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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Staying Mistake Free: 5 Keys to Halting Medical Code Errors

Medical coders assist physicians in submitting the proper codes and documentations to patients and other payers. The following are five common medical coding errors and suggestions on how to avoid them.

Wrong Interpretation of Operative Reports

Coders are only going to bill for procedures that they see documented by a physician. Even if in the report a doctor gives a description of the procedure, and even if the procedure is listed as being performed, most coders are not going to code it if there is not an operative description present. This problem can be solved by making sure that the provider writes down the operative description for every procedure performed, and the coder should be trained to be able to interpret an operative report and code it appropriately.

The Coder Does Not Know about the Bilateral Procedures/Services

In many cases, a medical coder is going to work in a different location than the physician and their patients. It’s easy for a doctor to forget to write down a bilateral procedure, like an injection, x-ray, or medications. If this happens, there is no way that a coder can bill for them. A physician must take responsibility for their part in the coding process. Bilaterals should be highlighted or circled to guarantee they are properly billed.

Unbundling

This is when an entire procedure is broken down into little parts and charged separately. If there is already a comprehensive code for the entire procedure, unbundling is unethical, illegal, and could lead to an audit. Coders must know comprehensive codes like the back of their hand.

Code Not to its Highest Specificity

Certain codes need four or five digits in order to reach their highest specificity. If the codes are not properly written, the claim may be rejected. This can be fixed by a coder guaranteeing that a diagnosis has been coded to the highest level of specificity. If they are not sure, they can use a code book or look it up on the Internet.

Using Outdated Material and Getting Wrong Codes

Medical billing codes change. For this reason, universities that provide an on campus or online health information degree teach their students the importance of staying up-to-date with the latest codes and the latest coding technology. Additionally, coders should go to seminars or attend web seminars to make sure they are up-to-date on codes.

Medical coding is an important part of the healthcare profession. When done properly, it guarantees that physicians are paid for the services they provide while at the same time guaranteeing that patients are only billed for the services they receive.

Case Management Training is key to understanding medical coding as well.  Please review our Case Management Training program and let us know if you have any questions

AIHCP

Population health management programs must start by identifying patients in the top tiers of spending, says the Health Care Transformation Task Force.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: healthitanalytics.com

Population health management deals with unequal distribution of healthcare costs within certain groups.  For instance the top five percent of patients deal with half the total annual expenses.  This makes sense since those dying or elderly or terminally ill require more expensive care while most the healthy population requires less expensive techniques

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A Care Management System is a solution that would fundamentally change how providers communicate and coordinate the care of patients.

Source: medcitynews.com

Short article on the need of a good and true health care management system for healthcare.

Healthcare management is an important key and a fluid and smooth movement of its implementation is key

If you would like to learn more about Case Management Training, then please review the program

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I’m very happy to have a new career. I had been working as a social worker for women of abuse for over 15 years. Even though I really did love my job, I was starting to feel like it was stressing me out. I wanted to do something similar as a career, but I wanted to look at other options. A good friend of mine worked as a case manager, and she told me that her company was hiring case managers, and that they also they were doing case management training. I decided to apply to work with my friends, and to my surprise I was hired. I started my training, and I really liked everything that I was learning. Now my friend and I are both able to work together as case managers, and we both very much enjoy our jobs. I’m very happy that I made a career change, because I love working in case management.
So if you are looking for a change in your nursing career, why not look towards case management?   It can be a boost your career and pocket book needs.
By Jeff Goldstein

How Case Management Training Can Help You Reach That Next Level!

Case managers play an important role in the physical, mental and social well-being of many people today. They may take many forms, from the social worker helping a disadvantaged child find services to a person helping coordinate medical and social support services for the developmentally disabled. However, one of the most common types of case manager is the medical one. These professionals generally work in a hospital or hospice setting and are responsible for coordinating care and seeking out options for an ill or injured patient. They are also responsible for patient advocacy. In other words, they speak up on their patients’ behalf in order to get the best care possible. Case management training is typically offered to Registered Nurses, although other individuals may qualify as well. A good case manager should be certified by a professional board and pursue continuing education in order to maintain their certification. Case managers provide a valuable service in today’s healthcare system.
If you feel you have what it takes to become a case manager then you need to find a way to fulfill your educational goals.   You should start your quest at aihcp.org.   They have an excellent online case management program.