Hi all:
My last thread Blog of a Newbie II got off subject so I'm starting a new thread.
I'm reporting at the end of my very first week of using AC. WOW!
I've had ups and downs, highs and lows, but I'm happy with the speed that me and my staff are learning to allow AC into our workflow and adjusting our workflow around AC. The two mesh nicely.
I'm excited to see how quickly my staff is learning it. End of week 1, and they are pretty much all experts with it. Even my wife (office manager and office R.N.) who jokingly claims that she has "computerphobia" is catching on.
They are processing referals, calling or computer-faxing in scripts, and documenting WAY BETTER (used to use dreaded STICKY NOTES....yes, like the little paper sticky notes that drug reps give us, not high techie computer desktop sticky notes).
My staff are scanning in PILES of paper charts in their free time. They are also updating the Past/Family/Social histories and Med Lists/Flow sheets at the same time. We had some glitches with this initially, but now we are scanning with great reliability. All of my databases are on a central server with multiple backups, so I'm not so worried about losing data. We've had to discuss proper filing techniques however because there were some minor mishaps.
The PLAN of PAPER ATTACK: scan in Monday's charts on prior Friday, scan in Tuesdays charts on prior Monday, etc.... This should get scanned into our computer about 60-75% of our most active patients within 3 months. I figure this makes more sense then starting at A and working to Z (about 2,000 charts, some multiple volumes).
I'm relocating my office down the street to another building once the renovations are complete (June 2008). I want to leave ALL of the PAPER charts in a big pile that we can set afire, or shred, or maybe we'll make 5 billion paper airplanes with all that paper!
I'm also updating our new AC charts as we go, if staff can't get it all done, I'm providing a final check with each patient to make sure the information is correct. Here's my spiel: "So Mr. X, we will be required by Medicare and other private insurers to have e-charts, and I'm going to review some things with you while in this state of convertion from paper. Can you help me update...." then we review the information that I've entered into the AC chart, giving the patient opportunity to say X,Y, or Z is not quite accurate or "wow, I have that many problemss?"
Amazing!
