Slides:
Google Drive Managing Your EMR in the Blended Clinic Model
Dropbox Managing Your EMR in the Blended Clinic Model
In today’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, the blended clinic model has emerged as a powerful solution for delivering comprehensive care to patients. This model combines the benefits of on-site clinics and primary care facilities, providing a seamless experience and improved outcomes. One crucial aspect of managing a blended clinic effectively is optimizing the use of electronic medical records (EMRs). In this blog post, we will explore the best practices for managing EMRs in the blended clinic model, along with valuable insights from industry expert Dr. Larry Earl and N-A-O-H-P board member Dina Kirk, Administrative Director of Occupational Medicine and Rehab Services at Southern Illinois Health Care.
I. Understanding the Blended Clinic Model
The blended clinic model involves the integration of multiple healthcare services within a single facility, catering to different needs like occupational medicine, urgent care, and primary care. This approach allows for improved coordination and collaboration between healthcare providers, leading to enhanced patient care and cost-effectiveness.
II. Selecting the Right EMR Systems
When implementing a blended clinic model, selecting the right EMR system is crucial. Dr. Earl and Dina Kirk discuss their experience working with SysDoc and Epic EMR systems for occupational medicine and urgent care services, respectively. The key factor in making this decision is ensuring that the EMR systems can handle the unique requirements of each service while maintaining separate patient information and records.
III. Keeping EMRs Separate in the Blended Clinic Model
One challenge in managing EMRs in the blended clinic model is ensuring the separation of primary care and work-related information. Patients may visit specialists within the health system who use a different EMR system. To address this, Dr. Earl and Dina emphasize the importance of clear communication, privacy policies, and a summary-based approach to sharing patient information with employers. By keeping employer-centric information separate, patient privacy is respected while ensuring essential information is shared on a need-to-know basis.
IV. Documentation and Management of First Aid Cases
In the blended clinic model, the presence of athletic trainers on-site offers an opportunity to provide immediate care for first aid cases. However, proper documentation and management of these cases can be challenging. Dr. Earl and Dina indicate that while electronic medical records are not always required for first aid cases, maintaining a separate paper record or log to monitor trends and assess potential risks is essential. They also highlight the need for athletic trainers to act as navigators, providing appropriate care and referrals when necessary.
V. Determining Services and ROI in Blended Clinics
When setting up a blended clinic, it is crucial to consider the goals of the company and the needs of the employees. Starting with a phased approach allows for gradual expansion while maintaining cost-effectiveness. Dina suggests focusing on specific pain points, such as work comp or health and wellness services, to achieve the greatest return on investment (ROI). Determining ROI can be complex, but factors like cost reduction, direct contracting, and monetizing services based on cost-plus pricing or per-employee-per-month rates play a significant role.
Effectively managing EMRs is essential for the success of the blended clinic model. By selecting the right EMR systems, maintaining data separation, and adopting efficient documentation practices, healthcare providers can optimize patient care, privacy, and cost-effectiveness. The insights shared by Dr. Earl and Dina Kirk shed light on the best practices and considerations for managing EMRs in the blended clinic model. With the right strategies in place, healthcare organizations can deliver efficient and integrated care while meeting the unique needs of their patients and clients.
Providers In Your Organization
Do you have providers in your organization interested in
learning more about occupational medicine exams & workers’ compensation management?
Check out our Occupational Medicine for Providers Course on NAOHP University Fully accredited
Includes OSHA Recordables!
Thanks To Our Town Hall Sponsors
ExdionACE is an advanced platform that leverages AI algorithms to process ICD and CPT code relationships to drive revenue improvement and integrity, improving CDI and compliance.
