Medical document management services help hospitals, clinics, and doctors' offices manage the vast health records that they're legally required to keep for patients. If you run one of these medical practices, look for the following features when selecting a medical document management service. The best companies in the field will offer these features.
Comprehensive Document Management
Make sure any document management service you choose handles all types of medical records. They shouldn't only manage doctor and hospital records, but they should also integrate these records with dentists', optometrists', and chiropractors' records.
A comprehensive approach to record management will ensure that your healthcare providers have ready access to any patient health information they might want.
For example, periodontal disease can increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Integrating dental and medical records will give cardiologists relevant information that they might otherwise not have.
Other medical doctors may want to look at different types of records. An orthopedist might want to know a patient's chiropractic history, for instance. Comprehensive integration will make sure doctors have access to whatever they might want to check.
Compliant with EMR Mandate and HIPAA Laws
Any medical document management service considered must be compliant with the Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Mandate and the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The EMR Mandate requires all medical providers to maintain electronic health records, and HIPAA is the body of laws that govern how patient information is protected.
Not only must medical providers be compliant with these legal requirements, but any document management service should be too. If data is compromised while at a document management service, both the management service and the provider who has the records could be held accountable (or at least sued).
Virtually all medical document management services will be in compliance with these laws, assuming that the services operate within the United States. Nonetheless, it's worth conducting due diligence and confirming compliance.
Medical Billers and Coders on Staff
Medical billers and coders frequently work with insurance companies, converting services into standardized codes that insurer use. Coded services are helpful outside of insurance, however, as they provide a standardized way to quickly reference procedures and services.
Having medical billers and coders on staff will expedite sorting out any questions that arise around coded procedures and diagnoses. If a question arises and a document management service doesn't have staff who know insurance coding systems, sorting out the issue could take longer.
For more information on medical document management services, contact a professional near you.
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