EHR Stuff: All-in-one or Buffet-style? It’s your choice!

I’m sure you know how hard it is to find a good practice management (PM) system (when I say “good”, I mean gets you paid” AND makes your office life easier, not harder).  But now your life has just gotten complicated again.  Now you are being told that you need to have and use an EHR in your office.  Ok, even if you don’t give a hoot about participating in meaningful use.  The fact still remains that Medicare is threatening that if you are not meaningfully using an EHR by 2015 they are going to assess you a 1% penalty, with an additional percent being added each year up to 5% by 2020.  (Of course this could all change with the current state of healthcare and the influx or repeal of Obambacare.)  It is true.  There is a lot on the table with so many variables in play.  It’s more like a game of 52-card pick up than any organized card game.  (Seriously, have you ever tried to play Poker with someone who is playing Go Fish?)  Plus there are additional regional variations for Medicaid and third-party payers (Euchre anyone?). 

Do you know what day it is for your back up?

It shouldn’t be like pulling teeth to do a backup.  Nobody wants to get their teeth pulled out, it hurts!  So why is making a daily backup like pulling teeth in most offices?  As kids my mom tried to help us remember to do daily things like brushing and flossing by having us mark a calendar with cute stickers we could earn when we had done it.  We could have stickers for every day, MTWTFSS.  It just took some follow-up and a bit of time to make it a habit.  Well, now that you are all grown up I want you to consider MTWTFSS backups. I know, you are probably wondering why anyone would compare brushing and flossing to backups, but I’m going to tell you why… both should be done daily or the long term consequences are costly, bad, and you could lose it all.  Do you know what day it is? Do you know where your back up is?

Live from Meaningful Use=Office $timulu$

For the first time I had a live internet connection for the seminar yesterday, so I took the opportunity to "live tweet".  It was a lot of fun.

Normally I take notes and write down things that strike me during the seminars.  Yesterday's tweets were like live note-taking for me.  Please don't mind any spelling or grammar issues, I was in the moment with my 140 character limit.  I'm posting them here as thought provokers for you.  If you couldn't make it, they are things for you to consider and if you were there, they may help you recall things you wanted to consider or do.

I've also posted a .pdf file of the hand out we gave out yesterday.  If you move your mouse over any of the links, you should notice that they are "hot" (meaning that you can click on them and they will link to the page).  I found at least one where the link gets you to the site, but cuts of short of the exact page.  Hopefully you will find it helpful.

Documentation & Coding Training Camp for DCs & CAs

Click on the flier for more information.

  

You work together every day–DC and CA. Why don't you ever get to learn together so that you can work more efficiently together?

Now you can!

If you would like to register now, please complete and fax in this registration form. You can also download the flier (w/registration form) HERE.

Please fax your completed registration form to 586-751-9230.
(Seats are limited.  Reserve your spot today!)

Meaningful EHR Use = Office $timulu$

Click on the flier for more information.

  

WOW!

You only have until October 1st to begin ARRA stimulus reporting for 2011.  This FREE seminar will teach you how to use the new Government Certified version of WritePad.  Be eligible for up to $18,000 per provider this year, and up to $44,000 per provider over the next 5 years! 

Seats are limited.*  Reserve your spot today!  

If you would like to register now, please complete and fax in this registration form. You can also download the flier (w/registration form) HERE.

Please fax your completed registration form to 586-751-9230.


(*You will be asked to give your credit card information to hold your spot, but the seminar is free.  If you cancel within 5 days of the event, a $25 fee will be charged to your card. ) 

ICD-10 Deadline Fast Approaching- Only 28 Months Away?

By Penny Henriksen, Genius Solutions' News Editor

Ok, yes, I can hear you rolling your eyes.  You're thinking, "28 months, are you kidding?  That's 2 years and 2 vacations away...really?" Being out and about over the last year and speaking with many of you I also have actually heard "Yeah, but it's the CMS.  It's going to get bumped."  Let's reason together for a few minutes and reflect on this, shall we?