Measure 13 (clinical summaries) is a good starting point for a discussion of the next phase in MU. By "next phase" I do NOT mean "phase 2": I mean "using MU to improve patient care". For many of us, ever since we heard about the MU program, our focus has been on meeting the MU criteria to get the incentive. In the process of doing so, I could see
some potential real value to the patient; this is not all an exercise to get us some money. Having gotten the payment, I would like to move towards using AC and MU to improve patient care. If you consider the idea of providing "an after-visit summary that provides a patient with relevant and actionable information and instructions", which is what the MU measure says; well that is a pretty laudable goal. While I have not always done it, I have often felt that it would be a good idea. So if AC can make it easily doable, then it is a win-win; better patient care and we get the MU incentive.
Given that I want to provide a summary, the next issue is "exactly what do I want to provide"? The required list provided in the measure:
(click here and go to the definition of terms for "clinical summary"). It is actually not a bad list.
It would nice if you could edit the list (removing certain sections) and format it to our liking. But here is the issue: on one hand, you want to be able to tailor the document to include the items and look the way you choose, but on the other, you want it to happen quickly and effortlessly. Some compromise is in order.
What are our choices now?
1. Apparently you can meet the MU measure by offering the summary; if the patient refuses, there is no need to print one. This is most easily achieved by hitting "preview" in the "Print instructions (summary)" screen and then closing, without printing. This meets the MU requirement without any patient benefit. Brock, you might consider that. It is what I did initially.
2. You can do print the CCD and give that to the patient after each visit. Upside is meeting MU, providing some significant useful information to the patient, and doing so very quickly and easily. Downside: lots of extra paper and verbiage, often to the point of overwhelming the patient and wasting their time.
3. Use the "Plan" section of AC which is then printed and given to the patient (without the CCD). This also gives significant useful information (date of visit, who they saw, medication list and new and dc'd meds, ordered tests and referrals) and is very fast and easy. Downside: it doesn't meet MU, though you can hit "preview" (including the CCD) and then print the letter but not the CCD, and you are all set with MU as well.
One proposal for AC: in the letter writer there is an option to select sections of the encounter which are included in the letter. How about a similar option to select which portions of the CCD are printed to be provided to the patient? That would make it quick, easy, and worthwhile to use the CCD to meet the criteria.
