Chiropractic Office Management Software

Electronic health records (EHR) are coming to a healthcare professional near you. For a variety of reasons, medical professionals have dragged their feet when it comes to implementing these systems in their practices. Thanks to a new government mandate, the use of EHR systems is required by 2015 and there is $44,000 worth of incentives for those who begin using EHR software starting in 2011. Payouts surround the topic of “meaningful use,” and we’ll take a look at what that means for chiropractic office software.

American Recovery & Reinvestment Act Overview

The process of moving health providers toward the use of EHR software has been tied to the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which was a stimulus plan Congress passed in 2009. Of the nearly $787 billion earmarked for the stimulus package, close to $25 billion was allocated for health information technology investments and incentive payments. The individual $44,000 incentive packages come from this allocation, but to receive it providers must comply with 3 stages of ARRA requirements.

ARRA Requirements and “Meaningful Use”

The ARRA requires “meaningful use” of EHR systems. At its core this means providers are using certified EHR technology in a way which can be monitored by amount and quality of use. It is a three-part process from now until 2015, with only Stage 1 (completing 20 of 25 objectives using a certified EHR system by 2012) outlined so far. The government’s reasoning behind meaningful use is to:

· Improve care coordination

· Reduce healthcare disparities

· Engage patients and their families

· Improve population and public health

· Ensure adequate privacy and security

The 25 objectives outlined in Stage 1 are broken down into two categories, 15 core criteria and completing 5 of 10 menu set objectives. For chiropractors, there are only 23 objectives because most providers cannot issue electronic prescriptions. Here are a few objectives which must be completed (top four are core criteria; the last is a menu objective)

· Record patient demographics.

· Record vital signs.

· Maintain active medication list.

· Provide patients with a clinical summary for each office visit within 3 business days.

· Use EMR technology to identify patient-specific education resources, and provide those to the patient as appropriate

What to Do?

First, read up on all the requirements associated with the ARRA because it’s been a hotly questioned and debated topic. Second, without a repeal of the new EHR regulations, the mandatory implementation date of 2015 the use of EHR systems means chiropractors must start looking for approved electronic systems. Companies have already produced versions of certified chiropractic scheduling software which meet the requirements of the ARRA. It’s best to research how different software products work and find which works best at your clinic. Adoption after 2012 means a lower incentive payout in 2013 ($39,000) and 2014 (24,000). 

Erick D. Smith is a blogger living in Southern California who writes about health news and information, including chiropractic office software. If you would like to know more about how the ARRA requirements will affect your chiropractor, talk to him/her and find out if they are already using approved chiropractic scheduling software.

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