The number of doctors replacing their paper records with electronic health records has indeed grown since the government's healthcare IT stimulus package was signed into law. A survey performed by GfK Roper for IT vendor Practice Fusion interviewed 1,000 U.S. adults via the telephone from February 5 to February 7, 2010. Here are some findings:
- More than 48% of the people said their doctor or specialist stored medical records electronically in the examination room, as opposed to writing information on paper charts.
- Of those patients, more than 45% said their doctor made the switch in the last two years.
- More than 14% said the switch occurred in the last six months. More than 38% of the respondents wanted their doctors to go digital, while almost 33% did not. Nearly 29% were not sure.
-Nearly 53% of the respondents with incomes of more than $50,000 a year had doctors using digital records, compared to about 45% of people with incomes under $20,000 a year.
The government's stimulus package will reward doctors and hospitals for using electronic health record systems in "meaningful" ways starting in 2011. Health care professionals are starting to prepare now, which is resulting in growth in the usage of electronic health records in health care organizations nationwide.
? The increasing use of electronic health records (EHR) will continue to broaden and alter the job responsibilities of medical coders. You will need to have knowledge of EHR software to analyze data, assign medical codes and maintain the security of health records.
Friday, February 5, 2010
As you begin to search for employment opportunities as a medical coder, networking is a key element to landing the job you are looking for. Talk to as many people as you can to get the word out and obtain leads, and start conducting your own research using a variety of available resources.
You can do your own independent networking by perusing the phone book to find offices and facilities you can contact to find out whether or not they are hiring. Also, check for jobs posted in local newspapers and magazines, and be sure to attend job fairs offered in your community.
A local chapter meeting of the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) is an excellent venue for networking with other coders in your area who may be aware of possible job openings. You can also increase your exposure by attending medical-related and hospital events.
The AAPC offers Project Xtern to newly certified coders to give them a head start in the workplace. The program matches beginning medical coders with facilities that are willing to give them experience and perhaps even their first coding job.
The following online resources can be valuable tools in your job search:
The
AAPC Job Database enables you to sort through hundreds of possible jobs to find the ones that suit you best. You can also post and maintain your resume for employers searching for qualified candidates, and sign up for job alerts. Just indicate where you want to work, choose your job category, and you will be notified when positions that meet your specifications are added to the network.
Online Forums are used by AAPC members to gain access to employment prospects through jobs listed by fellow members. They are also utilized for posting resumes, qualifications, job availability, and even consulting opportunities. Since the network consists of more than 80,000 coders, this is a tool that can make your job search easier. Members can also utilize the local chapter forum to connect with hundreds of coders in your region who may be able to give you advanced notice of openings before they are announced.
Computer Web sites such as monster.com and careerbuilder.com maintain an extensive list of available jobs and are constantly updated. Once you create an account, you can search through the postings to stay current with job openings.
Ready for the job interview? Here are a few helpful tips to succeed:
Plan Ahead – Be sure to do your homework prior to the interview. Research the company, the position and, if possible, the people you will be meeting with. Be prepared to give examples of past accomplishments listed on your resume, and rehearse your response to potential questions.
Dress Appropriately – Since first impressions are critical, be sure to dress in a professional manner, even if the workplace is casual. Neat and conservative is always your best bet.
Communicate Clearly – Focus on your strong points as you discuss your skills and experience, and make sure you use correct grammar. Answer questions honestly and concisely, without rambling on.
Be Professional – Remember… The way you dress and how you act reveal just as much to a potential boss as verbal communication.
Send a Thank You - A handwritten note or e-mail, short and to the point, is sufficient and also appreciated.
There are many resources available to you - you just need to do your research and prepare for the next step. Now that you've completed your medical coding training, it's time to land that ideal job!
(Source: AAPC)
Read Full Article>> Your Medical Coding Training is Done, Now Land that Job!
Friday, January 22, 2010
The National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) is an annual nationally representative survey of patient visits to office-based physicians that collects information on use of electronic medical record/electronic health record (EMR/HER).
Here are some findings:
2008 41.5 percent of physicians reported using all or partial EMR/EHR systems (not including systems solely for billing) in their office-based practices. (The figure for 2007 was 34.8 percent.)
In 2008, about 16.7 percent of physicians reported having systems that met the criteria of a basic system, and about 4.4 percent reported that of a fully functional system. (The figures for 2007 were 11.8 percent with a basic system and 3.8 percent with a fully functional system.)
-Basic systems include: patient demographic information, patient problem lists, clinical notes, orders for prescriptions, and viewing laboratory and imaging results
-Fully functional systems include: all functionalities of basic system plus medical history and follow-up, orders for tests, prescription and test orders sent electronically, warnings of drug interactions or contraindications, highlighting of out-of-range test levels, and reminders for guideline-based interventions
Preliminary 200943.9 percent of the physicians reported using all or partial EMR/EHR systems (not including systems solely for billings) in their office-based practices.
About 20.5 percent reported having systems that met the criteria of a basic system, and 6.3 percent reported that of a fully functional system.
ConclusionThese data indicate that physicians have been increasingly adopting EMR/EHR systems. From 2007 to 2008, physicians’ use of any EMR system increased by 18.7 percent. Within the same period, the percentage of physicians reporting having systems that met the criteria of a basic system increased by 41.5 percent. The 2009 preliminary estimates did not change significantly from 2008.
Samples of 3,200 and 2,000 physicians were selected for the core in-person NAMCS and the supplemental mail survey.
(Source: National Center for Health Statistics)
Read Full Article>> Just the Facts: How Many Doctors Today are Using Electronic Health Records?
Friday, January 15, 2010
According to the HWS Labor Market Pulse Index, the health care industry is on the rise throughout the nation. This quarterly barometer is used to measure the growth of the health care workforce in local markets. In the fourth quarter of 2009, it shows that there was a growing demand for health care workers in a number of regions, including California and parts of the Midwest and Southwest.
Here are some findings:
- Demand is growing fastest in Sacramento, Riverside and San Bernardino, Calif., and in other national cities, including Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Dallas
- A large percentage of the growth is due to newly announced plans to expand existing organizations and larger facility openings
- The HWS Labor Market Pulse Index tracks the 30 largest markets - there was a 19.5 percent increase overall in the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to the third quarter of 2009, and was up 17.3 percent compared to one year ago
What does this mean for your
medical coding career? As the health care industry continues to expand and grow, there will be opportunities for trained professionals nationwide. Call (888) 822-2923 to learn more.
(Source: Healthcare Finance News, Richard Pizzi, Editor)
Read Full Article>> California, Midwest Show Signs of Job Growth Within the Health Care Industry
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Planning for the ICD-10 transition? With the implementation set for October 2013, there is still a lot of preparation and readiness ahead. In the midst of planning and preparing for the new system, it is important to look ahead at the advantages of adoption and how ICD-10 implementation will benefit the entire health care industry.
Advantages of Transitioning to ICD-10 Codes Greater accuracy - Health care providers will have a better ability to accurately describe diagnoses, including documentation of new diseases and more precisely describing existing ones. With the number of codes increasing from 17,000 to 155,000, the codes will more accurately describe patients' diagnoses and conditions.
Room for expansion - While the current system is outdated and doesn't allow for growth, the new ICD-10 coding system has room to accommodate new codes and advancement in the health care industry.
International compatibility – Other countries have been successfully using the ICD-10 coding system for many years. With implementation in the U.S., there will be a uniform medical coding system, which will make it easier to share health information and increase compatibility.
More specific codes - The increased depth and specificity of the coding system will enable patients' records to be more precise and detailed. The ICD-10 code set has been expanded and includes codes tailored to current times (the old code set was established in the late 1970s), with new terminology and clinical concepts that are more relevant to today.
Reduced errors – The ambiguity of the current codes can cause increased errors. With the ICD-10 coding system in place, health care providers will have access to codes that more accurately describe their patients' diagnoses. This can result in less re-payments, incorrect payments, etc.
Shorter claim cycle – The increased accuracy of the codes can mean that fewer claims are sent back with a request for more information. There would be less legwork involved and claims would be more quickly paid.
Stronger case for procedures – With patients' having more in-depth information included in their claims, there will be more supporting documentation and reasoning for medically-necessary procedures and services.
There will be tangible benefits to the implementation of ICD-10. From more detailed codes to thorough documentation, your career as a medical coder or health care provider will become easier, more streamlined and precise. Stay focused as you prepare - the new codes are designed to improve quality care and enable providers to communicate more effectively with each other. This is a win-win scenario for the industry as a whole!
(Source: AAPC)
Read Full Article>> Benefits of Implementing the New ICD-10 Coding System
