https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/rss/ Medforce Technology News en-US medforceg@medforcetech.com Copyright 2025 Fri, 14 Nov 2025 19:22:00 +0000 https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/what-the-ftcs-new-prescription-rule-means-for-your-eye-care-practice/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/what-the-ftcs-new-prescription-rule-means-for-your-eye-care-practice/ Fri, 14 Nov 2025 19:22:00 +0000 Critical Updates Every Optometrist and Practice Manager Needs to Know If you're running an eye care practice in 2024, there's a regulatory change that demands your immediate attention. The Federal Trade Commission has updated its prescription release requirements, and non-compliance could put your practice at serious risk. Here's everything you need to know about the new rule and what it means for your daily operations.> What Changed in Mid-2024? The FTC announced significant updates to the Contact Lens Rule and Eyeglass Rule that directly impact how optometrists and ophthalmologists handle patient prescriptions. While practices have always been required to provide prescriptions to patients, the new regulations add critical documentation requirements. The Three Key Requirements 1. Immediate Prescription Delivery All eye care practices must provide patients with a free copy of their prescription immediately following an eye exam. This isn't new, but the FTC has strengthened enforcement around this longstanding requirement. 2. Confirmation of Receipt Here's the major change: In certain circumstances, prescribers must now request a patient's signature confirming they received their prescription. This creates a documented paper trail that protects both the practice and the patient. 3. Three-Year Record Retention Practices must keep records of these prescription confirmations for at least three years. This means you need a reliable system for storing, organizing, and retrieving these documents during potential audits. Why the FTC Made These Changes The updates stem from concerns about patient access to their prescriptions and the need for greater transparency in the eye care industry. The FTC found that some patients were unaware they had the right to their prescription or felt pressured to purchase eyewear at the examining practice. By requiring documented confirmation, the FTC aims to ensure patients receive their prescriptions and understand their right to purchase eyewear wherever they choose. What Happens If You're Not Compliant? Non-compliance with FTC regulations isn't something to take lightly. Practices that fail to meet these requirements face: Civil penalties that can reach thousands of dollars per violation FTC investigations that disrupt operations and damage reputation Patient complaints that can trigger audits and legal action Loss of patient trust in an increasingly competitive market Perhaps most concerning: Each instance of non-compliance can be considered a separate violation. In a busy practice seeing dozens of patients daily, violations can add up quickly. The Documentation Challenge For many practices, the biggest hurdle isn't providing prescriptions—it's creating and maintaining the required documentation trail. Traditional paper-based systems create several problems: Storage nightmares: Where do you keep three years of signed forms? How do you organize them for quick retrieval during an audit? Staff burden: Someone has to manage, file, and track all these documents Lost signatures: Paper forms get misplaced, damaged, or accidentally discarded Checkout delays: Adding another paper form slows down an already busy checkout process Retrieval difficulties: Finding a specific patient's confirmation from six months ago becomes a time-consuming search What Compliant Practices Are Doing Forward-thinking eye care practices are moving away from paper-based confirmation systems and implementing digital solutions specifically designed for this requirement. The key is finding a system that: Captures signatures quickly without disrupting checkout flow Stores records securely with automatic organization and easy retrieval Maintains HIPAA compliance to protect patient privacy Requires minimal training so staff can implement it immediately Scales with your practice whether you're a solo practitioner or multi-location chain Action Steps for Your Practice If you haven't already addressed the FTC's updated requirements, here's what you should do immediately: Review Your Current Process -- How are you currently documenting that patients receive their prescriptions? Do you have a system in place for the new signature requirement? Where are these records stored Assess Your Record-Keeping System -- Can you quickly retrieve a patient's prescription confirmation from three, six, or twelve months ago? If an FTC audit happened tomorrow, could you produce the required documentation? Train Your Staff -- Does everyone at your front desk understand the new requirements? Are they consistently capturing confirmations for every patient? Consider a Digital Solution -- Paper-based systems are error-prone and difficult to maintain. A digital signature solution designed specifically for eye care practices can ensure compliance while actually improving your checkout experience. The Bottom Line The FTC's updated prescription rules aren't optional—they're mandatory for all eye care practices regardless of size. The good news is that compliance doesn't have to be complicated or disruptive to your operations. With the right system in place, you can meet these requirements seamlessly while actually improving your practice's efficiency and patient experience. Don't wait for an audit to discover gaps in your compliance. Take action now to protect your practice and ensure you're meeting all FTC requirements.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/medforce-looks-to-ideagen-to-help-branch-out/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/medforce-looks-to-ideagen-to-help-branch-out/ Thu, 24 May 2018 15:54:00 +0000 As seen in HME News on May 18, 2018.  On the hunt for ways to boost its long-term growth strategy, Medforce Technologies found what it was looking for in U.K. based Ideagen.> Here’s what Nathan Apter, now vice president and head of Medforce operations, and Ben Dorks, chief customer officer of Ideagen, had to say about the acquisition and how not much will change going forward, including having an Apter in charge. HME News: How did the deal come about? Was Medforce even on the market? Nathan Apter: Our products are used heavily in a few post-acute care markets, but we needed a way to branch out into the larger healthcare world. We investigated a few different avenues to help us get there and joining Ideagen was the perfect solution. They have the sales and marketing experience to help us grow and reach the new markets we desired. HME: What about Medforce was attractive for Ideagen? Ben Dorks: The acquisition of Medforce is in line with our strategy of acquiring complementary compliance businesses, which strengthen our quality, safety, audit, performance and risk solutions, and deliver improved customer outcomes. The organization fitted perfectly with our strict acquisition parameters, which include valuable intellectual property, long-term customer relationships and strong recurring revenues. HME: Medforce also gives Ideagen a platform in the U.S., right? Dorks: Medforce is our first acquisition in the United States and further strengthens our geographical footprint, adds value to our product suite and consolidates our position in existing markets, particularly health care. It also offers an electronic signature product that has the potential to be implemented across the Ideagen product suite. HME: How will Medforce be integrated into Ideagen? Will Esther Apter continue to lead the company? Apter: Esther is remaining for a transition period. I have been with Medforce since its inception and will take over a new role as vice president head of Medforce operations. Dorks: We have an internal acquisition integration process that we have perfected and follow step-by-step for each acquisition we complete. This has helped us successfully integrate 12 companies in the last decade, including the successful transition of employees and any associated business processes. HME: How will Ideagen shape where Medforce goes going forward? Dorks: Medforce is a growing, profitable and cash generative organization that has successfully developed its Center suite of enterprise information management, workflow, and compliance software since 1993. Ideagen has always acquired organizations with strong intellectual property, integrating that IP with our existing product suite. As an example, Medforce’s Center suite of products is used by more than 300 customers globally, supporting business process productivity and legal compliance, and we fully expect to be presented with enhanced cross-sell and integration opportunities going forward, with Medforce’s CommandCenter, ContentCenter and SignCenter of particular interest.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/ideagen-completes-acquisition-of-medforce-technologies-inc/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/ideagen-completes-acquisition-of-medforce-technologies-inc/ Thu, 24 May 2018 15:42:00 +0000 Ideagen, the UK-based technology firm, has announced the acquisition of American healthcare software specialists, Medforce Technologies Inc.> Medforce is a growing, profitable and cash generative organisation which has successfully developed its Command suite of enterprise information management, workflow, and compliance software since 1993. Its flagship CommandCenter product is used by over 300 customers, supporting business process productivity and legal compliance. With offices near New York and Kansas, Medforce becomes Ideagen’s first American acquisition and adds a strong client base, an established suite of intellectual property and a skilled workforce to Ideagen’s growing global operations. David Hornsby, Ideagen’s CEO, said the acquisition met Ideagen’s strict performance metrics and would provide the company with further growth opportunities in a strategic market. He added: “Medforce is a valuable addition to the Group and is in line with our strategy of acquiring businesses that have strong IP and recurring revenues. “Medforce has established an extremely compelling value proposition and brings to the Group a complementary solution offering a talented workforce and long-term customer relationships. This acquisition further strengthens our position in the US Healthcare market.” Medforce established itself as an innovative software provider through its comprehensive Command product suite, which includes business process and information management software as well as an electronic signature product designed specifically for healthcare. For the year ending 31st December, 2017, the company achieved revenue totalling $4.7m of which 82% was recurring. Mr Hornsby added: “The acquisition of Medforce provides an additional source of recurring revenue and broadens our relationships in the existing healthcare sector while enhancing our geographic customer footprint. “The first half of the current financial year saw significant growth in the US for Ideagen, with over 50% of all new logo wins and 70% of all new SaaS wins. The Medforce acquisition will provide infrastructure and a platform for further growth in this key market as we continue our global growth plan.” Medforce is Ideagen’s 13th acquisition in just over a decade and means the company now has a major operational presence in the US, UK, Asia and Central Europe. In recent years, Ideagen has integrated Gael Ltd, IPI Solutions Ltd, Covalent Software Ltd and PleaseTech Ltd as part of its successful 'buy-and-build' growth strategy.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/cto-nathan-apter-on-hme-business-software-interoperabilitys-inroads-in-hme/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/cto-nathan-apter-on-hme-business-software-interoperabilitys-inroads-in-hme/ Tue, 26 Sep 2017 15:52:00 +0000 The experts interviewed for this article all represent HME software companies that tout interoperability solutions. Here they describe how their software is helping the HME industry reap the benefits of a well-connected healthcare IT infrastructure.> SOFTWARE INTEROPERABILITY'S INROADS IN HME By Joseph Duffy Originally published on Aug 01, 2017 Healthcare interoperability — the ability of different information technology systems and software applications to communicate, exchange data and use the information that has been exchanged — has been a general healthcare practice for many years. For the HME industry, interoperability is a fairly new development, but according to Nick Knowlton, vice president of business development for Brightree LLC, the HME industry is catching up. “Tremendous progress has been made the past few years with regard to interoperability in the HME segment of the healthcare market,” he says. “We are still in the early stages of referral management with physician practices and hospitals, but there are many examples of vendors and providers working together to automate clinical information moving to and from HME providers using their software systems. “We are now working with some of the largest [Electronic Healthcare Record] vendors in the country to automate the transmission of patient information at the time an HME order is placed,” he continues. “The physicians are working in their native workflows and this was unheard of just a few years ago. This will become expected functionality in HME software over the next few years. Additionally, great progress has been made to connect HME providers in other areas, such as patient compliance, patient resupply, delivery notifications and outcomes.” Part of the progress stems from the HME industry beginning to recognize the need for interoperability in various areas, such as compliance data being accessible in an electronic format, says Kimberly Commito, director of product management for Mediware Information Systems. “The need for CPAP compliance data to support proper and timely reimbursement is imperative,” she says. “Many software platforms now offer integration with devices that can easily download this data and even trigger billing events to streamline the reimbursement process for charges related to this type of therapy. In addition, referral data that is standard, such as demographics and medical information, can be easily accessed electronically in a number of ways and again, many software platforms now offer the ability to connect systems that are collecting this type of information for patients, such that duplicate data entry is no longer necessary.” According to Nathan Apter, CTO of Medforce Technologies, interoperability is moving from being a trendy buzz word to being part of the everyday lexicon of HME providers. “The idea of software integration is not new,” he says. “But things are changing in two big ways: One is that the baseline level of expectation from HME providers about how their data comes into and moves throughout their organization has risen. Providers are better informed, and this pushes software developers to keep up and continue to create tools that are flexible and can adapt to meet evolving needs. The second way is that talks of interoperability have expanded to be about data transfer and secure sharing of information across healthcare sectors and across players. It is no longer just about the sharing of data between two HME software applications — it’s about creating an entire ecosystem of secure data transfer that is streamlined, automated, and improving the productivity of every entity involved. This includes acute to post-acute, provider to payer, payer to provider — everyone.” BENEFITS OF INTEROPERABILITY “Interoperability supports two key factors in the management of the patient,” Commito says. “One, it ensures accurate data is passed between systems, lowering the incidence of errors in the keying of critical demographic and clinical information that can impact patient care if not correct, as well as slow down reimbursement. “In addition, interoperability can increase both patient and partner satisfaction by decreasing the number of phone calls required to gather critical information throughout patient care,” she adds. “Secondly, interoperability increases patient safety. If compliance and other clinical data can be collected in a timely and accurate manner, the patient can be monitored more effectively and adjustments to care to increase positive outcomes can be accomplished.” Knowlton says interoperability can improve reimbursement for HME providers. “With shrinking margins in the industry, sound financial management is increasingly important,” he says. “I know an HME provider who ships 80 percent of their oxygen concentrators before knowing if the orders will be reimbursed. By receiving the data into their system at the time they receive the order, they have the power to address problems before they impact the HME bottom line and can begin the billing process several days before they would in an unconnected environment.” In addition, Knowlton says that interoperability improves operational efficiency by automating referral and order input and improves alignment with referral sources and with government mandates. Phil Deschaine, marketing director for Universal Software Solutions, says, “Software IT interoperability is essential to HME providers because it adds remarkable efficiency, reduces costs, and makes providers more responsive. For example some of Universal Software Solution’s HDMS users connect to hospital EMR systems via a HL7 data feed. With this data interoperability in place, as soon as the patient is released from the hospital, their record is automatically created in HDMS. So when patients or their families calls for oxygen, a hospital bed or supplies, all the critical information has been shared from the EMR system and patients can be served more quickly and then be on their way home sooner to recover.” THE FUTURE OF INTEROPERABILITY The CommonWell Health Alliance is a member-based organization that believes that “health information technology must be inherently interoperable in order to work.” Their mission is to create and execute a vendorneutral platform that breaks down the technological and process barriers inhibiting effective health data exchange. Brightree is a member of CommonWell and Knowlton is a co-founder. “CommonWell is now a fully functional, national network that is growing every day – both in terms of provider sites on the network and interoperability problems that the network is solving,” says Knowlton. “CommonWell is now live at more than 5,000 hospital and physician practice provider sites nationwide, has more than 50 million patient records represented by those sites, and has processed almost 100 million queries to date. Additionally, with the December 2016 announcement between CommonWell and Carequality, the ability to enable healthcare information to follow the patient will grow dramatically in the near future.” Knowlton also says that the experience of being part of the Alliance has been positive. “I was personally involved in co-founding CommonWell in early 2013,” he says. “In 2014, before I joined the Brightree team, I received a phone call from Brightree inquiring if the Alliance would be an appropriate venue for advocating for the needs of the post-acute care provider, and if the network services would be applicable to post-acute use cases. That initial inquiry led me to join Brightree a few months later. We have found a very collegial and receptive atmosphere amongst the other vendors to not just listen to understand the needs of an HME provider, but to join together and develop solutions which will be accessible through our software for the benefit of patients and providers. We look forward to deploying those services in the near future.” INDUSTRY INTEROPERABILITY The experts interviewed for this article all represent HME software companies that tout interoperability solutions. Here they describe how their software is helping the HME industry reap the benefits of a well-connected healthcare IT infrastructure.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/medforce-at-medtrade-the-desperate-need-to-obtain-signatures-and-more/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/medforce-at-medtrade-the-desperate-need-to-obtain-signatures-and-more/ Mon, 18 Sep 2017 16:39:00 +0000 Medtrade Monday sat down with Nathan Apter, chief technology officer, Medforce Technologies Inc, Suffern, NY, to get an idea of the challenges faced by providers, and to determine what Medtrade attendees can expect to find at the Medforce booth #1545 during this year’s show at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.   > ATLANTA –Medforce Technologies Inc (Booth #1545 at Medtrade) has a long history of finding solutions for HME providers. At this year’s Medtrade, scheduled for Oct 23-25, 2017, the New York-based software company is once again helping providers find ways to run their businesses more efficiently and effectively.  Medtrade Monday sat down with Nathan Apter, chief technology officer, Medforce Technologies Inc, Suffern, NY, to get an idea of the challenges faced by providers, and to determine what Medtrade attendees can expect to find at the Medforce booth during this year’s show at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.  Medtrade Monday: Why did Medforce develop SignCenter?  Nathan Apter: SignCenter was developed to address a desperate need in the modern healthcare company: obtaining signatures from a wide variety of individuals inside and outside of the organization such as: physicians; clinicians; drivers; and patients—in the office or at the home and across a wide variety of settings—without resorting to printing and faxing documents in an otherwise paperless office. With the ability to stand alone, integrate with your most used business applications, or be bundled with Medforce’s suite of productivity solutions, SignCenter puts providers in control of the entire process from data consolidation and form creation to routing, capture, post processing, storage, and retrieval. Medtrade Monday: Why is SignCenter so crucial to operations?  Apter: Signature capture in healthcare involves high volume, highly detailed forms, and complex workflows. The process is fragmented, costly, and every step can lead to mistakes which lead to delays and denials. SignCenter’s focus on the entire signature lifecycle reduces or eliminates errors, encourages deadline adherence, and lowers costs. Medtrade Monday: What sets SignCenter apart from other E-Signature tools?  Apter: SignCenter is built from the ground up to address particular and varying requirements of the healthcare industry. The volume of paperwork in healthcare is higher than any other industry. When you take into consideration the unique needs of healthcare organizations, you realize that tools that simply permit you to sign something remotely are not enough for most healthcare companies. You need a tool that considers the entire signature lifecycle; something that allows you to be truly, 100% paperless and streamlined.  SignCenter is way more than simple e-signature. It helps you manage and monitor the entire signature lifecycle. From gathering data, creating or populating forms, to tracking files, allowing markup, and capturing signatures, to answering the post-signature question of: what needs to happen next? SignCenter lets users take full control of where and when documents can be signed, notifies signers via self-expiring links, allows them to sign in person through any connected device, and records all details around the signing like time, date, and IP address of the signer’s device. This ensures proper documentation and easier audit trail which is so important in this industry. Medtrade Monday: What is the biggest misconception about E Signature tools/systems?  Apter: People often mistakenly think they must get paper signatures. In fact, CMS and many Medicaids and other payors have provided guidance on how to collect e-signatures. Switching to electronic signature capture is not only easy, it makes the process faster, less error prone, more compliant, and helps you get claims out faster. The most common misconception is that implementing an electronic signature tool is expensive and complex and will add complexity to the documents being sent to healthcare professionals and clinicians for signature. In fact, is it less expensive than handling signature via paper documents due to the reduction in errors, missed documents and the increase in efficiency and cash flow an electronic tool provides. A good tool should make it simple to send and receive the documents and reduce the steps necessary to get the appropriate signatures from patients and doctors.  Medtrade Monday: What will Medtrade attendees see at the Medforce booth this year (demos)?  Apter: This year at Medtrade, Medforce will be featuring SignCenter, but in addition we’ll have our complete line of document management solutions. Medforce offers a full suite of productivity software and services to reduce waste, improve efficiency, and boost your bottom line. We build our products from experience – and we use them ourselves. That user-designed experience results in fewer clicks and more robust features that keep you on track and on time. And of course, all of our solutions will be demoed while at Medtrade, both in small groups and in personal one-on-one sessions for companies with specific questions. Medtrade is Oct 23-25, 2017 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta
.  Click the link to register for Medtrade 2017 Original article> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/what-are-the-most-common-problems-faced-by-hme-providers/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/what-are-the-most-common-problems-faced-by-hme-providers/ Mon, 11 Sep 2017 20:02:00 +0000 Medforce Preps Strategies to Help Providers at Medtrade. One-on-one with Esther Apter, founder and CEO, Medforce Technologies Inc, Suffern, NY and Medtrade Monday.> ATLANTA - Fewer personnel resources and fewer profits are realities in today’s HME world. Industry veteran Esther Apter, founder and CEO, Medforce Technologies Inc, Suffern, NY, believes the right software can help by allowing providers to work more effectively and efficiently.  As a longtime Medtrade exhibitor, Apter has spoken with countless providers to gauge software needs and market conditions. With just about 40 days to go before Medtrade begins on Oct 23 in Atlanta, Medtrade Monday sat down with Apter to talk about the state of the industry.  Medtrade Monday: How have the challenges faced by HME providers (providers going out of business and reduced reimbursements) affected software developers throughout the industry? Esther Apter, founder and CEO, Medforce Technologies Inc, Suffern NY: The shrinkage in the industry has reduced the potential market and increased competition among software companies for business. At the same time, the shrinkage of reimbursement has created a demand and need to do more with less. This requires greater productivity from the staffs of suppliers which, in turn, encourages the use of the best software tools wherever possible.  With fewer personnel resources and fewer profits, it becomes even more important than ever before to ensure that the resources you have are working as effectively and efficiently as possible. In addition, the reduction in resources and increase in demand for accurate and timely paperwork adds to the necessity of having a software tool that manages processes in a very transparent manner to ensure adequate oversight and procedures. Medtrade Monday: What are the most common problems faced by HME providers, and how can proper software help solve these problems? Apter: Proper and efficient software can add greatly to productivity and increase profitability. There are so many common problems that can be solved with proper software. Most common issues are (and all need to be done with fewer people than ever before to remain profitable): • obtaining and storing adequate documentation to ensure it is available at the tip of a provider’s finger when responding to audits;  • ensuring timely and efficient response to incoming referrals to guarantee proper patient care, customer service and compliance with all payer regulations;  • ensuring compliance with human resources and regulations for all personnel requirements; and  • ensuring compliance with payer contracts.  Ensuring all accounts payable invoices are adequately managed and monitored includes:  • making sure invoices are at contract value and below payer contract value to ensure profitability;  • making sure items are in stock and received before invoices are paid;  • taking advantage of any discounts that can be used by paying invoices in a timely manner.  Ensuring reimbursement maximization includes:  • making sure payment matches contract value;  • making sure patients are qualified, filing all claims and documentation including audits timely;  • following up on unpaid claims and denials timely; and • ensuring all secondary, tertiary and self-pay balances are billed timely and received in the most efficient manner possible.  A solid document management software should include the ability to manage the process to obtain and ensure compliance on documentation, regardless of department (human resources, AP, AR and more) while using a transparent process management tool that enables all processes to be managed in one place. All of this is necessary to overcome the challenges and problems caused by the need for increased documentation and decreased profits. Medtrade Monday: What changes in the HME industry have you seen since founding the company in the 1990s. Apter: The most significant change in the industry can be attributed to competitive bidding, which has caused the number of suppliers to shrink. There have been many examples of reimbursement changes over the years. Most have included reimbursement cuts and additional paperwork requirements. All of them caused significant business challenges. However, none had the effect of reducing the number of suppliers the way competitive bidding did. Many small providers opted to sell or close shop resulting in a considerable amount of consolidation. In addition, the emphasis on auditing has created a demand for careful documentation and accurate billing. Medtrade Monday: In an increasingly digital world, why are in-person trade shows still relevant and beneficial for providers? Apter: Regardless of how many digital communication tools exist, the beneficial effect of meeting and mixing with  peers and suppliers is hard to duplicate in any other setting. Relationships built on face-to-face meetings tend to be stronger. Medtrade Monday: What are the latest updates to Medforce software?  Apter: Medforce software includes components which can be utilized on their own, or combined with other products. Most notable of our new products are our inbound and outbound faxing services with a faxing management app add-on and our signature tool, SignCenter, which provides an easy way to obtain an electronic signature on any document or form. Medtrade Monday: Why did you decide to exhibit at Medtrade in Atlanta?  Apter: We have been exhibiting at Medtrade in Atlanta since the early 1990s. Being at the show gives us an opportunity to meet in person with many of our current customers and prospects, as well as competitors. Deciding not to exhibit would have been a much tougher decision than deciding to exhibit. We have a long and close relationship with the DME industry, and it is important to us to support the industry wherever possible.  Medforce Technologies Inc will be in Booth #1545 at Medtrade, scheduled for Oct 23-25, 2017, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.   Original link> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/priority-management-for-healthcare-a-how-to-webinar/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/priority-management-for-healthcare-a-how-to-webinar/ Tue, 22 Aug 2017 18:53:00 +0000 Priority can be a complex web comprised of some combination of time, money, and alignment with company goals. Attendees of this webinar will learn the four main steps on how to identify, communicate, monitor and refine a priority management system.> The pace of business is gaining speed. Providers need to do more with less, faster and more accurately than ever so they can simply survive, let alone thrive. A well planned priority management program aligns the day-to-day work efforts of your teams with your company’s strategic objectives. It guarantees you stay on top of what needs to be done today to ensure a strong foundation for the future. Priority can be a complex web comprised of some combination of time, money, and alignment with company goals. Attendees of this webinar will learn the four main steps on how to identify, communicate, monitor and refine a priority management system. Register to attend live or receive a recording in your inbox.  Date: October 12th Time: 2pm ET / 1pm CT / 12pm MT / 11am PT> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/client-only-webinar-formscenter-tips-tricks/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/client-only-webinar-formscenter-tips-tricks/ Tue, 15 Aug 2017 20:16:00 +0000 In this client-only webinar, we’re focusing on FormsCenter and how to improve the collection and use of electronic data to fuel your operational efficiency. > Your business runs on data and FormsCenter can help you make the most of it. Having the right electronic forms in workflows or embedded within increases accuracy, decreases labor effort/cost, and powers productivity.  In this client-only webinar, we’re focusing on FormsCenter and how to improve the collection and use of electronic data to fuel your operational efficiency. We’ll briefly cover the basics and then help you get to the next level with intermediate features like grandchild forms, 2-page forms, integrating forms into imports, and more.  Register to attend live or receive a recording in your inbox.  Date: September 19th  Time: 2pm ET / 1pm CT/ 12pm MT / 11am PT  Presenter: Gerralee Damman, Implementation and Training Manager> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/hme-claim-adjustment-report-cr-9968/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/hme-claim-adjustment-report-cr-9968/ Wed, 09 Aug 2017 15:04:00 +0000 There are some important 21st Century Cures Act updates for HME providers that may affect you. We have developed a new RemitCenter report to help you navigate the changes. > New Report Assists with CR 9968 Adjustments There are some important 21st Century Cures Act updates for HME providers that may affect you. We have developed a new RemitCenter report to help you navigate the changes. DME MACs will be making adjustments to fee amounts for certain items furnished on or after January 1, 2016 in areas that are not competitive bid areas in response to Change Request (CR) 9968. Claim dates of service are July 1, 2016 – December 31, 2016 and mass adjustments are being conducted to correct claim payment. (Believe it or not, this adjustment is an increase in payment!) To help our customers manage these adjustments, we have created a new RemitCenter report called the ERN Claim Adjustment Report. This report will list all claims with this type of adjustment, reporting the previous payment, new payment, and the adjustment amount. The DME MACs will use the RARC code N689 to identify claims receiving the adjustment. We created this new report to reflect the adjustment codes on the claim and not individual items, as other reports do. This report will help you identify which claims will be affected by this change (CR 9968). How to Get the Report Depending on the configuration of your Medforce system, installation will vary. To streamline the activation process, please contact Tech Support by generating a support ticket through our support page. We will contact you to either confirm completion or schedule a time for installation. Once it is turned on for you, the ERN Claim Adjustment Report will appear under the Custom Reports menu. If you have any additional questions, please contact Tech Support.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/qa-on-interoperability/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/qa-on-interoperability/ Thu, 03 Aug 2017 21:22:00 +0000 Last week, CTO Nathan Apter was quoted in HME Business about the state of interoperability in the post-acute space. They printed just an excerpt of his interview, and here you can read more of what he had to say. > Last week, CTO Nathan Apter was quoted in an article about the state of interoperability in the post-acute space. Here is his full set of answers, edited for clarity.  As healthcare in general looks to better connect care providers so that they work in concert, share data, etc., what is the state of post-acute software and information technology interoperability? Please discuss the HME industry progress as it relates to the interoperability of post-acute software and information technology. How far has it come? There have been big strides in education and awareness, which is a huge first step. ‘Interoperability’ is moving from being a trendy buzz word to being part of the everyday lexicon of providers. For years, Medforce been working openly with other software and information technology companies such as Mediware, QS/1, TeamDME, and FleetTraks to share data and allow post-acute providers to choose their own best-of-breed technology setups. The idea of software integration is not new. But things are changing in two big ways: One is that the baseline level of expectation from post-acute providers about how their data comes into and moves throughout their organization has risen. Providers are better informed, and this pushes software developers to keep up and continue to create tools that are flexible and can adapt to meet evolving needs. The second way is that talks of interoperability have expanded to be about data transfer and secure sharing of information across healthcare sectors and across players. It is no longer just about sharing of data between two software applications, it’s about creating an entire ecosystem of secure data transfer that is streamlined, automated, and improving the productivity of every entity involved. This includes acute to post-acute, provider to payer, payer to provider – everyone. Interoperability in healthcare in general is further ahead than it is in HME. The biggest strides in general are being made in patient transfer, the ability to move an entire patient record from one healthcare provider to another so they can effectively service the patient. HME has additional unique needs. We need documentation to be electronically signed for compliance and reimbursement. A unidirectional pull of a patient record is not enough, HME providers need to request additional information or send documentation to be filled out. That said, we are at the beginning stages of bringing interoperability out of the strategy phase and into reality. There are multiple pilot programs and taskforces working to translate these big ideas into everyday action. Why is post-acute software and IT interoperability important for businesses and for patients? What are the biggest benefits for providers and patients when software and information technology have interoperability with referral partners, etc.? What segments of post-acute will interoperability help the most? Please give examples. The value proposition of interoperability is fairly clear for providers. Referrals and new orders will come in digitally, centrally, and ideally with complete information. It will reduce the back and forth, streamline processes and enable faster, more efficient patient care. It will speed up prior authorization and, in theory, reduce denials on the back end. This clearly will benefit patients who need life sustaining equipment or treatments such as oxygen and infusion the most. But all patients will be better served when the patient transfer process is smoother. The benefit to the provider is having more complete information upfront that enables faster delivery of care and cleaner claims. Payers want to change all claims to a prior authorization/preclaim review model. This will allow them to eliminate post-pay audits, which are a huge drain on everyone’s resources, and reduce improper payments. However, before they can implement that providers need to be able to quickly get all the information they need at the time of referral so they can immediately service their patients. The challenges remain that there is not yet a “no brainer” to the referral partners. Even if the transaction is happening under a value-based payment model, the referral partners’ incentive is not so large that they are jumping at the chance to pilot these new interoperability programs. Many are in a “wait and see” mode, sitting tight until the technology providers have worked it out the issues. As with all new ventures, the beta phase is extremely important to modify and refine the information architecture to be sure everyone’s needs are being addressed and the net result is positive. With post-acute providers already so strapped for resources just to run their everyday businesses and with referral partners less incentivized than other players, it is a challenge to get these pilot programs off the ground and, in turn, a refined product to deliver to the industry at large.   Are you a member of the CommonWell Health Alliance? If so, what has been your experience being a member of that group? What has been the progress? We are not currently a member, although we have been looking more closely at joining. CommonWell focuses specifically on patient transfer. That is, they are developing standards and channels to allow patient clinical records to transfer safely between provider entities. It empowers a better continuum of clinical care for patients. There are some obvious subsectors of post-acute where this makes a lot of sense, such as home health.  But the transfer of patient clinical information is just one piece of the interoperability puzzle. There are everyday communications that need to go back and forth between healthcare providers and HME suppliers and payers. For example: orders, prior authorization paperwork, documentation for signature, and post-claim documentation. At Medforce, our philosophy is guided by the idea that post-acute provider care is just as vital as patient care. You can’t deliver outstanding patient care if you are forced out of business. We operate under the assumption that if we enable providers to be more successful and more profitable, they will deliver even better patient care. Our goal is to help providers be as streamlined and efficient as possible because that has a ripple effect to patients and even payers. Some things CommonWell does not do at the moment is enable document transfer or the bidirectional communication needed for information requests. They also are not focused on inter-provider interoperability - the ability for two software systems used by the same provider for patient care to transfer data without a specific one-to-one integration. In general, there is a lot of talk out there but not as much action. One of the best ways to evaluate whether an interoperability initiative is one to watch is to make sure that providers are at the center, and the technology is built to improve their health and viability. Talk specifically about the interoperability of your software solution. What can it do? What are the plans for future interoperability? Feel free to talk about how some of your HME provider customers are benefiting from interoperability. Medforce follows an open architecture philosophy. We believe providers should choose the mix of software systems they use within their internal health organizations and ensure efficient communication with third parties, including referral partners and payers. We can import and export many datatypes and work with HL7, X12, and CONNECT document submission. We were one of the original CMS certified Health Information Handlers (HIH) and have our own esMD program that allows for electronic transfer of documentation to CMS RACs for ADRs and Prior Auth requests. We are involved in several interoperability initiatives including an initiative with CMS called EMDI: HealthIT.gov EMDI - Medforce and The Innovation Messaging Group Taskforce which will be working with DIRECT messaging to share data between HME providers, payers, and healthcare providers as well as provide digital signing of documentation. What are some of the challenges of the interoperability of HME software and information technology? How are you working to remedy these challenges? Like I said, the biggest challenge is adoption among referring providers of any solutions. Large healthcare systems are slow to adopt new technology and they don’t want to use different technology for every provider they refer patients to. Integration of the solutions into the referring providers EMRs will be key. Finding the healthcare and post-acute providers who are willing to devote precious resources to beta these programs is equally important. How does interoperability affect the future of post-acute product development? Interoperability will be a big part of all post-acute development budgets in the coming years. Expect a much bigger push once the referring providers EMRs are ready to implement a solution that solves the unique issues of interoperability among post-acute providers. Software developers can start now by maintaining a philosophy of interoperability - including open standards for communication and allowing providers to connect any other open software system for bi-directional data transfer of patient and order data, whether in-house or at another provider. What is the future of post-acute provider software and IT interoperability? How do you see it over the next five or 10 years? I think it’s a really exciting time for technology in the post-acute sector. It’s going to be a race to the top with better, more robust features and functionality. More choice for providers. More opportunity to create. In times of great struggle, there are often great breakthroughs. I think software and technology can be the underpinning of a great revolution in productivity and efficiency within the post-acute sector.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/cto-nathan-apter-on-interoperability/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/cto-nathan-apter-on-interoperability/ Thu, 03 Aug 2017 15:15:00 +0000 Our CTO, Nathan Apter, is quoted in an article about the changing trends of interoperability in the post-acute sector. Click through to read excerpts. > Our CTO, Nathan Apter, is quoted in an article about the changing trends of interoperability in the post-actue sector. The author also provided an outline of Medforce's interoperability iniatives. Read excerpts below and read more about interoperability at Medforce by clicking here.  Excerpts from "Software Interoperability's Inroads in HME" by Joseph Duffy published in the August 2017 edition of HME Business: Healthcare interoperability — the ability of different information technology systems and software applications to communicate, exchange data and use the information that has been exchanged — has been a general healthcare practice for many years. According to Nathan Apter, CTO of Medforce Technologies, interoperability is moving from being a trendy buzz word to being part of the everyday lexicon of HME providers. “The idea of software integration is not new,” he says. “But things are changing in two big ways: One is that the baseline level of expectation from HME providers about how their data comes into and moves throughout their organization has risen. Providers are better informed, and this pushes software developers to keep up and continue to create tools that are flexible and can adapt to meet evolving needs. The second way is that talks of interoperability have expanded to be about data transfer and secure sharing of information across healthcare sectors and across players. It is no longer just about the sharing of data between two HME software applications — it’s about creating an entire ecosystem of secure data transfer that is streamlined, automated, and improving the productivity of every entity involved. This includes acute to post-acute, provider to payer, payer to provider — everyone.” ... The experts interviewed for this article all represent HME software companies that tout interoperability solutions. Here they describe how their software is helping the HME industry reap the benefits of a well-connected healthcare IT infrastructure. Medforce Medforce follows an open architecture philosophy, believing that providers should choose the mix of software systems they use within their internal health organizations and ensure efficient communication with third parties, including referral partners and payers. The software can import and export many datatypes and work with HL7, X12, and CONNECT document submission. Medforce was one of the first CMS-certified Health Information Handlers (HIH) and has its own esMD program that allows for electronic transfer of documentation to CMS RACs for ADRs and Prior Auth requests. Medforce is involved in several interoperability initiatives, including an initiative with CMS called EMDI: HealthIT.gov EMDI – Medforce and The Innovation Messaging Group Taskforce, which will be working with direct messaging to share data between HME providers, payers, and healthcare providers, as well as provide digital signing of documentation.   Read more about interoperability at Medforce by clicking here. > https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/signcenter-praised-with-two-e-signature-software-awards-by-financesonline/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/signcenter-praised-with-two-e-signature-software-awards-by-financesonline/ Thu, 03 Aug 2017 13:54:00 +0000 Our web-based electronic signature and data capture solution was recently examined by trusted B2B directory FinancesOnline.com and got an approving nod, scoring 8.0 out of 10 on the strength of being able to meet the unique and complicated needs and practices of the healthcare industry.> SignCenter was assessed and awarded by one of the leading software review sites. Reviewers observed how our HIPAA-compliant tool enables signers to mark and sign documents online via keyboard, mouse, or touchscreen from any internet connected device, allowing users to manage the entire signature lifecycle. SignCenter is built from the ground up to address particular and varying requirements of the healthcare industry such as complicated security protocols and information capture. It lets users take full control of where and when documents can be signed, notifies signers via self-expiring links, allows them to sign in person through any connected device, and records all details around the signing like time, date and IP address of the signer’s device. This ensures proper documentation and easier audit trail. These useful functionalities were duly noticed by FinancesOnline, conferring on SignCenter its 2017 Rising Star Award and Great User Experience Award for top e-signature software. These badges of recognition are granted to breakthrough products that have proven to be a hit with customers because of outstanding features and total usability. Being a unified, cloud-based platform means never having to worry about storage space or hardware maintenance. FinancesOnline saw the significance of these especially in times of disaster and other unforeseen events since with SignCenter, every information is processed and stored online for easy recovery. Furthermore, our product is equipped with API function for easy integration with existing business systems and applications. Both industry experts and customers have given their thumbs up, it’s time for you to give SignCenter a try.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/dme-providers-gain-affordable-productivity-with-medforce-tech-and-dme-data/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/dme-providers-gain-affordable-productivity-with-medforce-tech-and-dme-data/ Mon, 31 Jul 2017 18:16:00 +0000 The alliance between the two companies enables providers to assemble a best-of-breed approach to technology at an affordable price.> Original Press Release San Diego, CA and Suffern, NY – August 1, 2017 Medforce Technologies and DME Data Solutions, leading providers of productivity software to the Durable Medical Equipment industry, announced a strategic partnership to deliver providers an end-to-end solution for business management that improves efficiency, increases productivity, and boosts profitability. The alliance between the two companies enables providers to assemble a best-of-breed approach to technology at an affordable price. Between the two companies there are over a dozen software modules focused on minimizing manual efforts, improving automation, and freeing up resources to focus on strategic activities. “The ability for us to have data flow seamlessly between our Medforce and DME Data Solutions’ applications has saved us a ton of time,” states Liz Dean, Manager of a regional DME provider. “Our employees can stay focused on providing the best customer service possible, because all the information they need is available at their fingertips and is updated automatically.” DME Data Solutions brings to the table inventory, billing, and patient contact management solutions. Medforce offers document management, workflow automation, denial management, and electronic signature among others. Automated data exchange and integration eliminates duplication data entry and keeps operations running at a real-time pace. “The partnership with Medforce was a no-brainer for us,” says DME Data Solutions’ founder Ken Ravazzolo. “We’re both focused on helping providers take advantage of operational efficiencies that lead to greater profitability, while not charging and arm and a leg to do so. We each fill gaps in each other’s portfolio and together can deliver a full suite of software and services for the benefit of DME providers.” “At Medforce, we strongly believe in giving providers the flexibility to build the exact operational backbone they need to service their unique markets efficiently and effectively,” says Ellen Sluder, VP of Marketing at Medforce Technologies. “This partnership with DME Data Solutions builds on our ability to deliver on that mission. Both companies want providers to have access to the best tools that will deliver the highest return on their technology investment as evidenced by lower costs and increased revenue.” About Medforce Technologies Medforce Technologies provides process and document management software to improve the efficiency and productivity of healthcare back-office operations. We work across all departments (from intake and claims to mailroom, AP, AR, and HR) ensuring the highest priority work is always completed first and resource allocation is optimized to maximize your bottom line. Each of our modular products is built to be flexible and customizable, allowing healthcare organizations adapt quickly to change and do more with less. To learn more about the power of productivity, visit www.medforcetech.com . About DME Data Solutions DME Data Solutions is a leading developer of software applications for DME providers. The company’s flagship product, IMS, is an affordable and easy-to-use inventory, patient management, and billing system that utilizes barcode technology and emphasizes par-level reordering and resupply. IMS is currently installed in hundreds of locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. For more information, please visit www.dmedatasolutions.com or call 855.723.7700. Media Contact Ellen Sluder esluder@medforcetech.com> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/document-imaging-versus-document-management/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/document-imaging-versus-document-management/ Fri, 28 Jul 2017 02:33:00 +0000 Many people use the terms Document Imaging and Document Management interchangeably, but there are actually important differences. In less than 20 minutes, we'll walk you through a quick refresher on why going paperless is critical, and then explained your options and the criteria by which you should choose one type of solution over another. > Getting rid of the burden of paper files is a no-brainer these days. You can save time, money and headache with a paperless solution. And indeed, there are many software companies on the market who claim to offer the perfect one just for you. But, to be able to select the one that truly fits your needs, there is a crucial piece of information you need to know: what the difference is between document imaging and document management. Many people use the terms Document Imaging and Document Management interchangeably, but there are actually important differences. Make sure you're well informed so you can ask the right questions and make the best choice. Depending on your strategy and rationale behind going paperless, one or the other will be a better fit.  In this mini-webinar (<20 minutes!) we reviewed the benefits of going paperless and explain the difference between the different approaches. Watch the webinar recording in the Medforce Library by clicking here.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/why-are-you-still-sending-old-school-faxes-in-2017/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/why-are-you-still-sending-old-school-faxes-in-2017/ Tue, 25 Jul 2017 14:44:00 +0000 For healthcare organizations in the modern era, sending old-school faxes isn't sustainable. Learn about the challenges and how medical administration can be more productive.> Communication flow is the cornerstone to a well-oiled healthcare organization, from patients to providers and internally across departments or locations. New technologies in communications have reduced errors, improved privacy standards and increased bottom-line revenue for healthcare organizations. So why in 2017 would a healthcare organization opt to still use traditional legacy faxing systems? Is your company still sending old-school paper faxes? If so, it's time for an update. Why you should say goodbye to old-school faxes in your healthcare organization There are so many myths that surround communication systems. Not only are communication updates easier than many people assume, they also minimize error and improve efficiency in the workplace. If you are still using old-school faxes, this paper dinosaur is on its way to becoming extinct. With a need for space, who has room for a clunky fax machine anyway? Turns out, not very many organizations. Better time efficiency for staff Traditional faxes are inefficient. Many come in with pages missing or are unreadable. If they do come in intact, they need to be organized and then prepared to be filed. You have to keep checking the machine to determine when a fax arrives...and often it (still) hasn’t come through. These conditions reduce privacy, expose data to loss and make paper faxing a huge time-waster. Did you know that fax machines are subject to hacking as well? It is a myth that they are not. Easier access and storage on the cloud The other major consideration is that many healthcare organizations, agencies, and programs like Medicare and Medicaid like are moving their records to the cloud in the near future. If you have not already embraced the digital age with your records and are anticipating upcoming deadlines, consider transferring them preemptively. A centralized resource streamlines file access. Improved reporting and accountability More healthcare organizations should be analyzing their faxing protocols and processes, as they often are in different areas. Data can provide a guidepost that helps executives better understand where all of that time is going, and how to fix any problems with workflow, workload or employees. Cloud faxing allows for the generation of reporting so you can track progress and process to streamline over time. Solutions to old-school faxes E-faxing is an easy to set up system to solve your legacy faxing issues we covered above. A few major reasons your healthcare organization can benefit from this new style of faxing. Improved privacy and HIPAA security. Patient security and privacy is by far the most important aspect of communication efficiency and liability for healthcare organizations today. E-faxing considers the variables that risk privacy and altogether reduces this issue by complying with all HIPAA standards and rules. Overall efficiency for staff communication. E-faxing software offers the ability to send communication through different types of devices, communicate before and after hours, and throughout a healthcare organization and so on. Staff is also able to help facilitate patient appointments, labs, x-rays and procedures more efficiently by being able to transmit these types of information through e-faxing systems without lag time. No more busy phone lines. Instead of having to spend the time to figure out if your fax has even been sent and received, e-fax minimizes all of that worry. No more waiting for the receiver to call you to confirm they have received your fax. Which brings up another concern -- if your organization only has one traditional fax machine with several people receiving and sending faxes, how are you actually keeping track of what comes and goes? After you use e-faxing solutions for one month you will see how much time is saved to allocate to other, more pertinent activities in your organization. What the future holds Did you know that as a healthcare provider you will be able to e-prescribe by e-faxing prescriptions? Are you hearing from your office managers and admins that they need better systems to manage their staff as well? Everything is moving online, and organizations ahead of the curve will be on pace to increase productivity company-wide. For more on the challenges of physical faxing and how to alleviate them, download our white paper, Faxing: A Healthcare Disaster> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/how-does-workflow-automation-impact-your-bottom-line/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/how-does-workflow-automation-impact-your-bottom-line/ Tue, 18 Jul 2017 16:40:00 +0000 Healthcare organizations utilizing workflow automation enjoy streamlined task management, resource allocation and company revenue.> Lean strategies. Best practices. Business Process Management. Workflow automation. You’ve heard the buzzwords, but how can these business models help you improve performance and reduce costs? Many healthcare organizations are shifting to automated workflows designed to digitally replace antiquated paper-based administrative and clinical processes. They often find that implementing a workflow management system is one of the best decisions they’ve ever made. After taking the plunge, these organizations have seen more efficient work, integrated systems and better processes. Organizations who embrace workflow automation can see big results in their bottom line. For maximum business impact, workflow automation allows you to: Improve upfront processes. Clean claims are always the goal and the best way to get there is to ensure you’re doing the work correctly in the first place. A system that can respond to payer changes in real time and mandates specific data gathering will dramatically reduce denial rates. Remove non-value-added activities, such as unnecessary waiting or the overhead of following up. Eliminate bottlenecks and duplicate data entry, freeing up employee time for other activities and improving productivity. Ensure strict time management by using alerts and escalations to not only keep you ahead of deadlines, but also set expectations/benchmarks for how long specific tasks should take. Improve employee engagement by transferring tedious work from employees to software. This decreases the stress of working processes from memory or a written guidebook that may be out of date. Happier employees are more productive. Ease employee management. Real time monitoring allows managers to balance workloads, identify issues before they become problems, and zero in on areas for improvement. Encourage structured collaboration. Interruptions drive wasted productivity. With a standardized and centralized system for collecting input and feedback in one spot, it’s easier to focus and maintain personal momentum. Respond quicker. A workflow automation system simply makes you more nimble across the board. You’re able to easily and quickly respond to audit inquiries, maintain compliance, and reduce the costly back-and-forth, question-and-answer process. Improve reputation. The more organized and responsive you are, the better your referral partners will perceive you -- which can affect your new revenue pipeline. Companies that automate workflows create success across their entire organization. They are leaner and much more responsive, which translates into reduced costs and higher profitability. Be progressive. Be competitive. Don’t be afraid to move deeper into the digital world. When you see more productive staff, happier patients, streamlined costs, and rising revenues, you’ll be glad you did.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/accounts-receivable-best-practices-healthcare-organizations-should-implemen/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/accounts-receivable-best-practices-healthcare-organizations-should-implemen/ Tue, 11 Jul 2017 15:19:00 +0000 Providing great healthcare is essential to the bottom lines of patient-facing organizations. Here are five important accounts receivable best practices.> Providing great healthcare is essential to the bottom lines of patient-facing organizations. It seems a simple formula: By taking care of your patients, you’ll get paid by them and their insurers and have the ability to stay in business. Unfortunately, it’s not always quite that simple. Whether it’s payment from a payer, patient, or other healthcare organization, getting money for services rendered isn’t always easy. Patients may refuse or forget to pay, and insurers could make a partial payment -- or deny payment entirely. Managing these accounts receivable is critical to keeping your practice operating. To help your organization get paid in a timely manner, here are five important accounts receivable best practices. Prioritize at the Company Level True productivity is not just volume (how much you get done) but value (what that work is worth). A large part of the success of an AR Team is the way you prioritize work at the company level. Prioritization should be a balance of effort, potential payoff/revenue, and the probability of actually collecting. This ties into employee buy-in and satisfaction, as well: Employees have fuller plates than ever, and they need clear communication on how to balance their workload and what is most important to the company. Identify your “quick wins” that will provide the most value with the least expenditure of effort. See the next item for our thoughts on where to start. Nip Late Payments in the Bud It’s well-known by experts that as a debt gets older, it’s less likely to get paid. That means the easiest way to ensure everything is paid up is by focusing your efforts on the newest accounts receivable. Consider offering incentives for self-pay within 30 days, such as a small discount. Move the rest of the debt into buckets by age and focus collection efforts heavily on the most recent buckets - that’s where you’ll see the greatest return on your investment. Automate Whenever Possible It’s essential to dedicate employees to accounts receivable, but you should free up their time for only the most valuable tasks by automating any operations you can. Any standardized tasks, such as automatically calling or sending notices to accounts that have aged a certain point can and should be automated. You’ll eliminate the possibility of human error from these simple tasks and free your staff up to focus on more important things. Regularly Analyze Your Real-Time Data The very best way to address accounts payable difficulties is by taking a look at the real-time data you’re collecting on an ongoing basis. Review the accounts that have been left unpaid and see if there are any patterns. Perhaps you’re doing well with collecting directly from patients, but insurers are denying claims at a high rate. Whatever the case might be, you’ll know where the best use of your time and effort is and have the confidence you need to be more proactive. Focus on Coding The best way to avoid having to collect or fight denials is by avoiding them in the first place. That’s why it’s vital that every single treatment is coded properly, no matter how big or small it is. Having one or more truly experienced medical coders improves how accurate your accounts receivable are. It also ensures everything is billed and processed quickly, and we have already established that the younger a debt is, the more likely it is to be paid. Collecting the funds owed to you is not always simple, but it’s critical to your healthcare organization. If you can’t get paid, you’re not going to stay in business very long. By following the five accounts receivable best practices outlined above, you’ll simplify your processes and collect more effectively than ever before! To learn more about accounts receivable best practices, make sure to download our white paper.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/maximizing-the-roi-of-compliance-software/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/maximizing-the-roi-of-compliance-software/ Fri, 07 Jul 2017 13:59:00 +0000 Compliance officers have to answer to both internal and external forces and it can be a lot to handle. With stagnant or shrinking budgets but increasing demands, the only way to do more with less is to leverage the power of technology. Read our tips on how to maximize the return on your compliance software investment. > In recent years there has been mounting investigation from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and state governments for potential fraud within healthcare providers across all sectors. Commercial payers are increasing their own audits and overpayment demands. The Office of Civil Rights, as the watch dog of HIPAA compliance, is increasingly on guard against security breaches. And then there are the organizations’ own stakeholders. Business metrics (such as revenue protection and reputation) are huge drivers of compliance priorities. Compliance officers have to answer to both internal and external forces and it can be a lot to handle.   According to the 2017 Healthcare Compliance Benchmark Study by SAI Global, 59% of respondents expect compliance budgets to remain the same or shrink. Increasing demands and decreasing resources is the exact equation that should turn all providers toward technology. The right tools enable best practices, improve accuracy, strengthen cash flow, and ensure compliance. Technology that improves productivity is essential to help healthcare providers do more with less.  The best way to ensure a return on your compliance software investment is to take advantage of tools that play dual roles: mitigate risk and also assist with day-to-day operations. While compliance-focused software has its place, your compliance technology journey should begin by taking a look at what software is available to do double duty. Look for applications that help mitigate risk and respond to denials and audits while also supporting your mission and daily activities.  There are several advantages:  Cost is shared across departments/operations. When multiple departments use the software, the costs are distributed and individual budgets take less of a hit.  Improves visibility. Having documentation, process management, and communication tools (such as e-faxing or esMD) all contained within an integrated system, it is much easier to monitor everything in real time. You can ensure employees are working according to guidelines and identify issues before they become major problems. Decreases response time. Another benefit of a centralized system is having everything in one spot. You don't need to go to multiple departments or individuals or search through various folders and applications. You can pull what you need to look at for audit response times quickly.  Gets everyone on the same page. When the whole company is working off the same system, there is continuity across departments and a standardized way of doing things. This improves productivity and makes cross-department communication much easier. Access rights enable the necessary security and audit trails allow you to track activity for all employees.  Creates platform for continuous improvement.  When you digitize your operations, it becomes much easier to enact change. Updates based on identified areas for process improvement or payer requirement changes can be quickly adjusted in the system and disseminated across the entire organization. Training becomes much easier as everyone is working off of the most up-to-date configuration possible.  Compliance by nature can't happen in a silo. It touches and involves all departments. Getting everyone on the same technological platform to begin with not only helps to ensure compliance upfront, but it eases the process of responding to audits and denials on the back end.  Our blog post on the Top Tools to Enable Compliance details six technologies that help improve operational productivity while contributing to securing compliance. > https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/top-tools-to-ensure-compliance/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/top-tools-to-ensure-compliance/ Thu, 06 Jul 2017 18:52:00 +0000 According to the 2017 Healthcare Compliance Benchmark Study, published by SAI Global, “48% [of survey respondents] are using manual or ad-hoc methods to manage claims denials, audits and appeals.”  As margins continue to shrink and resources remain scarce, technology is essential to help vital healthcare service providers do more with less. The right tools enable best practices, improve accuracy, strengthen cash flow, and assure compliance.  It’s no surprise that according to the same survey, the top line item on budgets are narrowed in on investment in software. But where should that investment go? Learn about six tools that can ease compliance. > Anyone who bills Medicare or Medicaid is well versed in the impact of audits and the increasing pressure they are applying on operations. In recent years there has been mounting investigation from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and state governments for potential fraud within healthcare providers across all sectors. It seems to be all one hears about when it comes to compliance risk. But what about the other important sources of compliance pressure? They seem to be unjustly left out of the media attention, yet can cause just as much stress on an organization. Commercial payers are increasing their own audits and overpayment demands. The Office of Civil Rights, as the watch dog of HIPAA compliance, is increasingly involved to guard against security breaches. And then there are the healthcare organizations’ own priorities. Business metrics (such as revenue protection and reputation) are huge drivers of compliance priorities. The livelihood of the company can be at risk. Compliance officers have to answer to both internal and external forces and it can be a lot to handle with few resources.   Yet, according to the 2017 Healthcare Compliance Benchmark Study, published by SAI Global, “48% [of survey respondents] are using manual or ad-hoc methods to manage claims denials, audits and appeals.”  As margins continue to shrink and resources remain scarce, technology is essential to help vital healthcare service providers do more with less. The right tools enable best practices, improve accuracy, strengthen cash flow, and assure compliance.  It’s no surprise that according to the same survey, the top line item on budgets are narrowed in on investment in software. But where should that investment go? Is a niche compliance application necessary? While compliance-focused software has its place, the vast majority of healthcare organizations can leverage applications they use for every day operations to help ease the compliance burden.  Among other products, business process management tools can be configured to empower risk assessments as well as enable internal audits for the compliance team. All of this while also acting as the framework for intake, accounts receivable, accounts payable and all other departments for the daily operations. Your compliance technology journey should begin by taking a look at what software is available to do double duty to help mitigate risk and respond to denials and audits while also supporting your mission. It’s the best way to get a return on your technology investment. Six Tools to Ease Compliance Document Management – go beyond the rudimentary document imaging available as add-ons to other applications. A full-featured document management program not only can work in all of your departments, it can ensure more accurate files which mean cleaner claims, easier denial management, and faster audit response time. Business Process Management – A flexible workflow automation tool allows you to bake compliance guidelines into everyday activities and ensures your employees are working according to the strategic priorities. With everything being tracked in real-time, you can identify issues well before they become major problems and highlight areas for improvement. esMD – Electronic submission of medical documentation allows you to transmit documentation to CMS from any web browser 24/7. Not only can you decrease ADR and audit response times, you can request and track prior auths ensuring a faster speed to revenue. Referral Management – Most companies handle referrals manually which can result in disorganization, delays, and missing information that can have compliance implications down the line. A solid referral management technology that leverages automation and standardizes the process will provide greater visibility and control and ensure nothing falls through the cracks.   Fax Management –  Faxing endures as a HIPAA compliant mode of communication, but most fax setups are rife with inefficiency, opportunity for error, and data security challenges. Electronic faxing that is managed in email creates a decentralized challenge in terms of oversight, and also can be a HIPAA violation waiting to happen. A centralized fax application that provides not just the ability to send and receive faxes, but the capability to build a workflow around how they should be handled and provide archival storage is essential for this vital documentation channel. Electronic Signature –  Approval, authorization, and acknowledgement by patients, clinicians and even administrators are important elements in compliance. Signature in healthcare is unique. Obtaining the signature often happens at the beginning of a process, rather than acting as the culmination. E-Signature that is built for the healthcare industry and is HIPAA compliant is the logical way to ensure you are truly paperless. Increasing scrutiny, intensifying regulations, and additional documentation burdens amount to greater work effort and higher labor costs that reduce margins and jeopardize the viability of health providers. It can become a downward spiral that has negative impact on regulators, providers, and patients.  Technology can improve collaboration, leverage automation, simplify processes, and decrease opportunities for human error.    Want more? Download our white paper on Essential Tools for Home Health Compliance which has a full page written on each tool, plus others. Even if you operate in a different healthcare sector, the report has detailed information that will be valuable as you look to take advantage of technology to mitigate risk and improve compliance. > https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/how-to-establish-a-healthcare-denial-management-process-that-boosts-roi/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/how-to-establish-a-healthcare-denial-management-process-that-boosts-roi/ Wed, 05 Jul 2017 14:35:00 +0000 Stop spending hours and hours of manual labor on healthcare denial management. Learn the steps to take to streamline your denial management process.> It may be hard to imagine, but denials don’t have to be built-in bottlenecks. Just like a doctor diagnoses illness, healthcare organizations must learn to diagnose denials. Most employees in healthcare are entrenched in the traditional way that we’ve always worked denials. This approach is antiquated, time-consuming, error-prone, and very costly. Yet nothing is being done differently. It’s time to break out of the mold. Becker’s Hospital CFO report says that CFOs spend most of their time thinking about how to revamp the healthcare denial management process. They are likely losing sleep at night over it. As much as 5 percent of your provider revenue can be lost and some organizations experience denial rates as high as 20 percent. Fixing that problem can do wonders for your ROI. We’re all aware of the biggest culprits: coding errors, manual mistakes, simple misspelled names. But how do you fix the problems? High performing companies have figured it out. They diagnose their denials, using software and techniques to get at the root causes of why denials are happening, refining their processes over time, and getting to a point where they can identify potential problems before they even occur. Here are some key strategies that successful companies have used. Understand the “why”. First, you must understand why your claims were denied. Segment and group together like-denials to get a grasp on the bigger picture of where your process is failing. Educate. Many healthcare organizations working with patients and insurance companies have begun to provide patient education about claim denial. Not all patients are going to be experts when it comes to insurance and many don’t realize the effects of not keeping you updated on minor changes that have big impact on paperwork requirements. They’re just frustrated because a denial could mean out-of-pocket expense. Educating your patients means that they can help you solve the problem. At the same time, their patient satisfaction skyrockets because they feel engaged and informed. Organization is key. Your process must be organized and methodical. Your office can’t lose claims or let them pile up. Have a successful denial strategy and a continuous workflow that keeps that pipeline from becoming stagnant. This is why many organizations are using technologies and software tools that help. Be timely. Successful offices correct claim denials in a week or less. We work with our clients to get insight into denials in less than 24 hours.This also helps meet insurance company denial appeal time limits. Review. Once you have a process, your entire staff should revisit what’s working and what isn’t regarding your unpaid claims. This is the most effective exercise you can do to improve efficiency. What are your most common denials? Pre-existing conditions? PIP applications? Coordination of benefits? Take the time to examine the details. How We Can Help Our Accounts Recievable Management app gives healthcare the insight and tools you need to fully work a claim. Our claim analytics tools are invaluable tools for efficiently working claims and denials; we will examine your denials and downsize your DSOs. Our feature-rich reporting helps you quickly analyze the reasons for your denials. We make it very easy to spot the areas of your revenue cycle that need to be refined. Quickly analyze remittances and create redeterminations with supporting documentation. Stop spending hours and hours of manual labor on healthcare denial management. Do things differently. You’ll soon see that more effective management of your claim denials can increase your organization's revenue and collections rate while improving patient satisfaction. And that means fewer denials to worry about in the future...so your CFO can finally sleep at night!> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/reflections-from-heartland-2017/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/reflections-from-heartland-2017/ Fri, 30 Jun 2017 15:06:00 +0000 We had a great time at the VGM Heartland Conference in Waterloo, IA earlier this month. Our team highlights the top three topics of conversation at our booth. >   We had a great time at the VGM Heartland Conference in Waterloo, IA earlier this month. We saw long time custmers and friends, and we were happy to meet new folks as well. When we sat down with the team who was on-site, they highlighted the top three topics that were the buzz at our booth.  Electronic signature. The vast majority of HME and related businesses are paperless in their billing and claims department. Yet when signatures are needed on CMNs, audits, delivery tickets and other documentation, most often they fire up the printer and produce paper. Then, the signed documents get scanned back into the system. Electronic signature is gaining steam in HME to keep the paperless office truly paperless. We were happy to show everyone our SignCenter product built specifically to address the signature needs of healthcare providers.  Going paperless across the entire organization. As mentioned above, most HME companies are champions of the paperless office... in some departments. We were excited to talk with attendees about how you can expand document management and workflow automation outside of billing and claims. We help clients develop paperless processes from top to bottom. We work in referral management and intake to streamline efforts, speed up order turnaround, and improve overall accuracy. We work with procurement and accounts payable to improve vendor management and supply chain. We've even helped companies set up paperless systems for closet orders. And with our e-signature tool as well as our integrations with ResMed and delivery management tools such as FleetTraks and Apachetta, we are enabling paperless processes all the way to patient homes.  Improving revenue cycle management with a focus on Accounts Receivable. While denials, underpayments and overpayments are unavoidable - how you handle them is truly the marker of how it will impact your bottom line. We asked people in the booth: Imagine if you can reduce your write-offs by 1 or 2% - What would that mean for your bottom line? And everyone's eyes lit up and wanted to know more. Most people know that producing clean claims up front is the best way to avoid denials. But that's not the end of the story. There will always be factors out of your control that affect invoice payment, and your AR plays a huge role in the profitability of your company. We were excited to show everyone our AR Management App that sheds new light and gives you greater control over your pipeline.  If any of the above topics resonate with you, please don't hesitate to reach out to us, we'd love to talk.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/ar-success-depends-on/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/ar-success-depends-on/ Wed, 28 Jun 2017 17:06:00 +0000 A large part of  success in Accounts Receivable is the way you prioritize work. Modern and successful AR teams don’t divide work by absolutes – by alphabet or even by payer.   It’s a complex algorithm.> Take the Guesswork Out of Success A large part of  success in Accounts Receivable is the way you prioritize work. Modern and successful AR teams don’t divide work by absolutes – by alphabet or even by payer. Prioritization needs to be a balance of effort, potential payoff/revenue, and the probability of actually collecting. Then you have to layer on different pay rates for different people, skill sets, and time. It’s a complex algorithm. The Accounts Receivable Management App is a turnkey workflow solution that takes the guesswork out of success. Items are prioritized based on strategic priority that leadership sets, balancing many factors at once. Your AR team comes in and immediately can get to work on the items that will return the best results for the company - and your bottom line. To learn more about how Medforce can help you improve visibility and control in AR, click here.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/the-importance-of-data-in-streamlining-healthcare-operations/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/the-importance-of-data-in-streamlining-healthcare-operations/ Tue, 27 Jun 2017 13:49:00 +0000 The next major revolution in healthcare is not only on the horizon, but already happening: big data. What does big data mean for you as a healthcare provider? > Over the past several years, the industry has increasingly foregone paper medical records in favor of digital Electronic Medical Records (EMRs). The next major revolution is not only on the horizon, but already happening: big data. Large, complex data sets are voluminous, complex and diverse. They’re also full of useful, actionable insights. Big data has been creeping into the edges of healthcare operations for a while. Pharma companies have been organizing years of their R&D data into large databases. Companies also use big data to do things like improve clinical trial efficiency. Even federal agencies have jumped on the bandwagon, making years and years of their data searchable and usable. Researchers mine the data to look at drug development data to find new treatments, reduce hospital readmissions, and examine patterns in drug side effects. Insurance companies are looking at payor/payee data to reduce healthcare costs. So what does big data mean for you as a healthcare provider? Big data provides you insight that usually leads to new opportunities you wouldn’t have seen otherwise.This ability to look at data for the first time, or look at data in new ways, makes your data more “liquid” and gives you new pathways of knowledge that you didn’t have before. Before your data went digital, you probably felt like you couldn’t get the information you needed. Once you took the digital plunge, though, you now might feel like you’re experiencing a data explosion—data from providers and patients and suppliers. Your problem of not having access to data when it was in paper form suddenly changed into the opposite problem. You’re collecting so much data that it can’t be effectively used. Or can it? A whole host of innovative companies are in the business of developing hardware, software and other products that can crunch these kinds of numbers and data. Wearable devices like Fitbit, Gear Fit and Jawbone allow patients to monitor activity levels, dietary intake, and vital signs. Medical professionals are teaming with data companies to use these data to paint a “health portrait” of the patient. One example is the Pittsburgh Health Data Alliance, which uses wearable device data, medical records, insurance records, and genetic data to offer a healthcare package tailored to the individual. These pieces of data can inform decision-making, and that directly translates into increased revenue, in areas such as mitigating code error trends and responding to patient population changes that lead to new opportunities. The companies that most effectively utilize these data are the ones that will be in the forefront of the industry—improving healthcare quality. Yesterday’s rigid data silos are transforming into big data, and organizations are changing all their processes to accommodate that change. Data are easily captured in electronic form as they are created, and the data easily flows between functional groups in your company and to your external business partners. Break the silos in your organization. It will mean extensive knowledge, better efficiency, and a better bottom-line. If you’d like to talk about best practices for collecting and deriving insights from data, get in touch with our team.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/turn-your-ar-team-into-a-profit-center/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/turn-your-ar-team-into-a-profit-center/ Thu, 22 Jun 2017 16:24:00 +0000 Your Accounts Receivable team is working to make sure the money for invoices produced is actually collected - whether from private payers, Medicare, Medicaid or self-pay. But there is a lot of work that goes into following up, appealing denials, and collections efforts.> Your Accounts Receivable team is working to make sure the money for invoices produced is actually collected - whether from private payers, Medicare, Medicaid or self-pay. But there is a lot of work that goes into following up, appealing denials, and collections efforts. It takes labor effort – and therefore cost – to manage these outstanding invoices. And if your costs of collecting are less than the income that comes in, you’re in the black. You shouldn’t be spending $50 to collect a $40 balance. So, how do you control costs while maximizing revenue capture? Download our free white paper “Turn your Billing Department into a Profit Center: 8 Ways to Eliminate Inefficiency in AR” and learn more. To learn more about how Medforce can help you improve visibility and control in AR, click here. > https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/electronic-signature-webinar-completing-paperless-office/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/electronic-signature-webinar-completing-paperless-office/ Wed, 21 Jun 2017 21:14:00 +0000 In this webinar, we highlight the unique characteristics and challenges of gathering signatures in healthcare.  We outline the benefits of having an signature capture program that maintains digital continuity and helps you manage the entire signature lifecycle.> In healthcare, prompt signatures are important for compliance in patient care, billing, audits, and general operations. Obtaining signatures on documentation is complicated and relentless. Many offices that claim to have “gone paperless” can be found printing out forms and faxing documentation for approval and authorization, disrupting workflows and causing inefficiencies. Yet most electronic signature programs were not built for the unique challenges of healthcare. In this webinar, we highlight the unique characteristics and challenges of gathering signatures in healthcare.  We outline the benefits of having an signature capture program that maintains digital continuity and helps you manage the entire signature lifecycle. We will also provide a demonstration of SignCenter, the only electronic signature and data capture tool built specifically for healthcare organizations by a healthcare technology company. Register to join the event live or to receive the recording.  Date: June 27th, 2017  Time: 2pm ET / 1pm CT / 12pm MT / 11am PT  Estimated length: 30 minutes > https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/the-unbelievable-waste-of-searching-for-lost-paperwork/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/the-unbelievable-waste-of-searching-for-lost-paperwork/ Tue, 20 Jun 2017 16:35:00 +0000 The cost of managing lost paperwork and files is intangible but very real. It’s time to take your document management seriously.> One of the biggest impediments to peak efficiency for healthcare organizations is ineffective document management -- and the stats back it up. The cost of managing lost paperwork and files is intangible but very real. Each employee spends about 1.5 hours a week looking for misplaced files in the office and on the computer. Multiply that one employee’s time across your entire workforce for a full year, and try not to do a double take at the wasted hours. Over time, about 20 percent of an organization’s information is misfiled. Some are eventually found, but some are lost forever. That inefficiency is costing you time, money, and loss of corporate knowledge. It’s time to take your document management seriously. Rein in your problem. Think about all the costs associated with managing your data in a paper or electronic format, and think of all the ways in which you use your company asset data on a daily basis. Many organizations feel the pain of paper management, but healthcare organizations in particular have some unique pain points, such as regulatory paperwork and frequent audits. Think for a minute about how stressful and frustrating it is for your employees to prepare your ACA and other reports. Is it time for a change? We all know audits are unavoidable in this industry—they just come with the territory. Think back to what it was like preparing for your last audit. Was it smooth, or were you scrambling at the last minute to pull together all of the requested information? Consider risk reporting as well. This is a rapid response reporting necessity. How fast can you pull information together, and how streamlined is your process? The ability to bill the right code for the right reimbursement is crucial for any healthcare organization. Lost files mean lost codes, lost billing information, lost reimbursements, and lost cash flow. Finally, we can’t emphasize data security enough. Lost files can greatly compromise your ability and obligation to keep your patients’ medical information secure. You don’t want to get a reputation of not being able to protect privacy and sensitive data. A Better Way to Manage Documents By using a centralized document management system, you can drastically reduce days and days of your reporting and audit prep time. Look for productivity-enhancing software and services containing some of the crucial, underrated features that help healthcare organizations adapt quickly and seamlessly to embrace more efficient electronic document management. Save time, save money, and utilize technology that equips your employees to do more. Contact us today to see how we can help.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/how-workflow-automation-breeds-better-business-intelligence/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/how-workflow-automation-breeds-better-business-intelligence/ Tue, 13 Jun 2017 16:25:00 +0000 A key part of the shift to business intelligence (BI) is workflow automation, a process to replace paper-based processes with digital ones.> Many healthcare organizations are moving toward business intelligence (BI) because it is simply too costly not to. Some organizations report a 36 percent lower spend by introducing standardized BI tools into the workplace. Effective data collection allows healthcare organizations to understand current trends and look for future ones, too. Healthcare organizations are using lean strategies and best practices as performance improvement methods to decrease costs while providing better customer care. A key part of the shift to BI is workflow automation, a process to replace paper-based processes with digital ones. When the necessary information you need is digital, you can then effectively perform all kinds of BI data mining and analysis for new insights and improvements. Workflow automation also allows you to identify labor-intensive tasks being performed by high paid employees, and in turn you can streamline them or move them to more appropriately skilled personnel. Duplicate tasks can be removed from the workflow entirely for maximum productivity. Many healthcare organizations say that Introducing standardized digital forms to replace disparate paper forms is the best change they’ve made; manual data entry tasks are greatly reduced or eliminated, and staff members can focus on other tasks. Here are some key areas in which healthcare organizations have found maximum improvements through workflow automation, streamlining costs and data insights that were previously inaccessible. Having an electronic medical record (EMR) system is the best way to streamline your workflow. It will ensure compliance across your entire organization and transform your medical record audits from the painful manual procedure to a streamlined digital process for more insight. Manual audits deplete revenue and profit margin, and many organizations that have made the switch say that the automated workflow allows greater ease of sharing audit information to appropriately authorized individuals. The required data is received in a timely manner, and the built-in audit trail greatly reduces the back-and-forth that is so costly—and so common—with traditional audits. And we all know how inaccurate coding can affect your bottom line by affecting reimbursements. Workflow automation is much more efficient with less error, so it greatly increases the productivity of your billing department. Claims are easier and get submitted in a much more timely fashion. Risk reporting is another area in which an automated workflow can offer tremendous advantages. It is crucial for healthcare providers delivering care to report anything that may compromise patient care. In an automated workflow, the cumbersome paper forms are replaced with BI to easily document safety incidents, as well as provide criteria-specific electronic automated reports for both your internal and external reporting needs. Implementing an automated workflow in these key areas creates success across your entire organization. Your BI will put you in a much leaner, responsive position, and benefits will be reflectedt in your bottom line. Across your organization, your staff will soon be on a whole new level of decision-making, driven by intelligent systems that help them do more. Progressive and competitive healthcare organizations have made the switch to automated workflows, and they’re reaping the benefits of improved efficiency, increase revenue, better outcomes, and improved patient experiences.  > https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/helping-healthcare-finance-executives-sleep-at-night/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/helping-healthcare-finance-executives-sleep-at-night/ Sat, 10 Jun 2017 20:10:00 +0000 Last fall, Connance and Porter Research teamed up to determine Hospital Finance Executive's biggest concerns and published a research study called "What Keeps Healthcare Finance Executives Up at Night?" This research really spoke to us at Medforce, as we have worked with hospital finance teams to address these very issues through leveraging workflow automation and paperless processes. Read about our lessons learned. > Last fall, Connance and Porter Research teamed up to determine Hospital Finance Executive's biggest concerns and published a research study called "What Keeps Healthcare Finance Executives Up at Night?" The top three revenue cycle management priorities, in order, were:  Preventing denials and underpayments Lowering total cost to collect Resolving denials and underpayments This research really spoke to us at Medforce, as we have worked with hospital finance teams to address these very issues through leveraging workflow automation and paperless processes. The path to success actually goes in reverse order:  First, you work to determine best practices for successfully appealing denials and partial payments.  Then, you use business process managmenet to implement strategic prioritization and refine processes to minimize AR labor expense. And, Finally, you take advantage of having all of your data in a centralized resource to track trends over time and identify key changes needed in your intake and billing processes to prevent denials and partial payments in the future.  We've found that a form of the 80/20 rule exists in RCM: solve your top 20 issues and it will fix 80% of your problems. And, it's actually the top 8-10 issues that will fix half of your revenue retention and cash flow issues. When all of the data is available for the manager to organize and analyze, it is really powerful.  We've helped solve issues such as:  What insurance companies do we have the biggest issues with?  What codes?  Are we prematurely billing?  Are there documentation errors?  And this is just the start.  Most practice management and billing software doesn't have strong AR follow up capabilities and you can't change it. Switching costs are too high. But if you can plug your billing software into a powerful process and document management tool, you will increase visibility, control and, ultimately, your bottomline.  Medforce products enhance your billing software to ensure you are returning as much money for as little effort as possible. To learn more about the Medforce suite of products, click here. To learn more about how Medforce can help you turn your AR team into a profit center, click here. > https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/stop-approving-write-offs/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/stop-approving-write-offs/ Thu, 08 Jun 2017 21:00:00 +0000 Most companies have a procedure that requires a manager approve write offs over a certain amount. We challenge customers to understand the hidden costs of this and reject this out-dated practice. Click through to read why. > Most companies have a procedure that requires a manager approve write offs over a certain amount. We challenge customers to understand the hidden costs of this and reject this out-dated practice. It can be a big source of inefficiency.  When we hear that a policy like this exists, we ask: how often do you reject that approval. The typical response is: rarely. So, why are you wasting managerial time, at managerial pay-grades, for something that almost always is a non-issue?  A simple example for illustration:  Assume you require approval for adjustments of over $50 There are about 10 approvals that come across someone's esk every week, or 40 per month The total cost of these adjustments is $5,000 (remember, they can be of varying amounts) It takes approximately 2 hours per week (8 hours per month) to review the requests At an average pay rate, it will cost about $400-$500 in labor efforts to process these approvals  If none are rejected, that is a 10% additional loss of labor expense on top of the adjusted amounts This doesn't even account for the inefficency of the requestor's time. Adding steps, creating delays, requiring follow up - these are additional layers of lost productivity. Plus, until those write-offs are completed, the reality of your cash flow projections will be obscured.  If you find that only a very small percentage of these adjustment requests are not approved, consider moving to an internal audit process. In just one hour a month, a manager can spot-check five randomly-selected adjustments. Instead of putting this big bottlebeck in the middle of your AR process, you are still keeping write-off in check and encouraging accountability, but you won't be doing it at the expense of lost productivity.    For more tips on how to improve your AR processes, check out our presentation on Improving Visibility and Control in Accounts Receivable or read more about the Medforce Accounts Recievable Management App today. > https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/5-essential-components-of-a-document-management-solution/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/5-essential-components-of-a-document-management-solution/ Tue, 06 Jun 2017 18:35:00 +0000 Does your organization needs a document management system for creation, organization, and storage of documents? Find out how to choose a solution properly.> If you’re a healthcare organization, you definitely create documents. But do you effectively manage those documents? If you don’t, you’re throwing money down the drain. A business with 1,000 employees can waste as much as $3.5 million a year searching for (and likely not finding) important documents. Your organization needs a document management system for creation, organization, and storage of documents, but how do you choose one? Are you struggling to identify criteria and find that ideal system that fits your needs? There are many solutions out there, but you need one that has these key components so crucial to healthcare organizations: Searchability: A traditional filing system is great for putting documents in, but not so great on getting documents and information out of the system. A robust search function is a crucial requirement for any document management system you may choose. You want a full text search capability and strong browsing software. Employees spend 1.5 hours per week searching for lost files. Multiply that times 1,000 employees and hourly rates, and that is a huge waste of money. File Taxonomy and Classification: A standard file-naming convention and built-in strict processes in a document management software ensure proper filing, and greatly aid searchability and ability to quickly and accurately retrieve files. The ability to see how your information is stored so it can be retrieved easily and so incomplete files are easy to spot is essential when choosing your document management solution. Integration Across Platforms and Systems: Most providers have legacy systems as well as the newest technologies, so you need a document management solution that fits both. Don’t be forced into purchasing a one-size-fits-most solution that doesn’t fit your current structure and doesn’t offer room for future expansion as technology changes. It’s important to have one that integrates across all systems—old and new; it needs to work seamlessly with your oldest printer and your newest smartphone app. Web Access: This is a must-have necessary for peak efficiency. Your staff needs to be able to access a document whenever and wherever they are from a centralized, web-based document hub. Permission Levels: Not every employee needs to see every file. A robust security system with various permission and access levels is yet another key component to consider before purchasing a document management system. You must protect not only patient data, but your financial, audit, compliance and other data as well. You want a system that will offer certain rights and privileges to different individuals or teams based on need and have the ability to track who has access as well. You want to do all this while storing the information in a single, secure system. Professionals spend half of their time searching for information, and there’s a high cost for it too. Your organization will spend six times more on labor to search for misfiled documents than you spent on the original filing of that document. Reduce that labor cost by investing in a robust document management system that meets these important criteria.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/medforce-technologies-interoperability-initiatives/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/medforce-technologies-interoperability-initiatives/ Thu, 01 Jun 2017 16:09:00 +0000 Medforce Technologies sets pace for industry-driven interoperability initiatives and standards for open architecture systems development and solutions. > At Medforce, our interoperability philosophy is guided by the idea that provider care is just as vital as patient care. You can’t deliver outstanding patient care if you are forced out of business. We believe if we enable providers to be more successful and more profitable, you will, in turn, deliver even better patient care. There is a lot of talk out there by software developers about interoperability but not as much action. One of the best ways to evaluate whether an interoperability initiative is genuine or just more lip service is to make sure it's provider-centric. Providers need to be on board from day one, giving input and holding the software companies accountable to ensuring technology is built to improve their health and viability. Medforce follows an open architecture philosophy. We believe providers should choose the mix of software systems they use within their internal health organizations and ensure efficient communication with third parties, including referral partners and payers. We can import and export many data types and work with HL7, X12, CONNECT document submission. We were one of the original CMS certified Health Information Handlers (HIH) and support esMD as a more efficient way to submit CMS documentation than paper based methods. In addition to adding new integrations with other software developers, we are currently involved in several industry interoperability initiatives: EDMI (coordinated by CMS) and The Innovation Messaging Group Taskforce. We'll also be on site at the X12 data exchange meeting next week in San Antonio. As these programs move out of the strategy and standards phases and into implementation, we'll be sure to keep you posted for opportunities to get on board. > https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/webinar-e-signature-in-healthcare/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/webinar-e-signature-in-healthcare/ Wed, 31 May 2017 18:32:00 +0000 In this webinar, we will highlight the unique characteristics and challenges of gathering signatures in healthcare.  We will outline the benefits of having a signature capture program that maintains digital continuity and helps you manage the entire signature lifecycle.> In healthcare, prompt signatures are important for compliance in patient care, billing, audits, and general operations. Obtaining signatures on documentation is complicated and relentless. Many offices that claim to have “gone paperless” can be found printing out forms and faxing documentation for approval and authorization, disrupting workflows and causing inefficiencies. Yet most electronic signature programs were not built for the unique challenges of healthcare. In this webinar, we will highlight the unique characteristics and challenges of gathering signatures in healthcare.  We will outline the benefits of having a signature capture program that maintains digital continuity and helps you manage the entire signature lifecycle. We will also provide a demonstration of SignCenter, the only electronic signature and data capture tool built specifically for healthcare organizations by a healthcare technology company. Register to join the event live or to receive the recording.  Date: June 27th  Time: 2pm ET / 1pm CT / 12pm MT / 11am PT  Estimated length: 30 minutes  Presenter: Steve Bainnson, VP of Sales> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/how-large-enterprises-can-streamline-bpm/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/how-large-enterprises-can-streamline-bpm/ Tue, 30 May 2017 16:19:00 +0000 Larger enterprises have a lot depending on their business process management, as one mistake can impact thousands. Learn the tricks of how to streamline BPM.> Business process management is an important component of success for today's healthcare organizations. Over the past few years, the industry has gone through major changes. The regulatory changes and focus on the patient as the healthcare consumer will remain part of the landscape in healthcare for the foreseeable future. For larger enterprises, understanding these changes is especially important, as one mistake can multiply across hundreds or even thousands of users. A concise BPM protocol can help your organization best use the massive data at your disposal to improve outcomes for individual patients and the overall productivity of your staff. Your business process management can improve performance in a number of areas, including claims processing and analyzing the data your current EHR system gathers. When considering BPM solutions for your organization, there are a number of facets to keep in mind. Considerations for BPM in Your Healthcare Organization In order to be successful, your BPM should offer cohesive protocol for staff to follow. Regardless of the size of your operations, your organization can benefit from processes that are easy to understand and deploy. Here is what you'll want to keep in mind when looking to streamline BPM for larger enterprises: User Management. The BPM solution you choose should offer optimal user management features. Your active directory of users is an important component in your productivity. Everything your organization does is recorded digitally, so it's important that the system you invest in has easy and effective ways to manage and track user tasks. Interoperability. Your healthcare organization likely uses a number of different software solutions. Not only that, you likely correspond with other partners and entities using separate processes. It's imperative that your BPM solution offers flexibility in the ability to import and export different types of data, as well as an easy means to format files from a wide array of different applications. Disaster Recovery. It's important that your BPM solution offers backup and recovery that's foolproof. Healthcare records need to be maintained and safeguarded at the highest level possible. Keep the recovery solutions and security concerns a priority when considering new vendors or services. Load Testing. When deciding on an upgrade to your BPM solution, make sure any new firm conducts load testing so that you're fully aware of the functionality, no matter what kinds of stress hits the system. Load testing will give you a good indication of the system's performance under any condition. For many healthcare organizations, adding BPM to their protocol has been necessary. It's important to honestly evaluate the productivity of the current system to see where the problem areas are. If you are looking to upgrade to a new vendor or solution, make certain your new partner can guarantee the considerations that drive success for large enterprises, as well as offering good support and easy usability.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/5-common-file-management-problems-and-challenges-in-healthcare/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/5-common-file-management-problems-and-challenges-in-healthcare/ Tue, 23 May 2017 17:23:00 +0000 Document and file management, or mismanagement rather, is often thought of as a technology problem or an efficiency problem, but ultimately it's a financial problem.> The healthcare industry is under intense pressure to improve quality of care while cutting costs at the same time—and there’s no foreseeable end in sight to the razor-sharp focus on the bottom line. Document and file management, or mismanagement rather, is often thought of as a technology problem or an efficiency problem, and is quite often not identified for what it really is—a huge cost problem that every day is whittling away at your profitability. Putting file management problems into financial context gives you a startling look at the tremendous impact these issues have on your organization. On a daily basis, as many as five percent of an organization’s files are lost or misfiled. This inefficiency has disastrous financial effects; $14,000 in productivity per worker per year is spent on their inability to find the information they need to do their jobs. As if that is not bad enough, misplaced documents lead to many unsavory downstream effects as well. Here are five particularly costly issues: Audits:  Misplaced files can wreak havoc on your ability to respond to the many required audits in our industry. Filing a document properly costs around $20, but finding a misplaced document costs six times more at $120. And if you never find the document you need for the audit, you’ll likely have to spend $250 to replaceit. Multiply these numbers across all your employees and the number of audits you have per year, and the cost can quickly spiral out of control. Risk Reporting:  The same is true for risk reporting. As a healthcare provider, your staff must be able to quickly cull the necessary information and report events that may compromise patient safety. Not being able to find the information affects your internal reporting as well as your external reporting to government and other required organizations. Coding:  If you can’t find the right file, then you can’t find the right code, and over time, misplaced files can have a huge detrimental effect on your ability to bill the right code and get the right reimbursements. Data security:  For patient-facing healthcare organizations, a misplaced or lost file may compromise your ability to secure your patient’s personal medical information and thus protect his or her privacy. If you can’t protect sensitive data, the integrity of your organization will be compromised. Your aptitude at securing data is also crucial to your ability to participate in ACA exchanges, Medicare and other programs. The OIG reports that more than 5,000 Medicare physician identifiers and nearly 300,000 beneficiary identifiers are known to be compromised, so get your document and file management under control! Compliance issues:  Misfiled and lost documents can wreak havoc on your ability to meet specific reporting requirements of the ACA and other organizations. This can also have an effect on your tax exemption status as well. Professionals in healthcare spend half of their time searching for information, and more than half working with documents. Make sure you’re doing it efficiently and minimizing lost or misplaced files.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/common-adr-admc-and-pa-fax-challenges-solved-with-esmd/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/common-adr-admc-and-pa-fax-challenges-solved-with-esmd/ Mon, 22 May 2017 19:54:00 +0000 While faxing persists as one of the most common forms of transmitting documentation that may contain PHI because of its HIPAA compliance,  it’s not necessarily the most reliable. And when something doesn’t go right, it’s on the provider to rectify the situation, and deadlines don’t budge. So what can you do? esMD to the rescue! > Two of the most common challenges in submitting documentation to CMS contractors are caused by fax challenges: Contractor does not receive a fax Pages are missing from the fax transmission When faxing ADMC or Prior Auth documentation, even though the provider will have a confirmation from their fax service or fax machine that the fax was sent, the contractor will have no record of receiving it. There is no proof of what was sent through the fax service, so the provider has nothing to fall back on. Contractor advice for alleviating this common challenge is to try to fax during off-peak hours (before 10am or after 3pm), but this work-around isn’t a viable solution for most providers. Even if the contractor does receive the fax, occasionally pages are missing. The provider, again, may have a confirmation that states the number of pages that were submitted, but fewer pages were received and ultimately it is the responsibility of the provider to deliver a complete package. While faxing persists as one of the most common forms of transmitting documentation that may contain PHI because of its HIPAA compliance, these above examples show that it’s not necessarily the most reliable. And when something doesn’t go right, it’s on the provider to rectify the situation, and deadlines don’t budge. Enter esMD Electronic Submission of Medical Documentation, or esMD, is more than just a recent addition to the alphabet soup of healthcare compliance. It’s the most reliable and efficient way to ensure that all of your documentation gets to the contractor on time and in full.  Here are some of the many benefits of esMD: Receive a transaction ID that is accepted as proof of receipt Keep a centralized record of what was submitted, including proof of all pages Submit 24/7 from your desktop – no off-peak hours required Submit to various contractors (including RAC, MAC and UPIC) from a single portal Put the accountability for lost pages onto the Review Contractor with proof of submission and receipt. End the black hole of faxing and submit your ADMC, PA and ADRs directly to CMS contractors through esMD.   Learn more about ZipMit, Medforce’s esMD solution, by clicking here.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/what-went-wrong-with-pre-claim-review/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/what-went-wrong-with-pre-claim-review/ Mon, 22 May 2017 16:27:00 +0000 As of April 1, 2017, CMS halted the Pre-Claim Review (PCR) demonstration in Illinois and delayed any expansion to Florida, Texas, Massachusetts and Michigan. The original intention of the program was to develop new ways to thwart Medicare home health benefit waste, fraud and abuse.  The delay was supposed to last 30 days, but we are nearly 2 months out and there is no sign of the program getting back on track. So what went wrong? > As of April 1, 2017, CMS halted the Pre-Claim Review (PCR) demonstration in Illinois and delayed any expansion to Florida, Texas, Massachusetts and Michigan. The original intention of the program was to develop new ways to thwart Medicare home health benefit waste, fraud and abuse.  The delay was supposed to last 30 days, but we are nearly 2 months out and there is no sign of the program getting back on track. So what went wrong? The symptom that got the most attention was a dangerous reduction in the ability for Home Health Agencies (HHAs) to provide timely care to patients while waiting for approvals and UTNs.  The exponential increase in paperwork and bureaucratic processes bogged down operations, impacted margins, and made the delivery of health services impossibly complicated. It makes sense that you can’t sacrifice the health of the very population you are charged with helping for the sake of paperwork, and for that reason, the program was put on hold until a better system could be developed. But the root cause of the issue is broader than simply the amount of paperwork. The issue is that CMS focused in on only one portion of the process – the PCR submission. While they enabled esMD portals and set up the MAC processors to review the documentation, CMS did not consider the full PCR workflow and how it would impact HHA operations.  The tunnel vision on the receipt of the submission and what happens next, ignoring the upfront work, created immense strain on HHA operations that ultimately was felt by patients. In our conversations with HHAs, we learned that it can take a biller up to 45 minutes per PCR submission, gathering the needed documentation, organizing the package, and then submitting it. With practice, HHAs are able to whittle that time in half. But 15-20 minute per submission is still a huge drain on productivity. If you have 100 submissions per week, that is a full time staff position required. At the national average salary for a Medicare biller at $15.25 per hour – 100 submissions per week will cost an agency over $500 a week in new resource allocation. This is not an easy burden for an agency to absorb. Process definition failure It took six months of the PCR pilot demonstration in place in Illinois before CMS had sufficient data to support putting the program on hold. While we support the decision, it came far too late. If there had been proper process tracking and business process management in place for the entire process – not just what happens post-submission – these issues would have been identified and quantified much sooner. When an entire process can be mapped, monitored and analyzed in real time, you don’t have to fight your way through six months of utter inefficiency before change can be made. The dynamics of your operation (and the dynamics of interconnected systems) can be understood quickly and problem areas can be quickly identified and fixed. In the simplest terms: CMS incorrectly defined the process for PCR. This resulted in the solution CMS developed to solve one challenge creating an even bigger one. In a world of interconnectedness, you can’t focus too tightly on one area of a process or you may miss the forest for the trees. And that is exactly what business process management can help you avoid doing. > https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/what-to-look-for-in-denial-management-software/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/what-to-look-for-in-denial-management-software/ Tue, 16 May 2017 18:21:00 +0000 Healthcare organizations can reduce and even eliminate denials by implementing denial management software. Learn the capabilities of this software in our post.> Unless you can build an effective and dependable denial management system internally that optimizes revenue cycle results, your healthcare organization risks losing hundreds of thousands of dollars or even more in net revenue each year. Additionally, pinpointing the primary reasons for denials is critical to successfully appealing them. Although the suggested denial rate stands at just under four percent, some practices may see claims denied at a rate of between 10-20 percent, according to a Journal of AHIMA piece on claim denials. This is because organizations with higher denial rates rely exclusively on rely exclusively on anecdote and gut feel to identify issues or problems, which means personal preferences and biases can get in the way. The result: inaccurate analysis of data and continuing loss of revenue that could be avoided. Eliminating Denials with Denial Management Software With the capacity to precisely identify quantitative characteristics of rejected or denied claims, denial management software provides healthcare organizations with a fail-safe method of determining the root causes of denials. Once administrators are presented with this data, they can then implement changes essential to increasing revenue and decreasing rejections. Human error is often responsible for entering incorrect provider, patient, point of service and diagnostic information. Mismatching of codes and treatment also cause many claim denials/rejections, as well as if payers change policies between claims without directly updating the preparer. Healthcare organizations can reduce and even eliminate denials by implementing denial management software capable of: Importing ERNs manually or electronically Storing patient-oriented Explanation of Benefits in each patient file Creating redetermination cover sheets with attached supporting documents Automatically emailing reports to designated personnel Monitoring claims management in real-time Preventing missed deadlines for filing denials Identifying the source of work appeals and denials to increase revenue and cash flow Parsing and resolving denials using detailed summary reports Auditing quality, quantity and success of redeterminations and appeals Monitoring and comparing effectiveness of job positions and employees in these positions Simple medical billing software cannot reduce a healthcare organization's accounts receivable numbers. Manually examining thousands of claims is inefficient and only invites human error. Advanced denial management software can competently and seamlessly extract erroneous claims, compare individual claims against a comprehensive database of compliant guidelines and edit claims to prevent denials. Healthcare revenue cycles consist of intricate sets of information-rich work systems that provide opportunities for enhancing efficiency. However, these data sets are almost always lost when manually managed by humans. Medforce's RemitCenter solution for drastically reducing denials enables healthcare organizations to rely on machine intelligence to oversee important data and documentational aspects of each revenue cycle. By accurately capturing all data from initial patient intake to the final process of collecting on claims, your organization will consistently benefit from timely reimbursements, cost-efficient performance and nonexistent potentials for error. Additionally, once information is received by our data management software, it remains in the system and contributes to effortless report mining, data analytics and progressive business intelligence so that your organization can make the most informed decisions possible. Don’t let mistakes hold your healthcare organization back -- learn more about how we can help.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/improving-data-sharing-between-acute-and-post-acute-providers/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/improving-data-sharing-between-acute-and-post-acute-providers/ Fri, 12 May 2017 17:26:00 +0000 Medforce is participating in a new initiative that will help acute and post-acute providers improve documentation sharing and interoperability. > Medforce is participating in a pilot program that will help acute and post-acute providers improve documentation sharing and interoperability. Currently, faxing is the primary mode of communication that Hospitals and Durable Medical Equipment (DME), Home Health Agencies (HHA), and Laboratory Testing (Lab) Providers. This heavily paper-based communication slows down the speed of operations and hinders top-notch patient care. Spearheaded by Nathan Apter, Medforce’s CTO, we are participating in a program to build secure, digital communication channels that will facilitate the sharing of documentation. There are three initial use cases: Order – when a patient is being discharged, the hospital can send documentation direct to the DME/HHA/Lab. The entities can then communicate back and forth. Documentation Request – if the DME/HHA/Lab needs more documentation from the hospital, they can request it through the portal and receive it through the portal. Signature Request – when a physician signature is required, it can be requested and received through the portal Our goal statement as captured on the HealthIT.gov website: Our goal is to facilitate the efficiency, security, and effectiveness of documentation transmission between hospitals and DME/HHA/Lab providers. With the three use cases already identified (order, documentation request, signature request) as well as others that may be uncovered, we strive to develop technologies that will help healthcare providers streamline their processes, reduce costs and improve patient care. For more about Medforce's stance on interoperability click here. > https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/why-healthcare-organizations-benefit-from-efax-solutions/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/why-healthcare-organizations-benefit-from-efax-solutions/ Tue, 09 May 2017 19:41:00 +0000 Healthcare providers often need to partner with other organizations, and eFax solutions become an excellent advantage to streamline business practices.> Did you know that over 85% of the mistakes made in the medical industry stem from administrative errors? It’s particularly troubling for patient-facing organizations, where miscommunication when transitioning patients accounts for roughly 80% of medical errors. Communication and good administrative protocol are integral to customer success and patient care -- especially in faxing. In many industries, these advances have meant moving away from faxing altogether in favor of other electronic options. Healthcare, however, is reticent to eliminate faxing from the administrative process due to its classification as a HIPAA compliant form of communication. But that doesn’t mean you have to stick with a antiquated and inefficient web of physical fax machines. Healthcare providers often need to partner with other organizations, and eFax solutions become an excellent advantage to facilitate engagement and streamline business practices. The Benefits of eFax Solutions Using eFax solutions means that your organization can stay compliant, optimize communications, and improve employee performance. Here are just a few benefits to using eFax solutions rather than trying incorporate antiquated faxing protocol with your other administrative systems: HIPAA Compliance. For your healthcare organization, it's important to use fax servers so that all communications maintain compliance with the current HIPAA regulations. Consolidated Records. The solution should allow you to track documents so that any electronic transmission can be monitored and easily organized from start to completed task. Streamline Tasks. eFax solutions allow you to streamline the repetitive tasks that were often part and parcel of traditional faxing, such as standing over the machine, checking the transmission, and repeating the process due to busy lines or unsent documents (some fax solutions offer “never busy technology” that helps faxes come through even in disaster situations). Features like automated cover letters help administrators enjoy greater efficiency, while organization is easier since everything starts and ends in electronic files. Convenient for Employees. Employee satisfaction is key in reducing employee turnover rates. While there are many factors in maintaining employee morale, making their work process easier means that they are better able to handle busy schedules without the frustrations of dealing with antiquated processes. No more remembering to check if something is sent or received. Analytic Capabilities. This solution allows for the collection and implementation of analytics with greater ease. Your data can be more efficiently analyzed, providing better solutions in every department. Integrated Capabilities. Your staff will be able to access and send documentation from preferred devices, offering greater flexibility without sacrificing safety. This also allows documentation to be sent to identified printers for hard copies when necessary. It's clear that faxing will remain a fundamental part of the administrative process for your organization for the foreseeable future. With eFax solutions, you can better integrate your own administrative functions with parties you need to communicate with, while still using the technological advances that are quickly becoming imperative in the healthcare industry.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/6-document-difficulties-that-frustrate-healthcare-organizations1/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/6-document-difficulties-that-frustrate-healthcare-organizations1/ Tue, 02 May 2017 16:49:00 +0000 Are you struggling to find an optimal document management system? Find a solution that solves the document difficulties that frustrate healthcare organizations.> Here’s a metaphor that might surprise you: Your healthcare organization is like a duck. By that, we mean that you may appear calm and unruffled on the surface, but you’re paddling frantically underneath. Your image is one of a consummate professional organization that provides high-quality services and products, but your backroom may be struggling to keep up with that image. Professionals spend half of their time searching for information, and there’s a high cost for it, too. Studies have shown that organizations spend six times more on labor to search for misfiled documents than was spent on the original filing of that document. Has your healthcare organization grown in size and complexity? Are you struggling to find a document management system that keeps pace? There are many solutions out there, but you need one that solves the particular document difficulties that frustrate healthcare organizations: Lack of Integration Across Platforms and Systems Legacy systems—every organization has them, but effective organizations run on new technology as well. So often, document management solutions force you into a one-size-fits-all solution that doesn’t have the crucial business subcomponents you need. It is imperative to have integration across all systems—old and new—to ensure interoperability and document management across all of your business applications. This integration provides your organization the flexibility of choosing all of the applications that best fit your business needs, with a centralized document management system at the core of a successful approach. No Cloud Access Healthcare organizations strive for peak efficiency. Managing documents – and misplacing them – is a particularly troubling pain point for many organizations, because it’s so simple in theory but so difficult in practice. Not being able to access those documents is even more frustrating. A solution featuring centralized, cloud-based document access where everything is in one place allows everyone in your organization to utilize one central repository in accessing the information they need. Inability to Regulate Permission Levels Of course, you want collaboration and transparency across your organization. You want to offer centralized document access to all of your team members. However, there is the reality of protection of patient, client and stakeholder information, thus the need for varying levels of access to the system based on roles. Software should offer certain rights and privileges to different team members. Permissions and levels of access available to individuals, groups, or departments may be restricted to others, all while keeping the information stored in a single, secure place. This offers the best of both worlds—the ability to grant your whole team access to enter notes and other patient information, coupled with the ability to tailor access to that data using permission features once it is in the system. Lack of Standard Classification System Effective file management software eliminates the issues of specific file-naming conventions and strict process adherence in hopes of retrieving the information. Software that uses these conventions cost businesses time and money with inefficiencies, and one wrong move could mean a lost document. Built in auto-filing ensures proper filing and retrievability. Searchability Traditional filing places an emphasis on putting the documents into a system rather than on getting them out. Electronically housing your files in an organized hub means the end to the needle-in-a-haystack approach of searching for information. Technological tools like text search and optimized browsing software can reduce the time spent dealing with lost or misfiled documents. Your team’s productivity and efficiency will greatly improve. Inefficient Audit Preparation Audits are an unavoidable part of the healthcare industry. How many times have you scrambled to compile all of the requested information for audit after audit after audit? Preparing audit responses can be a real burden—cumbersome and costly for your already overworked staff. Use of a centralized document access system can reduce days and days out of audit prep time. With the ability to regulate permission levels, you can easily grant access to the appropriate team to give the auditors their information seamlessly, quickly, and efficiently.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/nathan-apter-joins-cross-specialty-innovation-messaging-taskforce/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/nathan-apter-joins-cross-specialty-innovation-messaging-taskforce/ Tue, 02 May 2017 16:46:00 +0000 New Cross-Specialty Taskforce to Tackle the Next Level in Interoperability for Provider-Payer Exchanges.> Original Press Release ROCKVILLE, MD (PRWEB) MAY 01, 2017 Secure Exchange Solutions, the leading independent health information services provider, today announced the formation of a cross-specialty Innovation Messaging Group Taskforceto set industry standards for transactions and communications to support the complex clinical data exchanges that take place between providers and plans. This next level of structured formats will contribute to improved workflows for providers, plans, and suppliers by streamlining the acquisition of provider digital signatures and the exchange of clinical documentation needed to support orders, pre- and post-claim needs. Providers today spend too much time on processes which are largely manual, slow and costly to exchange documentation with plans. The need for more efficient communications with plans will only grow in the coming years with the increase in complexity and frequency of clinical data exchanges. Industry groups today define guidelines for health record exchange and e-prescribing but there are no agreed-upon standards for how plans request and receive clinical documents to support these complex workflows. Leading the taskforce is Secure Exchange Solutions CEO Dan Kazzaz, the former Chairman, and current Board Member of X12, a 20+ year healthcare IT veteran, and a longtime champion of standards and interoperability in healthcare information exchange. Mr. Kazzaz will be joined by Mr. Troy Aswege from Noridian Healthcare Solutions and Mr. Nathan Apter from Medforce Techologies, Inc., thought leaders in the development of standards and efficient systems for the movement of critical, secure, clinical data. The taskforce will work toward establishing interoperability between prescribers/providers, system vendors, suppliers, and health plans to address the need for workflows that have been left behind either on paper or on dedicated payer portals. Standardization of these exchanges will drive adoption as they become part of the prescriber and provider workflow and support optimized exchange with any plan. “Clinicians and health providers continue to rely on paper-based or non-standard flows and are required to interface with many different systems. Plans are required to employ large numbers of personnel for acquiring and evaluating clinical information due to a lack of robust transaction standards within the health system for the collaborative receipt and processing of clinical data that goes beyond the claim,” said Mr. Kazzaz “Resolving workflows which currently demand significant cost and effort from providers and payers alike is critical to realizing the inherent value of the standardized exchange mechanisms that have already been widely adopted. I am pleased to announce this taskforce and to share leadership in this effort with Mr. Aswege and Mr. Apter, each of whom share a vision for industry-driven standards development and the need for increased efficiency in securely moving health information between patients, providers, government, and payers,” added Mr. Kazzaz. “Complex workflows pose a significant challenge to achieving true interoperability for exchanging healthcare information and is one of the pressing issues facing health care reform moving forward,” said Mr. Aswege. “This taskforce will work to advance electronic messaging capabilities by integrating existing standards with new standards to create a common, cross-industry data model that bridges the current gap in the exchange of information to payers and others. “We invite other healthcare stakeholders to join this new taskforce to share their expertise in the structuring and transmittal of healthcare information,” said Kazzaz. “The group welcomes participants from all areas, including care providers, EMR and pharmacy system vendors, payers, government entities, pharmacy, consumer applications, and DME suppliers.” To request information on joining the taskforce, please visit the Innovation Messaging Group webpage. About Secure Exchange Solutions Secure Exchange Solutions sets the standard for seamless, scalable, secure connectivity across organizational boundaries. As an industry-leading health information service provider, Secure Exchange Solutions protects, streamlines and delivers sensitive and critical health care information while ensuring compliance and improving efficiency and quality. Hospitals, health systems, physicians, health plans and application partners rely on Secure Exchange Solutions for integrated secure communications that expand their reach. For more information, please visit http://www.secureexsolutions.com About Noridian Healthcare Solutions Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Noridian Mutual Insurance Company, delivers innovative business solutions for government agencies and private enterprise to reduce cost and enhance value in the health care industry. Noridian is a government claims contractor for Medicare and Medicaid in 28 states and provides business processing services nationwide with staff located throughout the country. For more information, please visit http://www.noridiansolutions.com. About Medforce Technologies Medforce Technologies provides software and services to help healthcare organizations adapt quickly to change and do more with less. Our modular and flexible products work across all areas of operations from intake and claims to mailroom, AP, AR, and HR, and assist in daily decision making based on real time information and strategic priority. With clients in all sectors of healthcare, we offer feature-rich software that conforms to providers’ preferred way of operating, including document management, business process management and workflow automation, electronic forms, denial management, esMD, electronic signature, and fax and referral management. Medforce streamlines your organization to return more time and money to fuel your mission. To learn more about the power of productivity, visit http://www.medforcetech.com . About the Innovation Messaging Group Taskforce The mission of the Innovation Messaging Group is to provide an environment that facilitates effective collaboration on healthcare informatics message development and adoption. The goal of the taskforce is to create frameworks that streamline complex workflows and rules into specifications that improve efficiency. For more information about the workgroup calendar of events, visit the taskforce webpage. An onsite meeting will be held on June 5, 2017 in conjunction with the June X12 meeting, June 4-8th at the Hyatt Regency San Antonio, Texas.  For more information, please visit http://www.secureexsolutions.com/innovationtaskforce/> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/automation-gain-greater-visibility/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/automation-gain-greater-visibility/ Fri, 28 Apr 2017 16:46:00 +0000 Medforce VP of Marketing, Ellen Sluder, completes her fourth installment in her HME News Smart Talk Series on Automation. > This article was originally published in HME News on April 24, 2017     Q: How can managers use automation to improve performance? A: Workflow automation is a way to gain greater visibility and control, and it will help you set best practices. Beyond the basics of standardizing and streamlining operations, it improves your ability to manage on a daily basis. Alerts & Escalations Timeliness is crucial in the back office. You can stay on track effortlessly by building these deadlines into your workflow system. You set the date by which activities need to happen (e.g. a calendar date) or the expected amount of elapsed time (e.g. 4 hours). Alerts and escalations can be customized to notify you whether something has or has not happened in the expected timeframe. It enables you to identify potential issues before they become problems that impact revenue. Scheduled Reporting When all of your work is completed in a single, centralized workflow system, you have a wealth of data you can use to inform business decisions. You can examine progress against goals, get to the root causes of performance, and identify areas for improvement. With automation, reports keep you in touch with the metrics that matter most. Work Distribution With paper-based systems, work is often distributed through very basic criteria—by alphabet, by payer, by dollar amount. Automated work distribution allows you to assign work based on complex logic built to return maximize productivity. It takes into consideration varied characteristics such as the type of work, employee skill sets, dollar amounts, and employee schedules. Everyone’s queue stays at a reasonable length, nothing gets missed, and your managerial time is freed up to focus on strategic tasks.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/how-bpm-is-like-google-earth/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/how-bpm-is-like-google-earth/ Tue, 25 Apr 2017 20:46:00 +0000 When we were putting together the content for our webinar “BPM 101 – the Basics of Workflow Automation,” an interesting analogy came up between Business Process Management and Google Earth.  Although it didn’t make it into the live presentation, it felt worth repeating. > When we were putting together the content for our webinar “BPM 101 – the Basics of Workflow Automation,” an interesting analogy came up between Business Process Management and Google Earth.  Although it didn’t make it into the live presentation, it felt worth repeating. Let’s start with trying to describe what Business Process Management is. All businesses have processes. They are the individual steps that come together to make your business run.  For example – insurance verification of filling a prescription, these are processes. Processes come together to make workflows. In our example the process of insurance verification is typically part of an intake workflow. Business process management takes it up another level. It’s a practice that allows you to map, monitor and optimize all of your workflows. It allows you to analyze and measure performance on both an individual and aggregate basis and identify problems and possible solutions. BPM is not a one time thing that you do, but rather is a constant state of how you manage operations.     So… what does this have to do with Google Earth? It’s simple: A process is like Google Street View. You can land on a particular street and see the detail of one particular house. A workflow is like Google Maps. You can see the lay of the land of a neighborhood and how houses are situated compared to one another and the pathways in between them. But business process management (BPM)  – it is Google Earth. It allows you to pull out and see the whole county, state, country – the whole entire Earth.  It gives you the full perspective of how everything is interconnected.  You can zoom in and out as you’d like to get into the details or maintain an overall view. BPM is visibility. It allows you to monitor your entire operation – by process, by team, by department, by location or for the company overall. It allows you to track progress, analyze results and continue to ensure your operation is running at peak efficiency and productivity over time. To learn more about BPM, watch our explainer video that explores the topic in under 5 minutes or fill in the form below to schedule a demo to learn how BPM can help your company specifically. > https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/does-bpm-improve-employee-satisfaction/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/does-bpm-improve-employee-satisfaction/ Tue, 25 Apr 2017 18:15:00 +0000 Employee satisfaction has long been a conundrum that's confounded managers and business leaders. How do you create an environment that your employees enjoy?> No matter what your company does, employees are the foundation of your business. The better your hiring practices, the more likely you are to engage and retain top talent. That said, employee satisfaction has long been a conundrum that's confounded managers and business leaders. How do you create an environment that your employees actually enjoy coming to each day? What problems plague their daily processes, causing burnout that leads to expensive turnover? The fact of the matter is that you can't improve employee satisfaction if you don't understand the problems. The first step toward boosting engagement is getting to the root of employees' frustrations. Through feedback surveys, interviews, and open conversations, you can learn a lot about what's holding down employee morale and hurting your bottom line. After all, disengaged employees are likely to be less productive, which could have an impact on your process flow, customer interactions, and day-to-day processes. Fortunately, technology has come a long way, and many of the obstacles that used to plague staffers can now be remedied by way of automation and process simplification. The following are complaints commonly reported by employees, which contribute to lower morale and increased turnover: Manual data entry Siloed departments Lack of transparency Human error Workflow stoppage when everything lands on a single person's desk Disconnection between the work they do and the company's mission and vision Lack of feedback As you can see, there are potentially a ton of negatives standing over employees' shoulders every day. Outdated manual systems simply feed the negative fuel on this fire, contributing to decreased employee satisfaction and opening the doors for top talent to go elsewhere. But, it doesn't have to be this way. Today's business process management (BPM) tools empower organizations to put meaning and ownership into their employees' hands. As noted by BusinessFinanceMag, "While it may not be a core driver of ROI, the influence that intuitive and collaborative budgeting technology can have on keeping good employees happy in their work is well worth a CFO's attention." Here's a look at the enhancements that improved BPM can bring to employees’ work lives: Removal of Manual Data Entry The stress and monotony involved with manual data entry can be overwhelming. It also lends itself to plenty of opportunities for human error. With BPM tools, each department's managers simply enter applicable data into the software while the technology takes over calculations and reporting. This reduces the amount of stress on a single department. Many software products can also alert you of outliers, which could indicate errors in data entry. Tearing Down Walls Siloed departments lead to a lack of transparency and resentment among departments. With a BPM, authorized users can see what's going on in real time, without cutting through unnecessary red tape. This enhances communication and allows for more team-oriented work environments. BPMs also help prevent the bottlenecks that can occur when everything would otherwise be left on a single person's desk for signoff. Managers can simply sign into their modules, review and approve the numbers, and get the work moving along, alleviating stress from one single individual. Building Bridges When employees can't see the whole picture, they're disconnected. By enabling them to see how the whole process works, they'll be more connected to your vision and mission, thus more loyal and less likely to leave. BPMs also provide ample data, which can facilitate number-driven feedback, helping employees understand just how they impact business's bottom lines. Things have come a long way in recent years in terms of employee satisfaction and engagement. As business leaders have learned more about the costs associated with turnover and poor morale, they've begun to make substantial changes to the way handle everyday business. In short, BPM absolutely can improve employee satisfaction. The question is, are you doing everything you can to identify bottlenecks and pain points so you can create an environment where your employees are happy to be?> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/the-two-things-an-ar-employee-needs/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/the-two-things-an-ar-employee-needs/ Wed, 19 Apr 2017 19:49:00 +0000 Two weeks ago, we reviewed what an AR Manager needs to be successful. But what about the staff that is doing the daily work? What do they need to be as successful as possible? It all comes down to two thing. Read on to learn more. > Two weeks ago, we reviewed what an AR Manager needs to be successful. But what about the staff that is doing the daily work? What do they need to be as successful as possible? It all comes down to two words: Clarity and Ease. A lot of details need to be handled on the front lines. Patient information, payers, documentation, codes, forms, deadlines… it’s a lot to juggle. The more you can remove the clutter from the process – streamline how things are done and support strategic prioritization of work, the more productive and accomplished your staff will feel.  Clarity With high volumes of work, AR employees need the ability to move from one claim to the next without having to put too much thought or effort into deciding what is next. If a team member has to sort through what is coming up, decide how to prioritize, and then start through the process of actually doing the work, they are less productive. However, if they have a technology system that supplies proper clarity into the AR pipeline then:  More can get accomplished in a day. Instead of spending time on the sorting, gathering documentation, and organizing the work, more time can be devoted to getting the actual work done and bringing in more revenue.  Work happens in alignment with the strategic goals of the company. The default for most people is to sort work by alphabet or by payer – but that doesn’t necessarily take into consideration a lot of other factors that influence priority such as deadline, denial codes, partial payment versus denial, dollar amount, or probability of success. A workflow tool can assign work based on strategic priority, using a complex algorithm set by management.  The skill set of the employee is matched appropriately to the work. Workflow systems leverage a factory-style environment where everyone plays a role that is best suited to skill set. You avoid an AR team where employees wear so many hats it's difficult to assess the ROI for the effort. Being able to quickly route the work to the person most suited - from both skill set and pay grade perspectives - means you aren't bogging down your high-paid employee with clerical tasks. Having your AR priorities defined at a strategic level and preset in a workflow system allows quick prioritization based on a complex set of variables. The most urgent work always rises to the top, and lands in the queue of the right person.   Ease When an AR employee sits down to look work an outstanding amount, they shouldn’t have to hunt around for everything they need. Having a centrailzed system that leverages automation ensures you always have what you need when you need it makes for a less frustrating, more productive day.  Document management. When records and documentation are all centralized and organized, it’s simple to get the information you need to work your outstanding invoices with the click of a button. Quick hand offs. A centralized system also makes for easy hand-offs, allowing work to be sent from one person to another without having to get up and interrupt the rhythm of the day. Collaboration is improved because of centralized note keeping and the ability to address the work when ready to focus. It saves the time of typing out separate recap emails or worse, getting up to from your desk and wasting more time. Escalations and reminders. Alerts are critical for making work life easier for an AR team. When deadlines are met or missed, with alerts you don’t have to maintain the mental energy or handwritten to-do lists to follow up. The system will automatically notify you when you receive important information – or if a set period of time elapses without getting an expected response. That brain space is now freed to focus on the work and not the logistics of the work.   In summary, to be most successful, an AR team needs: Strategic prioritization Everything in one spot Easy handoffs and collaboration Ability to document Reminders to keep on track The flexibility in workflow, centralized record keeping, and strategic prioritization is not available in most billing software. To truly be your best as an AR team member, you need an integrated automated workflow and document management tool, like the Medforce Accounts Receivable Management App. Follow these links to learn more about the Medforce Accounts Receivable Management App or read our recent case study: Boosting Productivity in Accounts Receivable. We’d love to help you take the guesswork out of success, fill in the form below for a free consultation. > https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/why-your-current-worklist-might-not-be-true-bpm/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/why-your-current-worklist-might-not-be-true-bpm/ Tue, 18 Apr 2017 17:15:00 +0000 Many healthcare organizations assume that implementing a worklist will get the job done. In reality, it is far less effective than an optimized BPM approach.> Many healthcare organizations assume once they’ve implemented a worklist, it will get the job done. Some may even believe they’ve implemented business process management. But often, we find that it doesn’t work all that well for them, and it almost certainly isn’t as effective as an optimized BPM approach. While vendors may use the terms workflow and worklist interchangeably, there are important differences. A worklist is a preset process embedded within a software used for a specific focus (for example, a billing software.) It is designed and determined by the software developer and changes require programmers and extra budget. A workflow is part of BPM -- and an important one --  and BPM goes far beyond the limitations of a work list and optimizes businesses on a macro level. BPM is about designing processes that allow for effective task management, efficient escalation, and transparency into how well it’s working so that companies can continue to refine, improve, and produce better results. Read on to learn more about the core differences, and why BPM is significantly more useful for improving processes across your organization. The Limitations of Worklists Worklists are automation tools that allow for document and task flows. Basically, they’re all about routing the next task to the next person, from A to B. Most worklists use some form of automation and alerts, but are also document-centric, linear, unsophisticated, and inflexible. Plus, they are typically locked into one application and can’t be applied across all areas of your business. Worklists route documents and associated tasks, but are largely unable to optimize the process or use complex logic to route items to people based on needed skill set. Since employees are not working smarter, limitations in the process are emphasized. Automating a broken process simply creates more errors, more bottlenecks and more problems. Companies using worklists set by third-party vendors are often frustrated by the inefficiencies of the list, as insights from within the company cannot be implemented easily, and they are stuck working from external instructions telling them what to do. The other crucial component that worklists lack is the ability to coordinate work across all resources. They may be able to tell a task where to go, but they aren’t able to shed any insight into which route performs best, why that route may have been better, or how to adjust in the future to deliver better results. The Benefits of BPM BPM, on the other hand, offers a holistic, in-depth approach to building (and rebuilding) your processes and workflows from the ground up. It builds on workflow automation to add customization and business intelligence that fuels a honed and streamlined operation. It’s a comprehensive evaluation of how well your business is running -- and exactly how to make it smoother and smarter. BPM is a mixture of effective technology and an optimized approach, one based on analytics and data-driven insights. It’s a constant stream of monitoring and improvement that generates useful feedback for decision-makers, allowing them to amplify what works and change what doesn’t. One of the core benefits is the customizable nature of BPM; perks such as dashboards and views that tell you what’s going on and help your employees identify the highest-priority work to complete next. Plus, it can be applied to or integrated with most business applications to keep one centralized resource to ensure your business is in the best shape possible. In short, BPM is adapted to suit the needs of individual businesses, helping them define processes, track progress and enable future growth. Can you afford for your business to be governed by a set of rigid instructions that doesn’t meet your changing needs?> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/musings-from-mha-business-summit/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/musings-from-mha-business-summit/ Mon, 17 Apr 2017 16:57:00 +0000 At the end of March, we attended the MHA Business Summit for the 3rd year. Focused on LTC, specialty and infusion pharmacy, MHA is known as a tremendous resource for companies small and large who are trying to work smarter, improve patient care, and be more successful. When our team returned from the show, they related several themes that rose to the top with their conversations with pharmacy providers. > At the end of March, we attended the MHA Business Summit for the 3rd year. Focused on LTC, specialty and infusion pharmacy, MHA is known as a tremendous resource for companies small and large who are trying to work smarter, improve patient care, and be more successful. When our team returned from the show, they related several themes that rose to the top with their conversations with pharmacy providers. Billing remains complex and challenging to navigate. Especially for those who operate in a B2B environment where they are invoicing care facilities, the steps that need to be accomplished to get reimbursement can be as extensive as what it takes to coordinate and deliver the products and services in the first place. Nursing homes are notoriously particular about how they get bills and can request a lot of detail on the invoice, such as the floor the patient is on, or request a specific frequency , such as weekly, monthly, or by delivery. These specifics can vary by facility, so it requires a lot of manual effort by LTC pharmacy providers.  Detailed process management is critical to avoid delays and ensure fast reimbursement. Service reigns over pricing. In most cases, pricing is standardized, so what sets one Pharmacy provider apart from another is all about service and relationship building. Informed and empowered employees, fast turnaround times, on-time delivery, customized billing, and excellent communication go a long way in building lasting partnerships. Having centralized record keeping and maintaining complete files that are easily accessible to all is critical to enabling customer service teams to respond quickly and appropriately. Vendor management is as important as customer service. If providers get focus only on patients, and don’t tend to their own operation’s wellbeing, and it could spell trouble for the bottom line. Vendor management from contract negotiations to invoice management is an important piece of the profitability puzzle. Often the level of detail you need is not available in your accounting software. A workflow management tool that is focused on vendor relations can be incredibly useful in maintaining visibility and control you need. It can bridge the gaps between multiple software applications and provide perspective into your cash flow liabilities that may sneak up on you. It’s a mistake to think that providing customized service requires additional manual effort. Technology can remove the non-value-added busy-work, automatically assign tasks based on strategic priority, and offer intuitive workflow tools to control each process and ensure all work is complete, accurate, and delivered on time. It will allow your employees to focus on what matters most in building strong relationships with your suppliers and your customers.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/webinar-bpm-101-the-basics-of-workflow-automation/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/webinar-bpm-101-the-basics-of-workflow-automation/ Wed, 12 Apr 2017 18:03:00 +0000 In this webinar, we covered the underlining elements of Business Process Management.> Business Process Management is an invaluable tool for healthcare companies to dramatically improve productivity and boost profitability. But, where do you start? In this webinar, we covered the foundational elements of BPM. From defining what exactly it is to guiding you through the process of mapping and optimizing your first process, we give you the primary tools you need to gain more visibility and control – and improve your bottom line.    Recording: BPM 101 – The Basics of Workflow Automation> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/how-to-successfully-implement-new-administrative-processes/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/how-to-successfully-implement-new-administrative-processes/ Tue, 11 Apr 2017 16:53:00 +0000 Implementing new administrative processes can be challenging, but the efficiency gains and company-wide improvements are worth working toward. > It’s no secret that many healthcare organizations are operating inefficiently. Truth be told, it’s easy to get buried under all of the paperwork coming from clients, internal departments and a myriad of other sources. High-minded executives or team leads often recognize these inefficiencies and want to implement new processes that’ll correct them. But efficiency is easier said than implemented, and organizational change doesn’t happen overnight. Many fail to meet their goals or transform their processes. We’ve been involved in many transformational changes for organizations of differing needs and sizes, and along the way have learned about why new administrative processes flourish or fail. Our findings below are broken into five core steps that allow you to implement new processes successfully. Diagnose What’s Broken The first part of successful implementation requires candor about the difficulties present in current business processes, from all levels within the company C-suite to the front lines. If an organization isn’t being realistic about what’s failing right now, it’s tough to chart an honest course for improvement that’s optimized to meet that organization’s specific needs. Craft a Strategy for Change After fully understanding problems, you can map a plan of action. What actions need to change? What tools, programs or technologies do you need to succeed? What do you expect progress to look like? Are your goals more tightly aligned with increased growth or reduced costs? Laying out and documenting procedures, whether new or updated, gives your administrative staff the playbook for how to operate and puts leadership’s expectations on record. Companies experienced with improving business process management can help turn ideas and pain points into a cohesive strategy that allows organizations to implement new processes that are scalable and sustainable. Secure Employee Buy-in Administrators may be resistant to change in technology, system or process if it’s dumped upon them without explanation. But if a team or project lead explains the benefit to them and to the company, they are more likely to respond positively to the new approach. Who doesn’t want to be able to eliminate drudgery, or accomplish tasks more effectively? Honing in on personal productivity or efficiency gains is a great way to get hesitant employees on board. Implement Dashboards and Analytics Dashboards configured to meet your reporting needs give you a personalized view into the mechanics of your administrative processes, while analytics offer key insights and takeaways on where the work is being held up. Organizations with effective dashboard views can use improved BPM to do more with less, rewarding more productive employees and identifying poor performers. Use the Data Finally, the mark of a company that implements administrative processes effectively is that it isn’t just gathering information, but using that information to generate actionable insights and improve processes. BPM works best when it’s continually monitored and optimized, and the data serves as a portal into increased administrative productivity. Implementing new administrative processes can be challenging, but the efficiency gains and company-wide improvements are worth working toward. Need help implementing organizational change from the top down? Get in touch with our team.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/the-consequences-of-lost-digital-files/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/the-consequences-of-lost-digital-files/ Wed, 05 Apr 2017 16:40:00 +0000 Healthcare organizations often deal with misplaced or lost digital files. How does that impact business? The stats and consequences may surprise you.> Managing paper. It’s something all healthcare businesses do, and often, we don’t give a second thought as to how much it costs per year to manage paper. Fortune 1000 companies spend billions annually. The cost you spend per employee on paper management could pay for that person’s healthcare benefits for a year. It is a staggering amount. Some studies have estimated that companies spend 31 times the cost of purchasing the paper on managing the paper. Just think of it—printing, copying , storing, mailing or sending, disposing, and recycling—it’s an endless nightmare. When contemplating a paperless document management system, it’s easy to just look at the system cost alone. You’ll have a different outlook if you also factor in your costs associated with managing data in a paper format. Even in our digital and technological age, much of corporate America still relies on paper—but there is a big cost, and a large part of that cost is the time and money spent on locating misplaced paper documents. This is a particularly troubling pain point for most companies, but in particular for healthcare organizations due to the extensive regulatory paperwork and frequent audit preparations. How frequently do companies lose their documents? How prevalent is misplacing or misfiling information, and what is your financial outlay because of these mistakes? Surprisingly, one out of 20 (or 5 percent) of an organization’s files are misplaced or lost on any given day. Over time, this amounts to 20 percent of a company’s information being misfiled, and about half (10-12%) are not found on the first attempt. Some are lost forever. A big part (about 50 percent) of a healthcare professional’s day is spent searching for information, but 95 minutes of each week is spent looking for misplaced files in the office, whether that be in the physical files or on the computer. In fact, companies spend six times more in labor searching for a lost file than the labor it took to file the paper initially. And if you have to recreate the document, it costs more than 10 times the original filing cost. This inefficiency adds up to a big cost over time for your company: $14,000 in productivity per employee per year is spent on inability to find data needed to perform their jobs. For a large enterprise with 1,000 employees, millions are wasted on searching for and recreating documents. [DOWNLOAD] More stats on the true costs of lost documents How to Lose Fewer Documents at Lower Cost to Your Business Implementing paper-reduction measures could save your company more money than you might imagine, whether you go fully paperless or incrementally reduce paper over time. Citigroup is one example: the corporation reduced paper costs by 25 percent simply but implementing paperless investment statements; this amounted to millions of dollars in savings. In a single year, the typical office worker goes through over 10,000 sheets of paper! The actual cost of the paper—about $80---only represents about 10 percent of the lifecycle cost of the paper as we mention above. Copying accounts for about one-third of the lifecycle cost, with distribution costing a whopping 56 percent. Storage of documents is another high cost when you factor in the cost of filing cabinet systems and the cost per square foot you are spending on the office space to house all this paper. Offices that have not embarked on the paperless transformation still have 50–70 percent of their total office space dedicated to paper storage. Amazingly, nearly half of those files are old information that doesn’t have value and isn’t accessed or it’s duplicate information taking up valuable space. Healthcare companies are particularly skittish about removing any paper in case it is needed for legal issues, compliance issues or audits.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/be-a-better-accounts-receivable-manager/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/be-a-better-accounts-receivable-manager/ Mon, 03 Apr 2017 20:45:00 +0000 AR departments in healthcare companies can vary widely in size.  They can be one person or many. But regardless of size, what an AR manager needs to be effective remains the same.> Your AR team is responsible for making sure you receive as much of the revenue you’ve earned as possible. And as we noted before, they should be a profit center while doing this work.  AR departments in healthcare companies can vary widely in size.  They can be one person or many. But regardless of size, what an AR manager needs to be effective remains the same: visibility and control. This breaks down into two broad buckets: the daily work and the strategic work. Daily Work On a day-to-day basis, you need to know what is happening in your department so you can step in when needed and also anticipate problems before they arise. Real-time reporting is crucial. See what’s coming in. On a day to day basis, the manager needs to have a full picture of what’s coming in, who it’s assigned to, and to easily ensure it’s being worked appropriately. This includes new claims going out (which may hit your AR department in 30 days) and new denials or partial payments, daily. Assign the work appropriately. Assigning by payer and alphabet is not a good division of labor. You need to know the strengths of your team and make sure that work is assigned based on those strengths. See what is being done. You need to see what is in motion, real-time. You need to know what your team is actively engaged in at that exact moment. See what is not being done. Equally important to knowing what is happening is knowing which items are currently in a hold mode, waiting for a response. You need to make sure nothing slips through the cracks or is getting too close to a deadline. How quickly the work is being done. This is not just about productivity but also about identifying when an employee is struggling. If you expect an invoice to be worked in a certain amount of time and it has gone beyond that, a red flag should be thrown and you should investigate further. If a person is working Aetna how many claims should they be able to work as opposed to Medicare or Medicaid. Not all claims and not all denials are created equal, and you should have an understanding of what benchmarks should be so you can assess challenges. Strategic Work On a higher level, you need to be ensuring performance and productivity. You need to intimately understand your AR pipeline to get ahead of issues, anticipate cash flow appropriately, and step in when needed. Identify bottlenecks. Where in your process are invoices getting hung up? Is it a process issue? A staffing issue? Being able to see everything will show you where your bottlenecks are. For example, do you have a documentation person that reviews medical docs before they are used to appeal a claim? Is that falling behind? Could simpler paperwork be reviewed by the AR team so they don’t need to wait on the documentation process? Do you have an Auth specialist? Is that backing up AR work? Identify trends. Gut feel isn’t always accurate and sometimes doesn’t lead you to the highest strategic priority. The squeakiest wheel might get the oil, versus the one that will return the biggest impact to your bottom line. Data can help you truly know what will have the biggest impact and can also sometimes surface unexpected areas of opportunity. Putting it all of the data into one spot where you can cut it in a variety of ways will give you new insight. Understand success factors. What is working and what is failing? And what are the root causes?  If appeals are all failing – why? If some are failing compare them to the successful ones – are they being submitted differently? What can you learn from your successes to minimize failures in the future? Establish and enforce best practices. Once you have insight into your AR pipeline, what works, what leads to success, when to call, when to get more documentation before you appeal – you take the guesswork out of success. One of the biggest challenges for AR Managers is that a lot of these needs are not adequately addressed in your billing software. There isn’t enough detail or data to optimize your AR processes. Taking your AR out of your billing system, moving your reporting to real-time instead of static spreadsheets, and improving your ability to learn and refine over time will help you bring your AR team to the next level. Learn more about the Medforce Accounts Receivable Management App or read our recent case study: Boosting Productivity in Accounts Receivable. We’d love to help you take the guesswork out of success, fill in the form below for a free consultation. > https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/hme-news-smart-talk-automation-tools/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/hme-news-smart-talk-automation-tools/ Fri, 31 Mar 2017 19:25:00 +0000 Medforce VP of Marketing, Ellen Sluder, completes her second installment in her HME News Smart Talk Series on Automation answering the question: What are the main tools that enable automation? > This article was originally published in HME News on February 24, 2017     What are the main tools that enable automation?  Automation can deliver the biggest impact on your bottom line through document management and business process management (BPM). Document management goes well beyond being paperless. True document management can store any information to create a complete file—including documents, pictures, spreadsheets, notes and even data capture through digital forms. It is a single portal through which your team can access information, collaborate and track progress. Automation can be leveraged in multiple ways. Barcoding and OCR text reading minimize manual filing. Alerts keep you abreast of missing data or important patient information. Audit trails improve tracking and compliance. Instant handoffs happen without leaving your desk. Reporting provides valuable insight into your patient population. In a nutshell: You don’t just improve how information is stored, you improve how work gets done. BPM is often referred to as “workflow automation,” but there is more to it than that. With BPM you get a platform you can configure to meet the needs of your own operation. You determine the who, what, when and what next of every step of a process. BPM acts as a hub where data and documents are pooled from multiple sources for automated assignment to the most qualified employee, based on logic you set. BPM software allows you to automatically trigger and update work assignments as data comes in, employ alerts and escalations to keep you on track, and provide real-time reporting to continually refine your processes, avoid errors, and improve your margins. BPM is all about letting the technology handle the clerical tasks.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/hme-news-smart-talk-what-is-automation/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/hme-news-smart-talk-what-is-automation/ Fri, 31 Mar 2017 19:21:00 +0000 Medforce VP of Marketing, Ellen Sluder, completes her first installment in her HME News Smart Talk Series on Automation. > This article was originally published in HME News on January 30, 2017     Question: Why is automation important to providers?  Automation is a powerful tool that helps reduce costs. What’s exciting about automation is that it saves time and therefore money—a few minutes at a time throughout the day, resulting in a bank of saved time that can be redirected to high value activities.  Automation at its core isn’t about replacing people with technology, but rather elevating your staff by removing the tedious, non-value-added, busywork. For example: Eliminate the need to walk a file to a coworker’s desk by automating the handoff with a simple click. Stop wasting time repeatedly checking if an ERN has come in to follow up on a claim or refund due because you will get an alert as soon as it comes in. And, get the real-time visibility and reporting you need at your fingertips without having to wrestle with multiple spreadsheets and pivot tables.  Automation is the answer to the problem of efficiency leakage that happens sporadically throughout the day. If you save five minutes from a process that an employee repeats 12 times a day, that equals an hour saved every day and five hours a week. Over the course of a full year, that results in an astonishing six and a half weeks of time that can be put to use elsewhere to keep your company thriving. And that’s just one person. Instead of necessitating an overhaul of the way you do business, automation allows you to run your operation the way you want but faster, with more precision and more safeguards. The results aren’t just seen in the cumulative time saved, but it is also felt in the peace of mind you gain knowing nothing is falling through the cracks.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/hme-news-smart-talk-automation-roi/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/hme-news-smart-talk-automation-roi/ Fri, 31 Mar 2017 19:18:00 +0000 Medforce VP of Marketing, Ellen Sluder, completes her third installment in her HME News Smart Talk Series on Automation answering the question: What are the quickest ways to see ROI on automation?> This was originally published on HME News on March 27, 2017   What are the quickest ways to see ROI on automation? The quickest way to see a return on investment with automation is to go to the front lines of where the work is being done. This is where you’ll find large volumes of documentation that need to be completed, authorized, and passed on to the next person to work. Here are three ways you can add automation that will guarantee you improve productivity and reduce costs: Electronic faxing A physical fax machine wastes time and effort, and maintaining hardware can be expensive. Electronic faxing allows incoming faxes to be automatically routed to the right person, with alerts keeping you aware of new arrivals. Outbound faxing can be set up so that coversheets are pre-populated, reducing data entry. E-faxing also allows for centralized oversight of everything coming in and going out. Auto-filing For any document that comes into your system and needs to find its way into a specific file, auto-filing technology improves accuracy and guarantees complete files at all times. OCR and barcode-reading technology route documents to the correct file without human intervention. Automated hand-offs Once documentation is received, typically work has to be done. Perhaps it is what is needed to authorize an order or release a claim. Or maybe it’s the proof needed to pay one of your vendors. With a workflow automation or BPM system in place, no one needs to get up and walk files to another desk or send emails with lengthy explanations. This not only saves time, and therefore money, but also creates an audit trail so you can keep track.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/5-underappreciated-benefits-of-electronic-signature-solutions1/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/5-underappreciated-benefits-of-electronic-signature-solutions1/ Tue, 28 Mar 2017 22:34:00 +0000 The benefits of electronic signature can help people working in the healthcare industry save time and streamline the signature process.> Due to rapid implementation of regulatory changes at the state and federal levels, the healthcare industry remains in constant chaos. Finding ways to streamline workflows, efficiently manage denials, engage in effective BPM for medical equipment manufacturers, eliminate delays caused by lost documents and reduce costs of administrative processes are just a few aspects healthcare professionals are deeply concerned about. Fortunately, electronic signature benefits can help people working in the healthcare industry regain control of their company's expenditures by improving on these issues and further systemizing administrative processes at all levels.   Advantages of Electronic Signature Solutions   1. Supports Document Integrity Electronic signature software automatically verifies, tracks and records signatures so that signature counterfeiting or manipulation is eliminated. To ensure authenticity, e-signature software is equipped with security protocols that produce audit trails for every signature captured. Discrepancies can then be quickly pinpointed and checked to avoid delays. 2. Decreases Overhead Expenditures One of the most significant and welcomed of all electronic signature benefits is the ability of healthcare businesses to eliminate paper, ink and printer purchases/maintenance costs. In addition, reducing overhead costs naturally increases profits, supports productivity and allows administrators to spend more time focusing on more important elements of their business. 3. Improves Patient/Customer Satisfaction E-signature software accelerates the signing process by removing the need for multiple signatures and having multiple documents available at the time of signing. Time is also saved when someone electronically signs a document because that document does not need sent somewhere to be approved. An e-signature initiates actions immediately by permitting an authentic transaction between the signer and a specific agreement. 4. Pen on Paper Signatures are Less Legally Defensible than E-signatures E-signature laws such as the UETA and ESIGN Act made electronic signatures as legal and binding as pen/paper signatures. However, because of the strong security methods reinforcing the integrity of e-signatures, there is no chance that documents may be signed incorrectly, lost "in the shuffle" or involve different types of identity theft. Additionally, e-signed documents are routed upon signing to the correct patient file to eliminate human error. 5. Electronic Signatures are HIPAA Compliant HIPAA rules apply to healthcare providers, healthcare clearinghouses and health insurance plans transmitting protected health data in electronic form associated with covered transactions. healthcare professionals using e-signatures in compliance with HIPAA guidelines must implement software that authenticates identities of parties involved in a transaction, prevent digital tampering with documents that have been signed electronically and provide time-stamped audit trails offering location, time and date information. How We Can Help Many other electronic signature benefits afforded by superior e-sign software designed especially for healthcare businesses involve the software's ability to standalone, integrate seamlessly with currently utilized document management systems or operate as a bundled package with existing Medford products. Managing full signature lifecycles, allowing for rigid or flexible information fields, and preventing annotation of certain pages or areas of a document are just a few of advantages healthcare professionals appreciate when relying on our electronic signature solutions, such as Medforce's SignCenter. SignCenter is a HIPAA-compliant, web-based electronic signature and data capture tool built specifically for healthcare by a healthcare technology company. Signers can mark and sign documents using a keyboard, mouse or touch screen, from any web-enabled device. Medforce’s SignCenter was designed with healthcare in mind. It addresses the industry’s unique security and complex information capture needs, and was built to seamlessly integrate with your current business applications.  Learn more in this brief explainer video. Watch this overview:  Schedule a demo to learn more about SignCenter.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/nahc-press-release1/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/nahc-press-release1/ Tue, 28 Mar 2017 11:10:00 +0000 Medforce Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of document and process management software and services, is proud to announce it has joined the National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC).> Suffern, NY – March 28, 2017. Medforce Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of document and process management software and services, is proud to announce it has joined the National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC), the largest and most respected professional association representing the interests of chronically ill, disabled, and dying Americans of all ages and the caregiver who provide them with in-home health and hospice services.   “We have experienced solid growth in the home health sector over the past several years,” says Medforce CEO Esther Apter. “Providers are looking to reduce costs and improve productivity so they can remain solvent and continue to serve this vulnerable patient population. With the increased regulatory focus on compliance, the technology solutions we offer are a welcome resource to the administrative side of home health. Joining NAHC was a logical choice to help us stay in tune with the latest challenges and continue to learn how to best serve this industry.” Medforce offers a suite of technology solutions for the healthcare industry that help improve efficiency, increase visibility, ensure compliance, and improve cash flow. Home health providers use the software to manage referral intake, billing and denial management, audits and ADRs, accounts receivable, fax management, order fulfillment, and vendor invoice management among other operational processes. “Part of our mission at NAHC is to educate our members and connect them to the latest innovations that will help them stay ahead of the rapidly changing industry,” explains Andrea Devoti, Vice President, Education, Meetings and Policy. “We welcome all technology companies that can help our members be nimble in this changing world.   Medforce has a proven track record of success in helping companies run their businesses more effectively, and they were clearly a good fit for our membership and our affiliate technology group.” Medforce will be exhibiting at both of NAHC’s upcoming conferences: The 2017 Financial Management Conference July 16-18 in Hartford, CT and the 2017 Annual Meeting Conference & Exposition October 15-17 in Long Beach, CA. To learn more about Medforce Technologies, please visit www.medforcetech.com. To learn more about the National Association for Home Care & Hospice, visit www.nahc.org.   About Medforce Technologies Medforce Technologies provides process and document management software and services to help healthcare organizations adapt quickly to change and do more with less. Our modular and flexible products work across all areas of operations from intake and claims to mailroom, AP, AR, and HR, and assist in daily decision making based on real time information and strategic priority. With clients in all sectors of healthcare, we offer the most feature-rich software that conforms to your preferred way of operating, including document management, business process management and workflow automation, electronic forms, denial management, esMD, electronic signature, and fax and referral management. Medforce streamlines your organization to return more time and money to fuel your mission. To learn more about the power of productivity, visit www.medforcetech.com . About NAHC The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) is the voice of home care and hospice. NAHC represents the nation’s 33,000 home care and hospice providers, along with the more than two million nurses, therapists, and aides they employ. These caregivers provide vital services to Americans who are aged, disabled, and ill. Some 12 million patients depend on home care and hospice providers, who depend on NAHC for the best in advocacy, education, and information. NAHC is a nonprofit organization that helps its members maintain the highest standards of care. To learn more about NAHC, visit www.nahc.org. Media Contact Ellen Sluder esluder@medforcetech.com> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/five-fun-las-vegas-activities-during-mha-2017/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/five-fun-las-vegas-activities-during-mha-2017/ Tue, 21 Mar 2017 18:08:00 +0000 As the excitement builds for the MHA 2017 business summit at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, here are five fun activities to partake in before and after the conference.> As the excitement builds for the MHA 2017 business summit at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, you may need some help choosing which fun activities to partake in before and after the conference. After all, there is a myriad of happenings and events in the city of lights. You can start your pre or post conference adventure at the Bellagio, which lies along the midpoint of the famous Las Vegas strip. Here are five of the top attractions in Las Vegas. The Bellagio Fountains The first thing most visitors notice about the Bellagio is the massive fountains. When you walk past the fountains, you’re treated to a complimentary water and light show where the fountains shoot water into the air like a choreographed dance. The Bellagio also offers a botanical garden and a fine art gallery along with several nightlife venues and the Cirque du Soleil’s “O” show. The Vegas Strip Since the Bellagio is near the center of the strip, wear some comfortable shoes and explore the strip by visiting the Eiffel Tower at Paris or the sphinx and pyramid at the Luxor. There is one unique thing about the strip, you can visit some of the most famous landmarks in the world all on one street. At the southernmost point of the strip is the Mandalay Bay and Casino, where you will find a man-made beach and an exotic aquarium. The Stratosphere is at the north end of the strip and features a towering free-standing observation deck that is the tallest in the country. The Hoover Dam If the Las Vegas strip is not your speed, then take a preconference visit to the Hoover Dam. Located 30 miles southeast of downtown Vegas, the dam spans the Black Canyon and the Colorado River. The dam is a mammoth structure providing electrical power to California, Nevada and Arizona for over 100 years. A quick, 30-minute guided tour allows you to view the eight massive turbines that generate power on the Nevada side of the dam. Take in some stunning views of Lake Mead and the Colorado River on the dam’s third-floor observation area. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area If you need a break from the neon lights and 24-hour Vegas nightlife, then visit the ambiance of the Mohave Desert and its rolling red hills in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. According to U.S. News and World Report Travel, it is the ninth best thing to do in all of Las Vegas and the surrounding areas. If you are suffering from preconference jitters, you can unwind by hitting numerous hiking and biking trails or hopping in your car and taking the 18-mile scenic route that runs directly through the desert and Red Rock Canyon. The Fremont Street Experience Whether it is preconference or post conference, you should visit old downtown Vegas and take in the Fremont Street Experience. Spreading across three blocks, the Fremont Street Experience dazzles visitors with an immense canopy using an alluring LED lighting system and a 550,000 watt sound system. The overhead light and sound show starts every hour and provides six-minute intervals of stunning enjoyment. The Fremont Street Experience also boasts the largest LED video screen on the planet, Viva Vision.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/medforce-clud-press-release/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/medforce-clud-press-release/ Wed, 15 Mar 2017 19:00:00 +0000 Medforce Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of document and process management software and services, announced unprecedented growth in its Medforce Cloud offering. >     Suffern, NY – March 14, 2017. Medforce Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of document and process management software and services, announced unprecedented growth in its Medforce Cloud offering. Medforce Cloud is a SaaS delivery model for the company’s suite of productivity enhancing software solutions targeting healthcare operations. Medforce hosts customer data and provides users secure access from any web-enabled device. Over thirty percent of Medforce customers chose to convert to cloud hosted version of software in the last year, and the vast majority of new customers in 2016 started on the SaaS model. Benefits of the Cloud-based model versus On-Prem are that companies do not have to maintain their own servers, manage their own databases, and prepare their own backup and disaster recovery plans. Hosted customers reduce IT hardware and resource costs, enjoy seamless upgrades, and benefit from high availability due to server redundancy. “Many of our client IT administrators wear multiple hats,” highlights Ellen Sluder, Vice President of Marketing. “Upgrades aren’t always performed timely, causing users to miss out on new features and functionality. Backups can get deprioritized depending on what is happening elsewhere, leaving data vulnerable. We handle all of this for our Medforce Cloud customers without them having to get involved, guaranteeing they are always up-to-date. When you add in the data encryption, switching to a hosted model is a no-brainer for the peace of mind and ability to free up resources.” Medforce offers a variety of productivity solutions for the healthcare industry that helps accelerate the pace of business, increase visibility, boost productivity and improve cash flow. Medforce Cloud customers use the software to manage referral intake, billing and denial management, audits and ADRs, accounts receivable, fax management, order fulfillment, and vendor invoice management among other operational processes. “Providers understand that Medforce Cloud requires less manpower and expertise to maintain a robust document management system,” explains Steve Bainnson, Vice President of Sales. “Most see a huge savings in the cost of backup alone, and now they never have to worry about uptime. It offers a huge leap in overall performance.” To learn more about Medforce Cloud, please visit http://www.medforcetech.com/cloud About Medforce Technologies Medforce Technologies provides process and document management software and services to help healthcare organizations adapt quickly to change and do more with less. Our modular and flexible products work across all areas of operations from intake and claims to mailroom, AP, AR, and HR, and assist in daily decision making based on real time information and strategic priority. With clients in all sectors of healthcare, we offer the most feature-rich software that conforms to your preferred way of operating, including document management, business process management and workflow automation, electronic forms, denial management, esMD, electronic signature, and fax and referral management. Medforce streamlines your organization to return more time and money to fuel your mission. To learn more about the power of productivity, visit www.medforcetech.com .   Media Contact Ellen Sluder esluder@medforcetech.com> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/best-practices-for-healthcare-denial-management/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/best-practices-for-healthcare-denial-management/ Tue, 14 Mar 2017 18:54:00 +0000 Best practices for healthcare denial management can help you eliminate these bottlenecks and make your systems more efficient and your staff happier.> Denials in healthcare operations create financial bottlenecks – not to mention the frustration of do-overs and hassles with the organizations generating the denial. Best practices for healthcare denial management, however, can help you eliminate these bottlenecks and make your systems more efficient and your staff happier. Some basic quality improvement techniques and the right software systems can help. Processes Drive Performance A slipshod process, or one your staff bypass, is often the origin of problems with healthcare denial management. A root-cause analysis can identify exactly why your denial management processes are problematic. For example – what's your organization's percentage of coding errors? Is there an imbalance in employee performance? How much time are people spending on handling appeals and determinations? If you don't have the answers to questions like these, there's no way to identify the primary source(s) of your denials and put new processes in place. Jump Through All the Hoops Denials often happen because of missing information. A denial due to lack of medical necessity often results because someone didn't enter all the tests or procedures or didn't capture the right diagnosis or procedure code. You need a system with safeguards that will put up an alert or not allow you to move ahead until you have a clean claim. Timing matters; plan appropriately so you aren't picking up a claim with a one-day deadline that will take two days or work. Remember, you have no control over physicians and patients who have information you need - allow for some back and forth communications. When you're managing healthcare denials, you can't operate on the old adage, “forgiveness is easier to get than permission.” It's The People Processes and procedures are all very well, but in the final analysis, it's your people who will solve your healthcare denial management problems. Uneven employee performance can create problems. A formal training program, whether internal or external, with periodic testing to see whether people have maintained their skills, will more than pay for itself. Don't use the “telephone game” method where the final message is so distorted it's incomprehensible. You must also consider whether you've matched the level of work to the employee's skill level. More complex issues need a high level of expertise (and yes, higher pay as well). Working The Denials When you have to appeal, take advantage of tools that allow you to sort and see all the outstanding AR items for that payer. If a payer limits claims per call, make sure you max out each call. Always follow the specific instructions to appeal denials at a given payer organization. Payer organizations also generate material on a regular basis. A point person should be assigned to monitor all the correspondence, bulletins, instructions and other communications, especially from your high-volume payers. When changes occur, make sure your providers and other staff are brought up to date. The Right Software One of the more important aspects of denial management, according to Becker's Hospital Review, is to collect, track and trend data on your denials process. In order to achieve that goal, you need a software system that can import ERNs, provide the information to identify denial trends and give you reports that allow you to analyze denials on the basis of detail and summary reports. Since people are so important to the process, you also need the software to monitor, track and compare your employees' performance and effectiveness. Solving healthcare denial management problems isn't easy. However, it is well worth the effort. Once you have the data, you can streamline your administrative and billing processes to solve your denial problems.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/is-your-accounts-receivable-team-a-profit-center/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/is-your-accounts-receivable-team-a-profit-center/ Fri, 10 Mar 2017 21:49:00 +0000 Your Accounts Receivable team’s mission should be to make money. Your team should be a profit center not a cost center. So how does an AR team become a profit center? >   Your Accounts Receivable team’s mission should be to make money. Your team should be a profit center not a cost center. Your AR team works on claims that have already been submitted that have either not been processed, or have been processed and are partially paid or denied. So how does an AR team become a profit center? You AR team is working to make sure the money for invoices produced is actually collected, whether from private payers, Medicare, Medicaid or self-pay at the appropriate reimbursement level, and they also ensure that nothing falls through the cracks. But there is a lot of work that goes into following up, repealing denials, and collections efforts. It takes labor effort – and therefore cost – to manage these outstanding invoices. And if your costs of collecting are less than the income that comes in, you’re in the black. You shouldn’t be spending $50 to collect a $40 balance. A large part of the success of an AR team is the way they prioritize work. Modern and successful AR teams don’t divide work by absolutes – by alphabet or even by payer. Prioritization needs to be a complex balance of effort, potential payoff/revenue, and the probability of actually collecting. You start there, but then you have to layer on top of that different pay rates for different people, skillsets, and time (the deadlines for each AR item to be worked as well as the time it takes for each person to complete a task.) It’s not a simple process.  Business Process Management and workflow automation takes the guesswork out of success for your AR team. Items are prioritized based on strategic priority that leadership sets, balancing many factors at once. Your AR team comes in and immediately can get to work on the items that will return the best results for the company - and your bottom line.    More resources on Accounts Receivable:  Case study: Boosting Productivity in Accounts Receivable  Video: Improve Visibility and Control in Accounts Receivable  Product: Accounts Receivable Management App> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/this-is-why-efax-solutions-save-you-time-and-effort/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/this-is-why-efax-solutions-save-you-time-and-effort/ Tue, 07 Mar 2017 19:44:00 +0000 For healthcare organizations struggling to manage all of the faxes they send and receive, there are eFax solutions that make this process streamlined, simple and automated. Read on to learn how.> EFax solutions make managing your incoming and outgoing faxes convenient, friendly, personalized, secure and effective. They help everyone in the office stay organized and work together effectively. When eFax solutions are in place, both your company and your employees win -- resulting in better results and increased customer satisfaction. Transactions in healthcare abound: According to Medicare, payments to DME providers alone exceeded $6 million in recent years. That's a lot of O2 concentrators, wound vacs and semi-electric hospital beds -- but even more paperwork. Keeping all of this paperwork manageable and coordinated is important to your business, your employees and the people you serve. Much of it is being sent back and forth through faxes. If you're still using paper or out-of-date non-customizable eFax server to get this job done in 2017, then your office is working much harder than it has to. And this can lead to mistakes, employee and customer dissatisfaction and ultimately affect your bottom line. Think your company is already running efficiently on old technology? According to Forbes, a leading business journal, as of the end of 2016, 47% of accounts payable employees said that manual processes were their biggest challenge. This is just one of your departments. Let's look at how eFax solutions address that. The Benefits of eFax Solutions Keep documents electronic from intake to completed task and everywhere beyond. Documents arrive on a server, where the can be manually or automatically distributed out to various people, departments or teams. There, they can be addressed as necessary and filed appropriately without ever touching a piece of paper. Re-route with ease. If a document ended up on the wrong server or "desk", it can be seamlessly re-routed to the correct person. If the power fails, faxes should be able to queue up and come through when it’s restored. Routing in most situations becomes simple and automated. Manage employee leave without the headaches. Because documents are on a server and not individual computers -- or worse someone's desk -- if someone is out unexpectedly, your company doesn't miss a beat. Stay compliant. When you're dealing with PHI, you have to always keep HIPAA in mind. Because documents can remain electronic through the entire process, you don't have to worry about the physical mishandling, storing or destroying of physical documents. Send outgoing with ease. Outgoing faxes are just as easy. If, for example, you need to fax a PO to a company, someone simply fills out your PO on the computer, enters the number where it is to be faxes and hits send. Cover letters can be pre-populated with information already contained within your system. No waiting, no printing, no scanning. It's fast. Eliminate repetitive and "no-brainer" tasks. EFax solutions helps your people work more efficiently. It automates those tedious tasks that must be done by a trained and trusted person to assure they're done right, so that your trained and trusted people can focus on higher level tasks and better uses of their time. Improve employee satisfaction. Your employees are your greatest asset. You want them to feel like they work in a place that values their time. Having electronic systems in place that reduce hassle - eliminating the need to swing by the fax machine to check if something has come in - and make their jobs easier is the way to do this. Ask them. You will always have some naysayers, but ultimately, this is kind of 2020 level technology that employees want. Utilize analytics to improve workflow. You'll have access to state of the art analytics that help you understand where gaps or delays may exist so that they can be addressed. You're no longer in a position to make assumptions. You'll have clear data to back you up. It's easy to see how eFax solutions save your staff time and effort. Since every second of saved time is more time you can spend meeting customer needs and maintaining a viable business model for your company, it makes sense to embrace this avenue toward increased efficiency.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/5-important-advantages-to-centralized-document-access/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/5-important-advantages-to-centralized-document-access/ Tue, 28 Feb 2017 17:53:00 +0000 The advantages of centralized document access in a collaborative healthcare organization are vast, but we focused on five of the essentials to better file management for greater productivity.> In 2017, the word "silo" is a bad word in the business economy. Collaboration and transparency are critical ingredients in a modern, efficient operation. The fundamental key to improved efficiency and productivity in the healthcare industry lies in finding ways to offer centralized document access to all of your team members. The more readily available patient or client information is for key stakeholders, the smoother the process for all involved. Centralization is a vital component if you want to keep your customers happy and healthy while facilitating a smooth workflow for employees with minimal errors and manual entry. Here are a few advantages to consider: Everything's In One Place This benefit speaks for itself. With physical paper, it can seem impossible to track down pertinent information. It may be on someone else’s desk, misfiled, or simply lost among the stacks of paper. With centralized document access, everyone goes to one place to obtain the information they need. In a nutshell, a centralizing filing system allows for increased efficiency while reducing slip-through-the-crack mistakes. Of course, technology offers wonderful things for all stakeholders. Solid software offers varying levels of accessibility based on role. Different team members can have certain rights, permissions, and levels of access that may be restricted to other departments, all while keeping the entirety of the information stored in a single, secure place. And audit trails and the ability to make annotations helps keep track of updates with minimal effort. Easy Organization Filing cabinets that are filled to the brim should be no more! The same goes for home-grown systems of folders that require specific file-naming conventions and strict process adherence if you want any hope of being able to easily retrieve information. Great file management software eliminates the need for physical filing and cluttered storage situations that are susceptible to human error. Electronic filing software not only is a space-saving solution, it provides the organization you need to retrieve the documents as quickly as possible. Filing shouldn’t be just about getting documents in, it’s about getting them out, too. Efficient Audit Preparation Audits are unavoidable in the healthcare industry. You're going to get an audit notice more times than you care to count, and scrambling to compile all of the requested information can be a cumbersome and trying burden for your already-allocated staff. If you're not using a centralized document access system, audits can, quite simply, be a nightmare. It can take hours -- or even days -- to compile the requested information. Technology removes the burden of hide-and-go-seek when the auditors come around. Thanks to centralized document access, you can easily afford the appropriate team members authorization to give the auditors the information they need quickly and efficiently. This causes less stress on the organization, responsible team members, and auditors, and speeds up the process between the audit and the resolution. Reduces Missing Items Lost files are an unfortunate reality in the paper-trail healthcare world. Looking for lost files can cost a lost of money (and cause a lot of frustration.) If your files are housed electronically in an organized hub, they're not going anywhere! Finding misfiled documents can feel like a needle in a haystack without technological tools such as full text search or even the simple ability to flip through many files quickly. An organized document access system can reduce the time spent dealing with lost or misfiled documents, thus enhancing productivity and efficiency when team members are performing tasks where their time is better spent. Increased Organizational Transparency For healthcare providers, It's not always easy to track down the history of a patient's case when you're using paper. Handwritten notes and requests of billing and claims staff can easily slip past the photocopier. With centralized document access, everyone has the ability to enter notes and review patients' history when needed. Questions can be answered and inquiries can be research far more easily when everyone has access to the same information. Centralized document access offers a world of opportunities in the healthcare industry. From efficient employees who can easily grab the information they need to loyal customers who appreciate rapid responses to their questions and quicker processes, technology is doing amazing things for the healthcare industry. Are you up to speed?> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/hme-news-esther-apter-optimize-productivity/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/hme-news-esther-apter-optimize-productivity/ Tue, 28 Feb 2017 17:04:00 +0000 As part of the coverage for Medtrade Spring 2017, HME News sat down with Medforce CEO Esther Apter to talk about the lessons from her Medtrade presentation and how to optimize productivity. > Originally published in HME News on January 27, 2017 Cutting costs and eliminative service are two ways HME providers are trying to cope with the new business environment, but that will only get them so far. To truly have a financially healthy company, management must develop a system that maximizes organizational productivity, says Esther Apter, CEO of Suffern, N.Y.-based Medforce Technologies. HME News: What does business process management consist of and why is it important for HME providers? Esther Apter: Business process management consists of organizing the flow of your work processes so they are as productive as possible. Without mapping processes and flows, you cannot ensure efficiency, consistency, and compliance. BPM gives you unmatched visibility into the details and control of thewho, what, and when of each step in the process. Having that visibility and control at your fingertips drives operational success and allows you to make decisions based on real-time information and quickly adapt to changes both internally and externally within the community or industry.  HME: Where are providers at with business process management on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being experts? Apter: On average, providers are between a 2 or 3 because most limit the scope of their workflow capabilities to intake and billing.BPM should cover your entire operation from top to bottom, including human resources, accounts payable, accounts receivable, purchasing, shipping, and the mailroom. Or, providers are lulled into thinking they already have BPM because there is some rudimentary workflow capability within a current application. They don’t realize the amount of potential in time and cost savings that they are leaving on the table. HME: Is this a daunting task and if so, why? And how can they become better at it? Apter: BPM suffers from a perception problem. The reality is—it is not daunting. The most successful implementations start with a manageable scope—perhaps one or a small handful of processes—and expanding the scope at a comfortable pace. You can achieve anything one step at time. HME: Why do employees play a big part in the success of business process management? Apter: Honestly, the No. 1 indicator of success is whether or not the leadership team believes in BPM and remains a champion for the practice. But employees are incredibly vital to success.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/webinar-e-signature-in-healthcare-completing-the-paperless-office/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/webinar-e-signature-in-healthcare-completing-the-paperless-office/ Fri, 24 Feb 2017 20:45:00 +0000 In this webinar, we highlighted the unique characteristics and challenges of gathering signatures in healthcare.  We outlined the benefits of having a signature capture program that maintains digital continuity and helps you manage the entire signature lifecycle.> In healthcare, prompt signatures are important for compliance in patient care, billing, audits, and general operations. Obtaining signatures on documentation is complicated and relentless. Many offices that claim to have “gone paperless” can be found printing out forms and faxing documentation for approval and authorization, disrupting workflows and causing inefficiencies. Yet most electronic signature programs were not built for the unique challenges of healthcare. In this webinar, we highlighted the unique characteristics and challenges of gathering signatures in healthcare.  We outlined the benefits of having a signature capture program that maintains digital continuity and helps you manage the entire signature lifecycle. We also provided a demonstration of SignCenter, the only electronic signature and data capture tool built specifically for healthcare organizations by a healthcare technology company. Recording: E-Signature Completing the Paperless Office> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/signcenter-press-release/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/signcenter-press-release/ Fri, 24 Feb 2017 17:54:00 +0000 Medforce Technologies, a leading provider of document and process management software, announced the official launch of SignCenter, the only electronic signature tool built specifically for the healthcare industry by a healthcare technology provider. > Suffern, NY – February 28, 2017. Medforce Technologies, a leading provider of document and process management software, announced the official launch of SignCenter, the only electronic signature tool built specifically for the healthcare industry by a healthcare technology provider. SignCenter was developed to address a gaping need in the modern healthcare company: obtaining signatures from a wide variety of individuals across a wide variety of settings without resorting to printing documents in an otherwise paperless office. With the ability to stand alone, integrate with your most used business applications, or be bundled with Medforce’s suite of productivity solutions, SignCenter puts providers in control of the entire process from data consolidation and form creation to routing, capture, post processing, storage and retrieval. “Signature capture in healthcare involves high volume, highly detailed forms, and complex workflows,” explains Medforce’s CTO Nathan Apter. “The process is fragmented, costly, and every step can lead to mistakes which lead to delays and denials. SignCenter’s focus on the entire signature lifecycle reduces or eliminates errors, encourages deadline adherence, and lowers costs.” As a provider, users of SignCenter allow you to dictate the signing experience, determining where and when a document can be signed – and easily monitoring to ensure timelines are met. Signers can be remote or in-person and mark or sign documents using a keyboard, mouse or touch screen, from any web-enabled device. Provider J&L Medical Services in Connecticut uses SignCenter for CPAP setups. Respiratory Therapist and Corporate Compliance Officer Rachel Kirchner notes, “I work across six locations and in patient homes. Before, everything was paper and cumbersome. Being able to move it to technology – it’s all at my fingertips no matter where I am or what I need.  Plus, having it all secured on a laptop is a lot safer.” “Most providers we talk to are still printing out forms for signature and then scanning or faxing them afterward,” says Medforce VP of Sales, Steve Bainnson. “Paper gets lost, filled out incorrectly, requires manual data entry and causes billing errors that lead to lower reimbursement. Moving to SignCenter and implementing an electronic process adds control and visibility, increases productivity, improves compliance, and decreases time spent chasing paper.”   To learn more about SignCenter’s capabilities, please visit www.medforcetech.com/signcenter or fill in the form below to schedule a meeting with a Solutions Consultant. > https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/keep-truly-paperless-with-electronic-signature/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/keep-truly-paperless-with-electronic-signature/ Fri, 24 Feb 2017 17:32:00 +0000 In healthcare, a signature is more than just obtaining a John Hancock. There are processes and protocol before and after signature capture that have to be followed precisely.  Your E-Signature tool shouldn’t be disjointed with the digital systems you already have in place. > Most healthcare organizations think they are paperless, but spend hours of time and reams of paper printing out documents for signature. Signature is required for compliance in patient care, billing, and audits that are vital to the successful operation of your healthcare business. But collecting those signatures can be complicated.   Approval, authorization, and acknowledgement is often required multiple times and at many levels – from patients, clinicians and administrators. And if one element is off – say, a missing DOB – you have to start the process all over again or risk denial. If these documents exist in your system electronically, you are adding to the chaos by having to print them out, maintain version control, track manually and manage it all with paper. In healthcare, a signature is more than just obtaining a John Hancock. There are processes and protocol before and after signature capture that have to be followed precisely.  Your E-Signature tool shouldn’t be disjointed with the digital systems you already have in place. That’s why we developed SignCenter – the only electronic signature tool built for healthcare organizations by a healthcare technology company.  It was designed to help you manage the entire signature lifecycle. If you keep electronic records, why are you still using paper for signatures?    To learn more about SignCenter or request a demo, fill in the form below. > https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/what-is-the-signature-lifecycle/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/what-is-the-signature-lifecycle/ Thu, 23 Feb 2017 22:26:00 +0000 Moving to electronic signature software is the obvious way to stop chasing paper and improve efficiency. But sending the documents for signature in an ad-hoc or one-off way maintains many of the challenges of a paper signature process. The full signature lifecycle doesn’t start with the sending out of a document to be signed. Learn more about the four parts of the document signature life cycle. > Signatures are a vital part of your operational success. They are needed for approval, authorization, and acknowledgement on documentation from patients, clinicians and administrators. But in healthcare, getting a signature is more than just putting pen-to-paper. There are layers of complexity and requirements that can have you restarting from square one if just one element is missing. The time and effort it takes to manage the signature life cycle adds to your costs and cuts into your margins. Moving to electronic signature software is the obvious way to stop chasing paper and improve efficiency. But sending the documents for signature in an ad-hoc or one-off way maintains many of the challenges of a paper signature process. Digital Transaction Management (DTM) technology will allow the process of obtaining a signature to be codified and documents to be tracked while they are in circulation. If a document is not signed or returned in a specified period of time you can be notified. This is a step forward toward productivity. But is it enough? At Medforce, we’d argue it is not. The full signature life cycle doesn’t start with the sending out of a document to be signed. We believe the entire document approval lifecycle starts with the creation of the document. It starts with data gathering and form population or document development. Then comes the DTM portion of sending the file and tracking its progress and capturing the signature. But it doesn’t end there – it goes on to answer the question: what needs to happen next?  The signature was being captured for a reason. What are the post-signature actions that need to be taken? Should someone be notified? Does it need to be filed? Is another process on hold until this item is received and now can be released? And, of course, once the active life cycle is done, storage and archive for easy retrieval is imperative. With audits, the need for a signed document can arise again years in the future. You need to be able to easily access it. To summarize, there are four main parts of the signature lifecycle: Data gathering and document creation Digital Transaction Management (DTM) and signature capture Post-signature activities Storage and archive for easy retrieval Having your electronic signature software address just one of these steps adds to the efficiency of your organization. Any time you can keep an electronic document digital you are cutting out non-value-added effort. But, to truly benefit from the full potential of efficiency you need to use technology that creates a seamless, integrated, and complete signature life cycle.    To learn more about Medforce's electronic signature tool, SignCenter, click here. > https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/creating-a-productive-approach-to-fax-management-in-healthcare/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/creating-a-productive-approach-to-fax-management-in-healthcare/ Thu, 23 Feb 2017 19:41:00 +0000 If your healthcare organization is still relying on dedicated fax machines and/or electronic faxing without appropriate management tools, your fax management processes are inefficient and need corrected.> Once upon a time, if you wanted to send a copy of a document, a human messenger performed all steps of the operation. Fax machines seemed like a tremendous step forward, and then there was another leap with electronic fax servers, but then progress seemed to stagnate. Today, there are solutions that are equally ground-breaking. If your organization is still relying on dedicated fax machines and/or electronic faxing without appropriate management tools, that may be why you are still struggling with fax inefficiency. Fax Management Problems Systems designed around managing hard copy have a number of inherent problems - they are typically inefficient, and the true security is often sadly lacking. While paper faxes are considered HIPAA compliant, the reality is that sensitive faxes sit on a desk or in a busy hallway, available to anyone. A dedicated, fixed fax machine requires paper management – check the machine for incoming faxes, make sure they're routed to the correct area or person, file the hard copies, keep the machine supplied with paper – and the list goes on. Many of these introduce the potential for human error. For example, someone picks up multiple faxes and your document is in the middle, so it goes to the wrong desk. The paper copy is misfiled or thrown away, or duplicate copies are filed in different areas. All of these activities cost you money, waste time and bog down your work processes. A document management system can solve many problems with fax management. [DOWNLOAD] Why faxing in healthcare is unnecessarily difficult Fax Server Compliance Issues Corporate compliance is a major issue in any organization, but it's particularly important in healthcare because of the security issues surrounding patients' health, financial and personal information. Fax security and compliance issues are hot buttons in those organizations using dedicated fax machines, which is why many choose to go paperless with an electronic fax server . But receiving and storing faxes in decentralized email inboxes creates a new type of privacy challenge. Ongoing risk assessment is mandatory to ensure your organization can be assured that the privacy and security of transmitted and archive data meets compliance standards. Evaluate every step in your process and build a security strategy based on your baseline findings. Once you've implemented changes, reassess periodically (at least once a year) to ensure the system is functioning properly and meeting compliance requirements. Your strategy should address: process control; information integrity; privacy; document archiving and a tracking, reporting and audit trail. The Ideal Fax Management System If you were to design the perfect fax management system, what would it look like? Each organization has different needs, but there are some commonalities. Automating processes whenever possible should be at the top of the list. Are faxes received and easily accessible in a centralized location? Can you easily manage multiple lines through a common portal? Is the information you need immediately available? Does the management system alert you to incoming faxes? Can you organize and manage your documents electronically? How secure is your data? How can you assign faxes to employees for follow up? At a minimum, your system should: Automate the processes of document delivery Centralize delivery and receipt of information Ensure and safeguard document confidentiality Protect transmitted information from unauthorized access, tampering or alteration at all stages of the transmission and storage process Allow incoming faxes to be easily assigned Limit access to information and track and monitor access Provide secure storage and historical data and manage document destruction. Although compliance issues drive many issues surrounding fax management, efficient systems that prevent your staff from wasting time are equally as important. Your organization must have a well-crafted information exchange strategy in place. An enterprise fax software system can help you resolve fax management issues and improve organizational productivity if you assess your needs, choose carefully and ensure that the system is properly implemented. Don't forget to reassess the technological backbone of the system as well as the related work processes on a regular basis or as compliance requirements change to safeguard your organization.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/7-underrated-features-important-to-document-management/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/7-underrated-features-important-to-document-management/ Mon, 20 Feb 2017 19:44:00 +0000 In the research phase of finding your next document management solution? Here are some key features you should consider when upgrading document management platforms.> If you page back five short years, you'll remember that the whole of the healthcare industry was still talking about EHR and switching to electronic document management systems. Today, with changes to the Affordable Care Act and all of the necessary regulations, coupled with more pressure on internal revenue management considerations, your document management system is integral to your success on every level. Your document management system allows your practice to better serve patients in a variety of ways, from billing to care to better staff productivity. An article in Becker's Hospital Review itemized some of the main benefits to a great document management system for any healthcare organization, if you're still not convinced you need to upgrade. Most practices and healthcare organizations have already made the jump or are seriously considering which software or service to contract. If you're still in the research phase of your next document management solution, here are some key features you should consider when upgrading.  Important and Underrated Features Your Document Management System Needs Automatic Document Import. Upgrading to a new system should not mean reinventing the wheel. The reason you want to switch to a document management system is to streamline the amount of paper and ways your organization can store and use data. The document management system you choose should be able to automatically import documents, so that key employees don't spend an inordinate amount of time trying to either key in information or reformat existing documentation. Compatibility With Standard Business Applications. Every software and system you use runs the risk of not working correctly with other applications. A great document management system will be compatible with most standard applications used in your industry. Check with the vendor if you have any questions and ask how incompatibility issues are remedied when they do occur. Flexibility in File Types. Your organization will likely gather documentation from many entities which means that it's integral to be able to store and access files outside of the standard file types used within your system. When researching new document management systems, verify that all file types (.doc, .pdf, .jpeg, etc) can be viewed and stored within your system. Unlimited Storage. Moving documentation to a digital format saves your organization the need for physical storage space, but there are still concerns about document storage in the digital world. When researching management systems. verify the amount of storage capabilities. Consider that you may be using this system for many years. Look for solutions with unlimited storage options. Tracking Capabilities. Your document management system should have tracking capabilities so that any information can be accessed and each stakeholder noted in the process of the patient files or records. This allows your organization better audit capabilities and individual staff will have real time information on any given case. Search Capabilities. Your document management system should have user friendly, comprehensive search capabilities to better improve staff productivity. HIPAA Compliant. This should go without saying but, when choosing document management systems, make certain that the choice is fully HIPAA compliant and that the vendor has a plan in place to stay current with regulations in this area. This may include data encryption and other technologies. These seven features are only a few that you should look for in your new system. Accurate and effective document management improves patient care and the overall administrative health of your organization. It's important that your new system offers support for implementation and offers an easy to use solution for staff. > https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/top-5-technologies-that-facilitate-better-collaboration/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/top-5-technologies-that-facilitate-better-collaboration/ Tue, 14 Feb 2017 18:05:00 +0000 Without great communication within healthcare organizations, productivity stalls out and workflows are in jeopardy. Technology can help providers and administrators communicate better and deliver better results.> Have you heard the phrase, "Too many cooks spoil the broth"? Well, in healthcare, too many people working in parallel without great communication can do a lot more damage than ruining a meal. Improved collaboration in healthcare has been shown to not only improve patient outcomes but also reduce costs and improve profitability.  One of the difficulties for the healthcare industry has been the multi-layers of collaboration needed. Employees need to work together within departments, between departments, with 3rd party providers, and, of course, with the patient. On top of that, the variety in communication channels – in person, on the phone, by fax, by email – just adds further complexity. Fortunately, there are a number of newer technologies that offer excellent advantages in improved collaboration within healthcare organizations and with regard to the communication with outside providers. 5 Technologies to Facilitate Better Collaboration There are a number of technologies your healthcare organization can implement in order to better facilitate collaboration and streamline the communication process. Here are a few examples: Business Process Management. BPM software, when integrated with document management, can link the entire healthcare organization together, so that every individual piece of data can be found in one platform. This includes not only patient information, but transparency into which employee is working on what, and what information is needed or expected from an external party. This allows healthcare organizations the ability to work in parallel and access pertinent information on a single patient across several departments, from intake to billing to various other departments. Mobile Apps. Many of the current technologies are available through mobile apps so that staff can have instant access to information no matter where you are. You don’t have to be sitting at your desk to make sure that everyone is getting the information they need as quickly as possible. This feature dramatically improves communication in situations where one employee's approval is needed on a specific issue. It also can accelerate the claims process and improve cash flow. Electronic Form Software. Using multiple platforms is common, so sharing duplicate data is essential to reducing data entry. Electronic Form Software can pull information from various sources and maintain it in a way that can auto-populate needed documentation. This software can also use mandatory field requirements to diminish the chance of missing information which can impact processing time later on. Integrated Technologies. No matter what types of software your healthcare organization is using, it's important that it features excellent integration with other applications. This is increasingly necessary in healthcare where different partners work through disparate software applications. Integrations and interoperability is critical to reduce the burden of data sharing.   Electronic Signature. For healthcare especially, signatures are essential from physicians, health providers, and patients to ensure the revenue cycle can continue to flow smoothly.  With electronic signature capabilities, these essential pieces of authorization/confirmation can be captured through a variety of means – at a patient’s home, in the provider offices, or via email. It reduces risk of missing necessary signatures and eliminates the need to rely on antiquated paper/fax systems that add extra, unnecessary effort to store and archive signature capture. Upgrading Technologies, Increasing Communication As technology moves forward, healthcare organizations can take advantage of increased abilities to better access data and eliminate human error from many processes. One option includes implementing cloud based technology, which is advantageous because the applications can be accessed from any device with an internet connection. When deciding on technological upgrades, it's important to look at the system's ability to integrate with past technology and other provider's systems. It's also ideal to find vendors who offer optimal support during and after integration.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/webinar-recording-improve-visibility-and-control-in-accounts-receivable/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/webinar-recording-improve-visibility-and-control-in-accounts-receivable/ Wed, 08 Feb 2017 20:39:00 +0000 In this webinar, we examine the challenges of minimizing effort and maximizing productivity in your Accounts Receivable department. We examine opportunities for improving how work gets done from both a manager and an employee perspective.> Modern billing systems record and report on outstanding balances, but fall drastically short when it comes to actually working claims and denials, distributing the work and analyzing the results. Most managers compensate for this by using spreadsheets to divvy and assign work, but spreadsheets are out of date the moment they are generated. Technology can fill the gap and provide the real-time visibility and control you need to monitor incoming work, assign it, and track progress. In this webinar, we examine the challenges of minimizing effort and maximizing productivity in your Accounts Receivable department. We examine opportunities for improving how work gets done from both a manager and an employee perspective. Watch the recording of the webinar in the Medforce ilbrary.  > https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/best-practices-for-efficient-outbound-document-faxing/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/best-practices-for-efficient-outbound-document-faxing/ Wed, 08 Feb 2017 13:03:00 +0000 How to ensure efficient outbound document faxing with the time your healthcare organization spends on faxes...tips, advice, best practices and more.> Despite advances in technology, the fax machine continues to be the mainstay of many healthcare organizations and medical companies.  However, traditional faxing poses serious security risks.  Aging faxing systems typically lack security features found in up-to-date platforms.  Images are stored on a shared device, accessible to anyone.  Outgoing information is vulnerable on the receiving end, too.  Fax machines are often located in a central area where documents may remain unattended for long periods.  Sensitive information can easily be seen by personnel who are not authorized to access it.  Thus, organizations and companies are likely to violate HIPAA regulations.   Some practice management software allows you to pull incoming faxes directly into their system.  Web-based solutions provide opportunities to improve outbound faxing efficiency as well.  Implementing best practices for outbound document faxing via the Internet minimizes security risks while simplifying and enhancing information-sharing.   Electronic faxing is characterized by its ease-of-use.  Faxes can be sent just as you would send documents to a printer.  Users can print documents to a secure client that transfers information via HTTPS, which ensures appropriate file encryption.   Secure clients allow the sender to enter one or more recipients in the "send to" field.  Users can add subjects, attach files, and include other pertinent information for each transaction.  Documents can be customized on company letterhead, with HIPAA compliance statements or any other protocols that should be included.  Delivery confirmations let you know that your fax was sent successfully. Secure outbound faxing solutions increase access to data by allowing you to use email address lists to create contacts in your Global Address List (GAL).  Everyone in your organization or company can exchange data with common recipients.  You can configure your fax system like a network printer across multiple applications without installing additional hardware.   Application programming interfaces (APIs) allow you to integrate EHRs, Microsoft Office, and any other printer-friendly Windows applications with your faxing program.  Faxing can be automated from within frequently-used applications.   Hence, outbound document faxing can be done without requiring additional staff time.  Employees can focus on more important tasks, improving administrative processes overall. Superior faxing solutions minimize paper trails and reduce costs.  Since you only need Internet access, you can save money on phone lines and traditional faxing supplies, such as toner.  Since there is no fax machine in the way, you can further enhance administrative efficiency by making practical use of additional space. Up-to-date faxing allows you to send a fax from any location, at any time, from any device that connects to the Internet.  This is especially beneficial if your employees telecommute or your organization or company has multiple locations.  Online fax platforms can accommodate any number of users. [DOWNLOAD] Some of our best tips for greater organizational efficiency Improving Your Bottom Line Fast and convenient, online faxing eliminates the delays that result when users have to leave their desks, operate the fax machine, then wait for the transaction to process.  Instead, an outgoing fax's journey can be tracked electronically.  You can also create secure archives of faxes sent, or send queries on sent and received documents. Online faxing ensures privacy, since items can be sent directly from a staff member's PC rather than a shared fax machine.  You can specify who receives outgoing documents, assigning each recipient a secure fax number, reducing the likelihood that information will fall into the wrong hands. Online faxing solutions support business continuity planning or disaster recovery initiatives to minimize workflow disruptions, since faxing can be done wherever there is Internet access. Up-to-date outbound document faxing solutions effectively bridge technology and security gaps, which are prevalent in the healthcare industry.  Adopting an online faxing platform is one critical step you can take to ensure HIPAA compliance and help your organization or business maintain a competitive advantage amid changing healthcare trends.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/evv-solution/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/evv-solution/ Tue, 07 Feb 2017 13:46:00 +0000 Home Health organizations have been under scrutiny for compliance and fraud, especially around PCA visits, and now face heavy regulations as a result. These new regulations add a lot of time and headache, reducing the productivity and profitability of Home Health Care Providers. Medforce has developed a 3-part, modular solution to address the labor-intensive burden of managing mandated electronic visit verification (EVV) systems.  EVV Solution Highlights: Ease labor costs associated with managing EVV programs Improve payroll accuracy Integrate data from multiple sources into a centralized resource Reduce denial rates through real-time claims tracking Gain real-time visibility Expedite reconciliation> Home Health organizations have been under scrutiny for compliance and fraud, especially around PCA visits, and now face heavy regulations as a result. These new regulations add a lot of time and headache, reducing the productivity and profitability of Home Health Care Providers. In addition to our solutions for pre-claim review, Medforce has developed a 3-part, modular solution to address the labor-intensive burden of managing mandated electronic visit verification (EVV) systems. Use automation and management-determined logic to expedite payroll preparation, ensure your accounting is always up-to-date, and ease the working and tracking of related Medicaid claims and denials. Ease labor costs associated with managing EVV programs Improve payroll accuracy Integrate data from multiple sources into a centralized resource Reduce denial rates through real-time claims tracking Gain real-time visibility Expedite reconciliation The three parts of the Home Health EVV Solution can be used standalone or bundled together, and can be customized to meet your unique needs. EVV Payroll Preparation Dramatically reduce the time spent reviewing, sorting and handling time sheet data for payroll entry. Medforce can automatically extract the EVV data and calculate payroll based on business rules you set – including overtime and regional differences. The solution generates a report for your quick review and adjustment and generates an automated upload to your payroll system when you’re ready EVV Accounting Data Reporting Keep track of exact outstanding Accounts Receivable and ease the reconciliation between claims submitted and amounts paid with our EVV reporting tool. Medforce will extract claim information from your EVV system while automatically importing your matching ERN data. A report is generated based on a specific timeframe and can be pushed into your accounting software to keep outstanding balances up-to-date. The report can be generated on demand or set to run on a scheduled basis. EVV Accounts Receivable Management Stop managing your outstanding claims and denials in disparate, messy and immediately out-of-date spreadsheets. Work Medicaid claims and denials quickly and effectively using automated tools to monitor, assign and track outstanding balances. This solution extracts Medicaid claim data from your EVV system into Medforce and creates a workflow task for easy tracking claims. Reduce your denial rate and improve your cash flow through smarter work assignment, centralized record keeping, and improved collaboration.    To learn more, fill in the form below to schedule a personalized consultation. > https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/easy-compliance-for-home-health-evv-systems/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/easy-compliance-for-home-health-evv-systems/ Tue, 31 Jan 2017 15:49:00 +0000 Home Health organizations have been a target of payer focus, ostensibly to minimize fraud. What we know from previous experience is that this type of regulatory attention results in heavier documentation burdens on providers and results in lower margins and a depleted bottom line. Not to mention the chaos that typically ensues as systems and processes must be changed. We previously discussed how Medforce can help with Home Health Pre-Claim Review procedures. Now we’ve put together a solution that can help unburden providers from the strain of managing EVV systems. > Home Health organizations have been a target of payer focus, ostensibly to minimize fraud. What we know from previous experience is that this type of regulatory attention results in heavier documentation burdens on providers and results in lower margins and a depleted bottom line. Not to mention the chaos that typically ensues as systems and processes must be changed. We previously discussed how Medforce can help with Home Health Pre-Claim Review procedures. Now we’ve put together a solution that can help unburden providers from the strain of managing these new mandated EVV systems. EVV stands for Electronic Visit Verification, and it’s how many states are requiring Care Providers to clock their time and in some cases, submit claims. However, the systems have proven cumbersome and inefficient.   Without proper signal, time entries are either not recorded, or recorded incorrectly Requires override by supervisor – a manual process that can expose a provider to error The data does not automatically feed into payroll systems – and the export from the EVV can be overwhelming and disorganized Every line item needs to be reviewed, corrected, coded and then formatted in a way that payroll systems can absorb to ensure the Care Provider is paid appropriately Reconciliation between payroll and claim reimbursement is another hurdle to jump Supervisors are buried under a pile of manual spreadsheets with hours of lost productivity trying to manage these new systems Medforce can help. We have worked with clients to act as a hub that brings together EVV systems and payroll software. We take the time sheet data, format and consolidate it, and build in logic that incorporates straight time, overtime, and different pay rates by region or type of visit. We provide a workflow tool that enables supervisors to quickly review and modify the data as needed and then format the data into a file that is easily uploaded into your payroll system of choice.   We can assist with easy reconciliation after as well. We can pull in your ERNs and compare to your payroll data, highlighting discrepancies and providing easy tools for denial management. To learn more about how we can help your Home Health organization ease the burden of state-mandated EVV systems, schedule a meeting today using the form below. > https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/how-workflow-automation-can-build-a-growth-framework/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/how-workflow-automation-can-build-a-growth-framework/ Mon, 30 Jan 2017 19:50:00 +0000 Workflow automation is a great foundation for transforming your healthcare enterprise, helping with prioritization, productivity and much more.> Has your medical enterprise reached a plateau? Have you achieved the limit in the amount of productivity your staff can handle? Are you truly, completely satisfied? What if your revenues could grow without adding staff or enlarging your facility, would you take the necessary steps? If your answers were yes you need to investigate the benefits of workflow automation. Workflow automation is all about taking those low-value, standardized tasks and letting your business process management software perform them instead of your intelligent employees. Things such as data entry from hand-filled forms, report compilation, regulatory compliance adherence , claims tracking, AR management, HR tasks and much more can be accomplished with technology. How can automating processes do more than simply relieve staff of mind-numbing tasks and actually grow your business? Automation frees up skilled labor and boosts productivity. Every department of a healthcare organization has repetitive processes that get handled manually. When highly paid employees must spend time doing menial tasks such as re-entering data already collected at intake or having to physically hand documents over to coworkers for collaboration or sorting through department tracking sheets to extract information for comprehensive reports, for example, they have less time to spend performing the activities that earn revenue. But when your data can populate documents electronically across departments so it never needs to be re-entered, those skilled people have time to take on more patients, distribute more product, or crunch more numbers in a given period of time. Administratively, your back office can enjoy a level of efficiency scarcely possible without workflow automation. Automation reduces operational costs, which can convert to product or marketing improvement. In the same vein, by reducing time spent on work that can easily be handled by your software, you can re-assign personnel to areas that would better benefit your bottom line -- or, you could even leave open positions unfilled. Also, when your documents are created, processed and stored electronically with all requisite data security, you can spend considerably less on the machines, supplies, manpower and storage space devoted to paper systems. Automation reduces human error Mistakes cost money. Not only do you have to deal with the lost revenue stemming from a mistake (like a denied claim), but you have to spend the additional labor costs to correct it. For instance, patients with questionable handwriting filling out paper registration forms often lead to errors in the paper file. These mistakes can end up as denied claims. However, if patients were to register themselves at a check-in kiosk or on a tablet, transcription errors can be greatly reduced. Plus, now patient demographics can be embedded in their permanent file without any further data entry. Automation can improve your reputation When payers receive accurate claim information regularly, they see your heallthcare organization in a positive light. Patients who never suffer the negative contact from you because of claims that should have been paid have greater confidence in your practice. Similarly, in the process of referring HME companies, accurate and organized information helps elevate your company in the eyes of your potential referral partners. Better reputation equals repeat business. Once established as an organization that seldom makes those basic, avoidable errors, your patients or clients will tend to return. Moreover, happy patients, clients, physicians and third-party healthcare providers are likely to refer new business to you, as well. Workflow automation stands to help your healthcare organization revenues grow as you cut operational costs. By eliminating human mistakes, paring staff, taking on more patients or clients and applying financial savings towards effective marketing, distribution or product development, you establish a solid growth framework.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/what-is-automation/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/what-is-automation/ Mon, 30 Jan 2017 17:59:00 +0000 Medforce VP Ellen Sluder is participating in HME New's Smart Talk columns and is focusing in on automation as a theme. In the first of 4 articles, she explains why automation is critical to a thriving healthcare business. Click through to read. > This article was orignially published in HME News. Click hear to read it in its original format.  Automation is a powerful tool that helps reduce costs. What’s exciting about automation is that it saves time and therefore money—a few minutes at a time throughout the day, resulting in a bank of saved time that can be redirected to high value activities.  Automation at its core isn’t about replacing people with technology, but rather elevating your staff by removing the tedious, non-value-added, busywork. For example: Eliminate the need to walk a file to a coworker’s desk by automating the handoff with a simple click. Stop wasting time repeatedly checking if an ERN has come in to follow up on a claim or refund due because you will get an alert as soon as it comes in. And, get the real-time visibility and reporting you need at your fingertips without having to wrestle with multiple spreadsheets and pivot tables.  Automation is the answer to the problem of efficiency leakage that happens sporadically throughout the day. If you save five minutes from a process that an employee repeats 12 times a day, that equals an hour saved every day and five hours a week. Over the course of a full year, that results in an astonishing six and a half weeks of time that can be put to use elsewhere to keep your company thriving. And that’s just one person. Instead of necessitating an overhaul of the way you do business, automation allows you to run your operation the way you want but faster, with more precision and more safeguards. The results aren’t just seen in the cumulative time saved, but it is also felt in the peace of mind you gain knowing nothing is falling through the cracks.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/the-true-costs-of-employee-turnover/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/the-true-costs-of-employee-turnover/ Thu, 26 Jan 2017 14:20:00 +0000 Replacing an employee can be harder, and more expensive than you expect, when your processes aren't well-defined and efficient. These are the areas to focus on.> It's no secret that employee turnover can be a costly situation for many businesses. Naturally, you'll need to get a new person up to speed with your software, systems, and processes. It is a reasonable expectation to assume new employees will perform their job functions less efficiently than their predecessors in the beginning. A few years ago, the Center for American Progress reported the costs of turnover for employees who make <$75,000 averaging between 10 and 30 percent and up to in excess of 120 percent in some cases. Translated into time, this means turnover costs could equate to as many as 15 months before the new hire is fully capable of doing his or her job efficiently and in a cost-effective manner. So, what's the mystery behind these expensive numbers? As LinkedIn influencer Josh Bersin states, "Many studies show that the total cost of losing an employee can range from tens of thousands of dollars to 1.5-2X annual salary." Within those numbers, there are hard costs, such as recruiting and advertising expenses, and there are soft costs that are harder to calculate. The latter of which can include anything from decreased employee engagement and morale to lost knowledge that leaves with the exiting employee. If the training structure in your organization is poor, your turnover costs will likely be even worse. Business process management (BPM) systems close the gaps and minimize turnover expenses, but only if you have proper systems in place. The following are some common places where turnover costs can cause greater-than-expected expenses: Hiring costs. Whether you're paying a recruiter, shelling out cash for online job advertisements, or paying in-house staffers to vet and interview candidates, there is an expense associated with hiring. Internal teams must take time away from tasks they would otherwise be doing, which can cause a bottleneck on everyday processes, while outside recruiters can become costly, particularly if the search is specialized or takes a long time. Overtime costs. While your new hire gets up to speed, existing employees will need to shoulder the burden of daily tasks. Overtime costs, which are often time-and-a-half or double-time, can add up quickly. Besides the monetary impact to your bottom line, overtime can lead to overworked employees and decreased morale. The sooner your new hire can carry his or her workload, the sooner your existing team can go back to a normal schedule. Training costs. Even if you hire someone who's very experienced, they'll still need time to learn your systems. Training costs account for a significant portion of turnover expenses. The longer it takes an employee to get up to speed, the more financial burden he or she is causing the organization. To minimize the expense of training, it's important to have a system in place that not only teaches new hires the basics but allows other team members to pick up where the former employee left off. This will facilitate a fruitful workflow for all. Degradation of Best Practices. If your organization doesn't have a proper training system in place, best practices have likely been lost over time. If new hires have been trained by coworkers, the educational process becomes a photocopy of a photocopy. In other words, the quality of training degrades over time, losing the strategic perspective and becoming simply about the daily tasks. As such, it's up to organizational leaders to implement systems that introduce the company's values at the onset of employment, helping to sustain the quality of training and best practices. When an employee leaves, you really don't know what you don't know. The less standardized your internal processes are, the less likely you'll be able to hit the ground running when someone new steps in. BPM systems alleviate these situations, allowing you to know exactly where the exiting employee left off. With this hurdle overcome, the rest of the onboarding and training process will go more smoothly, reducing your overall turnover costs.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/seven-advantages-to-cloud-or-hosted-bpm-software/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/seven-advantages-to-cloud-or-hosted-bpm-software/ Fri, 20 Jan 2017 20:06:00 +0000 Not sure whether your healthcare organization would benefit from a server or from cloud software? We break down some key advantages to choosing a hosted SaaS.> Most professionals involved in information technology within healthcare organizations agree that addressing and improving BPM pays dividends. For organizations or companies transitioning their BPM processes, many must decide whether to implement a server-based local platform for new applications, or to embrace the cloud and a hosted SaaS solution. While some very large, enterprise-class healthcare organizations may fare best with in-house data centers, for most organizations with tighter budgets, cloud-based applications offer benefits otherwise lost to them. Here are seven great reasons you should consider a hosted BPM provider. 1. Data Centrally Accessible for Interoperability At the core of any SaaS application is the ability to centralize all of your business data. Doing so makes it accessible and available for any use across the enterprise and even integrate with outsourced providers' or referral partners' systems. Data that's collected and input can then populate any incorporated form, fill in analytics charts, be tracked through set processes, and more. It also can be modified anywhere by authorized staff without manually recalculating reports. 2. Automatic Data Backup Continuing to use older IT infrastructure often means you must manually back up data on a regular basis. Any server crash can devastate your business operations if the data isn't captured frequently. However, with automatic data backup as part of your hosted cloud service, your organization suffers little or no disruption while current data is saved throughout the work day. You enjoy the freedom to devote time and energy to tasks that actively promote your strategic business objectives instead. DOWNLOAD: More tips on enhancing your productivity 3. Disaster Recovery With hosted services, disaster recovery is built into the application. Because data is distributed, if one system fails, the data can be retrieved from other servers. By renting server space from the giant data center providers, your IT partner ensures that even natural disasters at a data center won't mean loss of service or data to you. 4. No On-Premise Hardware to Maintain and Replace When providing your own servers, you'll still face the inevitable aging and occasional break down events. With a hosting provider, you'll never worry about expensive troubleshooting and repairs again. Nor will you fund new servers. With the data centers handling all the hardware infrastructure, the cost savings alone can render hosted BPM well worth the effort. 5. Virtually No Down Time Because your service partner will provide the infrastructure and its maintenance, you'll enjoy consistent uptime. Although some application maintenance must happen from time to time, it can occur during hours that won't interfere with your operations. Many providers plan maintenance tasks for late night. Your IT staff need not burn any midnight oil to keep your BPM product fresh and resilient. 6. No Storage or User Limits As on-site machines reach the boundaries of usage and storage, you'll need to add capacity. Additional machines take up more office or plant space and require more resources to advance with your organization. But with hosted services, you receive all the storage and performance you need, when you need it, without purchasing more machines or supporting them under your own roof. 7. Encryption for Ultimate HIPAA/HITECH Compliance Regulatory compliance, once a major concern for cloud computing, is made simple with strong end-to-end encryption. Since data security carries a sizeable price tag for any enterprise using in-house security staff, off-loading that expense while gaining highly secure encryption with a hosted provider will increase your ROI. As healthcare organizations discover that legacy systems can't keep up with (much less maintain a lead over) the changing healthcare industry, they're turning to hosted BPM services for the answer. Cloud-based SaaS offers all the benefits for smaller operations without the substantial capital outlays necessary for on-premise solutions.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/bpm-lessons-learned-the-hard-way/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/bpm-lessons-learned-the-hard-way/ Mon, 16 Jan 2017 20:59:00 +0000 Want to learn insights and BPM lessons from the pros? We've reached out to some business process management experts and asked for some advice on their takeaways from many years in the industry.> Business Process Management is an intricate, multi-faceted discipline that requires foresight and strategy. The only way you become better at BPM is through commitment and focus, which happens over time. Just as your employees have to commit to using the technology to guide their daily work, management has to commit to continual improvement, which means sometimes responding when the best-laid plans don't deliver the results you expect. What if you could cut out the beginning part where your healthcare organization has to closely focus and define (then refine and redefine) to find the perfected flow and instead skip straight to the time at which insights are revealed and lessons are learned? We’ve drawn on decades of experience working with companies looking to improve their business processes to deliver some wizened advice on better BPM. Start small Companies trying to reinvent everything at once are overextended and not able to handle problems that arise or build improvements into their approach. Instead, start with one important process build out from there – these processes will be related to your core foundation, and interplay will be better. It’s like Scrabble: Instead of trying to get all of your points in a single word from the outset, you lay a basis that allows you to score with some of the trickier combinations. But when you do start, go all in According to Medforce Technologies CEO Esther Apter, organizations struggle when they take a new process live but fail to fully commit. If you choose to implement BPM software with a notes section, for example, you can’t keep storing your notes separately in an email draft or a Google Doc, because you’re not centralizing data (which was the goal in the first place). “When you commit to a new process, you can’t bypass the system,” Apter says. “If your information is incomplete, there is no way to fully track processes, so you can’t uncover areas for improvement.” Secure employee buy-in For employees, changing process that are used every day can be scary. If they don’t understand the value of the change or why it is necessary, healthcare organizations may face resistance, which can (and will) hamper the success of the new BPM system. Medforce’s CTO, Nathan Apter, says that there are two main reasons employees may feel vulnerable when changing systems: Either because they’re comfortable and change-averse, or because they’ve been coasting, and know that technology would reveal their lack of productivity. Don’t slack on documentation It’s important to ensure that the software team, the admins on the customer side, and the users are on the same page. The best way to set expectations for alignment, according to a Medicare Part D Operations Manager at a Fortune 20 company (and current Medforce customer), is to document up-front, before questions arise or confusion sets in. “The translation from sales to implementation needs to be detailed so it is not up to interpretation,” the Operations Manager says. Productivity Hacks to Streamline Your Administrative Processes Set requirements If you’re considering a new BPM system, you must go in with developed ideas about the problems you’re looking to solve and ways in which you need to increase productivity. The Fortune 20 operations manager says that a developed vision of success may be best to implement in tiered stages that’ll serve as guideposts along the way. Schedule feedback Don’t just check in on calendar milestones – get regularly scheduled check-ins on progress on your KPIs, as well as the performance and usage of the BPM system or software itself. We recommend a standing weekly meeting, which will proactively bring challenges to the surface as they arise. Some weeks you’ll end up with nothing to report, but it’s always better to check in regularly than to be overwhelmed with big issues. If you do need to change something, it’s easier to make incremental changes than full revamps after a problem has festered. Track data before refining The case for revising your BPM processes is more effective when it’s made through data and analytics than when it’s a gut feeling or a judgment call. After choosing a BPM, says Nathan Apter, you should analyze data to understand where changes could have the biggest impact. “Of course you’ll see some small tweaks that can be made, but typically it’s easiest to repeat the current process electronically and then change the flows or activities to be more productive.”> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/reducing-time-spent-on-healthcare-paperwork/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/reducing-time-spent-on-healthcare-paperwork/ Wed, 11 Jan 2017 17:21:00 +0000 Is the amount of paperwork your staff has to process out of control? You’re not alone. According to a recently published study in the Annals of Internal Medicine, every hour physicians were seeing patients, they were spending nearly two additional hours on paperwork. The fact is: the workload is tripled for healthcare administrators.> Is the amount of paperwork your staff has to process out of control? You’re not alone. According to a recently published study in the Annals of Internal Medicine, every hour physicians were seeing patients, they were spending nearly two additional hours on paperwork. You often hear of doctors lamenting the pushing of paperwork over patient care. But what about the non-clinical paperwork? The fact is the workload is tripled for healthcare administrators. While physicians and patient care specialists are focused on the health of their clients, administrators are focused on the health of operations. Without the proper paperwork in place, reimbursements are denied and the well-being of the provider is put in jeopardy.  While the demands of medical paperwork and bureaucracy are well documented from a practitioner's perspective, the operational side doesn't get the spotlight it deserves. Medical offices are struggling to keep pace with an ever-increasing volume of paperwork and regulatory requirements on the administrative, non-clinical side. Medforce provides solutions to improve processes, save time, and maximize employee productivity. Tools such as ContentCenter offer a secure, feature-rich electronic filing and content management program that increases efficiency and employee effectiveness to ensure clean and complete claims can be assembled in minimal time. CommandCenter keeps all processes in order and maximizes automation to improve productivity and ensure nothing falls through the cracks. To learn more, complete the form below for a free consultation.  > https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/webinar-rethinking-faxing/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/webinar-rethinking-faxing/ Mon, 09 Jan 2017 15:16:00 +0000 We recently hosted a Webinar on Fax Management in Healthcare. We covered the top ways faxing is holding back your business and offer suggestions on how to improve your fax management. > Faxing is one of the most common forms of communication in healthcare, and also the area that is often most rife with inefficiencies and manual processes. Many providers rely on subpar procedures to manage incoming faxes, endangering critical information and slowing down business. In this webinar, we’ll cover the top ways faxing is holding back your business and offer suggestions on how to improve your fax management, including a brief demonstration of the Medforce Fax Management App. Key learning points: Identify common inefficiencies in fax handling Understand how common fax practices are undermining the productivity of your business Outline why eFaxing/email is not sufficient for proper fax oversight Learn new ways to create a streamlined, consistent fax management process Demonstrate the Medforce Fax Management App Watch the recording of the webinar in the Medforce ilbrary.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/how-bpm-can-improve-employee-management/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/how-bpm-can-improve-employee-management/ Thu, 05 Jan 2017 14:48:00 +0000 The right business process management system has the ability to transform a healthcare organization's approach to employee management, internal processes and more for increased efficiency.> It’s no secret that engaged employees are better employees. According to The Conference Board, engaged employees outperform disengaged employees by 20-28%. In terms of productivity, engaging employees returns hours every day. The right business process management system has the ability to transform a healthcare organization's approach to employee management, helping to engage employees and deliver better results. Implementing the right BPM will revolutionize operations. Read on to see how your BPM impacts employee engagement and can increase organizational efficiency. Best-Case BPM Think of business processes as building blocks for your organization. These foundational processes come together to make workflows. Unchecked, these workflows can be functional, but there are almost assuredly areas in which they could be improved. Enter business process management, which entails keeping tabs on everything from the essentials to the “minutia,” and you can coordinate between stakeholders to get your team working better. Since BPM involves itself with pretty much everything that goes on in an organization, it’s difficult to manage without the right tools. The age of technology has created huge, exciting opportunities for those who manage processes; because everything can be tracked objectively, those in control of BPM have unprecedented power and insight into how well things are actually working. Data informs decisions. With ideal BPM you can standardize, centralize, and automate operational priorities. You also can decide on the rules and the logic and weighing different factors – similar to an algorithm – and the highest priorities will always take precedence. This is a big-data approach to prioritizing and improving decision making by limiting the options to identify what’s truly important. BPM for Better Employee Management While these sound great as best practices, they’re nothing without tangible benefits to executives and decision-makers in healthcare organizations. With employees being a core resource of most companies, it’s important to understand how turning to BPM technology can revolutionize the ways in which you manage employees. Provides real-time insight into your pipeline – where is success coming from, and what’s not worth the time, effort or expense. Informs benchmarks and KPIs to strive toward Streamlines processes, balances workloads and maximizes productivity Lowers impact of employee turnover (configuration makes training easier and more standardized, and you may not need to replace departing employees when tasks are being done more efficiently) Lowers cost of employee management Enables HR, including better training approaches, managed employee files, and a more standardized hiring process How Employees Benefit The transparency involved in BPM technology (everyone has access to the same objective data) helps employees better understand why decisions are made, and to understand their role in the success of an organization. Employees also feel more empowered with the tools at their disposal. Offering the ability for employees to monitor performance allows them to understand expectations, see how they compare to others, and set informed goals for improvement in target areas to stimulate professional development. Employees who turn to BPM to anticipate workloads and upcoming items to address can plan and complete their work schedules with a greater degree of efficiency. Additionally, automated processes can reduce human workloads and allow your employees to focus on valuable, important tasks. No more grunt work. The right approach to technologically-integrated BPM results in employees who are more informed, better equipped to excel, and invested in crucial goals and outcomes. Improving the way a healthcare organization manages processes is a fundamental step to data-backed growth, improvement, and success – especially in stimulating authentic employee engagement.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/how-to-fully-utilize-reporting-and-analytics-in-healthcare/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/how-to-fully-utilize-reporting-and-analytics-in-healthcare/ Tue, 27 Dec 2016 21:15:00 +0000 Are you making the most of insights derived from healthcare reporting and analytics? Here's what HCOs can do to take advantage of data at their disposal.> Vast amounts of healthcare data pours into practices, clinics, hospitals and all other healthcare organizations daily. In the meantime, large efforts to digitize legacy records continues apace. All of this information sits at the fingertips of clinicians and business managers waiting to be used to improve clinical care and business practices. With the right analytics plan, the bigger picture emerges for healthcare organizations, leading to more efficient processes and higher quality patient experience. Those in charge of converting patient care into reimbursements can seek and eliminate inefficiencies in their business processes for a healthier bottom line. How do you make full use of your available data? Envision a Strategy You know where your information resides. If it is compartmentalized in a variety of unconnected legacy applications, your analytics will necessarily be disjointed and unwieldly as you stitch together reports on spreadsheets. For example, if you wanted to know how many of your patients were prescribed CPAP machines and what the average payer allowance was, could you do it with just a few clicks on your computer? You can piece together a reports for data analytics, but it may be a lot like trying to make heads or tails out of an x-ray film that was first shredded then taped back together. So, the first step of your strategy should be to link stand-alone information portals and information silos, then integrate the data across workflow processes. However, by leaving your legacy applications in place, rather than utilizing a customized application, is more akin to souping up an old muscle car hoping for the performance of a Lamborghini. Since your competitors will soon be racing in a Lamborghini, is it wise to challenge them with a '72 Chevelle? Develop an Enterprise Resource Plan (ERP) Once you've settled on a strategy, the concept and goal of pulling all of the patient, administrative, HR, vendor and supply chain activity into one searchable platform needs real world implementation. This can be extremely tricky, as you are about to revolutionize the entire business process. By developing an ERP with your IT staff and soliciting input from the rest of the staff regarding what they would like to achieve from an integrated system, you can model the concept, anticipate problems, correct for them and settle on a well-designed system.  Incorporate Analytics Tools By defining organizational goals and benchmarks to guide the team to successful fulfillment thereof, you can then build into your ERP the analytic tools that find and report the data you need. You can program in your organization's KPIs and have regular reports generated. By analyzing the KPIs you should be able to detect weak links in the processes of care delivery, reimbursement, employee management and consumed resources. Drilling down, you'll quickly find the sources of any detected issues and take corrective action, which is the main purpose behind data analytics. Automate To make the entire agenda of data collection, reporting and analytics efficient, any process that can be automated, including report generation, should be. With the power of technology, repetitive, low-value tasks, such as digging through financials and disparate departmental reports on a regular basis, can be set up so that data is garnered for specific reports as it comes into the system. Reports become as easy a click or two. As another example of the potential in automation, your software can generate patient files from the front desk, populate the files and claims forms directly from the input of the clinicians, and automatically send the claims to the payer or trigger self-pay billing. Then, it can monitor and process payer activity while your back office staff focuses on more high-value work. You can accomplish a more organized workflow with fewer workers or human error. Depending on the size of the HCO, designing and implementing a global application that delivers your data when and how you want it could be worked in-house with local infrastructure. But for the sake of economy, smaller enterprises can benefit by choosing a proven, reputable service provider with a cloud-based platform that can easily scale to need and fill any custom requirements.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/do-you-have-efficiency-leaks/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/do-you-have-efficiency-leaks/ Thu, 22 Dec 2016 20:18:00 +0000 You’ve gone paperless. You have some form of workflow automation in place. You feel good that you’re leveraging technology to reduce costs and improve productivity. But are you really doing all you can? Efficiency leaks are the "death by papercuts" of business operations. Let us help you plug those gaps. > You’ve gone paperless. You have some form of workflow automation in place. You feel good that you’re leveraging technology to reduce costs and improve productivity. But are you really doing all you can? We find many providers cover these big bases, such as document management, and then rest on their laurels, leaving a lot of untapped efficiency potential on the table. The challenge for us is helping people realize that productivity isn’t something that you gain in one fell swoop and then it’s done. It’s something that is accumulated over many small acts, throughout the day. If you save 5 minutes on a task you repeat 12 times, that’s an hour of reclaimed time every day. In a year’s time you will have saved 6.5 weeks of time. Over six weeks of time! These efficiency leaks – these 5 minutes of wasted time here and there are a real attack on your bottom line. It’s just hard to see them because individually they are single papercuts, but when they are seen as a whole over time, they are an cumulative assault on productivity. So where do these efficiency leaks lurk? Efficiency leaks lurk in non-value-add activities like unnecessary movement or unnecessary waiting. They lurk in duplicate data entry. They lurk in the effort and time it takes for a human to push paper that technology can do in a second. They lurk in tackling work in alpha order or chronological order rather than strategic priority. They lurk in the equating of the distribution of documents/files to the distribution of workload when it comes to balancing effort and reducing bottlenecks. Efficiency leaks lurk in the areas that you have resigned to accepting as the price of business – not realizing there are solutions that exist. Even if you have the big bases covered, you may still have leaks. Medforce's mission is to build technologies that fill those gaps and maximize your productivity while reducing operating costs. We’re happy to offer you a free consultation to provide an assessment of where these leaks may exist within your specific organization. Fill out the form below or email us at sales@medforcetech.com for an introductory evaluation by one of our Solution Consultants. > https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/avoid-the-cms-documentation-black-hole/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/avoid-the-cms-documentation-black-hole/ Thu, 22 Dec 2016 15:51:00 +0000 Providers must overcome many challenges when facing an audit. Due to the sheer volume of audit requests, labor costs can skyrocket and eat into your profitability. Missing deadlines can cost you your right to appeal, and documentation submissions can be a difficult to track. When you send by fax or post, it can feel like your submission went into a black hole.> Stop sending claims information into a black hole Providers must overcome many challenges when facing an audit. Due to the sheer volume of audit requests, labor costs can skyrocket and eat into your profitability. Missing deadlines can cost you your right to appeal, and documentation submissions can be a difficult to track. When you send by fax or post, it can feel like your submission went into a black hole and you waste time checking in and following up, trying to get some sense of what the status is.  Medforce's ZipMit ends the audit headache by allowing you to electronically submit Medicare-related documentation for audits, prior authorizations, and appeals. ZipMit is a complete esMD solution designed to ease CMS document requests. With ZipMit, you have a direct portal to transmit your documents to any review contractor swiftly and safely from your desk. You receive confirmation of receipt and a transaction ID that serves as your proof of submission. We've got your prior-auth covered, too! You can get prior auth results right on screen. We even transmit Home Health Pre-Claim Review requests. No more faxing or mailing and wasting time chasing answers.   End the Medicare documentation headache with ZipMit. To speak with one of our Solution Consultants or request a demo, please fill in the form below.  To learn more on our website, these are some additional resources for you to explore:  Article: esMD: Your Secret Weapon Webinar recording: Faster Payments through CMS's esMD Blog post: Audit Appeal Expert Advice Alert: Medforce transmits Home Health Pre-Claim Review requests for MAC JM - Palmetto> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/why-configurability-fuels-increased-productivity/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/why-configurability-fuels-increased-productivity/ Tue, 20 Dec 2016 16:02:00 +0000 Flexible systems that adapt to the needs of healthcare organizations is one of the best ways to maximize productivity. Here are some of the essential reasons why it's so important to have configurability.> In light of constantly-advancing technologies and shifting paradigms and practices, healthcare organizations need to anticipate changes and be prepared to optimize revenue cycles and care delivery during times of transition.  When processes have to be designed within the parameters of limited software capabilities, they will likely be repetitive and inefficient.  Providing flexible software systems maximizes productivity.  Three key components indicate that a software system can enhance staff performance. It supports multi-system integration.  High-quality software either eliminates the need for certain processing systems or allows them to work well together, reducing the number of tasks that have to be performed by staff and streamlining processes to make them more efficient. It provides real-time business metrics.  Configurable software allows you to access data from multiple channels without conducting complicated searches.  Thus, providers and administrators are able to generate comprehensive real-time reports so they can quickly make decisions or adjust processes.   It evolves with your practice.  While older software systems are soon outgrown, highly adaptable systems are scalable and can support growth and flexibility. Practical Implications You might be wondering what this looks like on a practical level for your practice as your administrators manage day-to-day operations.  Configurable software is user-friendly, which not only empowers employees to engage with it, but also includes components that allow patients to to be involved in their care in ways that improve front-end processes. Claims Management.  New software allows staff to edit claims, submit them in real-time, and track their status, minimizing denials and re-submissions.  Adaptable software enables providers to choose the desired clearinghouse to which claim print image files can be uploaded. Scheduling Appointments.  New software makes it remarkably easy for staff to schedule hundreds of appointments a day and easily make changes when patients cancel or reschedule.  Flexible options allow for variations in booking schedules.  Some systems even offer color-coding for different physicians or locations within the same network. System Integration.  Different applications can be easily integrated to save time and labor.  Especially beneficial are systems that allow staff to manage billing and EHRs from the same platform.  Codes can be transcribed from medical records to billing statements and claim forms, allowing staff to multitask simultaneously. Generating Reports.  The most highly-developed software options allow you to customize reports on quality of care, finances, and other relevant information.  Data is available in one place and administrators can select only the material that is useful.  Staff should be able to choose from among different options, for example, selecting date ranges or isolating data for specific payers. Ease-of-Use.  High-quality software should allow staff to accomplish tasks through logically-ordered processes and keyboard shortcuts.  It should not require a series of complicated steps or multiple searches. Access.  A key characteristic of configurable software is the ability to customize settings for different users.  Staff in various departments or positions should be able to personalize user preferences to access the data they need.  Your software system should also be able to accommodate the number of users in your practice.   Patient-friendly.  Software systems for healthcare providers should have options through which patients can access their health records through portals without administrative assistance.  Patients can also receive automated alerts and reminders about prescription refills or upcoming appointments, eliminating the need for employees to contact them directly.  Staff don't have to spend time and resources mailing statements and manually updating accounts when patients have the ability to view statements electronically and make payments through multiple channels. Software that offers flexibility and convenience not only fuels current productivity and efficiency, but is highly adaptable to meet the needs of your practice or organization in the future.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/tools-to-optimize-business-processes-next-year-webinar-series/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/tools-to-optimize-business-processes-next-year-webinar-series/ Tue, 20 Dec 2016 13:54:00 +0000 Is your organization running efficiently? If you missed the Medforce Business Process Optimization Webinar Series we presented this year, we're happy to offer a library of videos and recordings. Check out a few helpful resources for managing your business practices. > Is your organization running efficiently?  We hope you enjoyed the Medforce Business Process Optimization Webinar Series we presented this year. But if you missed it, we’re happy to offer a library of videos and recordings. Check out a few helpful resources for managing your business practices. Filling the Gaps in Efficiency / Efficiency Leaks:  Fax Management - Top 10 ways faxing is holding back your business and ways to fix it. Referral Management - 5 areas for improvement in managing referrals and capturing new revenue. Overpayment & Refund Management - Learn the easy way to minimize the cost of Overpayment and Refund management from ensuring the most efficient technology to maximizing automation. Vendor Invoice Management –  Top 8 reasons why the Accounts Payable department should adopt document management software to reduce cost, improve accuracy, and save time. General Business Productivity Series: How to Map a Process - Step by step guide to mapping your operations  Priority Management for Healthcare Operations - 4 steps to identify, communicate, monitor and refine a priority management system. Improving Employee Management with BPM - From HR and hiring, to daily work distribution, to minimizing the impact of employee turnover, learn how BPM is an effective tool in improving morale and keeping productivity on track. Faster Payments through esMD - Hear CMS explain the origins and vision for esMD and see a demonstration of just how easy our ZipMit esMD product is to use. 7 Ways to Automate Accounts Payable- Tips to use technology within AP to improve productivity and profitability.    Avoid the sinking feeling that there are still gaps and breakpoints in your quest to maximize productivity.  Whether you’re a current customer or are in a business strategy forecasting stage, these tools will help you better plan, manage and optimize the cost, time and resources for a maximum bottom line in 2017. For more information, visit the Library section of the Medforce website, or request a free introductory consultation with a Solution Consultant.  Wishing you all the best in 2017!   > https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/rxinsider-improve-profitability/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/rxinsider-improve-profitability/ Fri, 16 Dec 2016 18:05:00 +0000 Medforce is featured in RXInsider's 20 Ways, Winter 2016 edition. Learn how to improve pharmacy profitability with Medforce's affordable, modular document and process management software. > Medforce is #18 in RXInsider's 20 Ways for Specialty and LTC Pharmacies for Winter 2016. Click here to see the full layout and access the overview video.  Click here to learn more about what Medforce can do for your pharmacy.    Improve profitability with Medforce's affordable, modular document and process management software.  Maximizing efficiency goes beyond basic content management.  Medforce fills the gaps in productivity enabling you to be truly paperless across your whole operations from patient files to Accounts Payable.    Medforce Technologies, Inc. provides productivity-enhancing software and services to help pharmacies adapt quickly to change and do more with less. Our flexible and highly-customizable document and process management products work in all departments including intake, AP, claims, AR and HR.  Founded nearly 15 years ago, Medforce initially focused on helping healthcare companies go paperless with electronic filing. Over time, our software suite expanded to increase efficiency in all areas of operations to grow margins, reduce costs and improve cash flow.  Our modular software solutions fill the gaps in your current systems to elevate your staff’s focus, enhance productivity, and maximize profitability. Available on-premises or hosted/SaaS, our products are reliable and scalable to conform to the way you work. You are experts in your business. We are experts in using technology to improve productivity. Together, we make a great team. For more information, visit: www.medforcetech.com/pharmacy> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/5-processes-you-might-be-failing-to-automate/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/5-processes-you-might-be-failing-to-automate/ Mon, 12 Dec 2016 21:03:00 +0000 Evolving technologies and increasing demands on the time of administrators make automation more essential than ever. Learn what you're not automating now that you should be.> Rapidly-evolving technologies and increasing demands on healthcare systems are making automation a "must-have" for medical organizations.  While often associated with job loss because machines are thought to replace humans, automation merely extends human capabilities for care delivery and process management.  Automation provides a host of benefits to individual providers and health networks. Employees no longer have to perform tedious, time-consuming tasks, which allows them to capitalize on their clinical expertise in higher-functioning roles. Automation tools increase accuracy and consistency in data entry.   Automation reduces waste by allowing for paperless processing. Automation helps providers connect with patients, who are encouraged to be more involved in their care. [GUIDE] How Automation Can Hack Your Office's Productivity Best-Practice Processes to Automate Automating these five processes can transform RCM and workflow management. Accounts Payable.  Physicians are faced with the challenge of maximizing revenue while providing the best possible care.  Resources have to be used as efficiently as possible.  Automating accounts payable can help administrators do more with less and engage effectively with vendors.  Staff who manage accounts payable frequently contend with issues such as resolving matching errors and handling exceptions, entering data manually, keeping track of or effectively processing invoices, and accurately predicting liabilities.  Many practices are using technology that is five years behind that of other industries.  Automation lowers labor costs, since fewer employees are needed to manage invoice processing and related tasks.  Staff are better able to take advantage of early-payment discounts and avoid late fees.  Without automation, processing an invoice can take 25-60 days.  With up-to-date technology, processing can be accomplished in 2-5 days.  Real-time access to information enables administrators to quickly spot and address data discrepancies to make revenue management more efficient. Auto-filing.  Keeping documents organized can be a challenge, especially if data is kept on a limited number of computers or stored in hard copy format.  Auto-filing is a cloud-based method by which providers can securely store information.  On-site file storage could be seriously jeopardized by floods or fires.  Auto-filing reduces your risk if a natural disaster strikes.  According to the Paperless Office Project, it costs $122 to locate a missing document.  Auto-filing ensures that information will be available when you need it and allows you to index documents under multiple attributes so they can be retrieved instantly.     Auto-Populating Forms.  Self-populating forms save time and minimize data entry errors in processing claims.  They also expedite provider credentialing, which often involves providing the same information on multiple forms.  Auto-population enhances the documentation integrity of patient health records, which is especially important in light of HIE, meaningful use standards, and new payment paradigms. Faxing.  Transmitting sensitive health information via paper-based fax machines poses serious security risks.  Patient records may be sent to the wrong number or the fax machine could be located in a non-secure area.  Many practices hire additional employees when trying to use out-dated faxing technologies with EHRs, just to manage faxing transactions.  Automated faxing can be integrated with EHRs without the need for extra staff.  Task Creation.  Data availability in real-time allows processes to be monitored and improved as needed.  Automated platforms collect information on how systems are working and use that information to incorporate improvements.  Thus, the system becomes more efficient and accurate over time, optimizing staff performance.     Technology alone will not enable you to accomplish your financial and administrative objectives.  It's critical to get staff on board, educating them about the need for change and equipping them with the tools and training to successfully implement it.  Doing so will optimize outcomes for everyone on your healthcare team.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/what-to-look-for-in-a-business-process-management-system/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/what-to-look-for-in-a-business-process-management-system/ Wed, 30 Nov 2016 21:52:00 +0000 With so many options on business process management systems, you don't just want one that checks some of the boxes. Find out what factors matter most and how you can get a customized solution to your BPM.> Selecting a business process management system can be daunting, but it's not impossible to choose a system that increases productivity and scales to your business.  It's an important decision for any business, because the right BPM can help improve your workflow process and allow you to do more with less.  There are hundreds of solutions to choose from, with different strengths and weaknesses. Since you can't evaluate every part of every system, here's our shortlist of important factors to consider before choosing a BPM for your company. [eBook] Getting more done shouldn't be this easy... Necessary Features You can't just choose any BPM - your choice must move the needle and generate better business outcomes. Most business processes require multiple steps, which may include patient intake, insurance verification, claims submission and more, depending on your individualized business needs.  Ideally, your BPM software or system should help eliminate unnecessary steps and streamline processes.  Look for systems that help identify and automate common steps and establish who in your organization is responsible for each step. Good BPM systems will help you map the steps and identify how long each step should take. Another integral feature is real-time claims processing and multiple electronic payment options. Any system in patient-related healthcare should easily handle Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance payments. However, just as importantly, your system should provide ways to improve efficiency in other areas. HME News recommends five keys to success: Remote problem-solving - Consider systems that allow your remote service personnel to interact seamlessly with field personnel. Let field workers handle more - Standardizing how cases are handled will enable on-site workers to accomplish more. Give customers multiple communication channels - A well-designed self-service portal bridges communication gaps and offers the right format for responses, requests and collaboration. Bonus points if it logs actions and interactions, and offers analytics and insights Reduce truck stock - Consider a system that allows you to follow up with field workers immediately after a service event. This will enable you to get valuable equipment off the truck and back into your inventory. Increase service event management - Look for systems that will eliminate bottlenecks, silos and other inefficiencies. [DOWNLOAD] Crucial ways you can hack your professional productivity. Key System Differences BPM systems differ from one another in a few key areas. Some systems are Windows-based, while others may be integrated with your organization's website or are fully functional online instead of residing on your internal servers. Another area to investigate is whether your system can streamline external collaboration with vendors. Often there are areas for improvement when working with outside companies. Questions to ask include: Can you have your vendors send you electronic invoices instead of mail that has to be opened, scanned and distributed? Can you have your referral sources use a secure online form to send referrals rather than traditional communication methods? Can you provide secure view-only access to case managers to look at the status of a delivery to encourage self-service?  Some systems offer an "all-in-one" solution that may seem attractive on the surface. However, it is important to approach this from an a la carte fashion if you're looking to build a customized and scalable system that captures the processes important to your business' needs.  How to Identify a Successful System The best systems connect and automate processes, people, and content to streamline your workflow. They're intuitive and easily navigated by users. Look for systems that also enable your patients and clients to interface with your company.  Ideally, your BPM system should allow departmental teams to coordinate on projects. It should be just as easy for Marketing and Sales to use the system as it is for Billing, Finance, or Patient Care personnel. Start by identifying the areas where process improvement is most critical. From there, look for ways to streamline tasks and improve worker efficiency. The best BPM system will provide solutions to most operational inefficiencies right away. Consider a company that provides scalable solutions instead of a one-size-fits-all approach. Your ideal business process management system will be a facilitator for efficiency within your company, built to meet your needs and offering a suite of services that empowers your administrators and other employees to be exceptionally effective.  > https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/product-roadmap-2017/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/product-roadmap-2017/ Wed, 30 Nov 2016 21:00:00 +0000 Part of our planning process for 2017 includes building a product roadmap that is a combined effort between all departments, led by what we understand to be our customers’ greatest needs.  We look at both performance improvements as well as new product development, and our road map helps us to stay on track and make sure that what we are putting together is meaningful to you. > Part of our planning process for 2017 includes building a product roadmap that is a combined effort between all departments, led by what we understand to be our customers’ greatest needs.  We look at both performance improvements as well as new product development. Our road map helps us to stay on track and make sure that what we design together is meaningful to you.  Our approach to product development is defined by changing industry environment and customer needs. Address customer needs, first and foremost Enhance core competencies Improve user experience Stay ahead of competitive pressure Maintain ability to pivot quickly Ensure ability to propose large projects and implement quickly Some of the items that we are currently working on are: Rolling SignCenter out to the market at large, ensuring we have the features needed to handle multiple use cases. CommandCenter – improved grouping and overall performance enhancements ContentCenter – improved autofiling results screen and data extraction capabilities ZipMit – navigation improvements and adding Home Health Pre-Claim Review submissions Web App – adding features, updating  navigation and branding, and improving display on mobile devices Medforce Apps – bringing new Apps to market, including  AR Management, New Hire Management (HR), Intake Management and others Reporting and Analytics – Improving visibility and providing actionable data. Expanding list of standardized reports. Improving interoperability and adding integrations, including the ones underway with ResMed AirView and Philips Respironics. If you have any ideas of additional features, functionality or new products you’d like to see developed, please reach out to Ellen Sluder, VP of Marketing, at esluder@medforcetech.com to get them on our product roadmap. > https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/tip-tricks-external-link-tool-elt/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/tip-tricks-external-link-tool-elt/ Wed, 30 Nov 2016 20:44:00 +0000 Did you know that you can connect almost any software directly to your ContentCenter files? Whether it’s your billing program, Excel, Word or any other 3rd party software, our External Link Tool (ELT) buttons can be configured to effortlessly open or create a file in ContentCenter. > Did you know that you can connect almost any software directly to your ContentCenter files? Whether it’s your billing program, Excel, Word or any other 3rd party software, our External Link Tool (ELT) buttons can be configured to effortlessly open or create a file in ContentCenter. At Medforce, we’re committed to interoperability and building the integrations you need to minimize cost and improve efficiency. We always want to hear from you if there is an integration you’d like to see developed. But you don’t have to wait for us. Get instant access to all of the documentation and information you need, regardless of the software you use.  The External Link Tool is a standard feature in ContentCenter Instantly view or create patient files Implement in almost any software you use Create unlimited number of buttons within 3rd party applications Customize buttons to link to specific patients and fields within your documents Name your buttons with meaningful terminology Options for static or dynamic buttons, depending on where the pertinent information appears in the 3rd party program Contact our Support Team at support@medforcetch.com or 845.426.0459 x2 and we’ll be happy to help you set it up. To design and create buttons yourself, follow these steps: Open the program you’d like to connect directly with your documents Right click on the External Link Tool in your system tray and select “Show Form” Follow the step-by-step instructions to create, customize and publish your button. Although it is a simple process to set up a button, we typically recommend Administrators create them for consistency and efficiency. For On-Prem clients, the buttons should be configured on each work station. For Hosted/SaaS clients the buttons can be configured centrally to appear for all users. As always, if you have any questions or need any help, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Support Team. We will be happy to help you implement a custom linking button or can organize an online training on this tool with the implementation team. You can reach our support team at 845.426.0459 x2  or by emailing support@medforcetech.com.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/boost-employee-efficiency-with-automation/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/boost-employee-efficiency-with-automation/ Tue, 22 Nov 2016 21:56:00 +0000 Switching to an efficient, digital approach makes a huge long-term difference in companies' productivity. Here's why automation helps you boost the efficiency of your employees, especially administrators.> The continuing revolution of healthcare delivery and reimbursement models places manifold challenges on providers. For organizations of all sizes, automation has become a do-or-die proposition. Like birthing babies, the transition from labor-heavy analog processes to sleek digital systemization can mean suffering some amount of pain, but the anticipated results make the change worthwhile. Once implemented as routine, automation stands to boost employee efficiency to the point where staff can spend more time focusing on patient care and far less on standardized tasks and paperwork. Bloated HR, billing and collections departments will find themselves more organized, less wasteful of time and paperwork and more accurate all around. A small sampling of further benefits to be expected when partnering with a Software as a Service (SaaS) developer includes the following. Administrative Consolidation Depending on the nature of the services, intake procedures can be automated so that the patients check themselves in and deliver their information digitally, rather than on paper forms. Intake information automatically sets up, or adds to, the internal file which also initiates the reimbursement process, eliminating redundancy and manual data entry. This system alone, overlapping with clinical services and HR, enables your business to: Reduce operating costs and do more with a smaller staff. Automate appointment reminders. Integrate services provided with electronic medical records and billing. Collect and organize data for metrics and analysis. Deliver requested patient files instantly. Integrate billing, collections and payer systems. [WHITE PAPER] Make administrative tasks more productive Save Time in Clinical Patient Contact Patient care, the heart of the business, depends on timely attention from your skilled staff. Automation can: Enable first-contact staff to help patients with non-clinical tasks and needs. Permit the actual high-salary providers of care to focus on clinical delivery rather than paperwork and administrative tasks.  Improve quality and consistency in record-keeping and retrieval, leading to fewer, potentially fatal, mistakes. Help track patient compliance with prescriptive care plans. Reduce hospital readmissions. Streamline Human Resources HR departments perhaps stand to gain the most from the initial phase of automation. The ongoing flow of employee paperwork requires staffing larger than needed in this digitalized world. Automation software allows HR managers to: Merge talent searches into the onboarding process. Coordinate benefits, salaries, continuing education requirements and offboarding. Keep on top of periodic tasks with alerts. Integrate and manage timekeeping and payroll functions with regulatory changes. Keep records centralized, organized and available to multiple staff members without constant paper duplication. Manage compliance regulations. Manage employee inquiries with personalized access. Utilize the cloud for data security and backup. [DOWNLOAD] Why automation means more productivity Procurement For supply procurement departments and those healthcare businesses centered around home care and medical equipment, automation solves many vexing problems: Tracking inventory, ordering, shipping and receiving. Managing equipment use and destinations in real time. Tracking service results as proof of quality for hospital referral partners, thereby gaining and maintaining confidence. Enable easier CMS compliance processes. Although much of the business of healthcare occurs at a distance from direct patient contact, every part must contribute to quality patient experiences. Anything less erodes competitiveness in the marketplace. At the dawn of information technology, financial managers enjoyed the temporary luxury of considering SaaS to be optional; a nice idea, but too expensive for the bottom line. Now, however, with the capacity for automating labor-intensive, complex tasks and reducing overall operating costs, SaaS must be recognized as a necessity. The day comes when all administrative connections between patients, providers and payers will be electronic and standardized into one interoperable format. Anyone anywhere in the long business chain of healthcare delivery will either have the capacity to participate or will wither away, overshadowed by the leaner, connected competitors that take full advantage of SaaS.> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/key-factors-that-change-your-software-needs/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/key-factors-that-change-your-software-needs/ Tue, 15 Nov 2016 17:25:00 +0000 10 crucial factors you should use to evaluate your business productivity software, and what features improve or streamline processes.> Amid new regulations, payment models, and paradigms, healthcare providers and companies face new RCM challenges.  It's crucial that they rethink their administrative solutions.   For providers, the shift toward value-based care requires technology solutions that enable integrated data systems and real-time access to that data.  As more of the responsibility to pay for care falls on patients, practices have to shift revenue collections from a back-end to a front-end operation and adapt payment models.  Providing the tools to allow staff to complete front-end tasks with maximum efficiency is essential to avoiding processing delays and lost revenue.  According to Healthcare IT News, only 15% of providers report having "very sophisticated" capabilities to support new payment models and related data systems.  Additionally, healthcare vendors facing administrative inefficiencies encounter serious setbacks and disadvantages when compared to competitors with better-managed workflows and more fluent software. Increasingly, organizations are recognizing the need to innovate.  Certain indicators can help practitioners determine when they've outgrown their current software. Save time and money by becoming more productive  Information must often be entered manually.  Tasks frequently prove redundant, as the same data has to be input multiple times, increasing the likelihood of errors and delays. You've reached the maximum number of administrators who can use the system at one time.  This is especially problematic for practices that have multiple departments.  Sometimes information is server-based, with data stored on a limited number of computers. Information is not available in real-time.  Appointment schedules, insurance verification, and payment information cannot be accessed or updated efficiently.   Managing exceptions causes significant workflow disruption. Systems cannot be integrated.  For example, administrators are unable to integrate patient accounts with EHRs. Providers struggle to comply with HIPAA requirements, ICD-10 standards, and other regulations.  Lack of compliance may be considered fraud, with serious legal implications. Administrators cannot effectively monitor cost management and revenue cycles to measure progress in meeting objectives.  Staff often have to resubmit claims because they cannot be processed efficiently. Inferior software systems do not allow administrators to upload claim files to the clearinghouse of their choice.  Instead, they're required to use one provided by the software vendor, often at considerable cost. Lower-quality systems may provide inferior customer support. Outdated software cannot ensure data safety, raising security concerns. What To Look For Once you've concluded that a software upgrade is called for, consider the needs of your practice and the IT solution that will provide long-term benefits.  Several features will help you streamline administrative processes. Convenience is key.  Staff should be able to access data quickly, using keyboard shortcuts and a minimum of scrolling through menus.  Data systems should be interoperable. Cloud-based solutions provide enhanced access and security. You should be able to customize settings for different users or departments to facilitate processing and protect sensitive information. Updated software allows staff to efficiently schedule appointments and make changes.  Some software options offer color-coding for different physicians.  Schedules, payment information, and EHRs are available in real-time.  Advanced software can also send appointment alerts and reminders. It should be easy to create, process, edit and submit claims. Staff should be able to easily file completed claims and generate customized reports.  They should also be able to create superbills. When insurance companies provide electronic remittance files and EOBs, these can be easily imported and posted to provide a record of insurance payments. High-quality billing software gives you the capability to create a claim print image file that you can upload to the clearinghouse you want to use. Adequate support is essential.  Read reviews on the quality of customer service and training offered by the vendor. Investing in premier software better positions you to transform your administrative processes, achieving best-practice management strategies that ensure optimal compliance and consistently meet the needs of customers and staff alike. > https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/musings-from-the-floor-of-medtrade-fall-2016/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/musings-from-the-floor-of-medtrade-fall-2016/ Fri, 11 Nov 2016 21:16:00 +0000 We gathered the thoughts of our sales reps who spent time talking with Medtrade Fall 2016 attendees. What are the biggest concerns? What are the areas that people are quick to want to fix? > We had a great time at Medtrade Fall 2016. A week after getting home, we reflect on some takeaways from the show floor.  Providers are becoming more aware of the "small" inefficiencies that add up. For example, printing electronic documents for review by an approver, just to scan them back to the system later. For them, we demonstrated how business process management like CommandCenter can help you tremendously to gather documents, assign for review, automate hand-ffs, track the process and - in the case of an audit - send directly through esMD.  Faxing continues to be a huge area of opaqueness and inefficiency. We were honestly surprised at how many providers still use physical fax machines, given the overhead costs and lost productivity walking all over the office. But even for those who use e-faxing, many don't even what they are paying for faxing or whether that is a good deal or not. Also, many providers feel confident in their ability to handling incoming faxes, but outgoing remains a problem. To these attendees, we demo'd Medforce's Fax Management App and put together low-rate proposals for Fax Service.  Write-offs are another area of inefficiency for several reasons. In some cases, the cost of handling write offs only compounds the impact. In other cases, there was concern that write-offs were being hidden and not properly addressed. In both cases, CommandCenter can help you set appropriate checks and balances for your AR collections and ensure you collect the maximum amount for minimal cost.  Streamlining referrals is an area we heard several providers focused on. Building a referral portal using web forms and/or using the Medforce Referral Management App can help you regain control of this important revenue stream.  Spending money to save money. It can be difficult to consider spending money on technology in the face of greater reimbursement cuts, and providers want assurances of both short- and long-term ROI. We were happy to sit with folks in our booth and walk through the equation of what the time and cost calculations return in value over time. We'd be happy to do that with you over the phone as well.  Getting staff to change. Change is hard, but, especially in what seems like an increasingly bleak industry landscape, it is the only way to survive. We talked with many providers about how to take the software and ideas they learned about back to their staff and gain their buy in. We have written several blog posts about this and also invite you all to attend our upcoming webinar on improving employee management.  It was an excellent show. We signed 3 contracts right on the show floor! And we look forward to continuing conversations with our new contacts. If any of the above topics resonate with you, please don't hesitate to reach out to us, we'd love to talk.   > https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/the-most-effective-way-to-approach-process-reform/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/the-most-effective-way-to-approach-process-reform/ Mon, 07 Nov 2016 16:04:00 +0000 When you have to change, how can you reform processes in healthcare while still maximizing efficiency? We recommend this model for improvement to optimize process reform.> In our fast-paced world, change is inevitable.  Even the most effectively-managed entities within the healthcare industry will have to make adjustments at some point.  Amid new legislation, technological innovations, and shifting paradigms, businesses and healthcare practices have two options- maintain the status quo, or develop a strategy to keep pace with new developments.  Process reform may seem like a daunting endeavor, but it doesn't have to be.  Providers and industry leaders can assess their current situation and map out a course of action, breaking it down into manageable steps, to accomplish long-term goals. First Things First:  Get Your Staff Involved  It can't be emphasized enough how important it is not to overlook the human side of process reform.  This is especially the case when introducing large-scale IT innovations, but holds true wherever significant change is implemented.  Everyone who will be impacted by the changes needs to be involved from the beginning.  Employees want to understand how reform will be implemented and how it will affect them.  As a leader, you'll be better able to accomplish your objectives if your team is on board. Work faster, work better, and accomplish more: Best Productivity Hacks The Model for Improvement Providers should always be aware of elements that impact, or have the potential to impact, their practice.  A multitude of factors can have a profound affect on processes and budgets.  Providers should also identify policies or procedures that need to be modified. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement and many other health-related organizations use the Model for Improvement, a framework for implementing change in the healthcare industry.  The model doesn't have to replace strategies your practice is currently using.   It is merely intended to accelerate the changes you're hoping to bring about. The Model for Improvement consists of two components.  The first suggests three questions to consider (in any order) with the team you're collaborating with. What are we trying to accomplish? How will we know that a change is an improvement? What change can we make that will result in improvement?  [White Paper] Save time and work better with these easy productivity hacks The second component, the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle, which enables you to test changes in realistic settings, guides you as you evaluate change to determine whether it's an improvement. Include the right people.  Consider who will work best on your team. Set aims that are time-specific and measurable.  Be sure that they define the patient population or system that will be impacted.  Determine quantitative measures to help you decide whether a particular change leads to an improvement. Select changes to implement.  You can get ideas from people in your practice or from those who have already implemented process reform successfully.   Test changes using the PDSA cycle.  Attempt change on a small scale, perhaps within a small group or department.  Observe the results.  If it's successful, try it in a larger area.  PDSA is essentially applying the scientific method within the context of work environments for action-oriented learning.  Implement the change.  As you test change within a small area, you can "tweak" it as needed.  Repeat PDSA cycles as you fine-tune your modification.  Then, test it in a broader environment, such as an entire department or unit.  Spread the change.  After your "pilot test" you can move on to other departments in your practice or other organizations within your network.   Although it may seem overwhelming, implementing process reform can be extremely rewarding.  Increased revenue, faster ROI, investment in staff expertise, and better organizational communication are just a few of the many benefits you can expect when you see your improvement plan through to completion.  Additionally, you'll be better equipped to anticipate and manage subsequent reform initiatives.  > https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/webinar-improving-employee-management/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/webinar-improving-employee-management/ Fri, 04 Nov 2016 21:02:00 +0000 From HR and hiring, to daily work distribution, to minimizing the impact of employee turnover, learn how BPM is an effective tool in improving morale and keeping productivity on track. Plus, we’ll cover strategies for gaining employee buy-in. > It is difficult to manage employees in today’s fast paced environment. High turnover, training challenges, opaque processes, and an inability to objectively measure performance can make your hands feel tied as a manager. Business process management is a tool that gives you the visibility and control you need. Not only can you keep a real-time pulse on the productivity of your team, you can empower employee independence, identify areas for process improvement, and optimize your resource allocation for growth.   In this webinar, we’ll take a look at business process management software from the perspective of a manager. From HR and hiring, to daily work distribution, to minimizing the impact of employee turnover, learn how BPM is an effective tool in improving morale and keeping productivity on track. Plus, we’ll cover strategies for gaining employee buy-in. Stop leading based on gut or anecdote and get on the proven path to managerial success.  Date: November 29th Time: 2pm ET / 1pm CT / 11am PT https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4816886052760257796> https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/home-health-pre-claim-review-pilot/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/home-health-pre-claim-review-pilot/ Fri, 28 Oct 2016 01:58:00 +0000 The demonstration project for the new pre-claim review required by CMS is underway in two states and is going to be rolled out to three more in the near future. Medforce is working hard to help our Home Health clients to address this major change in two ways.> The demonstration project for the new pre-claim review required by CMS is underway in two states and is going to be rolled out to three more in the near future. Medforce is working hard to help our Home Health clients to address this major change in two ways: Process evolution We are assisting in the reworking of processes to account for the earlier submission of documentation. We are currently helping customers to implement CommandCenter address and overcome the new administrative and compliance workflow challenges imposed by the pre-claim review demonstration project.  Electronic documentation submission ZipMit can now be used to transmit Home Health pre-claim reviews to the pilot areas as they become active.  Currently only MAC JM (formerly J11) – Palmetto is now accepting HH pre-claim reviews via ZipMit for Illinois and Florida. Here are the initial state activation dates: Illinois - August 1, 2016 Florida - October 1, 2016 Texas - December 1, 2016 Michigan - January 1, 2017 Massachusetts - January 1, 2017 For more information about how Medforce can help you address this new requirement, please contact us by filling in the form below or emailing us at sales@medforcetech.com. > https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/what-bpm-software-does/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/what-bpm-software-does/ Fri, 28 Oct 2016 01:24:00 +0000 How does BPM software work? Find out in this 90 second explainer video. > In our second installment of a three-part series to demystify BPM, we explain why BPM software is critical to maximizing productivity. BPM technology gives you unimaginable visibility into your business, the ability to pinpoint unknown problem areas and affect positive change. Plus, automated tools free up labor hours to redirect to growing your business.  Whether you want to focus on one process or your entire operations, you will learn what the right technology can do for you. Watch now!          Click here to watch Part 1: What is Business Proces Management?   > https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/medtrade-fall-2016/ https://www.medforcetech.com/news-and-views/article/medtrade-fall-2016/ Thu, 27 Oct 2016 15:50:00 +0000 There will be many opportunities for you to learn about the Power of Productivity>   Medforce will have a big presence at Medtrade Fall in Atlanta We are very excited to be returning to Medtrade next week. Not only will we be exhibiting (Booth 2045), we are involved in four conference sessions as well.  CEO Esther Apter will be presenting twice and participating in a panel discussion.  Priority Management for HME - Monday October 31st at 3:15pm Mapping your Processes - How to Get Started - Wednesday November 2nd at 8am Panelist: Let's Work Together - Moving Beyond Data Integration to Interoperability - Wednesday November 2nd at 9:15am. Moderated by Chris Kinard from LifeHME, other panelists will be from QS/1, Brightree, Universal and Mediware.  VP of Marketing Ellen Sluder will be moderating the panel: All-in-One versus Best-of-Breed – How to choose software that is right for you on Wednesday, November 2nd at 2:45pm Panelists include:  Miranda Beam, General Manager of Red Ball Medical Supply Katie Allen, A/R Specialist Team Lead, PromptCare Respiratory Caryn Stephens, CFO, All Med LLC Bryan Hines, COO, Laboratory Tactical Consulting   Visit the Medforce team at booth #2045 at any time   Our team will be on hand to demonstrate our products including: CommandCenter – Business process management to maximize productivity ContentCenter – Document management that saves time, money and hassle FormsCenter – Electronic data capture to connect and track your business SignCenter - E-signature built for healthcare RemitCenter – Denial management that improves the bottom line ZipMit – Complete esMD to ease CMS document requests Medforce Apps – Focused solutions to common challenges  If you’d like to schedule a specific time to see a demo while on site, please email us at sales@medforcetech.com. For more information on the Medtrade show please visit www.medtrade.com.   >