Healthcare will always be an important part of society and a great provider of jobs. Millions of people seek medical care in hospitals every year. In recent years, there have been several developments in the health care industry, especially when it comes to technology. Hospitals are updating their billing systems, and healthcare facilities are using data support systems to supplement all the other kind of work they do. There are also several new technologies that make life easier for nurses, technicians and doctors. Here is a look at some of the newest tech being used by healthcare coders today.
Electronic Health Records
A few decades ago, medical billing systems were unorganized and unregulated. Today, medical facilities rely on electronic healthcare records. EHR software has changed the medical billing process. It has also reduced billing errors and made moderating between hospitals and insurance companies easier than ever. According to Integrity Support, their systems are used by a variety of types of healthcare facilities and centers and are followed by positive reviews wherever they are.
Changes to the ICD-9
Medical professionals have to keep a record of common and uncommon illnesses. Medical coders process thousands of claims every month. In 2015, the ICD-9 increased from 13,000 to 68,000 codes. Illnesses and treatments are assigned an alphanumeric code. Health care professionals are learning how to maintain security and analyze EHR data. This uniformity is making it easier for most processes to be integrated more fully and across systems.
Interoperability Between Health Systems
Value based health care is a necessity for medical professionals. Interoperability is an important part of the health care industry. Specialists and general practitioners need to communicate throughout a patient’s treatment process. Medical referral companies are helping doctors communicate, and the companies will be a large part of the health care industry in the near future.
Remote Patient Monitoring
Remote patient monitoring programs can collect a large amount of medical data. The data is sent to hospitals and nursing facilities. Health care professionals study the medical information, and the data becomes part of an effective treatment plan. Monitoring programs improve access to medical care, and the programs are cost-effective.
Medical Tricorder
A medical tricorder was the winning gadget at a global technology competition. It is used to record and review technical information. The device can diagnose diseases and record a patient’s vitals. It can also summarize a patient’s health status and monitor ongoing health data.
Digestible Sensors
Digestible sensors give healthcare professionals important information about their patients. The sensors can help doctors protect the patient’s organs. Eventually, digestible sensors will replace physicals. The sensors rely on the patient’s energy. When the data is collected, the information can be sent to a computer or mobile phone.
Healthcare technology continues to improve all aspects of the healthcare industry. Hardware and software developers are always introducing new applications and innovations and the changes will benefit patients and healthcare professionals.
Eileen O’Shanassy is a freelance writer and blogger based out of Flagstaff, AZ. She writes on a variety of topics and loves to research and write. She enjoys baking, biking, and kayaking. Check out her Twitter @eileenoshanassy.
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