That EMR software has become an absolute necessity for physical therapy practices is clear. The question to ask is are you using PT EMR Software that is best suited for you? What is right for another practice may not necessarily be right for you.
The costs of using the ?wrong? EMR software may not always be readily apparent. Only a careful analysis could perhaps expose some of the gaps that you may have gotten used to and accepted as the ?way things are done. ?
Here are some of the initial questions to ask.
Do you have buy in for your PT EMR Software across your practice?
For a software system to succeed, it is always best that the entire team is on board and supportive of the platform. Have all parts of your practice truly bought into your EMR including front desk, clinicians, billing teams, and leadership?
Does your PT EMR Software make appointment scheduling a breeze?
The EMR should make it quick and simple to add patients to the schedule across one or more locations and onboard patients by sending patient forms, customizable clinical questionnaires, e-sign, and other documents through an integrated patient portal.
Does your PT EMR Software make clinical documentation faster and easier?
Your EMR should have easy to use documentation templates for all your clinical needs. Flowsheets, initial evaluations, daily notes, progress notes, and discharge summaries to name a few. Next, these templates should be straightforward to adapt to practice requirements. And uncomplicated to complete and sign off. Tracking patient goals and outcomes should be built into the documentation.
Does your PT EMR Software help you collect payments in full, faster?
The EMR should make it easy to collect patient payments, and accurately and automatically capture codes and charges at the point of documentation. Claims review and scrubbing workflows should automatically catch any and all errors that could hold up your claim and result in rejections or denials. Working off integration with the clearinghouse, ERAs should be automatically posted in the EMR with the possibility of manual overrides (control back with the user) if needed. Collection workflows should enable you to appropriately follow up with payers in a timely manner and keep tabs on the claims chain.
Does the PT EMR Software cover all parts of your PT practice?
Your EMR should cover close to 100% of what your practice does including Scheduling, Documentation, Billing, Patient Statements, Credit Card Processing, E-Faxing, Patient Texting, KPIs/Dashboards, Referral Management, among others.
Does your PT EMR Software ensure 100% compliance?
HIPAA and Payer rules should be built into the EMR so that claims that are submitted are always compliant and in line with rules, using the right CPT codes and modifiers. When rules change, the EMR should get updated so that you always stay compliant.
These is an initial set of questions to ask and by no means is this an exhaustive, detailed list! EMRs are after all complex with many moving parts. The real question is are you getting the value from the software that you sought when you signed up. Clearly, there is no perfect solution. Getting to the solution that is just about right for you is what we are after. The time for discovery should be now!
