Good morning faithful MSO Solutions, LLC blogger fans!!! Please excuse our abscence in the next few weeks as we are VERY busy with a large Practice Management/EHR implemenation projects. While we may not have time to post updates, we do have time for any existing or new customers.
Please visit our website, MSO Solutions, LLC to view our services and see how we can help you improve your IT infrastructure!!!
~Jennifer
Information Technology Outsourcing
Showing posts with label mso solutions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mso solutions. Show all posts
Making Strides Breat Cancer Walk is THIS Sunday, October 2, 2011!!
Don't forget, the American Cancer Society's Annual Breast Cancer Walk (Making Strides) will be held Sunday, October 2, 2011. Registration starts at 8:00 a.m.
MSO Solutions will be represented by team "The Rack Pack". Jennifer Sprague, our Sales Representative and EHR Consultant will be there with SEVERAL family members and friends to help fund finding a cure for this horrible disease. To date, the team has raised over $1,100.00!!!!
Please visit our team page if you would like to make a donation: http://makingstrides.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=36026&pg=entry.
Search for "The Rack Pack"!!!
Our Website is BACK Online and BETTER Than Ever!!!
Please check out the NEW MSO Solutions, LLC website at: www.msosolutions.com.
~Jennifer
~Jennifer
Our Website....
We are currently in the process of updating our website. We hope to have the new site up and running by Saturday, September 24, 2011. In the meantime, please continue to enjoy our blog!!
~Jennifer
~Jennifer
5 Keys to EMR Usability
Published on Healthcare IT News (http://www.healthcareitnews.com/)
5 keys to EMR usability
By Michelle McNickle, Web Content Producer
Created 09/06/2011
Usability: the concept is often at the root of slow adoption of EMR systems, and rightfully so. Although effective training and implementation methods affect user adoption rates as well, poor usability has a strong impact on productivity, error rate, and user satisfaction.
And usability should be considered more than just user satisfaction, according to Rosemarie Nelson, principal of the MGMA Consulting Group. The concept is far more complex, and to Nelson, it’s synonymous with workflow integration. “Too much attention is given to the number of clicks and screens, when what should be considered is how and when information is presented,” she said.
Dr. Steve Waldren, MD, Director of the American Academy of Family Physicians’ Center for Health IT, explained that when it comes to understanding usability, it’s essential to consider utility as well. “Usability is subjective in many ways,” he said. “It has to do with the functionality of the system. Utility is making sure the system does the things you need it to do.”
[See also: Usability key to wide EMR adoption.]
So what determines if an EMR is useable? Better yet, how can prospective users ensure a system won’t result in headaches over lost productivity? According to Nelson, the first step is to recognize no system is perfect.
“The problem for most providers is they, nor their vendor implementation team, look for that commonsense template: the one that fits a majority of patient visits, not the ‘perfect’ template that allows visits for all patients to be documented. There is just too much variation to expect 100 percent.”
With that in mind, here are five additional elements to consider when it comes to EMR usability.
Supportiveness: According to both Waldren and Nelson, the system should support workflow. “It’s not about a single user,” said Waldren. “It’s about an entire practice.” Waldren suggests presenting vendors with three clinical scenarios: the most common instances at a practice, the most challenging instances at a practice, and the most number of interactions among staff. That way, it’s evident how the system supports specific workflow. “I suggest doing two sets of the scenarios,” he said. “One that you present the vendor ahead of time, and the second during the demo. Then you can see the system’s flexibility to take care of each scenario.”
Flexibility: Nelson considers flexibility to be key, not just within the system, but also with those using it. “Usability is all about integrating a tool into a provider’s day,” she said. To illustrate, she suggests considering the evolution of the phone. “We started with one phone, then we add extensions,” she said. “Then, we came up with portable phones because our work is mobile. We found that we needed phones to follow us, not us having to go to the phone.” Since usability can become complicated, she said, the way a provider uses the tool might evolve as he/she becomes comfortable with improvements in workflow and operational efficiencies. Therefore, it’s essential to change how he/she interacts with the device and the software.
Continued on next page.
Ease of Learning/ Naturalness: Is the system burdensome and clunky? To be sure it isn’t, Nelson suggests providers take a close look at how they interact with their nurses when using the EMR in the demo. This goes for both patient encounters in the office and on the telephone, as well as incoming documentation, like test results and correspondence. “If it appears cumbersome or redundant, [physicians won’t] achieve the intended benefits because [they] just won’t use those features,” she said. “The best way to observe and understand the dance between nurse and provider is by taking a trip to see the EMR in operation at a practice.” Both the nurse and the provider should visit the site, said Nelson, to fully experience the change they’ll have to adapt to in their own office setting.
Effectiveness: Although an EMR’s effectiveness to streamline workflow is obvious when considering its usability, Waldren said providers should also consider the changes taking place in healthcare. “The current is based on volume: patients, procedures, etc.,” he said. “Patients aren’t connected. The future is value-based and consumer directed. Clinical data will be used to measure quality.” With that in mind, Waldren says it’s essential to find a system that will effectively straddle both worlds.
Efficiency: To Nelson, an EMR should save time, and even the smallest aspects of a system could mean wasted hours. However, some EMRs do a good job of allowing a nurse and a provider to easily work on the same computer station with fast log-out/log-in. “This keeps the active patient online to allow for the concurrent work of the provider and nurse. Even something as simple as keeping the electronic chart ‘open’ on the desktop can be a boon to workflow; a nurse or provider is often in one patient’s chart when a phone call interrupts their work, and they need to open another chart. But, of course, they don’t want to lose the one they are working on.”
One thing is for certain when it comes to EMRs and their usability: it’s an evolution that’s essentially controlled by the user. “EMR usability must evolve similarly in that as we try to use it within our day, we can see where improvements can be made,” said Nelson.
And usability should be considered more than just user satisfaction, according to Rosemarie Nelson, principal of the MGMA Consulting Group. The concept is far more complex, and to Nelson, it’s synonymous with workflow integration. “Too much attention is given to the number of clicks and screens, when what should be considered is how and when information is presented,” she said.
Dr. Steve Waldren, MD, Director of the American Academy of Family Physicians’ Center for Health IT, explained that when it comes to understanding usability, it’s essential to consider utility as well. “Usability is subjective in many ways,” he said. “It has to do with the functionality of the system. Utility is making sure the system does the things you need it to do.”
[See also: Usability key to wide EMR adoption.]
So what determines if an EMR is useable? Better yet, how can prospective users ensure a system won’t result in headaches over lost productivity? According to Nelson, the first step is to recognize no system is perfect.
“The problem for most providers is they, nor their vendor implementation team, look for that commonsense template: the one that fits a majority of patient visits, not the ‘perfect’ template that allows visits for all patients to be documented. There is just too much variation to expect 100 percent.”
With that in mind, here are five additional elements to consider when it comes to EMR usability.
Supportiveness: According to both Waldren and Nelson, the system should support workflow. “It’s not about a single user,” said Waldren. “It’s about an entire practice.” Waldren suggests presenting vendors with three clinical scenarios: the most common instances at a practice, the most challenging instances at a practice, and the most number of interactions among staff. That way, it’s evident how the system supports specific workflow. “I suggest doing two sets of the scenarios,” he said. “One that you present the vendor ahead of time, and the second during the demo. Then you can see the system’s flexibility to take care of each scenario.”
Flexibility: Nelson considers flexibility to be key, not just within the system, but also with those using it. “Usability is all about integrating a tool into a provider’s day,” she said. To illustrate, she suggests considering the evolution of the phone. “We started with one phone, then we add extensions,” she said. “Then, we came up with portable phones because our work is mobile. We found that we needed phones to follow us, not us having to go to the phone.” Since usability can become complicated, she said, the way a provider uses the tool might evolve as he/she becomes comfortable with improvements in workflow and operational efficiencies. Therefore, it’s essential to change how he/she interacts with the device and the software.
Continued on next page.
Ease of Learning/ Naturalness: Is the system burdensome and clunky? To be sure it isn’t, Nelson suggests providers take a close look at how they interact with their nurses when using the EMR in the demo. This goes for both patient encounters in the office and on the telephone, as well as incoming documentation, like test results and correspondence. “If it appears cumbersome or redundant, [physicians won’t] achieve the intended benefits because [they] just won’t use those features,” she said. “The best way to observe and understand the dance between nurse and provider is by taking a trip to see the EMR in operation at a practice.” Both the nurse and the provider should visit the site, said Nelson, to fully experience the change they’ll have to adapt to in their own office setting.
Effectiveness: Although an EMR’s effectiveness to streamline workflow is obvious when considering its usability, Waldren said providers should also consider the changes taking place in healthcare. “The current is based on volume: patients, procedures, etc.,” he said. “Patients aren’t connected. The future is value-based and consumer directed. Clinical data will be used to measure quality.” With that in mind, Waldren says it’s essential to find a system that will effectively straddle both worlds.
Efficiency: To Nelson, an EMR should save time, and even the smallest aspects of a system could mean wasted hours. However, some EMRs do a good job of allowing a nurse and a provider to easily work on the same computer station with fast log-out/log-in. “This keeps the active patient online to allow for the concurrent work of the provider and nurse. Even something as simple as keeping the electronic chart ‘open’ on the desktop can be a boon to workflow; a nurse or provider is often in one patient’s chart when a phone call interrupts their work, and they need to open another chart. But, of course, they don’t want to lose the one they are working on.”
One thing is for certain when it comes to EMRs and their usability: it’s an evolution that’s essentially controlled by the user. “EMR usability must evolve similarly in that as we try to use it within our day, we can see where improvements can be made,” said Nelson.
Links:
[1] http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/usability-key-wide-emr-adoption
[1] http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/usability-key-wide-emr-adoption
Marketing Preparation and Planning
Assembled by Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD
KNOW YOUR MARKET
A sound marketing plan is key to the success of your business. It should
include your market your market research, your location, the customer group
you have targeted, your competition, positioning, the product or service
you are selling, pricing, advertising and promotion.
"You're in business to serve a customer need," says Derek Hansen,
founder of American Capital Access. "If you're not sensitive to customers,
don't know who your customers are, how to reach them and, most of all, what
will convince them to buy your product or service, get help."
Before developing your plan, you must do your homework. Effective
marketing, planning and promotion begins with factual information about the
marketplace. Visit your local library, talk to customers, study the
advertising of other businesses in your community (including that of your
competition) and consult with any related industry associations.
Once you have all the necessary information, it is time to put your
plan down on paper. It should accomplish the following:
1. Define your business
- Your product or service;
- Your geographic marketing area--neighborhood, regional or national;
- Your competition;
- How you differ from the competition--what makes you special;
- Your price;
- The competition's promotion methods;
- Your promotion methods;
- Your distribution methods or business location.
2. Define your customers
- Your current customer base: age, sex, income, neighborhood;
- How your customers learn about your product or service--advertising,
direct mail, word of mouth, Yellow Pages;
- Patterns or habits your customers and potential customers share--where
they shop, what they read, watch, listen to;
- Qualities your customers value most about your product or service--
selection, convenience, service, reliability, availability, affordability;
- Qualities your customers like least about your product or service--can
they be adjusted to serve your customers better?
- Prospective customers like least about your product or service but whom
you aren't currently reaching.
3. Define your plan and budget
- Previous marketing methods you have used to communicate to your
customers;
- Methods that have been most effective;
- Cost compared to sales;
- Cost per customer;
- Possible future marketing methods to attract new customers;
- Percentage of profits you can allocate to your marketing campaign;
- Marketing tools you can implement within your budget--newspaper, magazine
or Yellow Pages advertising; radio or television advertising; direct mail;
tele-marketing; public relations activities such as community involvement,
sponsorship or press releases;
- Methods of testing your marketing ideas;
- Methods for measuring results of your marketing campaign;
- The marketing tool you can implement immediately.
The final component in your marketing plan should be your overall
promotional objectives: to communicate your message, create an awareness
of your product or service, motivate customers to buy and increase sales.
Objectives make it easier to design an effective campaign and help you keep
that campaign on the right track. Plus, once you have defined your
objectives, it is easier to choose the method that will be most effective.
The essential idea is targeted marketing--making sure your message
reaches the people you want to persuade. Today's marketplace is too
fragmented and diffused to reach everyone without the expenditure of vast
sums of money. This makes the formulation of a specific customer profile
all the more important. "Before, we always tried to get everybody and
their brother to buy from us. Need-less to say, that approach didn't work.
Then we started a marketing plan that targeted a specific geographic area."
says one long-time business owner, "and it brought in all the business we
hope for."
MSO Solutions, LLC can help you develop a marketing plan to promote your company or practice. Call us today to get your FREE consultation!
315.701.5821
2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiatives-Let Us Help You!!
Have you read and do you understand the 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiatives? Well we have and we can help you!! There are more than 100 initiatives available for your practice to participate in. Don't miss out on capturing your 1.5% Medicare bonus.
Our Healthcare Management staff are trained to help you determine the initiative that will best fit your practice. We can help you set-up your practice management system to capture the appropriate "G" codes for proper reporting to CMS. Don't miss out on YOUR money!!
Contact our office today for your practice evaluation.
315.701.5821
Medicare's Proposed 10.5% Payment Cuts for 2008
©2003-2007 Medical Group Management Association ® All Rights Reserved
MGMA Washington Connexion, December 2007
Grassroots efforts needed now to avert Medicare cuts
We are only days away from the 10.1 percent cut to Medicare Part B payments. Currently Senate and House leaders are negotiating a Medicare bill. The MGMA will announce details of this legislation in MGMA Washington Connexion as soon as they become available.
It is important to continue contacting members of Congress to remind them of the urgency of fixing these devastating cuts before they threaten access to patient care.
MGMA is once again partnering with the American Medical Association (AMA) to use its toll-free hotline to contact members of Congress. Call your representatives and senators by dialing the AMA hotline at 800.833.6354. You will be patched through to your senators and representatives via your ZIP code.
Tell your legislators that you want to register your concerns on the pending 10.1 percent physician payment cut.
Tell them:
Congress must take action to avert cuts before the end of the year; and
Two years of positive updates are needed to stabilize Medicare beneficiary access to care.
And write your senators and representatives.
Congress must take action to avert cuts before the end of the year; and
Two years of positive updates are needed to stabilize Medicare beneficiary access to care.
And write your senators and representatives.
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