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University Radiology and MedInformatix have installed and enabled 15 of approximately 25 identifying data entries for patients, which everybody at the practice will be automatically prompted for and required to enter to ensure that radiologists have all of the necessary information for proper diagnosis and treatment. The EHR application will guide users toward collecting all patient information, down to the correct spelling of names and addresses.
"If something isn't entered, or is entered incorrectly, the data entry process cannot move forward," Goldszal said.
Some critical of the ARRA's meaningful use provision express reservations over what they term the "Big Brother" aspects of Stage 1, which requires the capturing of so highly personal patient data. Goldszal strongly disagrees.
"Meaningful use establishes a process to measure and report key health information. When you think about such things as influenza and the potential for outbreaks of current and future esoteric diseases, the more information that's available, the better from a national health perspective.
"Some smaller practices also express concern over the capital investments that meaningful use requires," Goldszal continued. "The thing is, the cost savings and benefits of a digital as opposed to an analog records system is sizable with respect to a lessened need for record keeping staff and the time required to search for analog-based records, which translates to more money spent."
These factors, combined with Government incentive payments of as much as $44,000 per provider for medical facilities implementing certified technology by 2012, rapidly speed the ROI curve as meaningful use improves practice workflow across all areas, including the scheduling of appointments and exams, all the way to b
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