Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) have become a dynamic link in the healthcare industry. These centers provide outpatient services that are medical procedures or surgeries that do not need the patient to stay overnight in a hospital. These centers are a big hit with people because in these days of hustling activities we do not want to stay away from work for more time and like to return home as soon as possible. Like all other healthcare facilities, ASCs also need to maintain electronic health records for which they need EHR solutions. Let’s see here few reasons that have increased the popularity of ASCs. Increased efficiency: Ambulatory surgery centers usually specialize in few procedures that help in increased skill base and expertise in the services offered. Also, surgeons have more control over their surgical environment in ASCs which also improves the efficiency of the services offered. As hospitalization is not required infection rates get diminished. The patient c...

It is very natural that employers ask for experienced candidates for their companies and when they are scouting for candidates they ask questions related to the experience levels of the candidate. If you are one of those experienced candidates searching for medical coding jobs , more chances are there that they ask if you have experience with specific EMR software. If you are an experienced person, it is ok to face such questions. But, if you are a fresher and are asked questions related to the knowledge you have regarding the EMR software, then it is a bit tough to answer. Let’s first understand that a person, who is not into the health information management field, will not have any idea about the EMR software and it is alright to say that you do not have an understanding about it. It should be noted that, if you are mentioning in your resume that you are a fresher but have expertise in using an EMR software because you have taken training in medical coding , then you are inv...

Collecting money that people owe you is a tough task. It is even more difficult for the healthcare providing organizations to collect the money from the patients even for the overdue bills. Though it is not a gratifying job, it has to be carried out as a part of the revenue cycle management for the sake of the financial health of the organization. Let’s take a look at few tips that help in contacting patients and improving collections of a healthcare facility. Be clear with pricing: When a patient visits the facility, he or she may not be aware of the services or procedures that will be availed and the associated costs with the services availed. The patient does not have knowledge if the costs fall within his/her budget. It is better to keep the patient informed about the services being provided and the expenses that would be incurred for those services.  Train the employees: Every single employee of the organization represents the organization and in some way or ...

Who doesn’t want to be known as the best in the industry? Everyone in the field of medical coding wants to achieve the maximum number of certifications that prove his or her excellence in the various specialties of medical coding. The AAPC conducts a number of exams for various specialties to test the expertise of medical coders who want to prove their experience and depth of their knowledge in their chosen field. One of these tests is the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam. The AAPC provides numerous preparation materials for the exam. However, it is not possible for everyone to afford those materials as they are little expensive. So, here are few tips to follow that will ensure you clear the CPC exam. Learn the CPT manual: In the CPC exam, the majority of the questions are from the CPT manual. Hence it is advisable that you focus your efforts on CPT manual and know everything about it completely. Since CPC exam can be attempted by those who have experience in medical c...

Increasing use and popularity of smartphones has increased the use of mobile phones for EHR solutions. The technology that facilitates mobile EHR has transformed the way clinical care is provided. There are some benefits of using mobile EHR like improving the patient satisfaction, reducing the workload at the healthcare provider’s office. Let us see some tips that can improve and maximize the effectiveness of mobile EHR solutions. Access: To reap maximum benefits, it is necessary that everyone related to the practice has access to mobile EHR. This enables the patients and providers to quickly access all the patient information in accordance with the HIPAA regulations. iPad use by the provider:   It is better to use an iPad instead of a mobile phone by healthcare providers when meeting patients and making charts as it gives a professional look than a phone that gives an impression that the doctor is distracted. EHR features: While starting to use the mobile EHR...

The technological advancements have changed our lives tremendously. The impact of technology can be seen in every field of life. In the healthcare industry, technology has not only helped improve the quality of life with new machines and medicines but also has helped both the healthcare providers and patients with patient information at the fingertips which facilitate faster decisions. The electronic medical records and electronic health records are a result of the technology. Let us a take a look at some of the recent trends in the electronic health records arena. Using mobile technology: With more and more people using smartphones, there is an increase in the demand for access to medical records on mobile phones. Since patients move from one place to another and visit different specialists, it is understood that it becomes necessary to be able to access the information from anywhere. Using cloud technology: The cloud technology comes with its own benefits of cost-ef...

The healthcare industry is a unique business that is different from other businesses as it deals with not a single transaction but a procedure starting from the appointment of a patient with the physician and ending with the patient’s account closure. Managing a healthcare facility is a tremendous task which includes vital matters like insurance verification, medical coding, medical billing and collections. Let us take a look at some of the challenges faced by the medical billing industry. Claim rejections: According to recent studies more than 20% of claims submitted are rejected. And more than a quarter of these rejected claims are not submitted again. If we think about the reasons for claim rejections, we can find two major answers: claims are not received by the insurance payer; insurance payer denies the claims. Usually, the payer denies the claims when there is a defect in the claim with respect to incomplete information or lack of support for the bills. Denials no...

 Sometimes err… most of the times, transcribing can be tricky.  As you need to complete the task before the end of the shift or before deadlines, unintentionally you will end up committing errors that are hilarious!!  The doctors dictate something, and due to disturbance they are heard as something else and transcribed as the same. Here are few such funny outcomes of unintentional errors: 1. Dictated as: Issues that need to be discussed Transcribed as: Issues that made to be disgust 2. Dictated as: Strong scents such as perfumes, scented candles Transcribed as: Strong sense such as perfumes, scented candles 3. Dictated as: On review of systems today, they brought up multiple issues Transcribed as: On review of systems today, they bought up multiple issues 4. Dictated as: She has five sisters, one of whom is deceased Transcribed as: She has five sisters, one of whom is deceived 5. Dictated as: Patient is encouraged to ...