Reasons Why Change is Important
By William McElmurry, Senior VP and Vertical Practice Leader at SoftServe, Inc.
Twitter: @SoftServeInc
With the ICD-10 compliance date now slated for next year, 2015 should be the year that U.S. healthcare industry begins to run more efficiently than ever before. By making faster and final transitions to the ICD-10 coding systems, the U.S. healthcare industry should run more efficiently than ever before. Individual healthcare systems, in turn, will integrate more smoothly, easing information sharing between organizations, and both provider and payer space should become easier.
Here are a few specific reasons why the move is important to HIT professionals:
- Measuring health care providers: Uniform medical coding means standards of practice for providers become easier to track, making it possible to efficiently identify possible problem areas and then address and correct them quickly and efficiently. Conversely, what is done right can also be communicated more effectively. Overall patient care needs are met more thoroughly and efficiently, which in turn enables providers to treat more patients with fewer patient errors. In addition, patient engagement and Meaningful Use is fulfilled throughout course of treatment.
- Reduction of supporting documentation: Specific ICD-10 coding allows for information to be shared with less paperwork. Because the codes are so much more precise than the ICD-9 set, ICD-10 coding allows for patient medical information to be shared with less paperwork. Files between providers (where multiple providers may be required for patient care) would be easily accessible and shared, which results in total patient care throughout the course of treatment.
- Total continuum of healthcare: Rather than risking human error with coding while in treatment with multiple providers, ICD-10 coding allows these providers to communicate patient needs and diagnoses correctly. When a patient’s care becomes reliant on multiple providers, it is imperative for coding to be exact. Multiple medical files from several facilities are better coordinated, resulting in treatments applied in correct manners and sparing the providers confusion. Moves toward interoperability will help ensure patients receive better overall care throughout duration of their treatment.
It is necessary to look at the entire scope of conversion required in order for successful transition to occur. The software systems that various Healthcare Providers run need to balance so that all parties involved – from patients to payers, doctors and their staff – maintain high-quality interaction and service throughout. Proper change to ICD-10 coding is an effective method for information sharing between all providers.
There are many solutions available through independent software vendors (ISVs). To create an efficient software module and systems of engagement, all factors must be considered. Regulatory Compliance, Interoperability, Data Analytics and Total Cost of Ownership are the key components to completing successful upgrades to the ICD-10 coding system.
Healthcare IT professionals are striving to make resourceful, effective moves towards these efforts. Continued progress toward integration and end development solutions will create a safer, simpler healthcare ecosystem.
About the Author: William McElmurry is an accomplished executive with over 30 years of leadership experience in many segments of the healthcare marketplace including work with providers, payers, and software solution vendors. He is an active member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) where he was a moderator at the World of Health IT conference. Bill currently serves as Senior Vice President and Vertical Practice Leader at SoftServe, Inc.