According to an October 2009 article from the Washington Post, “In a healthcare debate characterized by partisan bickering, most lawmakers agree on one thing: American medicine needs to go digital”.
The article, entitled “Electronic medical records not seen as a cure-all”, outlines many of the problems currently clouding the shift to electronic medical records (EMR). It is clear from the article that America has an arduous road ahead in implementing an efficient and error-free system. Aside from the technical issues that healthcare facilities have encountered with their EMR, the time that physicians are forced to spend on their computers to maintain the system has also been problematic. This is where healthcare technology professionals, such as medical billers and coders, can pay huge dividends in future procedures of EMR. Medical facilities will hire technical saavy medical billers and coders, who are specialily trained in running EMR systems; these specialists can help eliminate the current problems plaguing today’s electronic health records.
I don’t really understand how a medical biller or coder would be specialized in EMR. To my knowledge not many courses are available for specific training on how to maintain such a system, especially the hardware and networking systems.
In my opinion unless they have had experience in the past operating and maintaining an EMR system a medical biller would be no more qualified than the physician or the practice manager. On top of that one EMR software can act and be dramatically different from the other.
The best way to maintain and EMR system in your office is to take your time planning your system and then take twice as much time on training yourself and your employees on how to use it.
EMR can save a practice a ton of money in the long run if implemented correctly with ongoing system training.
Adam M.
http://www.cdsindiana.com
Posted by Adam M. | November 14, 2009, 4:29 pmAdam,
Thank you for commenting. Though it is true that not many courses are readily available specializing in EMR one thing is for certain, many training centers, colleges, academies and universities are leaning towards and offering EMR training. Even Medical Assisting programs are teaching EMR use.
It is no longer the “future” of medical billing and coding it is the present reality. EMR serves a variety of purposes but with respect to practice management it is about error reduction, practice management and fiscal management.
I’ll leave the networking, hardware and software systems to the IT professionals that maintain them.
Many physicians and practice managers are receiving training in EMR operations and implementation. I will agree that one of the best ways to implement a good practice or facility EMR is to plan an appropriate platform and train all members on its proper use and application.
Posted by Dan | November 25, 2009, 11:33 amDan,
Good response. I wasn’t aware of the push in for EMR training in the academic field. I know the presidential administration has been offering big incentives to get your practice up and running with EMR, but in my area application of EMR systems is still limited to the big practices and hasn’t trickled down yet.
I am interested to see where it takes us.
I just also read a great article on how the effect of EMR could create a higher standard of care and how that could effect malpractice claims. I will search for the link and send it to you if I can find it.
Adam Mlynarcik
Posted by Adam M. | December 11, 2009, 7:12 pmThe ONC has funding EMR systems training, and I recently completed one of their programs. It was helpful but not a replacement for true experience.
Posted by Jack EMR Software | August 6, 2011, 11:05 pm