Grey Eye Care Prepares to Begin Full Year of Using MedInformatix to Satisfy Stage 1 Meaningful Use Objectives

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo., Dec. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Grey Eye Care, one of the few ophthalmology practices in Mesa County participating in a federal initiative that promotes use of certified technology to improve quality of patient care, is anticipating a repeat performance in 2013 of this year's success using MedInformatix Electronic Health Records (EHR) V7.5.

In August 2012, the practice received incentive bonuses from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as outlined in health information technology provisions of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Eligible physicians who demonstrate meaningful use of certified technology to collect and track patient data in 2012 may receive up to $44,000 over five years. The practice completed its 90-day attestation period during which they gathered specific measures to report to CMS and received a total of $36,000 split equally between two ophthalmologists.

As 2013 approaches, the practice continues to monitor statistics to ensure no glitches will interrupt reporting a full year's worth of MU data as required before reporting again at the start of 2014. "Right now, if we had to attest we would be fine," said Margaret Boucher, office administrator for the practice whose services cover medical diseases of the eye, outpatient cataract surgery, adult and pediatric care, and glaucoma and diabetic eye care.

Boucher said MedInformatix's thorough knowledge of the MU process and reliable tech support minimized the initial unease she experienced when the practice decided to participate in the new federal program. Boucher worked closely with MedInformatix to test the system and configure it to generate core and elective MU measures that run the gamut from patient demographics to specifics about patient eye conditions. Over the three-month MU attestation period, physicians reported the severity of macular degeneration, for example, and not merely the incidence of the disease as had been done previously. Physicians also documented eye pressures of glaucoma patients and whether they had at least two visits, among other measures.

As MedInformatix facilitated the collection and quantification of MU data, the practice gained a clearer appreciation of the software's capabilities through first-time use of the:

• E-prescribing module, which enables the practice to transmit prescriptions and refills to pharmacies electronically and to fax scripts automatically to pharmacies without additional electronic prescription software. The practice achieved an 80 percent rate for electronic prescribing for MU and now reaches 98 percent.
• Clinical summary feature, which generates a report summarizing the visit including diagnoses, medicines prescribed and follow-up dates. A first for the practice, the reports have proved a hit with patients who say they wish other practices did the same. The practice met the 80 percent rate for clinical summary distribution and now tallies 99 percent.

Normal workflow processes streamlined through use of MedInformatix have led to completion of key administrative tasks in a fraction of the time. Eliminating the need for paper-based records, the system consolidates all patient data – from insurance cards to visual field tests and other images to physician correspondence– into a single electronic chart.

Through MedInformatix's interface with a revenue management clearinghouse partner, insurance company payments and associated write-offs and deductions are posted within minutes. Prior to implementing MedInformatix, the practice spent hours posting payments from Medicare vouchers covering claims for at least 50 patients, as well as posting other insurer payments. "MedInformatix's integrated system is accurate. There are not going to be mistakes," Boucher said. "At the end of the day, you don't face a situation where your batch doesn't balance."

In addition to physicians, front office staff and technicians, staff in the practice's optical store use MedInformatix to retrieve eye glass prescriptions and handle billing.

About MedInformatix:
MedInformatix, Inc. (www.medinformatix.com) is a leading national provider of fully integrated Electronic Health Records. The products have been built around MedInformatix's 25 years of workflow expertise. MedInformatix's suite of products is designed on a single database using Microsoft SQL. Whether the client is a single physician who went live in 1994, a 13-location cardiology practice, the busiest radiology practice in Manhattan, or one of 15 other serviced specialties, MedInformatix accommodates their needs. MedInformatix can turn the dream of a paperless, integrated practice into a reality.

MedInformatix Version 7.5 is now certified to meet 2011-2012 criteria supporting Stage 1 Meaningful Use requirements under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) as a Complete EHR by the Drummond Group.

This Complete EHR is 2011/2012 compliant and has been certified by an ONC-ATCB in accordance with the applicable certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. This certification does not represent an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or guarantee the receipt of incentive payments.
MedInformatix, October 22, 2010, Version 7.5, 1022201024238, Clinical Quality Measures: NQF0013, NQF0421, NQF0041, NQF0024, NQF0028, NQF0038, NQF0059, NQF0061, NQF0064. Additional software used: TrueCrypt v2.0, email software, spreadsheet software.

SOURCE MedInformatix, Inc.