Traditionally, patient records management has been a time-consuming and complicated process for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). Administrators have to prepare, organize and store paper charts for each patient. Record storage requires a good deal of space, and retrieving the right information can take time and human resources away from other important tasks.
The Challenge
A surgery center was looking for a more efficient and cost-effective way to manage physician dictations and patient records.
“Before we were using a printer service for documents,” said the ASC administrator. “If we needed to access records – if a physician needed a copy of their Operative Note, for example – it was inconvenient. We would have to jump through endless hoops to find what we were looking for.”
The Solution
The location began using MedTek’s EZchart and Transcription services and has since experienced significant time & cost savings. The EZchart format has been so effective that the administrator wants to duplicate it for converting his credentialing charts to a digital format.
“EZchart is arranged digitally, so it’s really easy to find what I need,” said the administrator. “It’s more efficient, because if a doctor needs a copy of their Procedure Report or a billing company sends a request for info, I can just go into the electronic chart and, POOF! – it’s there. Setting up charts is very convenient; you just hit a button, and everything prints. And the physicians love MedTek’s Mobile App integration for the Transcription Service. Doctors can access their patient schedules, dictate, review, edit and E-sign reports from anywhere, any time.”
The Results
The administrator’s ASC has switched from using a third-party printing service to managing all patient charts in-house, which reduces both expenses and staff hours. The ASC is also in the process of converting archived paper charts into digital format on the EZchart System.
“Our goal is to not have any paper charts. We want them to all be digital,” said the administrator. “Eventually, we’ll be able to eliminate the storage unit that we pay for monthly. MedTek’s services help us save considerable time & money, every day. And since our staff doesn’t have to spend as much time doing things like building charts from scratch every day and endlessly pasting sticky labels onto forms, they’re able to focus on more important responsibilities.”
Learn more about MedTek’s EZchart and Transcription solutions.