Medinformatix

MedInformatix, Inc is a national provider of fully integrated Electronic Health Records(EHR). The products have been built around MedInformatix’s 25 years of workflow experience. Designed on a single database using Microsoft SQL, MedInformatix offers a variety of software solutions. Starting off as a medical billing application, the company has grown and moved into Electronic Medical Records(EMR) and most recently has launched its Radiology Information System(RIS). This is just one of over 300 hundred companies whom provide some form of Electronic Health Records. Each company has their own take and method on what is the best away to improve health care.

Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
Many groups are pushing the EMR/PM as the countries future for a national health care system. The much intcipated reform begain on October 01, 2005, when Medicare/Medicaid would no longer process claims that were not HIPAA compliant. Electronic Medical Records have been at the base of many health care reform arguments during the most recent 2007 Presidential Canidates debates. Most canidates(Demorcates and Republicans alike) agree[1][2], that some form or regulation of EMR's for the nation would be ideal; the main concern is how will it be financed and regulated. There is no finacial bill on the floor in Congress, but the government has created away of regulating with (CCHIT).

Electronic medical record is more than an electronic form of the patient's demographics. EMRs contain medical history of past exams and progress reports, allergy lists, lab results, X-ray and Mri, medications, and many more. The EMR is an accurate file of a patient's medical history. An initial obstacle for vendors and other 3rd party members was the fact that there was no universal syntax for two different applications communicating with each other. From this need, a non-profit group was established Health Level Seven (HL7), which would be an independent group who creates flexible and lowcost guidelines on how to share electronic medical records. With more and more companies becoming HL7 compliant, obtaining a lab result from the local hospital or a national organization is much simpler.

Common Information in an EMR:
 * Patient Demographics
 * Medical Exam History
 * Physician's Diagnosis and Review of Each Visit
 * Allergy List
 * Images from X-Rays, CAT Scans, MRI's
 * ePrescribing Information

Radiology Information System (RIS) & Components
A RIS is one of the most comprehensive packages on the market today. It encompasses not only scheduling, registration, technologist and radiologist workflows but also billing, EDI, custom reporting, and collections. The software integrates bi-directionally with many PACS products. Some RIS, like MedInformatix, includes digital dictation, transcription, and mammography tracking, it may be integrated with other third party systems for these functions. The software may easily be customized by the practice to suit their specific requirements and workflow.

Scheduling/Registration
There are several ways view appointments providing flexibility to the end user. The scheduling templates, appointment reasons, alerts, and automatic authorization requests are completely customizable. Billing CPT profiles based on the insurance carrier may also be added to each appointment reason to increase efficiency during billing. The registration process may be as little as one minute. All demographic information is displayed on one screen making verification quick and easy. Insurance cards, prescriptions, and other documents may be scanned into the system with a single click. Customizable consent and benefit forms may be printed from the system. However, most practices elect to have these types of forms electronically signed using either a signature pad or pen tablet.

Technologist Workflow
Technologists can view prescriptions, review screening forms, and send notes to the reading radiologist or other staff members regarding a specific patient or globally. Workflows may be customized to meet the specific needs of the practice. A summary containing pertinent data to the patient’s visit is available. Information such as allergies and exam history may be displayed.

PACS Integration and Dictation
From the MedInformatix software, the radiologist can review past reports for a patient, see a summary of the patient’s history, and launch images on many PACS systems. If the study is normal, the physician may create a customizable normal report by physician and by appointment type with a single click. For dictation, the radiologist may utilize the integrated digital dictation system within the MedInformatix product or elect to use a third party voice to text technology. Upon completion of dictation, the images on the PACS and the patient’s medical record on the RIS are closed, and an order is sent to transcription automatically. With the help of HL7, a RIS can now properly interface with one of the several different PACS vendors.

Transcription
A transcription package when included, is complete with formatting tools, user-definable macros, and medical dictionary spell checker. Patient information is automatically populated in the customizable report. A practice can use different letterheads based on the facility where the study was performed.

Report Signing and Automatic Distribution
Radiologists will enjoy the ease and speed of signing and editing transcribed reports. With a single click, the radiologist can move from one report to the next making the signing of an entire list quick and easy process. The physician also has the option to edit a report prior to signing it. A medical dictionary spell checker is also available.

Referral Web Access Module
With the Referral Web Access Module, referring physicians can submit appointment requests through the internet, check on the status of a patient’s appointment, and print a customizable referral receipt. In addition, physicians can manage their own profiles regarding passwords, fax numbers, and how they would like to receive reports and films. The system will also show the status of a patient’s report, reflecting whether it has been dictated or not. If it is complete, the physician can view the report on the screen and/or print it.

Billing and Collections
A complete billing package with EDI functions can be included: electronic claims and statements, claims status and auto remittance posting. The reporting capabilities are limitless and all forms and reports are customizable. Follow up of insurance and patient balances can be handled with ease using the comprehensive collection queues and tools.

Practice Management (PM) & Components
It encompasses not only scheduling, registration, billing, EDI, custom reporting, collections, and electronic medical records but it also may be used for outcomes analysis, to track marketing and in a practice’s surgery center.The software integrates with many types of medical equipment and also offers lab and hospital interfaces. PMs may easily be customized by the practice to suit their specific requirements and workflow.

Scheduling
There are several ways to views schedule appointments providing flexibility to the end user. The scheduling templates, appointment reasons, alerts, and automatic authorization requests are completely customizable. Referral tracking is also available at the appointment level.

Billing
If the practice is using the EMR, the system will calculate the E&M Level of Service based on the amount of data input by the physician during the patient visit. This CPT may then be entered into the system along with any additional procedure codes.

Collections
The Create Collection Queue window now has a filter for Related Provider. This will allow the use of the Related Provider under Special Info in Demographics for grouping patients in additional ways, such as Attorneys and Adjustors. A similar filter has been added to the Collection Queue View also.

Reporting
Reports are either written with Seagate Crystal Report Writer or MedReports. Both of these software programs allow the end-user the ability to modify or design new reports. Some users also will export the data into Microsoft Excel and manipulate the data within Excel.

CCHIT Certifications
Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) was established in 2004 to regulate the health technology industry by implementing a set of credible standards. CCHIT tests in three categories:


 * Functionality: the ability to create and manage electronic records for all patients, as well as automating workflow in a physician’s office


 * Interoperability: a first step in the ability to receive and send electronic data to other entities such as laboratories


 * Security: ability to keep patients’ information safe

With over 80 vendors having completed this certification since the introduction of the CCHIT in 2004; the industry is optimistic about having government certification. With the wide range of and variations of healthcare software available to physicians and hospitals, groups have been nervous about spending a large sum of money on an EMR/PM Suite. With these standards and requirments in place, medical physicians and office administrators now have another means to gage a product with the help of CCHIT.