Question

You are a member of a committee that will select a Physician Practice Management System. What can you expect to observe when you evaluate the scheduling capabilities of the Physician Practice system? <p>

Answer 1

I expect to observe  physicians and office staff to quickly book and confirm appointments and manage schedules across multiple providers, locations and days of the week. Many systems also allow patients to book their own appointments online.

One of the biggest hurdles clinic staff face when it comes to scheduling is the need to simultaneously ensure each physician’s time is appropriately allocated for patient visits as well as conference calls and other miscellaneous meetings. Medical practice management systems give staff members real-time insight into each provider’s availability, allowing them to instantly identify potential scheduling conflicts. The software also helps clinic staff avoid (or reduce) double-bookings and also to automatically verify a patient’s insurance coverage prior to the patient’s visit.

I expect to prepare billing statements and generate electronic claims based on patient encounters. The system scans bills and claims to ensure that they not only follow payor regulations but also include correct diagnosis codes. If the system identifies an error or conflicting information which could potentially delay payment, staff members receive a notification so the problem can be resolved. They’ll also be alerted if claims or patient payments are overdue.

I would also like to ask some questions

• How often a patient no-shows for their appointment
• How long staff members are spending on tasks
• How quickly payors reimburse claims
• How the clinic is performing against Meaningful Use objectives
• How long a claim has been in accounts receivable