For pain doctors, efficiency and practicality are crucial to patient care. Whether it is pain medicine, anesthesiology, or neurology, pain specialists recognize the importance of taking a comprehensive approach to evaluating and treating patients.

For this reason, pain management practices need to adopt Electronic Health Records (EHRs) equipped with the most effective tools found in pain medicine EHRs. 

In this article, we explore why pain doctors need better pain management EHR tools and the importance of their role.

3 Common Problems of Pain Doctors Inside Their Clinics

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 20.4% of U.S. adults suffer chronic pain, while 8.0% suffer from high-impact chronic pain. 

Physicians may find this study helpful in focusing on pain management interventions.

However, some issues can hinder pain doctors’ efforts to manage their patients’ pain.

• Lack of Education.

The education of health care professionals in pain management is still low on the list of priorities despite decades of research identifying unmet global needs. As a result, many providers still lack adequate understanding of the pathophysiology (pain treatment) and the physiologic effects of opioids and nonopioid treatments. The hesitation of staff to trust patients’ perceptions about pain lead patients to seek help elsewhere.

• The Restriction of Opioids.

Some patients with chronic pain may not be able to receive effective pain management due to opioid restrictions and protocols. Pain doctors may also be unable to seek treatment for pain altogether due to mandatory opioid restrictions and protocols for opioid prescribing as well. According to respondents, healthcare providers can become drug gatekeepers if they misuse narcotic medications, which makes them untrustworthy partners in delivering pain management.

Many states across the US  have addressed the issue by legislating pain management and safe opioid prescribing training for providers. EHR access allows physicians to quickly access previous health history and medication use to formulate a new strategy or see a pattern. 

• Physician Burnout

Often, primary care providers who treat chronically ill patients suffer from burnout. It is mainly due to their feelings of incapacity to assist patients suffering from pain.

A pain doctor in a small or solo practice or an independent unit may be more prone to burnout. A financial issue can also accelerate burnout and complicate it in the process. Therefore, it is best to use a holistic approach, consisting of time management and relaxation exercises.

Why is an EHR Important in Pain Management?

Pain management requires a high level of expertise. Many companies now offer EHR solutions. However, most don’t offer specialized types of pain management services.

The purpose of pain management EHRs is to optimize physician performance, reduce risks, and facilitate better decision-making. Patients can also manage their check-in process and communicate with their physicians about their health. For pain doctors, the pain management EHR can streamline clinical workflows and provide accurate records that ensure their patients receive proper and timely treatment.

Why Do Pain Doctors Need Better EHR Tools?

Pain doctors know that not all EHRs are the same, and while generic EHRs lack the documentation tools, it’s difficult for them to diagnose and treat their patients. This is why they must look for a pain medicine EHR that provides the right tools to simplify the management of their patients.

An EHR designed explicitly for the pain management field, such as IMS Pain Management EMR Software, can help provide quality care.

Through this software, pain doctors can improve documentation, access to pain billing software ,patient information access, and effective decision-making for people suffering from pain.

The Best EHR Tools for Pain Management

• Flexible Pain EHR Templates

Customizable, flexible templates in pain management EHRs enable physicians to customize their documentation process to match their workflow or patient. Indeed, pain management providers rely on EHR templates to perform all of their tasks. 

Moreover, templates can significantly reduce the time it takes to document patient visits, findings, referrals, pain billing procedures,  etc. To ensure continuity of care, physicians must use customized templates to chart and enter patient information accurately. They can keep a record of any injections and procedures for future reference. 

• E-Prescription & Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs)

According to the American Medical Association Journal of Ethics, e-prescribing is a core feature of CPOE systems that enable clinicians to order diagnostic tests, patient care activities, and referrals in addition to medications. E-prescriptions for pain management are widely used and accepted by pharmacies, clinics, hospitals, and practitioners due to the Electronic Prescriptions for Controlled Substances (EPCS) rule passed on June 1st, 2010, by the DEA. This rule allows the use of modern technology for controlled substance prescriptions. Because we live in a tech-savvy generation, e-prescriptions are often the preferred choice submitted by medical professionals and accepted by pharmacies. It is crucial to implement a pain management EHR that allows for E-prescriptions.  

While prescribing pain medications can be challenging, prescription pain medications can help manage patients’ symptoms. The doctor must carefully monitor all pain medications prescribed and check for any signs of addiction.

Our pain management EHR directly integrates provider access to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs); the electronic database that monitors controlled substance prescriptions in each state within the US. The feature allows for timely information helpful for prescribing and evaluating patient behaviors to decrease substance abuse treatment admissions. Providers no longer have to use additional browsers or devices to utilize the Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs).

Our pain management EHR is a convenient one-stop shop for servicing the patient. 

• Telemedicine

Integrating telemedicine with practice management software like EHRs has become a necessity for pain management. Patients who suffer from chronic pain frequently travel up to an hour to see a clinic. Telemedicine reduces the need for these trips, resulting in the following benefits:

• Providing pain management with a team of pain experts in a convenient and timely manner.
• Having fewer missed work days.
• Local testing and other services are available.
• Reducing stress and pain from long car trips.
• A comprehensive care approach to medical and non-medical care.
• Providing follow-up information without having to visit in person.

• Billing and Collections

Pain management practice can save time by integrating EHR and medical billing systems with pain billing software. Integrated systems can pull visit coding and documentation directly from their pain management EHR, which reduces copying time. Also, EHRs can remind physicians to code and document during visits. As a result, pain providers and billing staff will have less work after each visit. The medical billing specialist can submit claims timely when the documentation is already in the medical billing system.

• Pain Management Patient Healthcare Portal

Registering as a patient while in the clinic can be problematic for those who experience pain. They can start filing immediately by activating the EHR’s patient portal feature. Patients can access their personal health information (PHI) at any time from anywhere through a quality, secure patient portal. Patients can also make payments, schedule appointments, and cancel them through the patient portal.

• Health Follow-up Reminders

Pain management requires full patient involvement and participation. It is necessary to provide regular treatment to those under specific pain management protocols.

Pain management practices can use follow-up reminders when it comes to Urinary drug testing (UDT). UTDs are frequent in the treatment plan for patients who are prescribed opioid therapy for chronic pain. Pain management EHRs can quickly remind your patient of their next UDT.

Nevertheless, a treatment plan’s effectiveness depends on whether individuals follow instructions, take medications,  obtain external tests, and schedule follow-up appointments. It is also possible that the practice will lose revenue from missed appointments. An EHR should provide automated appointment reminders and confirmations and a Patient Portal to increase patient engagement. The patient’s name is added to a follow-up list whenever a follow-up appointment is not scheduled within the agreed-upon timeframe.

The following EHR tools ensure that pain doctors can consistently provide quality healthcare to their patients. Thus, get an EHR that meets the specific needs of your pain management practice. 

Choose the Top EMR/EHR Software 

Over the years, we have assisted medical practices with physical medicine EMR/EHR selection, implementation, and software usage. We specialize in providing customized EMR/EHR software to meet your practice’s specific needs.

Schedule a demo or contact us through the contact form for more personalized information. Let’s work together to find the best software for your practice!

Do you have a favorite EHR add-on service? You are free to comment below!

The ICD-10 compliance date is less than three months away, and many healthcare organizations are still struggling to complete key steps in the implementation process. Software vendors, like 1st Providers Choice, are prepared to help by providing ICD-10 ready practice management software and assistance with ICD-10 claims testing.

ICD-10, the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases, will officially replace ICD-9, the current version in the United States, beginning on October 1, 2015. At that time, all HIPAA covered entities will be required to start using the new code set to code diagnoses and procedures*. Failure to do so could result in a delay in payment, as it will not be possible to process ICD-9 claims.

The difficulty for many practices will be in getting used to the thousands of new codes. ICD-10 has more than 68,000 diagnostic codes, compared about 13,000 in ICD-9. Not only that, but providers will also need to be more specific in their coding – for example, by distinguishing between the left and right side of the body.

*ICD-10-CM codes will be used for all inpatient and outpatient diagnoses. ICD-10-PCS will only be used by hospitals for inpatient procedures. CPT will be used by all healthcare providers for outpatient procedures.

ICD-10 Readiness Among Hospitals & Practices

According to a survey by the eHealth Initiative and the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), 72 percent of healthcare organizations surveyed have trained staff on ICD-10, and about 50 percent have conducted test transactions with clearinghouses and payers. Furthermore, over 80 percent have conducted or have plans to conduct end-to-end testing.

The problem lies in the disparities between hospitals and physician practices. While larger organizations tend to be further along in the ICD-10 preparation process, smaller practices, overall, are a lot less prepared. In fact, 85 percent of hospitals have trained staff on using ICD-10, compared to only 41 percent of physician practices.

The good news is that there is still plenty of time for practices to adequately prepare – not only by taking advantage of free resources online, but by working with an ICD-10 ready software vendor.

Vendor Assistance with ICD-10 Testing & Training

1st Providers Choice is committed to working with physician practices in order to facilitate the transition to ICD-10. We help with software setup, implementation, training and testing by assigning an ICD-10 expert to each practice.

We also provide ICD-10 guidance and help practices understand all there is to know about transitioning to the new code set, including announcements from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Need help preparing for the October 1st deadline? Call 480-782-1116 today to speak with an ICD-10 expert.

The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) is hosting its Annual Scientific Meeting (The National) in 2015 in Orlando, Florida from July 23-26. The National is the leading foot and ankle conference for podiatric medical professionals. It features seminars, hands-on training sessions and workshops, and an exhibit hall where vendors can showcase Podiatry EMR software and other industry-specific products.

1st Providers Choice is excited to be attending The National and to have the ability to demonstrate the many features of its EMR software for podiatrists. The EMR software helps physicians attest for Meaningful Use and qualify for stimulus incentives. The intuitive Meaningful Use dashboard allows podiatrists to track their progress meeting specific MU objectives, view percentages of compliancy and more.

Our Podiatry EMR Software also provides the tools that healthcare organizations need in order to run more efficient operations, improve productivity, and provide high quality care. This includes an advanced scheduling module, EHR-integrated billing and an online healthcare portal that’s easy for both patients and staff to use.

ICD-10 Ready Podiatry EMR Software

With the ICD-10 deadline quickly approaching, podiatrists will be happy to learn that our EMR/PM system is ICD-10 ready. We work with practices to make sure that they understand how the new codes work and provide tools for testing to ensure that all systems are ready by the October 1, 2015 deadline.

We invite you to visit our booth at the conference to learn more about our product. You can also call 480-782-1116 to get more information about our Stage 2 certified EMR software.

The American Podiatric Medical Association will be hosting its 66th Annual Region Three Scientific Meeting next month, from May 6-9, in Atlantic City, NJ. The meeting brings together podiatric physicians and assistants from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, in addition to leading industry vendors, such as 1st Providers Choice, which will be exhibiting its leading ICD-10-ready Podiatry EMR software.

The conference will provide over 20 CME credits, with seminars covering a broad range of podiatric topics including:

• Interesting Case Studies in Podiatric Medicine
• Essential Pearls to Improve the Success of Orthotics in your Practice
• Creating a Solid Foundation in the Community for Your Practice and Your Patients
• Using Communication and Interpersonal Skills to Your Advantage
• The Art of Fusions, Technique and Preparation
• Your Social Responsibility to Social Media

Preparing Podiatrists for ICD-10

The Region Three Meeting will also include a full-day coding seminar. The seminar is meant to help podiatrists get ready for the upcoming October 1, 2015 deadline to transition to the ICD-10 coding system. Preparing for ICD-10 requires extensive planning from podiatry practices, in addition to the use of ICD-10-ready software.

At the end of the seminar participants will be better able to understand and apply ICD-10 concepts, assess the framework for implementing ICD-10, and use available resources for more accurate coding.

1st Providers Choice will be available to talk to conference attendees about the benefits of using our Podiatry EMR and Practice Management software to simplify the ICD-10 transition. Our software not only offers coding assistance to help podiatrists select the right code; we also provide comprehensive ICD-10 testing to ensure compliance.

Learn more about our leading EMR software for podiatrists. Call 480-782-1116 or contact us online.

Healthcare organizations have raised many concerns about the transition to ICD-10, which will introduce thousands of new diagnosis codes, citing that a lack of preparation could result in an increase in claim denials. The compliance date, however, is still set for October 1, 2015, and it is unlikely that the deadline will be pushed back yet again. In order to avoid cash flow disruption resulting from claim delays and denials, medical practices must be proactive and take steps to prepare for the compliance date.

ICD-10 testing is by far the most important thing that practices can do to get ready for the switch in code sets. It is not required but will make a huge difference in determining how quickly providers get paid, particularly in situations where the wrong diagnosis code could result in a denial and extra work for billing staff.

Getting Ready for ICD-10 Testing

When it comes to ICD-10 testing, the first step for practices is to contact their software vendors to ensure compliance. Come October 1st, ICD-10-ready practice management software and electronic health record software will be necessary for processing clean claims. Using software that is ready for ICD-10 will also ensure that physicians are able to meet the new standards without any complications or disruption to workflow. 1st Providers Choice’s software solutions are ICD-10-compliant, and we are currently helping healthcare organizations carry out testing.

Providers will also need to coordinate testing efforts with the payers with whom they regularly work. Note that it is not necessary to test with each payer. Practices may choose to focus only on the ones that process the highest volume of claims. To find out how a particular payer is supporting ICD-10 testing, visit their website or contact them directly. Medical practices that use a billing service will need to contact the billing service to find out how they are handling the testing process.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is offering two test cycles for ICD-10 testing. The first testing period will be from April 27 to May 1 for those who already registered. The next test cycle will take place from July 20 to July 24. Providers will need to contact their Medicare Administrative Contractor for details about signing up.

Creating Test Claims & Analyzing Results

When thinking about what to test, practices should keep it simple, focusing primarily on the most common diagnosis and procedure codes, as well as those that bring in the most revenue. This will prevent staff from feeling overwhelmed during the testing process. It is also important to throw one or two complex claims in the mix in order to avoid surprises.

Also, when creating test claims, remember to follow each payer’s instructions for doing so. Some may require a specific date to be entered or for specific data to be included in order to easily identify test claims.

Once test results are in, practices will need to check for ICD-10-related errors. If there are errors, staff should work with payers to understand what caused the errors and how they can be avoided. Once those issues are resolved, conduct further testing until all test claims processed are free from errors related to ICD-10.

To learn more about using our fully certified EHR software and ICD-10-compliant practice management system, contact us online or call 480-782-1116.

Get away from the cold and join 1st Providers Choice in sunny Arizona! The leading Podiatry EMR software vendor will be attending the 2015 Valley of the Sun Podiatry Conference in Phoenix from April 16 to 19. Co-sponsored by the Podiatry Institute and the Arizona Podiatric Medical Association, the conference will be hosted at the Marriott Phoenix Tempe at the Buttes.

During the conference, attendees will get the chance to hear highly respected doctors of podiatric medicine discuss a wide range of topics, including innovations in podiatric medicine and surgery, what’s new in coding, and ICD-10.

There will also be several hands-on workshops featuring the latest industry-specific technologies and treatment techniques. The lectures, workshops and education sessions will help educate podiatrists to better understand the various updates and strategies in wound care, new devices for common surgical procedures, and more.

Health professionals will also have the opportunity to meet with Podiatry EMR software vendors, such as 1st Providers Choice, as well as other companies that offer podiatry-related products and services.

The Leading EMR Software for Podiatrists

1st Providers Choice’s 2014 Edition certified EMR software is the top choice for podiatrists nationwide. Because of the challenges that many podiatry practices are facing with EMR vendors not being able to provide the best support, our team has stepped in to help. We offer free data conversions and make it easy to transition to our highly rated EMR.

Our software includes the following features and capabilities:

• Podiatry-specific templates, letters and forms
• Billing codes specific to podiatry (ICD-9, ICD-10, CPT)
• Integrated online patient portal
• Built-in reporting templates and the ability to create custom reports
• Image library with hundreds of foot-related diagrams
• Extensive drug formulary database
• E-prescribing of controlled substances

Our team is also committed to helping podiatry practices attest to Meaningful Use and meet PQRS requirements. We are aware of the latest changes in Meaningful Use, such as CMS’s intent to shorten the EHR reporting period in 2015 to 90 days.

We not only offer Meaningful Use assistance, we also provide software that makes it easy to achieve Meaningful Use Stage 1 and Stage 2 goals. This includes a fully integrated patient portal that facilitates patient engagement, helps practices improve productivity and streamlines workflow.

For more information about our Podiatry EMR software, call 480-782-1116. To learn more about the conference, click here.

Are you a sleep medicine clinician interesting in learning about new strategies to use in your practice? Join us from February 20-22 at the American Academy of Sleep Medicine’s (AASM) Sleep Medicine Trends 2015 conference in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Attendees at the 2015 meeting will have the opportunity explore innovations in patient care management, learn about new clinical research, and attend exclusive sessions on strategies for improving business practices. There will also be an exhibit hall with leading sleep medicine vendors.

1st Providers Choice will be exhibiting its 2014 Edition certified Sleep Medicine EHR software at the conference. We’re eager to meet with healthcare professionals to talk about the benefits of electronic charting and the features that our software provides sleep medicine practices for improving care, increasing productivity and reducing office expenses.

Some of our popular EHR software features include:

• ICD-10 ready practice management software
• EHR-integrated patient portal
• Medical dictation software

Sleep Medicine Software for Sleep Studies

1st Providers Choice’s Sleep Medicine EHR software is designed for today’s sleep medicine practice, with built-in sleep studies, templates, care plans and more. It has advanced scheduling capabilities, allowing schedules to be managed by bed and/or room, a convenient feature for organizations that regularly perform sleep studies. The software also allows providers to easily view and manage patient data before, during and after a sleep study.

To learn more about the conference, click here. You can also contact us by calling 480-782-1116.

1st Providers Choice is proud to announce that we will be attending the New Mexico Podiatric Medical Association’s (NMPMA) 2015 Winter Seminar in Albuquerque, NM. The seminar will take place from February 6-7, 2015 at the Sandia Resort & Casino and will play host to podiatric physicians and staff, in addition to Podiatry EHR software vendors and other exhibitors.

The Winter Seminar will offer a variety of lectures on topics including PICA risk management, patient care, efficient office management, billing and coding, and more. There will also be hands-on workshops, CPR training and opportunities for attendees to earn CME credits.

During exhibit breaks, physicians and staff will get the chance to network with colleagues and peers, in addition to meeting with vendors that provide products and services for the podiatric specialty. The 1st Providers Choice team will offer free training at our booth for our Podiatry EHR software.

We will also be speaking to providers about ICD-10. Healthcare organizations must be prepared to use ICD-10 codes by October 1, 2015. Our practice management software is ICD-10-ready, ensuring that physicians are able to meet the new standards without any complications or disruption to workflow.

Our team will also be prepared to answer questions about Meaningful Use, including how our EHR-integrated patient healthcare portal can be used to attest for MU Stage 2. The portal offers an interactive way for your patients to view visit summaries, access lab reports, request appointments and medication refills, message their physician confidentially, and more.

To learn more about the conference and our Podiatry EHR software, contact us at 480-782-1116.

Healthcare providers can breathe a sigh of relief. Implementation of ICD-10 code sets has been delayed another year thanks to a bill passed in the Senate on March 31. The controversial Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014, which passed with a vote of 64 to 35, has pushed the compliance deadline to October 1, 2015.

The U.S. is one of only a handful of developed countries that is not yet using ICD-10 code sets, which are said to be more accurate and precise. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization is set to release ICD-11 codes in 2017 – just two years after healthcare organizations in America will have started using ICD-10.

Industry response to the ICD-10 delay has been varied thus far. Many organizations have expressed satisfaction with the extra time it gives them to prepare internally for the transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 – on top of the other changes that they have had to implement, including installing EMR software.

Others have criticized the delay stating that hospitals and healthcare organizations have already invested a lot of time and money in order to achieve compliance this year. Additionally, according to AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association), a one year ICD-10 delay could cost between $1 billion to $6.6 billion.

Preparing for ICD-10 Ahead of Time

The ICD-10 extension, however, does not mean that physicians and healthcare organizations can put off thinking about upgrade requirements for another year. Preparing for ICD-10 requires extensive planning to ensure that different systems, like billing and practice management software, can all work together to submit claims accurately, allowing providers to get paid.

Those who have not yet started ICD-10 preparations will now have more time to work with software vendors and clearinghouses to ensure compliance, while those already prepared for the transition can continue getting educated on the new code sets and how the transition will affect billing and coding processes.

1st Providers Choice’s 2014 ONC fully certified EMR and Practice Management software is ICD-10 ready. We can help your practice get through a seamless transition. To learn more about our software solutions call 480-782-1116 today!

The EHR Incentive Program has been around for several years now, and few healthcare providers are unfamiliar with Meaningful Use and all it entails. The program main draw is the stimulus payments that physicians can qualify for each year by successfully adopting, implementing, upgrading or demonstrating meaningful use of certified EHR technology.

Starting this year, qualifying for incentive payments requires using 2014 Edition certified software. This means that physicians must attest to Meaningful Use using an EHR solution that has proven through extensive testing that it is capable of supporting requirements for both Stage 1 and 2, including electronic health information exchange, interoperability and patient engagement.

In order to accommodate physicians whose EHR vendors have not yet achieved Stage 2 certification, CMS and the ONC decided that in 2014 only all Meaningful Use participants will report for just 90 days – regardless of whether the physician is in their first year of Stage 1 or already getting started on Stage 2. This means that healthcare professionals can begin their Meaningful Use reporting this year as late as October 1, 2014. Physicians are warned, however, not to wait until the last minute to get started.

1st Providers Choice understands physicians’ concerns, and we want our users to start the reporting process early. That’s why we worked hard to get certified for Stage 2. Our EHR software and Patient Healthcare Portal solution are both 2014 ONC Stage 2 Certified, allowing physicians to start their 90-day reporting period immediately.

To help you achieve your goals, we assign a Meaningful Use expert to your practice. They guide you through the reporting process and show you how to use the EHR’s Meaningful Use dashboard to keep track of your progress. Our trainers also work with you to go over using drug formularies, setting up lab interfaces, e-prescribing controlled substances, and using the patient portal to achieve Meaningful Use.

Our patient portal makes it easy for physicians to meet the following patient engagement requirements:

• Provide online access to health information to more than 50% of all unique patients (who were seen by you during the reporting period) within 4 business days.
• Have 5% of all unique patients view their health information online, download it, or transmit it to a third party.
• Have 5% of unique patients (who were seen by you during the reporting period) send you a secure message.

1st Providers Choice has also made the necessary upgrades to ensure our EHR is up to date and our Practice Management software is ready for ICD-10. We have already begun testing our software with insurance payers and clearing houses to ensure a smooth transition to ICD-10 for hospitals and physician practices.

Interested in learning more about fully certified EHR software? Call 480-782-1116 today!