MEDPEDS

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MedPeds is situated in DC suburb Laurel, Maryland. It is a private practice of 23 employees and 8 providers that provide outpatient services to nearly 18,000 patients between 2012 and 2014. The patients’ demographics included 4,606 patients under the age of 18 and 854 patients over the age of 64. Also, the patients were from different socioeconomics and ethnic groups.

In 2013, MedPeds became the 10th eClinicalWorks customer to be awarded the Ambulatory HIMSS Nicholas E. Davies Award of Excellence. MedPeds used the EHR (Electronic Health Record) to improve patient safety and improve the health care delivery process. In doing so, they achieved a demonstrated return on investment. By implementing an efficient EHR, the practice experienced the ability to locate patient's chart, cost saving initiatives and made the delivery of health care more efficient and convenient. MedPeds gained significant organizational, financial and cultural benefits when they implemented EHR.

Through the implementation of a robust patient portal that features the ability for patients and doctors to communicate, MedPeds improved patient engagement. MedPeds created a site that provides responses to numerous common questions. It also provides links to useful community resources. Additionally, the practice employed text and voice messaging to contact the patients with crucial communications on common health matters, appointments, and general practice notification. Also, MedPeds made use of smart phone applications, CHADIS, and the social media to monitor children developmental matters.

With the utilization of an innovative tele-health initiative and the help of employee-wide incentive, MedPeds leveraged the electronic health record to manifest to its meaningful purpose and consequently was indorsed as a Level 3 PCMH (Patient Centered Medical Home.) Its improvement included:

•         Collection of ethnicity, language and race data

•         Cigarette Usage documentation

•         Enhanced Care Transition

•         Clearinghouse rejection reduction

•         Increased colonoscopy and mammogram orders for appropriate patients.

•         Reduction in patient waiting time increased productivity

•         Aged claims over 180 days reduction

MedPeds could contact the patients who didn't complete the ordered test demonstrated EHR's clinical value. The practice utilized the new technology to track down over fifty patients who were past due their colonoscopy in 2011. During the process, one patient who had missed the annual test was identified. After contacting the patient, the colonoscopy test revealed an early stage of cancer. The patient fully recovered due to an early detection and treatment.

Return on Investments Lessons learned from MedPeds include:

Add staff to compliment the functionality of EHR. MedPeds implemented a new billing workflow supported by the EHR after adding a practice manager. To confirm workflow compliance, reporting was used. Additionally, staff performance was boosted by incentive payments. Consequently, collection cost decreased significantly after implementation of the new EHR-enabled billing.

Use radical change to yield cultural benefits and spur success. MedPeds scanned all the active charts then stored the papers in an off-site storage location to ensure the proper EHR implementation. This radical change ensured the implementation of EHR would not be delayed or prolonged. No staff working for MedPeds had previously used EHR. After the EHR had been adopted, the staff worked together to conquer and understand all the challenges brought about by the new technology.

Following the implementation, schedule fewer patients during the first few weeks. MedPeds took the healthcare of urgent care patients during the first few weeks the following conversion. This slow-down allowed the providers and staff to know more about the new technology without crushing the normal patient load.

The overall financial improvement provided the practice with the flexibility to relocate into new offices and renovate them with more exam rooms, improved work area for the staff, a spacious waiting room and more efficient workspaces.

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