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4 Benefits of User Rights and Responsibilities

4 Benefits of User Rights and Responsibilities

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With the increased use of technology, data security has become of paramount importance to software development. The use of electronic health records (EHR's) in the medical field has demanded that patient and practice information is not only secure from external people but also from system users within the practice itself. One of the great characteristics of any EHR software is the ability to give users specific rights which align with their responsibilities within the software to maintain the required level of security.

There are many benefits of assigning user rights and responsibilities. In this blog post, we will highlight the top 4:

1. Patient Medical Information is Secure

When a patient visits a health care provider, they are trusting that their information is being protected from anyone who should not have access to it, this may include staff within the practice. This information can include patient progress notes, lab results, and user data who is also a patient at the practice. Within any EHR software, practice administrators should be able to limit which staff member or user group can have access to patient health information. This allows providers to ensure privacy and security of this confidential data.

2. Practice Reporting Information is Not Accessible to All Users

The ability to limit access to financial and system reporting is another key benefit of assigning user rights and responsibilities. Providers who use the software for billing may not want all users to have the ability to check their daily totals or other financials relating the practice. They may also want to limit users access the Meaningful Use and other reports relating to the patient diagnosis. By limiting access to different reports, you will protect your practice’s financials and system data.

3. Only Authorized Users Can Make Changes to the Software

Another important right is the ability to make changes in the actual software that may affect all users. A great example of this is a practice that may want limit who is able to add and change users’ rights in the software, as well as any set preferences that may affect the outcome of the documentation of a visit. This right ensures that only authorized users can make changes such as editing procedures, test codes, and more.

4. Select Authorized Users can be Assigned to Certain Patients

In 2016, a major music star was checked into a hospital and within a short time several internal staff members had accessed their information and leaked it to the press. This story highlights the importance of assigning user rights and responsibilities to ensure health information is only available to the appropriate staff members. Giving select users exclusive rights to certain patients allows for added privacy of patients who may be considered VIP, and also allows for accountability should information be leaked.

Assigning user rights and responsibilities is an important feature in any EHR software. This will allow your practice to maintain the highest quality of care, compliance, and security.

 

For questions or information on assigning user rights and responsibilities with Criterions EHR software, reach out using the form below!

3 Benefits of An Integrated Inventory Tracking Solution

3 Benefits of An Integrated Inventory Tracking Solution

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If you are a provider that sells supplies or other products to your patients, you know that keeping track of inventory is important to your bottom line. It is crucial to have an accurate count of your inventory so that you are able to provide patients with the correct resources for treatment, however, manually tracking inventory can be a hassle.

With an inventory tracking solution that integrates with your EHR software, your practice will see increases in efficiency and patient satisfaction. Here are 3 key benefits of an integrated inventory tracking solution:

 

1. Increase Efficiency for Administrative Staff

      • Your Admin team can easily set products and add stock to system to ensure an accurate inventory profile.
      • Office staff can quickly locate previous orders in the system to offer patients products and solutions that are right for them.
      • By having an accurate view of available inventory at the counter, opportunities for additional sales will increase.

2. Easily Track All Products Sold

      • You can easily track a variety of inventory including DME, medications, and over the counter products.
      • As you sell products, your inventory will reflect the current supply on hand. This will help you manage inventory levels.
      • You will be able to see comprehensive tracking of items prescribed during a visit.

3. Avoid Running Low on Inventory

      • By tracking all inventory, you will be able to see which products or supplies you may need to replenish. This helps increase visibility of current stock.
      • Gain insights on inventory by analyzing reports available through your software.

By integrating your inventory tracking with your EHR software, your practice can increase sales, easily track products sold, and avoid running low on product. To learn more about the benefits of an integrated inventory tracking solution, contact us buy completing the form below!

Credentialing Services Can Prevent Out-of-Network Charges

Credentialing Services Can Prevent Out-of-Network Charges

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*This post was written by our partners at TriZetto Provider Solutions.

With the cost of care steadily increasing over the last decade, healthcare consumers are finding themselves with higher deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses. Most consumers know utilizing innetwork care is the most economical option, but sometimes that is beyond a patient’s control.

You may have heard of the Massachusetts man who received a $3,700 medical bill for the services of an out-of-network anesthesiologist at an in-network hospital. Surprise bills like this occur when patients are seen by providers outside their health plan’s contracted network. A 2016 KFF survey found that nearly 7 out of 10 patients with medical debt did not know a provider was out of network at the time of service. So how exactly does this happen?

Let’s say a patient goes to the hospital for a scheduled surgery. After researching the best specialists, he finds a surgeon in his preferred network. Prior to surgery, he is administered anesthesia. Unbeknownst to him, the anesthesiologist is out of network. To sum it up, the patient was administered a service at an in-network facility by an out-of-network specialist. This is often seen when emergency and ancillary services like anesthesiology, radiology and pathology are subcontracted by a hospital.

Another common occurrence happens when recommendations come into play. Perhaps a patient recently had ACL reconstruction surgery. While the surgeon might be in-network, maybe the recommended physical therapist is out-of-network. If the patient assumes the referring physician would recommend a therapist in network, a surprise bill could appear in the patient’s mailbox after the initial session.

When an out-of-network provider bills for care, the payer is obviously going to cover less of the cost than the patient expects. The remainder will then be the responsibility of the patient. Out-of-network practitioners, not bound by any contractual, in-network rate agreements, are legally allowed to bill patients for the remaining balance, much to the chagrin of patients who thought they were utilizing in-network providers. This practice is known as balance billing.

These circumstances are sometimes out of a patient’s control. Not only is the patient inconvenienced with a hefty bill, but added stress is put on the billing department and practice as a whole when out-of-network providers come into play.

A 2016 KFF survey found that nearly 7 out of 10 patients with medical debt did not know a provider was out of network at the time of service.

Imagine a small dermatology office wants to add specialty providers that will allow the office to offer expanded services like plastic surgery. The same scenario can apply to a mental health facility that utilizes both mental health practitioners and those associated with emergency care. The providers would most likely need to be re-credentialed and claims could be denied if credentials are not processed in time, not to mention the potentially unpaid balances from unhappy patients who receive bills from out-of-network in-house specialists. Another instance where this could easily become an issue is when employers are involved. Perhaps a new job causes a change in insurance, but the employee still visits their family practitioner, not aware that the doctor is now out-of-network.

Unfortunately, this happens more often than we think. So much so that state and federal governments are considering legislation to address the problem. So who is to blame and how can the issue be prevented? Is the onus on insurance companies to proactively help physicians gain credentials and become in-network, or is it on the physician to know what health plans are popular in their region and ensure they gain credentialing with all? One way to help mitigate the issues associated with balance billing is to stay on top of credentialing. If providers are in-network with as many health plans as possible, the likelihood of getting paid quickly and accurately increases. A lot of health plans will even retroactively backdate credentials if applications are submitted timely.

Hiring third party credentialing experts is a way to make sure all credentialing bases are covered. For companies experienced in handling the nuances of credentialing, who are well versed in the regulations and requirements needed by various payers and states, it is a less-stressful way of navigating the credentialing process.

Don't allow the complicated payer credentialing and enrollment process to be a burden on your practice!

Our credentialing partners at TriZetto Provider Solutions have experience working with various payers and providers of all backgrounds. Their team of experts will collect and submit information in a timely manner and perform all necessary follow-up tasks. Let TriZetto lighten your load so you can focus on patient care and growing your practice. For more information or to request a quote, visit the TriZetto partner page.

Questions about the Credentialing process? Fill out the form below:

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