If you’re reading this, the Mayans were wrong. It’s time to step out of your subterranean bunker, turn off the two-ton generator and let Fido out. We’re sure he really has to go by now.
As 2012 draws to an end, we’re feeling nostalgic here at Power Your Practice, so we’ve compiled a list of the 52 most important things we learned this year.
Sit back, open up a pouch of freeze-dried banana chips and enjoy the first installment of our three-part series.
The Hidden Dangers of Smartphones
Smartphones provide convenience for providers and patients benefit from health-oriented apps. Yet, these wonderful devices can prove to be a hidden danger to your practice, impacting patient privacy and becoming a distraction for providers.
Where’s My Money?
According to the Medical Group Management Association, U.S. medical practices are failing to collect 25% of the money they’re owed for treating patients. To identify missing funds and reclaim the money they’re owed, practices must streamline their execution of Revenue Cycle Management and Accounts Receivable.
Helping Practice Staff Adjust to Your New EHR
The majority of articles on EHRs never mention staff, but they are an intricate part of adopting a new EHR at your practice. Doing things like gradually implementing the EHR or hiring an expert consultant can make a huge impact on their comfort level.
Are Health Information Exchanges the Next Step?
After implementing an EHR system in your practice, your next step will be connecting with other providers through a health information exchange (HIE). In accordance with state laws, the release of private information must be communicated to your patients.
Healthcare Goes Mobile
With smartphones dominating the telecommunications market and tablets growing ever more popular in the medical setting, the latest advancement in healthcare is the advent of mHealth – the use of mobile devices and applications in support of the practice of medicine.
Good for the Environment and the Pocketbook
“Going green” can save your practice some major “green” – there are many ways to make your practice more environmentally friendly to increase profits. Taking measures like turning the thermostat down a degree or two can save almost 10% on the electric bill.
Who’s a Good EHR?
When speaking to EHR vendors, ask them what makes their system easy-to-use. An EHR with high usability is simple, effective, intuitive, forgives mistakes and encourages users to perform important tasks efficiently and quickly.
Tax ID Issues Can Disrupt Payments
The requirements for submitting medical insurance claims can be confusing at times, but filing claims with the correct tax information is the key to getting paid.
Clinical Informatics is a Sign of the Times
In September of 2011, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) chose to formally recognize clinical informatics as a certified subspecialty for physicians and other healthcare providers. As technology becomes more ingrained in health care operations, clinical informatics certification could one day be a necessity.
Prepare Yourself for Tough Questions
Sometimes, patients or staff will ask a question about touchy subjects like religion or politics. 75% of physicians say patients sometimes mention spiritual issues. Usually, the best protection from these types of questions is to be prepared before they are asked.
Patient Portals: What Do They Actually Do?
Patient portals provide patients with a private, password-protected electronic space that houses information about his or her medical care. Such mechanisms can simplify communication between doctor and patient and save your practice time and administration costs.
Keep Your Practice Alive
In 2012, 32% of small practice physicians predicted it would be their worst earning year ever. In tough times, it may take efforts like avoiding layoffs and adopting new technologies to keep your practice afloat.
Why Deny My Claim?
The four most common mistakes that cause claim denials are illegible claims, the use of non-specific medical codes, missing information, or timely filing denials.
Combating Security Threats to Mobile Devices
Mobile technology like smartphones, tablets and laptops provide convenience, but also bring about new security risks. USB locks, geolocation tracking software and encryption are just some of the ways to combat safety threats.
Healthcare Consumerism
Healthcare consumerism advocates a truly patient-centered medical environment, where patients can make decisions about their treatment options, have easy access to their health data, get multiple insurance options to choose from, and are given the power to research and choose their providers.
Preparation: The Key to Success
Take preventative care of your claims to prevent denials and increase efficiency. This insures you’re getting every penny, every time.
Avoid a Data Breach
As healthcare IT advances, new security issues arise. It’s important to keep up with current safety threats to protect your patients and your practice. Here are our top ways to prevent a data breach.
The Unexpected Benefit of ePrescriptions
In addition to being cost-effective, it appears that ePrescriptions can improve patient health. For every 100 prescriptions made electronically, 76.5% are retrieved, which is up to seven percentage points over paper prescriptions.
A Healthier Staff Means Healthier Patients
Research shows that 18% of nurses suffer from depression, and worse yet, medication mistakes or patient injuries are 20% more likely to occur when a nurse is depressed or in pain. Embracing appropriate absences and offering meaningful benefits can keep your practice staff happier and healthier.
Medicare vs. Medicaid
Attesting to the Medicaid Incentive Program is actually a little easier than doing so for its Medicare counterpart. But it still might be smarter to attest for Medicare since it is run by CMS, as opposed to Medicaid, which is run by your state Medicaid agency. This might make it more volatile.
Stay tuned this week for two more installments of the 52 Most Important Health IT Facts 2012. Until then, check out the Meaningful Use Timeline!
Do you know what you need when setting up a new medical practice?
