Electronic health records systems (EHR) have advanced substantially over the last few years. More advancements are on the rise for 2017. Hospitals are continuing to upgrade their EHRs because the demands of Meaningful Use requirements (MU) and value-based care initiatives continue to grow. Hospitals will want to incorporate some of these elements into the systems they use. Physicians and nurses want EHRs that will make their lives simpler. And the newest technology can help make this happen. Hiteks Real-Time Clinically Aligned Revenue Cycle Solutions are compatible with any EHR and focus on advanced documentation improvement functionality in a suite of tools which start with the physician, then the CDI Software Specialist and Quality Improvement staff to close the loop on complete communication.
Increased cloud-computing
Healthcare is no exception to being one of the many industries that is making the switch to software applications on the cloud. It’s less expensive for facilities to implement and update EHR plugins and analytics tools on the cloud. It’s also not necessary to frequently buy new hardware when you’re using the cloud. Moreover, EHRs will become mobile-friendly. Healthcare workers need constant accessibility, and the easiest way to do this is from their mobile device. Having a smartphone or tablet in hand makes their lives much simpler when making patient rounds. They also don’t want to be inconveniently tied down to a computer throughout the day. To make this happen, many EHRs will have updated interfaces for complete mobile friendliness. This will lead to more convenience and efficiency for doctors and nurses.
MU criteria of the EHR Incentive Programs
There’s a strong force that’s continuously shaping the direction for MU criteria in the EHR Incentive Programs. The developer of these criteria is the Health Information Technology Policy Committee (HITPC). This committee advises the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC), as well as the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). These agencies are rigorously following HITPC’s recommendations, and will likely continue to in the future. Furthermore, the third stage of the Meaningful Use program is proposed to begin in 2017. Five policy areas will be the focus of the MU criteria, some of which one of Hiteks’ Real-Time Solutions have already addressed:
• Improving care coordination: Real-Time Physician Diagnosis Optimization and Problem List Management
• Engaging patients and families in their care
• Ensuring suitable security and privacy protections for personal health information
• Improving public health: Real-Time CDI Specialist for Documentation Improvement
• Improving safety, quality, efficiency, and eliminating health disparities: Real-Time Sepsis Surveillance
Monitoring meaningful use progress
The federal government will continue to monitor adoption, certification, progress, and EHR use and misuse. One likely outcome is that there will be new coding guidelines in the near future. Experts also suggest there will be trends including increasing use of natural language processing and more prevalent use of telehealth (virtual appointments). Furthermore, better clinical decision support and greater use of wireless remote outpatient monitoring are likely trends to see in 2017. However, it’s important to note that there could be unforeseen health IT technology breakthroughs that could change EHRs in ways we can’t quite yet imagine.
Building trust in healthcare data exchange
The greatest opportunity for healthcare organizations in 2017 may be building trust. It’s on the list of marketing communication trends for 2017. There’s a relationship between trust, data, and value-based care. Unfortunately, studies reveal there is a continued decline in trust. And it’s time for health technology and services companies to bridge the gap. Proper health data exchange requires share-friendly policies and shared incentives. Most importantly, it also requires trust between healthcare stakeholders. Without trust, stakeholders won’t be willing to make data easily accessible, which will create numerous problems.
Electronic health records are the key to creating health information organizations and networks nationwide. So, being aware of the possible trends for 2017 can prepare healthcare workers, and patients, for a more convenient future. Hiteks Real-Time solutions are compatible with any EHR using Clinically Aligned Revenue Cycle software to improve reimbursement and quality care. Call us today and let us know how we can help tailor our Real-Time Solutions to your needs: +1 (212) 920-0929.