|
Go back to main
questions>>
General Questions:
_________
PrecisionThe Business
Behind the Practice? What does that mean?
Managing a medical practice
is difficult - there are so many clinical
aspects of the practice that need attention and
patient care should be the focus for the
practice. But there are many equally important
"back office", technical and "business-related"
challenges that a practice faces. If a practice
is to thrive, it must manage both the clinical
and business-side problems and issues and do
both well. Precision's mission is to allow a
practice to focus on its core competency
(treating patients), and to complement the
practice's clinical efforts with professional,
cost-effective and high quality business
management and technical expertise.
Go back to
Questions>>
Why did Precision choose to
support the Encite software? Why not some other
national software brand - there are a lot of
them out there.
There
are a number of fine practice management and
EMR-EHR software products on the market today,
but many of them are very expensive. And many of
them are rigidly designed such that they work
best if the doctor and practice make major
changes to their day-to-day workflow in order to
make the software work - which is often not
practical. Precision supports Encite software
because it is extremely customizable and
flexible, making it adaptable to the specific
needs of many different medical specialties and
workflow preferences. And perhaps most
important, Encite is cost-effective - a practice
can generate a significantly positive return on
an Encite implementation supported by Precision
- and that is what a "business tool" investment
should be all about. Encite Billing Manager
creates productivity in appointment scheduling
and medical billing functions and has strong
reporting tools impacting financial management
of the practice. Encite Clinical Manager allows
for better patient care in many ways, but does
not require a long, tedious training cycle to
master and does not "slow the doctor down" -
which is a failing of many, many EMR software
products on the market today. With Encite, the
practice can see more patients and eliminate
internal costs and inefficiencies at the same
time.
Go back to
Questions>>
What, in a nutshell, is
Precision trying to do for my practice?
Quite
simply, Precision helps its client practices
trade technology and automation for labor. Each
minute that staff members spend looking for
charts, manually handling paper transactions,
routing tasks and looking for information that
should be readily available is wasted time that
is extremely costly.
In a
busy, paper-based practice, the total amount of
lost productivity (which equates to wasted
payroll dollars) is huge. Precision's mission is
to use technology and computer software to get
those lost minutes and hours back and put them
to good use for the practice. Recover enough of
that lost time and the investment in updated
hardware, network and software systems is FREE!
That kind of return is what Precision has
achieved for its clients, over and over
again.
Go back to
Questions>>
What is the difference
between EMR (electronic medical records) and EHR
(electronic health records) software? Does
Precision support both?
Electronic Medical Records
(EMR) is a term that was coined several years
ago, when it first became possible to scan paper
charts and make them electronic charts. Since
then, clinical software has generally become
more functional, allowing physicians to create
an office note, a referral letter, and
e-prescribe. Document management and task
management are now possible as well. With this
expansion of functionality, it was thought that
the term EMR did not encompass all that today's
software can do, hence the creation of the term
"Electronic Health Records", or EHR. Both terms
are generally used today to refer to the same
clinical software available to practices. So in
that sense, the Encite software supported by
Precision can be considered both an EMR and EHR
software system.
Go back to
Questions>>
Encite Clinical Manager
Questions:
_________
I know doctors that have
tried an EHR software system and the system they
chose did not work well for them. How is the
Encite system different from others on the
market?
Encite
conforms to the physician's established clinical
workflow, not the other way around. The
physician determines how to best capture the
office note according to their personal style,
whether by using customized templates,
voice-recognition software, typing or
handwriting. All aspects of the Encite software
system can be made to conform to the established
workflow of the practice - that is a huge
advantage over most other software systems.
Go
back to Questions>>
I hear that using an EHR
system will "slow down the doctor" and require
the scheduling of fewer patients to accommodate
that slowdown - is that true?
It is
true that almost all EMR-EHR systems on the
market today "slow the doctor" down. And that
quite simply should not happen. A clinical
software system is a business tool - if it does
not enhance productivity, then what is the
point.? Precision makes sure that the Encite
system is formatted to gain time for the doctor
using it. And the Encite system produces
productivity gains for the staff as well. That
is what produces a "positive return on
investment" for the practice.
Go
back to Questions>>
How does Encite Clinical
interface with Encite Billing? Do they work
together and how?
Encite
Clinical (ECM) and Encite Billing (EBM) run off
separate databases, which allows for a practice
to start up on EBM and then later add ECM
functionality. It also allows for optimal
management of the image-based records
(documents) in ECM. The two databases are fully
integrated via a very broad-based HL-7 interface
for seamless patient visit documentation and
automated charge entry. The systems are linked
to work independently up front and together
behind the scenes.
Go
back to Questions>>
How customizable is the
Encite software? My practice is unique in many
ways and it is important that our software
accommodates special things that we do.
ECM is
fully customizable for any medical practice -
even individual physicians within a group
practice may use the system differently. That
customization is a core strength of Encite and
differentiates it from almost all other systems.
It is incredibly flexible and Precision is
highly skilled in getting the most from the
Encite software - Precision will customize
Encite precisely to fit your needs.
Go
back to Questions>>
Our practice has several
satellite locations with charts being kept at
each location or moved between locations if
necessary. How will I access electronic patient
charts from other office locations?
Medical
practices with multiple locations can access all
medical records at a touch of the mouse! Using a
unique user name and password, each provider and
office staff member has access to all medical
records, from any location with internet or
direct network access. No longer is it necessary
to fax records to a satellite office, transport
records between offices or treat patients
without access to all of that patient's medical
records.
Go
back to Questions>>
Our practice would like to
participate in PQRI (patient quality reporting
initiatives), but that seems to require a lot of
additional work for my staff relative to the
additional compensation my office would receive.
Can Encite's EHR system help with that?
The
implementation of ECM will help the practice
manage PQRI capture and reporting. Once you have
selected which quality measures pertain to your
practice, Precision can format ECM to allow for
capture of PQRI information at the right point
in the patient encounter. Then, CPT entries flow
down to charge entry, and summary, periodic
reports are easily created on demand from
Encite's Windows SQL database.
Go
back to Questions>>
Our doctors like to dictate
their notes. Can Encite Clinical Manager
accommodate dictation or must they switch to a
"templated" system for note creation?
Encite
Clinical Manager easily and effectively
accommodates a physician that is accustomed to
note dictation. A doctor may continue to dictate
using a transcription service (in which case the
transcription service can create and transfer
notes directly into Encite) or with voice
recognition software (the latest version of
Dragon ® voice recognition software works very
effectively, much better than older versions of
Dragon ®). Encite Clinical incorporates Dragon ®
seamlessly into Encite's screens so that
dictation directly into Encite can be utilized
whenever the physician so desires. The end
result can be a combination of dictation and
templating that optimizes a physician's time in
documenting patient encounters.
Go
back to Questions>>
I understand that Encite's
EHR software interfaces with Dragon's voice
recognition software - I have heard that Dragon
is hard to train and know some doctors that
tried it and gave it up. Does Dragon really
work? And how does Dragon integrate with Encite?
Dragon
v9/10 Medical really does work, unlike the
previous versions which were hard to train and
translated somewhat poorly for many doctors.
Dragon v9/10 Medical is built right into Encite,
so it can be used to input text directly into
Encite whenever that is most advantageous.
Go
back to Questions>>
Can doctors and staff
access the Encite Clinical System from home?
Yes.
All doctors and staff, with user-defined
approved system access, can use Encite from home
or from any other location where internet access
is available.
Go
back to Questions>>
Is the Encite System
secure? How do I know my patient files and other
clinical data are fully protected?
Providers and staff members
are given access to ECM according to job
function. In that regard, Encite is fully HIPAA
compliant. PHI is stored on the central ECM
server, not on an individual computer, so a
stolen laptop leaves confidential patient data
safe and not accessible. All data can be backed
and stored in multiple locations, which is much
safer than a paper-based system where there
exists only one copy of each chart. Further,
user access to the system tracked with each
login, providing an audit trail of all
transactions undertaken in the system.
Go
back to Questions>>
How much does Encite
Clinical Manager software cost?
ECM
licensing is by provider, not by user, at
approximately $9,000 per doctor (less for
multiple doctors in the same practice). There is
no limit to the number of users that can access
the system to support the licensed provider,
which makes this form of licensing very
practical - and an ECM license comes with future
software upgrades at no additional cost. Monthly
support costs are less than 8% of the license
fee and include hours of ongoing formatting and
training - Precision strongly believes in its
continual, ongoing support of each client
practice's use of the Encite system - that makes
a huge difference in the return on investment
each practice achieves with respect to use of
Encite.
Go
back to Questions>>
Encite Ultra Lite:
_________
We have a small office -
just one primary care doctor. Can we afford an
EHR system like Encite?
Absolutely - that is why
Encite Ultra Lite and Encite Lite were created.
Encite Clinical is fully scalable designed to
grow with a practice. Encite Ultra Lite
automates the physician without eliminating
paper charts (since a large percentage of an
EMR's cost is equipment-related; leaving some
aspects of the practice non-electronic greatly
reduces those costs). Patient flow tracking is
part of Encite Ultra Lite, allowing the doctor
to capture visit notes electronically and to
complete an electronic superbill - the perfect
marriage of electronic automation and
paper-based simplicity.
Go
back to Questions>>
I think my office is pretty
efficient as it is - why do I need Encite Ultra
Lite?
Encite
Ultra Lite allows your doctor to automate and go
electronic, relieving your staff of some
"paper-based pressure", but otherwise
maintaining you existing workflow. For some
solo-doctor practices, automation will only pay
for itself in certain areas and not others -
Encite Ultra Lite is targeted to address that
need. Especially for doctors that are heavy on
dictation, Encite Ultra Lite can present huge
benefits and an immediate payback. In many
cases, the cost savings from eliminating
transcription costs completely pays for the
entire system.
Go
back to Questions>>
What is "included" in the
Encite Ultra Lite software package?
Encite
Ultra Lite includes basic EHR formatting
(including a standard visit template), Dragon
"Naturally Speaking" v 9/10 Medical for
dictation, Encite's Rx Writer (for
e-prescribing), patient flow tracking and an
electronic superbill (allowing for download of
CPT and diagnosis information to charge entry).
Three-hours of on-site support quarterly are
also included.
Go
back to Questions>>
If I purchase Encite Ultra
Lite, can I upgrade later to Encite Lite or
Encite Clinical?
Encite
Ultra Lite is the base platform for entry into
Encite's EHR software system. At any time, more
functionality can be added to the base system
with custom specialty-based templates via an
upgrade to Encite Lite. When the practice is
ready to graduate to a totally paper-free
environment, an upgrade to Encite Clinical will
be customized for the practice. With each
upgrade, the practice is credited with what has
been spent on the preceding version.
Go
back to Questions>>
How long does it take me to
get up and running on Encite Ultra Lite?
After
licensing is completed, an IT (information
technology) assessment is made, followed by
necessary hardware additions or upgrades to the
office's infrastructure. All formatting is
completed, followed by start up training. All in
all, allow four weeks from start to finish. Once
training starts, some providers have been up and
running on the system within one-hour!
Go
back to Questions>>
How much does the Encite
Ultra Lite software cost?
Encite
Ultra Lite licensing is by provider, not by
user, at $5,500 per doctor (including Dragon ®
version 9 Medical Edition software). There is no
limit to the number of users that can access the
system to support the licensed provider, which
makes this form of licensing very practical. An
Encite Ultra Lite license comes with future
software upgrades at no additional cost. Monthly
support costs are less than 8% of the license
fee and include hours of ongoing formatting and
training - Precision strongly believes in its
continual, ongoing support of each client
practice's use of the Encite system - that makes
a huge difference in the return each practice
achieves with respect to use of Encite Ultra
Lite.
Go
back to Questions>>
Encite Lite Questions:
_________
What makes Encite Lite
better than Encite Ultra Lite? How is it
different?
Both
systems offer the functionality of voice
recognition software to capture office visit
documentation with the ability to continue to
use paper charts.. Encite Ultra Lite offers one
standard office visit template (into which notes
are dictated), while Encite Lite offers
customizable patient visit templates, specific
to each practice specialty. Encite Lite allows a
doctor to mix dictated notes with templated
inputs - which for many physicians saves a great
deal of time and saves greatly on transcription
costs.
Go back
to Questions>>
What is included in the
full Encite Clinical System that is not in
Encite Lite?
Encite
Clinical Manager (ECM) has all of Encite Lite's
functionality plus a lot more. ECM allows for
complete task management, plus document
management and routing by all staff members,
allowing for e-faxing (in and out), lab
interfaces, third party systems interfaces,
forms creation and a fully electronic patient
chart.
Go back
to Questions>>
What is it that makes
Encite Lite so cost effective?
As much
as 80% of the cost for an EHR software
implementation can be equipment-related. The
more completely a workflow is automated the more
equipment is involved - pen tablets, upgraded
PCs, scanner, fax cards, etc. But sometimes,
especially in smaller practices, most of the
gains involve automating the doctor, and most of
the cost is involved in automating everything
but the doctor. Encite Lite can often achieve
great value by allowing automation to be focused
only where it achieves a return.
Go back
to Questions>>
How much does the Encite
Lite software actually cost?
Encite
Lite licensing is by provider, not by user. At
$5,500 per doctor (including Dragon ® version 9
Medical Edition software), there is no limit to
the number of users that can access the system
to support the licensed provider, and an Encite
Lite license comes with future software upgrades
at no additional cost. This form of licensing is
very practical. Monthly support costs are less
than 8% of the license fee and include hours of
ongoing formatting and training - Precision
strongly believes in its continual, ongoing
support of each client practice's use of the
Encite system - that makes a huge difference in
the return each practice achieves with respect
to use of Encite Lite.
Go back
to Questions>>
Encite Rx Writer:
_________
Is Encite's electronic
prescription writer included in Encite Clinical
Manager? Is the Rx Writer also included in
Encite Lite and Encite Ultra Lite?
The
Encite Rx Writer is available in all Encite
products (Encite Ultra Lite, Encite Lite and
Encite Clinical).
Go
back to Questions>>
Can our practice take
advantage of the 2% MediCare reimbursement for
electronic prescribing, even if we are not ready
right now for a full conversion to Encite's EHR
software?
Yes!
MediCare will pay providers using an electronic
prescribing system an additional 2% in 2009.
Even if an office is not ready operationally or
financially to make the conversion to a full EHR
solution, it may implement e-prescribing now on
a stand-alone basis.
Go
back to Questions>>
Will Encite's Rx Writer
pull up patient demographic information so that
prescription writing is really fast and easy for
our doctors?
For all
practices using Encite Billing Manager or
Medical Manager supported by Precision, the HL-7
interface with Encite's Rx Writer allows for all
necessary patient demographic and insurance
information to populate prescriptions written
electronically by a physician.
Go
back to Questions>>
How much does it cost to
use the Rx Writer?
The
standalone Rx Writer costs $500 per provider for
base licensing and formatting, and $29 per
provider per month for drug database updates and
drug interaction support. Some insurance
carriers may also charge a transactional charge
for formulary information.
Go
back to Questions>>
Software Demo Questions:
_________
How can we see Encite's
software?
In this
website, see the "Contact Us" page, under
"Please Request a Demo" - many important
features of Encite's software are presented
there. Precision can also set-up a personal,
private GoToMeeting® web conference to
demonstrate any of the Encite solutions at your
convenience.
Go
back to Questions>>
Will you come to our office
to show us the Encite software?
If we
are close enough to visit you and you want us to
visit with you we would love to do so. Most
practices ask to see Encite's software presented
via a GoToMeeting® web conference. We also like
to arrange visits to practices in your area that
are already Encite-Precision clients so
interested practices can see the systems fully
in operation.
Go
back to Questions>>
Is a software demo valuable
in assessing which EMR - EHR software system for
us to purchase?
Demos
are fine and help you get a general feel for
software. But we recommend visiting an office
that is actually using the software you are
considering purchasing. Too many practices buy
software that looks good in a demo but then
fails to satisfy when implemented. Precision can
offer contact with dozens of satisfied doctors
and practices that are happy to share their
experiences with Encite.
Go
back to Questions>>
Do your software demos show
all the features and functionality of the Encite
software?
Remember that unlike many
other software modules, Encite is a "flexible,
customizable automation tool".not just
apre-packaged set of templates. The latter is
easier to demo. Very often with Encite, the
ultimate solution is a custom one - so our demos
show examples of system capability - and if you
don't see exactly what you want, ask us. We will
put Encite to work for you in a custom,
user-specific way, catered to the way you run
your practice.
Go
back to Questions>>
Training Questions:
_________
How would you go about
training us on the Encite EHR software?
Precision's ECM
implementation team will work with a practice
manager to determine the training needs in all
areas in the practice. Initial training, more in
the form of "orientation" is done in advance of
go-live, sometimes off-site at a Precision
training classroom. But most real training is
done in the practice at go-live, real-time with
patients, as day-to-day work is being done. The
Encite system is so user friendly and intuitive
that very little if any "advance training" is
required to get going with Encite.
Go back to
Questions>>
We have a large staff with
a variety of computer skills. Can training be
customized for us?
Yes.
Precision's ECM implementation team will work
with a practice manager to identify users with
different levels of computer skills and
customize training accordingly. For a staff
member totally new to using a computer, it is
recommended that an introduction-to-Windows
class be taken at a local training center or
college.
Go back to
Questions>>
What if we need follow up
(additional) training? How do you handle that
and how far out in advance do we need to
schedule that?
Additional training on-site
or off-site is always available on relatively
short notice and can be paid for by the hour. It
is relatively rare that any staff members need
supplemental training but if that is the case,
it is easy for Precision to provide.
Go back to
Questions>>
Custom Programming
Questions:
_________
What kind of custom
programming might be required for me to use the
Encite system?
Each
medical specialty is unique in its workflow and
approach to gathering patient history, physical
exam information, and office or procedure
documentation. Custom buttons or templates can
be created in ECM to match the unique style of
your practice. Certain specialties require a
unique office workflow or special inputs which
Precision can provide, upon request.
Go
back to Questions>>
What kind of custom
programming is most commonly requested?
Custom
buttons, templates and/or screen design are most
common. Sometimes custom reports are requested,
although most reports are available "standard".
Go
back to Questions>>
What does it cost for
custom programming?
Custom
programming is provided at an hourly fee.
Precision often quotes an expected charge
(estimate) in advance of commencing work (if so
desired) with a guaranteed maximum (not to
exceed) fee quote - this can be done after all
specifications for the program development are
determined.
Go
back to Questions>>
Are updates and
enhancements to the Encite system considered
"custom"?
No. All
Encite updates are included in the regular
monthly maintenance and support fee. The only
exception would be extremely major changes to
the scope of the software that are necessitated
by outside to the billing or clinical side of
the business. All ongoing and anticipated
software updates and enhancements are at this
time anticipated to be free of charge.
Go
back to Questions>>
Medical Billing
Questions:
_________
Is it required that my
practice use Precision to provide medical
billing services?
No.
Precision provides no direct billing services to
approximately forty percent of its client
practices. To those practices Precision provides
EBM and ECM software support with the practice
providing its own in-house billing. However,
Precision is always available to provide its
clients with "billing help desk support" at no
charge - including advice to in-house billing
staff on any question they may have, especially
with respect to ongoing changes within the
industry. And of course, Precision supports the
clearinghouse interface and patient statement
processing - key billing processes - for all
clients.
Go
back to Questions>>
Isn't it mostly small
practices that use medical billing companies?
It used
to be that way, but not any more. Now both large
practices and small practices can make effective
use of "outsourcing". The magic is in finding
what level of outsourcing is right for your
specific practice. The answer lies in assessing
your staff talent and abilities and matching
those against what Precision can offer -
Precision interfaces in many different ways for
many different practices. Because of its size,
functional specialization and software tools,
Precision can often complement a practice's
pre-existing clinical or billing capabilities to
create additional dollars to the bottom line,
net of fees.
Go
back to Questions>>
Why would I have Precision
provide my practice billing services when I have
an in-house staff that already performs all my
billing functions?
Sometimes it is the
departure of a billing staff member that
precipitates the need for change. Or the
decision to outsource is made when the practice
grows larger or smaller, or changes office
locations. Sometimes it is caused by the
recognition that the practice should focus on
clinical matters and let Precision and the
practice "team up" on the billing side. Either
way, whatever is best for the practice is what
Precision recommends and supports.
Go
back to Questions>>
Does Precision provide some
billing support services, even if I have my own
in-house billing staff?
Yes.
All Precision billing services are offered on an
"al a carte" basis. Your billing staff can
manage the bulk of claims submissions and
payment posting, but may need assistance with
patient calls or accounts receivable management.
Precision always works to find the right
solution for your practice.
Go
back to Questions>>
How does Precision charge
for its billing services?
Precision charges a
percentage of collection for its billing
services. This percentage varies by practice
specialty and by exactly what services are
provided to the practice by Precision.
Go
back to Questions>>
What is it that
distinguishes Precision's billing services from
that of others?
The
biggest differentiator involves the level of
automation and technical expertise that
Precision applies to its billing. In the end a
good billing result (vs. a mediocre result)
depends in great part on how much resource is
devoted to the work being done. Years ago,
Precision started investing greatly in its
billing software tools, and never stopped that
development. Precision's billing staff now has
an arsenal of very effective and productive
resources with which to do their work. And
Precision's staff is extremely professional and
capable in the work that they do. The results
are evident to the "bottom line" of the
practices using Precision - those practices show
an increase in reimbursements (net of fees and
costs) relative to doing their billing any other
way - and that is the true measure of
success..
Go
back to Questions>>
Why shouldn't I send my
billing to the company that offers me the lowest
billing fee?
There
is always a billing company out there offering a
lower fee, but that is easy to understand. There
are lots of practices looking for a low price,
so there are lots of billing companies offering
that low price. But for a low price billing
company to make ends meet, it must offer less in
order to charge less - the practice loses as
claims are written off instead of being
collected because there is no one to work those
claims. The smarter practices are looking for a
great value, and that is harder to find and
evaluate. But Precision knows how to provide
that value - Precision's scale, system
functionality, software tools and daily
execution allow its staff to physically "get
more quality work done" per hour, per day and
per dollar paid to Precision by its client
practices. Precision's clients will testify to
the value that approach has realized for their
practices.
Go
back to Questions>>
How automated is
Precision's billing operation?
Precision has 13 software
programmers on staff, solely dedicated to
improving Precision's software tools on a
continuing basis. And having the most advanced
software tools makes an incredible difference in
how effective billing professionals can be in
getting results. Just as medicine has advanced
clinically through the development of advanced
medical instruments and devices, Precision is
advancing back office (billing) operations of
medical practices through software and
technology advancements.
Go
back to Questions>>
Can Precision interface
with my bank to process EFTs and take downloads
from the bank's electronic lockbox?
Precision works with many
banks to interface Precision's systems with
electronic lockbox technology. Electronic file
downloads are managed in several custom ways,
depending on the banks' capabilities and
software. Using an electronic bank lock box is a
secure way to rapidly process deposits and
payment accounting, enhancing cash flow for the
practice and at the same time eliminating paper
from the system in favor of electronic
recordkeeping.
Go
back to Questions>>
What options do I have in
sending patient statements? Can I send also send
out delinquency letters?
Precision processes
thousands of patient statements each month in a
highly automated manner. Patient statements and
delinquency letters are sent out daily (on a
30-day cycle after the first statement is
processed). The order and frequency of
statements and delinquency letters is totally
customizable, and statements can be reviewed (or
not) prior to being sent out. Electronic images
of sent statements are available for viewing in
ECM.
Go
back to Questions>>
Will Precision meet with me
on a regular basis to review results of billing
processes and procedures?
Absolutely, and these
regular meetings are crucial to the process of
"continual improvement" with each client
practice. Precision schedules meetings at times
convenient to the practice, in person or via
conference call. Meeting formats are entirely at
the discretion of the practice, but always
include review of results and development of
"take-aways" (opportunities identified for
improving workflow, decreasing costs and/or
improving reimbursements).
Go
back to Questions>>
Accounts Receivable &
Denials Management:
_________
Our practice's accounts
receivable balances are pretty high - everyone
knows that the insurance companies do not want
to pay us for our work. How can Precision help?
Most of
the time, AR grows because there is not enough
resource devoted to the hard work that it takes
to get denied claims properly paid. Precision's
software tools help with workflow management and
reporting, making it easier to see the work that
needs to be done and then making it easier to do
that work. There are many, many other seemingly
small billing processes that must be done
correctly in order to get a great result.
Precision has broken down all of these tasks and
processes into protocols, making sure that
everything important to managing reimbursements
and AR is done properly and on time. Those
protocols are customizable to the specific needs
of each practice, but have proved to
consistently produce excellent results in
reducing AR to the lowest possible level.
Go back to
Questions>>
What does DRO stand for and
what does it mean - why is it important?
DRO
stands for "Days Receivable Outstanding" - it is
a measure of how many days it takes for the
average claim dollar to be collected. So if your
practice has a DRO of 60 days, half your claims
are collected sooner than that and half are
collected later than that - but that is the
average. There are many ways to compute a DRO,
some being more conservative than others - but
the most conservative (which is how Precision
does it) is to start by 'date of service" (DOS)
for all claims and never reset the clock (which
some billing companies do to get a low DRO
number for themselves) for re-filed claims,
secondary claims or patient balances.
Go back to
Questions>>
What is the right DRO for
my practice?
The
"right" number will vary by specialty and by
practice - worker's comp claims, surgery claims,
liability claims and practices with an aesthetic
component to their specialty can expect higher
DROs, but primary care practices should run 16
to 25 days, with most specialists in the high
20s to high 30s. Only a minority of practices
should have a DRO above 45 days..
Go back to
Questions>>
What are the components of
good AR and denial management?
To get
a low DRO, a practice needs good AR and denial
management. That means that the practice's
unpaid claims must be worked as soon as possible
after being identified as such. Insurance
carriers must be contacted immediately when
neither payment nor denial is received in a
timely manner. Separate staff should perform
various AR functions, so all tasks get done
promptly (the most difficult tasks are most
often left undone if staff is not dedicated to
them). The staff doing this work must have good
workflow management tools. And good reporting
tools are necessary to monitor the quality and
quantity of this work. If all of that is in
place, and competent and skilled staff is
deployed to do the work, then the results will
follow.
Go back to
Questions>>
If I do my own billing
in-house, can I use all the software tools that
Precision's billing staff uses?
Yes.
Precision offers Encite Billing Manager (EBM)
along with all of its supporting software tools,
including ARI (Accounts Receivable Interactive)
and GPS (Global Paperless System), which can be
used by a practice's in-house billing staff
members to more effectively undertake billing,
increase reimbursements and reduce outstanding
AR balances.
Go back to
Questions>>
What kind of month end
reporting can I receive from EBM on denial
management?
Precision offers extremely
comprehensive end-of-month reporting of denied
claims, including summary and detail information
down to the individual line item. From these
reports, workflow processing can clearly be
evaluated and managed, and opportunities for
improvement (to prevent future claim denials)
can clearly be identified.
Go back to
Questions>>
Financial Reporting:
_________
Our current end-of-month
reports leave a lot to be desired - what kind of
reports does Precision provide?
Precision offers job-stream
reporting (a pre-determined but customizable
package of reports that automatically run in
sequence) at month end, coupled with on-demand
reporting (individual reports that can be run at
any time during the month). Encite is built on a
Windows SQL database platform, which allows for
very detailed, custom reporting.but many,
tremendously useful reports have already been
programmed by Precision and are "standard" in
the Encite system. Don't see what you're looking
for? Just ask.
Go
back to Questions>>
Can Precision provide us
customized reports if we need them?
Yes. If
there is a report Precision does not have in its
vast portfolio of "standard" reports, what you
need can be programmed and made available for
you to use on demand. And you won't have to wait
for months to get a custom report (as is the
case with many software companies)..
Go
back to Questions>>
Do I have to wait until the
end of the month to generate financial
reports?
No. All
reporting from Windows SQL database is
"on-demand". Reports can be generated daily,
weekly, monthly, or quarterly, depending on what
you want.
Go
back to Questions>>
Can I get a report to run
to an Excel file or to a .pdf instead of
printing on paper?
Yes.
Reports can be saved in Excel or to a .pdf and
saved electronically. Paper printing is optional
for all reports.
Go
back to Questions>>
Wireless Internet:
_________
I have heard wireless
computer systems are not safe from hackers. Is
that true?
It
depends.. Unsecured wireless networks, with
"open access" are susceptible to computer
hacking. However, all wireless networks
installed and supported by Precision are fully
secured with a "digital key" to only allow those
with proper credentials access to the network. A
patient in the waiting room with a laptop for
example, would not have access to the practice's
network without express permission from the
practice.
Go
back to Questions>>
I understand that wireless
is not reliable and will often "drop" - is that
true?
If
substandard wireless base equipment is
installed, that is true. However, Precision
installs only the best Cisco wireless routers
for its clients - and Precision knows how to
support and maintain those Cisco routers with
Cisco trained technicians. Precision's practices
experience very few drops and find wireless
(mobile) computing to be nearly as reliable as
hard-wired connectivity.
Go
back to Questions>>
Maintaining a secure
environment for Protected Health Information
(PHI) is very important to our practice. Will
our practice be HIPPA-compliant if it uses a
wireless network?
Yes.
The wireless network installed will be secure
and encrypted. All providers and staff members
are given access to ECM according to their job
function. Not everyone in the practice will need
the same access to PHI (protected health
information), so access to the Encite system is
set up accordingly. Adding wireless access to a
practice's network, when installed and managed
by Precision, is fully HIPAA compliant.
Go
back to Questions>>
Will I be able to use my
wireless computer to access the Encite system
from anywhere?
Yes.
Anyplace where Internet access is available
allows for access to the Encite system. If you
will be traveling to areas with limited Internet
access, it is recommended to use a wireless
Internet "air card" or "Wi-Fi") so that access
to Encite can be achieved anywhere that has cell
phone service.
Go
back to Questions>>
Will I be able to see
patient charts from my PDA phone?
No.
When EHR systems were less developed, viewing
basic information on a PDA was somewhat
attractive, but once a physician starts using
the full Encite software application, PDA
viewing (with their small screen sizes) is very
unsatisfying. Pen Tablets (which are in a way
large PDAs), are the way to go for mobile
doctors who want access to their EMR-EHR system
while on the move.
Go
back to Questions>>
How expensive is wireless
equipment?
Wireless equipment is very
inexpensive, even for the very best Cisco
equipment. An office can typically be set up,
equipment and labor included, for $1,500 or
less.
Go
back to Questions>>
Network Domain:
_________
Why do I need Precision to
manage my network?
When
Precision is managing a client's network, then
any technical issues, whether related to
hardware, software or network problems, are all
managed by Precision. There is never any
question about who to call when there is an
issue and never a question about who is going to
fix a problem. Precision takes care of
everything.
Go
back to Questions>>
What is a domain
controller? A file server? A web server? Will
Precision handle all of those?
A
domain controller (DC) is a server on a
Microsoft Windows network that is responsible
for allowing host access to Windows domain
resources. The domain controller stores user
account information, authenticates users, and
enforces security policy for the entire Windows
domain. In basic terms, a DC acts as a security
guard your network.
A file
server is a computer or storage device dedicated
to file storage. No other processes take place
on a file server. File servers are essentially
huge file cabinets of data and archived
documents.
A web
server is a device responsible for showing web
pages requested from the internet. Every web
server has an IP address and a usually a domain
name. For an example, this web page is accessed
by typing the URL:
http://www.precisionpractice.com/faqs into your
browser. The request is directed to the web
server with the domain name:
precisionpractice.com. The web server then sends
the web page directions to your browser.
Go
back to Questions>>
What equipment will
Precision NOT handle on my network?
If a
practice has legacy hardware that is not able to
handle Encite's software, we will advise the
practice of that. Old Windows operating systems
and old PCs won't drive the Encite system
properly. Sometimes third party software
applications will cause problems on a practice's
network. Precision has "seen it all" though, and
we can tell a practice up front what the issues
are.
Go
back to Questions>>
Our practice already has a
company supporting our network. Does Precision
work with other network support companies?
Yes -
Absolutely. Precision will meet with and
coordinate responsibilities with any third party
tech support company of the practice's
choice.
Go
back to Questions>>
Can Precision work with our
in-house IT staff?
Yes -
Absolutely. Precision will meet with and
coordinate responsibilities with any in-house IT
staff employed by a practice or hospital.
Go
back to Questions>>
What if I have a network,
hardware or internet issue in the evening or on
the weekend?
Precision supports its
network 24/7. After hours calls are routed to
Precision's on-call technician through the IT
HelpDesk toll-free telephone number. On specific
projects (e.g. ongoing implementations), clients
are given the cell phone numbers of the
Precision tech team members that are supporting
them at that time. In other words, there are
multiple avenues of support provided, during
normal business hours and after hours.
Go
back to Questions>>
What does it cost for
Precision to support my network?
System
support costs are determined according to the
quantity and type of equipment being supported -
a regularly recurring monthly support fee is
determined accordingly. That fee includes
continuing system support and hours of quarterly
support for managing hardware, network and
internet-related issues as may arise. Additional
hours of support (e.g. for special projects
approved by the client) are provided as
needed.
Go
back to Questions>>
System Hardware:
_________
Will our existing PCs need
to be replaced if we convert to Encite?
No.
Unless your PCs are older technology. For EBM,
PCs with 512Mb of RAM and a 1Gb processor
running Windows XP works fine. For doctors and
staff members using ECM, 1 Gb of RAM is
recommended.
Go
back to Questions>>
Can our existing server be
reformatted to handle Precision's Encite
software?
EBM is
web based and does not require you to have a
server. ECM can be deployed ASP with web-based
access to Precision's server bank, or your
practice can have an on-site ECM server. In the
latter case, it is not likely a legacy server
would have enough power to run ECM, but
Precision's tech staff can look at your server
and make a recommendation.
Go
back to Questions>>
Would Precision recommend
incorporating used (second hand) equipment into
our network?
No.
That is almost never cost-effective in the long
run. New technology advances rapidly and the
inefficiencies of older technology coupled with
the relatively low price of buying new equipment
makes the decision to avoid used equipment as
easy one. And the source of the used equipment
must be considered - often you don't know where
it came from and most comes with no warranty.
Go
back to Questions>>
Does Precision warrant the
hardware that we purchase from Precision?
Yes.
Precision recommends purchasing extended support
warranties on all of its servers and PCs.
Warranties are worth the cost in a business
application.
Go
back to Questions>>
Can we get a quote from
Precision and then purchase necessary hardware
somewhere else?
Yes.
Absolutely. Precision will quote its install
labor and equipment pricing separately, although
Precision's pricing on equipment is extremely
competitive and very few practices choose to
procure their own. But that option will be
yours.
Go
back to Questions>>
Hospital Medical
Billing:
_________
Our hospital CBO billing
staff does a great job with our hospital's
Medicare Part A billing. Can Precision help us
with professional services (Medicare Part B
& C) billing?
Yes.
Part A and Part B/C medical billing is very
different in many respects. Most hospital CBOs
are very good at facility billing because that
is the great majority of the billing that is
done at a hospital. The pro fee billing portion
of a hospital's business is by far the smaller
part, so it cannot be the focus of what a
hospital CBO does. Precision on the other hand,
focuses only on professional fee billing - that
is Precision's core competency and expertise.
Precision has the expertise to team up with a
hospital CBO and help maximize revenues from
professional (Medicare Part B & C) billing
in coordination with the CBO's facility billing.
Go
back to Questions>>
Will Precision train our
hospital billers to handle Part B & C (pro
fee) billing?
Yes. An
important part of maximizing pro fee revenues is
developing a trained team to do that work, and
that team is typically composed of both
Precision staff and hospital staff. Precision
will train all staff members on the agreed
workflow and billing protocols.
Go
back to Questions>>
How do we avoid "double
entry" of data? In other words, can Precision
provide a custom software interface into our
hospital's computer system to draw down patient
demographic, patient insurance, diagnosis and
CPT information so that this data only need be
entered into the hospital system?
A
software interface between the hospital's
software system and Precision's system is key to
eliminating double entry of data while still
facilitating effective pro fee billing. Patient
demographics, insurance information, CPT codes
and diagnosis codes are typically available in
the hospital's system, entered to accommodate
facility billing - Precision works to capture
that available information via an interface, and
then develop screens that accommodate the
additional data entries necessary to file clean
pro fee billing claims.
Go
back to Questions>>
How comprehensive is
Precision's hospital system interface?
Precision has done many
hospital interfaces - all are different, though
they all share some attributes. The intent is to
eliminate double entry of data, so capture of
all data that the hospital can download is
critical. First, Precision creates the
appropriate database to manage what the hospital
system can provide. Next, the interface is set
to accommodate workflow needs, including
customized screen development for each person
that will work with the downloaded data to
create a clean claim. Interfacing includes the
ability for appropriate individuals to send
claims to others in the workflow chain, as
needed. Next, the interface for transmission of
clean claims into EBM is established. And
finally, reporting is set up to evaluate the
work running through the system.
Go
back to Questions>>
Can Precision handle
Emergency Department (ED) and Urgent Care pro
fee billing?
Yes.
Precision offers a complete solution for
third-party professional fee billing for all
hospital departments, including ED and Urgent
Care departments. Precision has extensive
experience in this area, working with the
hospital to maximize reimbursement
opportunities.
Go
back to Questions>>
Does Precision have
experience with hospitalist and "departments
of." medical billing?
Yes.
Precision has experience is working with
hospitalist programs and hospital departments
which should bill a professional fee separately
from the facility (technical) component.
Precision offers a complete solution for
third-party professional fee billing for all
hospital departments.
Go
back to Questions>>
Does Precision manage
medical billing for hospital-employed
physicians, residents and practices owned by the
hospital but working under separate tax IDs?
Yes.
Precision has experience managing billing for
hospital-employed physicians, resident, and
hospital-owned practices working with separate
and/or shared tax IDs. Precision offers a
complete solution for third-party professional
fee billing for all hospital practices, however
set up.
Go
back to Questions>>
Can Precision assist our
hospital in building an action plan for
maximizing professional fee
billing?
Yes.
Precision can offer consulting services to help
the internal billing department maximize its
professional fee billing by utilizing Precision
expertise and experience.
Go
back to Questions>>
What does it cost to have
Precision manage our hospital medical billing?
The
cost varies depending on the type of specialty
billing involved, the extent to which "billing"
will generate receipts (some capture of
information may be valuable, such as "charity
encounters" but do not produce receipts), and
the specific nature of the tasks performed by
Precision versus the hospital's staff. Fees are
typically charged as a percentage of
collection.
Go
back to Questions>>
UB-92 Rural Health and
Federally Qualified Healthcare Facility:
_________
Our facility is an approved
RHC facility. The billing and reporting is
unique. Does Precision have experience in RHC
billing?
Precision has extensive
experience with RHC billing. The special inputs
required in this type of billing are fully
accommodated. Precision also offers customized
reporting capabilities which can create RHC
reports at month end and/or on demand.
Go back to
Questions>>
Our facility is an approved
FQHC facility. The billing and reporting is
unique. Does Precision have experience in FQHC
billing?
Precision has extensive
experience with FQHC billing. The special inputs
required in this type of billing are fully
accommodated. Precision also offers customized
reporting capabilities which can create FQHC
reports at month end and/or on demand.
Go back to
Questions>>
What does it cost to have
Precision manage our RHC or FQHC
billing?
The
cost varies depending on the specific nature of
the tasks performed by Precision versus the
hospital's staff. Fees are typically charged as
a percentage of collection.
Go back to
Questions>>
Emergency Department/Urgent
Care Billing:
_________
Our hospital employs the
doctors that staff our ER - same with our Urgent
Care facilities. We bill out under global
contracts. Is there anything wrong with that?
Global
contracts will typically produce less in total
reimbursements than separate contracts for
facility and professional fees. But separating
those contracts must be done is a certain way in
order to support separate contracts. Precision
can provide advice and guidance to be sure that
contracting is done in a compliant and effective
manner, and maximizes reimbursements.
Go back
to Questions>>
We are an Emergency
Department physician group and we do our own
professional billing. What can Precision do for
us?
Precision has extensive
experience with Emergency Room billing and with
Urgent Care billing. The special Part B & C
medical billing requirements for these types of
facilities are fully accommodated. Precision
also offers customized reporting capabilities
which can create specific ED/ER and Urgent Care
financial reports at month end and/or on
demand.
Go back
to Questions>>
24/7 Support Request:
_________
How does Precision provide
immediate help when I have a problem?
Precision's IT HelpDesk is
available during normal business hours via
e-mail or phone. Routine questions and fixes are
handled immediately. After hours calls are
routed to the on-call technician through the IT
HelpDesk toll-free telephone number. Clients
also have direct access to specific Precision
personnel working with the client on install and
implementation projects via cell phone.
Go back to
Questions>>
Does all support run
through a central helpdesk?
Yes.
Precision continually monitors IT calls and
emails via its central helpdesk. Incoming
requests are immediately routed to the IT
professional best able to provide a solution or
fix (Precision employs IT technicians with a
wide variety of skill sets to bring many
different levels of experience to IT problem
solving). In addition to helpdesk support,
Precision clients typically have direct access
to Precision IT personnel and other support
staff via cell phone and direct email.
Go back to
Questions>>
What if I have a problem
late at night or on the weekends?
After
hours calls are routed to the on-call technician
through the IT HelpDesk toll-free telephone
number. That technician will then proceed with
the required fix and directly communicate with
the client until the issue is resolved.
Go back to
Questions>> |
