Optimizing Your EMR to Drive Success in Value-Based Programs
- Catherine M. Zito, FHFMA, CPA, CPC
- Sep 21, 2017
- 2 min read
Value based programs are challenging physician practices to navigate through some rough waters and it is clearly time to take a fresh look at how practices are facing the challenge. This change is drastic to a physician practice that has relied primarily on CPT codes and volume to drive revenue. The Value based world emphasizes diagnosis codes which drive HCC (hierarchical condition code) scores and RAF (risk adjustment factor) calculations. The need to document more specifically and code the full disease burden of a patient is critical.
Asking a provider to be more specific in their documentation can be troublesome. Many are frustrated with their EMR and struggle with completing their notes in a timely fashion. A recent EHR time study found the following 1:
• Physicians spent 27.0% of their total time during an office day on direct clinical face-to-face care with patients compared with 49.2% on EHR and desk work.
• 21 physicians who completed after-hours diaries reported 1 to 2 hours of additional work each night, devoted mostly to EHR tasks.
Value based programs demand more specificity. How do we navigate this conundrum?
Step One: Optimize the EMR through redesign of workflows and templates. The importance of an optimized EMR & clinical workflows is critical to success in value based programs.
EMR Optimization results in happier users, reduced risk, increased productivity and better documentation.
Step Two: Develop analytics to identify gaps in care and coding patterns.
Step Three: Educate your providers on CDI (clinical documentation improvement) based on data analytics.
Stay tuned for more information on Steps two and three. Contact us for more information on EMR optimization.
References: Ann Intern Med; 2016 Dec 6; Sinsky, Colligan, et al Publish date: December 27, 2016 1 (Sinsky, 2016 Dec 6)