Home Forums Discussions Problems vital signs

I am new to AC - using about a week - version 6 and going okay but I noticed that after a signed off a note that includes the vital signs - the meaningful use checker says "vital signs not entered". Am I doing something wrong? Donald Phillips MD

Are you entering ALL blue-box items, ie: height, weight, BP, and BMI(which is auto-calculated from the height and weight info)?
All of these 4 measured items are considered the essential vitals for MU criteria.

I am putting all of them in and they are saved with the encounter and if I print the encounter they are all there - but the meaningful use still apparently does not see it? I tried it on a John Doe chart after I caught it and still didn't. Donald

I think I'm just looking at it wrong. I am going back to an encounter and looking at the meaningful use check list - but I think the list is actually seeing a note at that moment which I am not really creating? So maybe there is not a way to go back and look at the list for a previous encounter? Thanks, Donald

I also wonder if you are not looking at it correctly.

When you are creating one of these notes, you should click on the blue Meaningful Use Wizard button in the upper right corner of the current progress note, before signing off on it. This ensures that you are not forgetting any of the requirements for that current note.

on the left side of the MU Wizard dialogue box, there is an option "Show:" and on the drop down menu, three options: All, OK, Not Entered. Make sure you select "Not Entered." This will show you only the measures that still need to be met.

If the vital signs are not entered at all or in part, the MU Wizard will indicate that "Core 8: Record vital signs" is "Not Entered." You would then fill in the vitals, click again on the MU Wizard button in the upper right and this indication will go away, thus you have met that requirement.

There is no way to go back to a prior signed encounter and run a MU compliance report for a specific encounter. You can only do this on a current note that is open and not yet signed off.

Thanks Adam. That is what I'll start doing. Still trying to decide if meaningless use will be worth it but I'll start out trying anyway. Donald Phillips MD
Cedar Hill, Tx

No problem Don.
One piece of friendly advice, don't try to hit all the criteria all at once. Over the next few weeks, ease yourself into it. Communicate with your staff frequently and enlist them in helping you wherever possible. Help them understand meeting these goals are as important for them as for you.

Since it sounds like 2012 is your first year seeking attestation, you only need a 90 day reporting period to qualify for the whole year (subsequent years require a full year of reporting, but the 1st year only requires 90 days). Take a month or two to get the office routine tweaked in whatever way is necessary to make this flow well for you and staff.

Then start your 90 day period. You can report any time after the 90 days, you don't have to wait for year end to attest.

Thanks. I have read that over and over and was still confused. I thought that since I waited until 2012, it would require the whole 12 months. This is good news. And you're right - trying to get too much done too quickly will drive you nuts or make you stop.

Don Phillips MD
Cedar Hill, Texas