HRS: Facilities shouldn't fear EMR implementation, but should shop around
DENVER—To meet looming meaningful use deadlines, practices must shop for the right EMR and not let the outlying fears of technology and possible challenges outweigh the benefits, said David L. Scher, MD, from PinnacleHealth System and Associated Cardiologists in Harrisburg, Pa., during a presentation at the 31st annual Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) scientific session May 14.
According to Scher, only 20-40 percent of physicians in the private practice realm are using EMRs and only 3-6 percent are “utilizing an EMR in the way that it’s supposed to be used."
Making the switch to a health IT system is not always easy. Practices may see a slight disruption in workflow, have to adjust to learning curves and may see a slight decrease in productivity when first implementing an EMR.
“An EMR is not a luxury, it is something that is mandated,” he said. However, once implemented there is better transparency of the system, its data and a facility's clinical operations.
“The goal of EMRs is not just to take the written word and transform it and enter it into an electronic record,” explained Scher.
The idea, he said, is it increases interoperability--the ability of facilities to interact with other data management systems. “This is one of the biggest things going on now in all of healthcare IT,” the ability to connect hospitals, pharmacies, labs, insurance companies, cardiac rhythm device companies and more. “This is a really huge part of the EMR.”
While Scher said that initially EMRs “were really geared to play the Medicare reimbursement game to facilitate better EMR documentation,” currently, use of EMR can help facilities create a better workflow in various ways. He said that an ideal IT network is cost-effective, has a shallow learning curve, is easily maintained, is encrypted and secure and interacts with various entities including pharmacies, hospitals, labs and the necessary government agencies.
Prior to the release of meaningful use criteria, EMRs did not allow for the combination of patient history, prescription data and demographics, but now these features are mandated.
Additionally, the push for e-prescribing is also required, as is implantable device management and test ordering.
Scher said that the EMR is also useful on the administrative side in helping to manage scheduling, patient flow and billing and accounting, which often leads to an improved workflow.
“The clinical benefits of an IT network are better facilitatation of patient coordination and management between office staff and providers, and easier access to healthcare information exchanges. EMRs also facilitate clinical research and enable the quick identification of patients that are candidates for a clinical study,” he said. “It’s easy for follow-ups, as well, for outcomes.”
The use of EMR to mine data is strategically helpful in identifying a certain patient population such as those with a certain diagnosis, comorbidities or implantable devices. In fact, Scher said that during the recall of implantable devices, his facility was better able to identify patients included in the recall than the companies.
“The EMR facilitates better patient coordination management for our providers in the sense that it provides timely access to records and hospital physicians, houses hospital guidelines and gives quick availability to implantable device data,” he said.
"If you are asking yourself: 'How am I going to integrate into my EMR?'," he offered that it's “a natural progression.”
Use of health IT “increases efficiency, eliminates paper and creates better patient outcomes," and while there are obstacles, including costs, the benefits outweigh them.
Scher urges that while shopping for the perfect EMR or health IT system you must ensure that vendors comply with meaningful use criteria and the solutions have “easy interoperability with the hospital. A good network addresses both clinical and management issues of the practice.”
Scher said that a facility should be sure that they find a company that will provide interfaces and who are willing to work with you to suit your needs. “This needs to be addressed when you are shopping for an EMR.”
Lastly, Scher said facilities must be sure to re-check the certification process of a vendor and a system to ensure that patient data is safe and secure inside the network.
According to Scher, only 20-40 percent of physicians in the private practice realm are using EMRs and only 3-6 percent are “utilizing an EMR in the way that it’s supposed to be used."
Making the switch to a health IT system is not always easy. Practices may see a slight disruption in workflow, have to adjust to learning curves and may see a slight decrease in productivity when first implementing an EMR.
“An EMR is not a luxury, it is something that is mandated,” he said. However, once implemented there is better transparency of the system, its data and a facility's clinical operations.
“The goal of EMRs is not just to take the written word and transform it and enter it into an electronic record,” explained Scher.
The idea, he said, is it increases interoperability--the ability of facilities to interact with other data management systems. “This is one of the biggest things going on now in all of healthcare IT,” the ability to connect hospitals, pharmacies, labs, insurance companies, cardiac rhythm device companies and more. “This is a really huge part of the EMR.”
While Scher said that initially EMRs “were really geared to play the Medicare reimbursement game to facilitate better EMR documentation,” currently, use of EMR can help facilities create a better workflow in various ways. He said that an ideal IT network is cost-effective, has a shallow learning curve, is easily maintained, is encrypted and secure and interacts with various entities including pharmacies, hospitals, labs and the necessary government agencies.
Prior to the release of meaningful use criteria, EMRs did not allow for the combination of patient history, prescription data and demographics, but now these features are mandated.
Additionally, the push for e-prescribing is also required, as is implantable device management and test ordering.
Scher said that the EMR is also useful on the administrative side in helping to manage scheduling, patient flow and billing and accounting, which often leads to an improved workflow.
“The clinical benefits of an IT network are better facilitatation of patient coordination and management between office staff and providers, and easier access to healthcare information exchanges. EMRs also facilitate clinical research and enable the quick identification of patients that are candidates for a clinical study,” he said. “It’s easy for follow-ups, as well, for outcomes.”
The use of EMR to mine data is strategically helpful in identifying a certain patient population such as those with a certain diagnosis, comorbidities or implantable devices. In fact, Scher said that during the recall of implantable devices, his facility was better able to identify patients included in the recall than the companies.
“The EMR facilitates better patient coordination management for our providers in the sense that it provides timely access to records and hospital physicians, houses hospital guidelines and gives quick availability to implantable device data,” he said.
"If you are asking yourself: 'How am I going to integrate into my EMR?'," he offered that it's “a natural progression.”
Use of health IT “increases efficiency, eliminates paper and creates better patient outcomes," and while there are obstacles, including costs, the benefits outweigh them.
Scher urges that while shopping for the perfect EMR or health IT system you must ensure that vendors comply with meaningful use criteria and the solutions have “easy interoperability with the hospital. A good network addresses both clinical and management issues of the practice.”
Scher said that a facility should be sure that they find a company that will provide interfaces and who are willing to work with you to suit your needs. “This needs to be addressed when you are shopping for an EMR.”
Lastly, Scher said facilities must be sure to re-check the certification process of a vendor and a system to ensure that patient data is safe and secure inside the network.