Looking at AC a few times now, I am still not clear how best to streamline the handoff of the chart without it being cumbersome? ESPECIALLY, how do you hand off the chart electronically to your billing staff so they know easily that it is ready for them? For example, my current system which Allscripts is dumping works like this:
--under the 'plan' tab I can pick when I want to see pt back, I can type any specific pt Instxns that will print out with the pt visit summary from the front desk
Once the chart is saved and an icon is chosen the pt status on the schedule automatically changes to 'ready to discharge' alerting both my nursing staff and receptionist the pt is ready for them.

--there is a section on that same page that I can write orders for my nursing staff such as EKG, adacel check pox etc and without interrupting my flow the nurses can finish up with the pt while I'm seeing the next one
I don't see any easy way to transfer the chart seamlessly to the nursing staff or receptionist with AC?....

--from a billing standpoint, that same page has radial buttons for 'not ready to review' 'ready to review' (these automatically tell my biller that if it says ready to review she can go ahead and submit the claim even if the note is not complete on my end bc the other two buttons are for 'complete' and 'incomplete'...
It automatically keeps track of my incomplete notes so I don't miss any that need to be finished on my end (finishing the physical or whatever) but as long as SP(services performed) and Dx parts are complete and I've chosen the button for 'ready to review' it doesn't hold up the billing
How do users in AC transfer the note from the physician to the biller in an efficient way??
(Please don't say you use paper superbills or my head will fall off). ; ))

Patricia J Danaher MD
Family Medicine
Newfane, NY