Each specialty brings a distinctive set of challenges and, as a result, demands different software functionality. So PYP will grant special attention to certain specialties with a series of articles focusing on the current state of the field and how certain specialists should approach health IT software.
In the fourth installment of our specialty snapshot series, we’ll examine the field of pulmonology and identify the kind of software functionality pulmonologists need to prosper.
State of the Specialty
Pulmonologists specialize in treating diseases and conditions of the lungs and bronchial tubes. The patients they treat suffer from conditions often too complex for primary care physicians (PCPs) to treat, such as emphysema, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. As a result, they often receive referrals from PCPs.
Pulmonologists tend to see fewer daily patients than PCPs, but face the challenge of juggling multiple work settings, with many spending a significant amount of time treating patients in both hospitals and office practices.
According to a 2013 Medscape report, pulmonologists earn $263,000 a year, which places them in the middle of the pack among specialties. Unfortunately, this still lags behind the higher-earning specialties by about $100,000.
Similar to other specialties, pulmonologists are facing adjustments from impeding government regulations. New payments models are particularly disconcerting, especially the prices being set by burgeoning Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). A majority of pulmonologists believe competition from ACOs will cause a significant decline in their income.
What Type of Functionality Do Pulmonologists Need
Since they often work in multiple care settings, pulmonologists are constantly on the go. Consequently, they often need to take their work off-site. Cloud-based EHRs are a viable solution as they can be accessed remotely via the Internet. A prospective EHR must work effectively on all major web browsers to maximize this capability.
Practicing in multiple locations also brings about the necessity for an EHR with collaborative capabilities allowing for communication across locations. Therefore, an EHR with chatting and sharing capabilities is a must.
Because pulmonologists don’t earn nearly as much as some of the other specialties, they have to maximize profitably, including attesting to CMS’s Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs. An EHR with real-time reporting capabilities will help keep pulmonologists on track to receive maximum incentive payments during each stage of the program.
Pulmonologists concerned about their financial efficacy should look at a practice management (PM) system that fosters the best reimbursements. It’s important to choose a PM system that reviews claims automatically, so staff members can focus on processing new claims rather than double-checking older ones.
Also, the switch from ICD-9 to ICD-10 codes is set to triple the number of codes pulmonologists have to deal with, so a PM system that automatically updates to adapt to government regulations will come in handy in this regard.
In all, pulmonologists need health IT software that is as adaptable as they are. Keeping flexibility in mind will help pulmonologists find software that keeps their practices productive and their bottom lines healthy.
