Beyond Billing . . . Computers in Patient Care
WHY USE COMPUTERS? ::

• Increase Practice & Business Efficiencies
• Improve Practice Effectiveness
• Improve Patient Records
• Proactive Patient Management
• Improved Access To Information
• Improved Ability To Share Information
• Remote Access To Information
• Improved Follow Up Reminders For Preventative Care
• Increase Accountability
• Incorporate Clinical Practice Guidelines

• Use computers where they have the most to add to your practice
• Take existing office systems and automate them to increase efficiency

• This is, for most of us, where we start.
• We already realize the benefits of an integrated MSP/WCB/Private Billing System that gives us instant access to our Accounts Receivable.

• Integrated with the billing system
• Provides an audit trail for all bills
• Quicker, easier, and more flexible than paper appointment books
• Prevents double booking errors.
• Tracks no-shows, and last minute cancellations
• Customizable for each physician: number of appointments, time per patient, work hours & time off.
• Weekly or Multiple Doctor views

• Networked computers can link physicians to their staff with electronic 2 way messaging that is part of the clinical record
• Phone messages entered by receptionist; organized by urgency; are instantly accessible, and integrated seamlessly into the permanent patient record.
• Messages allow instant access to clinical records
• Messages can be redirected to staff for appropriate follow-up, without disturbing your workflow.
• Follow Up reminders can be created from a message

• Referral requests are grouped and prioritized for appointment making and patient notification, streamlining office workflow and increasing effectiveness.
• Physician referral letters are easily generated, incorporating the complete patient medical summary into a formatted letter.
• MSP referral is automatic

• Lab results are download by modem and are instantly incorporated into the clinical record
• All results are tracked by Physician review status and Patient review status
• Urgent lab results and results outside of the reference range are flagged and instantly brought to the physicians attention
• INR callbacks are instantly billed
• Lab results can be linked to clinical problems

• Prescription systems allow better medication tracking for patient compliance
• New Prescriptions are cross referenced with Patient's Allergy List
• Can be integrated with Drug Interaction Programs
• Can be printed to include current medication and allergy lists
• Phone refill requests entered by staff, grouped for physician review, and integrated with the patient record allow for a more efficient and effective system
• Individual refill requests are sorted by pharmacy for staff callback.

Automated follow up reminders and patient notification improve patient care by allowing physicians to proactively manage patient care

• Internet access off the physician's desktop or from the exam room opens up a world of resources for patient information, drug information, CME, and other medical resources
• E-mail communication
• Web Pages

• Built around the Medical Summary
• Easy Data Input
• Input the data once and it is there forever
• Easier and better communication of patient history for hospital admissions, consultations, insurance forms and patient transfer
• Allows the ability to analyze your patterns of practice
• Includes:

• Problem specific templates can both prompt for and provide the information necessary for effective problem management
• Generally most effective once the other systems are in place
• Incorporates Voice Dictation

Incorporation of outside documents into the computerized patient record
• Necessary for documents not available electronically
• Integrated with Optical Character Recognition Software, allows the ability to search patient records for keywords
• All results are tracked by Physician review status and Patient review status