals considering automation or upgrading an old system to shop around for HIPAA-compliant practice management software that has advanced security measures, not only to protect patients from the mishandling of their identity and personal information, but also to protect physicians or their practices from litigation.

Tools to look out for include user-defined permissions, which allow administrators to give users different levels of access to data, and audit trails, which produce a permanent record of which authorized users accessed a patient’s chart at what time. Additionally, some application service provider (ASP) models feature better protection from hackers than others – those that are Internet-based (as opposed to Web-based) create a private platform between you and your data rather than channeling it through the very public forum of the World Wide Web.

 Technology can be misused and abused, but it can also be implemented as an effective tool to safeguard information privacy. Making sure your medical management system is secure will help prevent future lawsuits against you or your practice.

It looks as though all those jokes (and lawsuits) that have centered around doctors’ terrible handwriting may soon be a thing of the past. Medicare’s recently passed law HR 6331, which gives providers financial incentives to e-Prescribe, has strengthened the growing trend of medical practices moving toward a paperless office.

It’s not just the prescription pad that is falling by the wayside. An increasing number of practices and payers alike are recognizing that documenting and charging for a patient visit electronically through a practice management software system is the most efficient method of operation. The benefits for providers are numerous – electronic medical billing can dramatically reduce rejected claims and shorten the reimbursement cycle, and electronic medical records keeps organized (and legible) patient information at a care provider’s fingertips. But there are advantages for payers too. They might not benefit from fewer rejected claims or having to reimburse providers more quickly, but they do benefit from a streamlined claims process that requires less administrative support. In a system where the take-up rate of innovations depends greatly on payers’ acceptance, completely paperless medical offices might be commonplace within a decade.   

In today’s economy, providers face a tough challenge in balancing appropriate reimbursement for their health care services while maximizing their one-on-one time with their patients. Streamlining patients’ visits and enabling them to have the most time with their provider (rather than waiting around, filling in paperwork or lining up to settle their co-pay) solves one of those challenges. This can be facilitated by using the reporting tools available within your practice management software system, and tracking patient flow to eliminate bottlenecks, as we’ve mentioned before in this blog. The reporting and analysis function within a PM system can also help with the other side of the conundrum – declining reimbursements. Rather than accepting lower reimbursements for your most common procedures, a recent article in Medical Economics suggests being a little more assertive with insurance carriers and presenting them with a report comparing dollar amounts offered by each payer for a procedure to start the renegotiating process. Harnessing the power of reporting to assess your operational and financial challenges makes good business sense any time, but with a shaky economy, it may be even more vital for your practice.