Q: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act places a renewed emphasis on HIPAA. What are some areas where you see surgery centers struggling with HIPAA compliance?
Jeff Blankinship: The overall lack of knowledge of HIPAA and continued education of the staff. They should review their HIPAA security rule compliance and make sure they are in compliance. HIPAA security rule basically states that a facility must take every reasonable technical and operational action to ensure that it protects against the unauthorized access, destruction or theft of electronic patient health information, both from inside and outside.
Q: Many ASCs are unsure when to start investing in and integrating EMR into their operations. When do you think ASCs should start to do so and is there any harm in waiting?
JB: ASC’s should start their due diligence now, even though it may not be urgent to get digital it is a necessity. With the current state of Healthcare and with the reimbursement rate not being favorable and cost constantly increasing it only make sense to go digital in order to achieve economies of scale and to reduce the human processes by automation thereby increasing profitability.
Q: What are some of the new tools and solutions you are working on for your clients?
JB: Our main focus is on the VMR Express. We are bridging the gap between the current paper/PMS system which is the standard in the ASC industry and the future of a complete paperless EMR.
VMR Express is a patient forms/chart generator and document imaging/management solution created especially for the ASC and surgical hospital. VMR Express allows surgery centers and surgical hospitals to electronically generate and print the patient chart on demand at the time of the patient encounter. Forms generate accordingly to the designated physician, procedure, anesthesia, payor, gender and age. The application eliminates the sticky labeling process by printing ADT information on every chart page. If you could imagine, this will easily eliminate 1-2 FTE’s off the top of any center’s labor force. The center also will have accurate and printed charts on demand, preserving data integrity.
VMR Express digitally stores all (scanned) medical records, through our barcode technology, for easy archival and retrieval. The application completely interfaces with the center’s Practice Management System Vision, AdvantX, SIS, HST Pathways, GE Centricity, etc. These partnerships have already been developed and executed. This interference makes for a smooth and easy transition into EMR.
Once records are digital, you have the ability to choose different dashboard application which allow you to manage everything from HR, patient registration, transcription, coding, material management, infectious logs etc. The functionality and reporting is limitless. The VMR Express truly allows the user to be as electronic and digital as one chooses while customizing their workflow by automating human processes, reducing labor and ensuring data integrity.
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