Free of cost, the Referral Partner Program consists of IT consultants, healthcare consultants or IT partners who want the opportunity to sell PrognoCIS. Imagine an IT consultant goes to a doctor’s office to update the computer system, and they observe that the doctor is still working with paper records. The IT consultant then refers the doctor to Bizmatics for a demo of PrognoCIS. If Bizmatics closes the sale for an EMR with the prospective doctor, the IT consultant referral partner receives an agreed upon commission percentage.

There are absolutely no fees to pay or quotas to be met to be a referral partner, provided that they attract new opportunities. According to Bizmatics rep, Anthony Bates, all referral partners start out under the supervision of a sales rep. “They can learn PrognoCIS while watching demos with their clients,” he says, “and 6 months down the road, they can sell without a Bizmatics rep.”

The second partner program is the VAR (value added reseller). VARs tend to be original equipment manufacturer (OEM) vendors that that have a product but need to add to their healthcare portfolio, says Bates. “Vendors typically will partner with us and put a little skin in the game.” Take for instance Bizmatics’ VAR referral partner Benchmark; they have a practice management solution, but no EMR. “In a situation like that, vendors would come to us and ask if it would it be OK if they bought a perpetual license from us to offer clients the best EHR for their product,” he explains. The EMR itself is PrognoCIS, but the practice management package it comes with has Benchmark’s name on it.

The VAR Program also differs from the Referral Partner Program in that they do their own setups and support with clients and Bizmatics receives a portion for every new client. The most noted advantage of being a VAR is having higher return on investment. “They don’t have to worry about commission,” says Bates, “they get a much larger slice of the pie for them.”

For more information about either of these partner programs, please call us at 877-693-6748.

In PrognoCIS’s case, Bizmatics sales rep Jeff Baker assures doctors that yes, PrognoCIS is indeed capable of customization.   Customization of an EMR starts with choosing from the 22 templates available that best fit your practice’s specialty.  “I tell them how easy it is to customize and how to change questions,” says Baker.  “I go into a template during a demo and show them how easy and flexible it is.”  Template changes can even be made on short notice, including during an exam with a patient.  Making changes is very simple, “Basically, they just click on the component and they go in and make modifications,” explains Baker.  Changes include adding selections to the dropdown boxes and altering the wording of prompt questions.

For doctors who feel that customizing even the best EMR is too much fuss, think about it this way:  what if you purchased an EMR and, low and behold, it isn’t compatible with your practice workflow?  Then what?  Now you’re stuck with software you’ll never use.  Discussing the benefit of flexibility, Baker points out that from ease of view standpoint, the doctor has some input on the questions.  “Second,” he says, “it gives a layer of personalization, not cookie cutter out of the box EMR.”  Customizing an EMR’s functions makes it personal to that particular doctor – it looks the way they want it to look.

Specializing in pediatrics EMR software, Baker gives an example for pediatricians:  as part of a well exam, pediatricians must follow certain developmental milestone templates based off of CDC standards.  Doctors must ask about lead-based paint in the house.  If the house is older, follow up questions ask what year it was built and if it has been checked for lead-based paint.  Essentially, sometimes doctors want more information about the developmental milestones and would be able to add additional questions to the template.

Back in the early part of the 2000s, there were no real criteria set as to what an EMR should do, so comparing apples to a pumpkin seed was more the norm than apples to apples.  With the advent of EMR certifications in 2007, pushed by the Government, physicians are quickly becoming aware of what they should be expecting of their EMR.  Software vendors, in turn, are being held to a standard and have had to make sure that their systems deliver accordingly.  Thus, physicians have become more sophisticated in their expectations of an EMR medical software, not only in terms of features and functionality, but also with their expectations of the implementation and training services provided.  They realize that methodical, well-organized implementation and training plans are crucial for a successful launch of their EMR. You can have the best system in the world, but if the vendor is unable to analyze your workflows and tweak the system to match your requirements, or is unable to communicate well to you and your staff, then it will just fizzle on the launchpad.

The last piece to the puzzle is responsive, on-going support, so that during the launch phase, your EMR rocket will continue to accelerate. It will eventually settle into a successful, peaceful orbit, after which minor corrections might be required from time to time.  So, while the previous years have bred skepticism, we are seeing products improve as doctors think twice before being bulldozed into a high price EMR medical software by a “large EMR Company”.  No longer will they simply write out a check based on a large brand name – and that is healthy!

Lack of experience with computers, Bizmatics rep Anthony Bates claims, makes some doctors approach implementing electronic medical record technology with hesitation – especially those of the Baby Boomer generation who did not grow up using computers.   How can technology-phobic doctors be helped to overcome their fear of using EMR technology?  “There are several ways we can help them bridge that fear,” Bates readily offers.  The first being with Nuance voice recognition software offered with PrognoCIS, which he compares to iPhone’s Siri.  The voice recognition converts the doctor’s voice into medical data format or progress notes in the patient’s EMR, allowing the doctor to not be slowed down by typing.

“Another way we can help is through tutorials or video presentations,” says Bates. “They’re available internally for doctors to view, step-by-step, our different modules – it’s called the Resource Center.”  The tutorials are available to Bizmatics clients for free where they can teach themselves how to use the EMR at their own pace.  On top of the tutorials, PrognoCIS was rated a five-star for ease of use.  “We are not very difficult to learn, we’re EMR 101!”

Some doctors prefer to just learn their part of the EMR medical software and leave the rest to their practice manager.  This method is perfectly fine; however, a good percentage of doctors genuinely do want to be fully hands-on with the experience and that does come at an advantage.  “I think it’s better and smoother if a doctor knows everything about an EMR; then you can see what’s paying off and what isn’t, what’s redundant and what isn’t,” says Bates.  Having fluent knowledge of their electronic medical record software shows doctors how to best utilize it and take advantage of all the features it offers.

The deadline delay has not slowed down physician questions about ICD-10, according to Bizmatics sales rep Kemp Stephens.  “Doctors want to know when we’re going to be ready,” he says and explains that Bizmatics does have a department currently working to bring their PrognoCIS software up to compliance to meet deadline.  Another common question received regarding the ICD-10 is whether or not it will be included in the upgrade or if it will come at an extra cost.  Stephens assures that ICD-10 is included in PrognoCIS and the updates.

Curiously, Stephens finds that the upcoming coding change petrifies many doctors.  “They’re scared because it’s a whole new language,” he empathizes.  “They’re already looking at EMR as slowing down and ICD-10 will slow them down more.”  ICD-10 is so detailed that it actually contains 5 times the amount of diagnostic codes than for ICD-9.  Stephens explains it includes very specific codes for detailed events, such as a fall.  The physician will have to fill in the code in their electronic medical record for the events surrounding the incident.  “Was it [the fall] down some stairs or because they tripped over a bicycle?”  Doctors will have to implement an education program to learn ICD-10 and perhaps rely on the help of coders.

Despite the worry and strife ICD-10 (and its delay) is currently causing, the end result will improve the overall quality of health care.  “By gathering data from across the country, you start to get a detailed, granular look at how different things happen to people,” says Stephens.  “It can be useful for looking at trends overall and for the government, as to where resources need to be and to get better healthcare.”

1.  Find an EMR vendor that allows for one-stop shopping:
“Make sure the vendor’s product has all the functionality and features that fulfills all the needs of your practice, such as EMR, faxing, and can interface with outside companies like labs,” advises Bizmatics sales rep Jeff Baker. A truly integrated product, PrognoCIS offers an all-in-one solution, providing EMR, schedules, billing, and ability to scan documents.

2.  Go with an EMR vendor that has received the latest in government Certification:
This is important so you can qualify for incentives and because you know from a functionality and technology standpoint that it will be tried, true and tested in a market. “We do have all our latest government Certifications for PrognoCIS: CCHIT and the latest ONC certifications,” says Baker.

3.  Make sure the EMR vendor is going to be compatible with the latest technology:
“You want to be state of the art with your practice,” says Baker, “and staying ahead means having the latest gadgets like iPads and mobile devices.”  The database platform on which PrognoCIS is written is a Microsoft SQL platform. “The client platform can work with PCs, iPad and Mac, allowing you to use the system you’re most comfortable with.”

4.  Look for the best vendor and EHR solution for your practice:
Find a vendor that has the flexibility to work within the confines of your business and also make sure the vendor has the experience working with your specialty.  It’s important that you trust the vendor and take their word. “Check references to make sure you know what you’re getting,” recommends Baker.  Currently, PrognoCIS works with more than 20 different specialties and despite having many different pre-made templates available, the software is customizable to suit the specific needs of the clinic.

Bizmatics sales rep Anthony Bates feels the apprehension of the transition when he talks to prospective doctors and practice managers over the phone.  What GE’s cessation of Centricity support means for customers is that they will have to go with a value-added reseller or find another solution.  “If they don’t find a solution,” analyzes Bates, “they’ll be working on an EMR solution that’s not Certified or supported – they don’t have a choice.”  In their search for a new EMR, Centricity users branch out and find themselves talking to smaller, younger vendors such as Bizmatics, Allscripts and eClinicalWorks.  Bates sees it as an excellent opportunity for smaller vendors to prove to customers of the renowned company what they’re worth and gives them the chance to shine.

So, is Bizmatics capable of converting electronic data from Centricity to PrognoCIS?  Yes, indeed.  With the help of an engineering team on staff, they are able to convert and transfer the data to the new software program.  “There’s a one-time conversion fee for GE customers that’s dependent on the amount of data you have,” explains Bates.  If you would like more information on converting patient record data to PrognoCIS from your old EMR system, call 877-693-6748 to speak with any of the friendly reps at Bizmatics.

The EHR solution allows every physician to see a patient’s entire health record.   According to Bizmatics sales rep Ian Daniels, there are multiple platforms in a patient record: labs, radiology, hospital and practice, etc.  “Each has a component of medical record – we want to tie them all together into one record,” says Daniels.  “That’s kind of the holy grail of what everybody’s trying to get to,” he explains, regarding doctors’ ability to see a patient’s whole record from their computer or tablet.

A continuous electronic medical record through HIE creates a win/win outcome for both doctors and patients.  With a patient’s whole medical history at their fingertips, the individual doctor will no longer exist in a vacuum, but rather in a community.  With a full history, doctors have more relevant clinical information in front of them to make more educated decisions.   With health information exchange, patients receive a higher quality of health care; the doctor can now see every X-ray, lab result, diagnosis and treatment the patient has received to take into account when continuing the flow of care.  Daniels points out that the payer benefits from HIE as well: the fewer duplicate testing ordered, the fewer bills insurance and patients receive.

As the next phase in EMR technology, EMRs should be able to interface with HIE, says Daniels.  There are already a handful of HIE vendors on the market.  “We’re in that first stage of that right now – when is it going to be where every practice is going to be involved?  Maybe never,” he says.  However, he points out that the majority of practices should be participating in 4 to 5 years.  Aimed to stay on the cutting edge, Bizmatics’ PrognoCIS fully intends to keep pace with the new trend in health information technology:  “We recognize that it’s the next step and that’s the direction we’re taking.”

From a vendor’s point a view, the regional extension center serves as a great tool to connect doctors with EMR vendors.  Bizmatics appears on 30 of the 77 REC site lists, says Anthony Bates, Bizmatics sales rep.  Using the state of Maryland’s Health Care Commission website as a prime example, prospective buyers can view and compare vendor product pricing, security policies and case studies related to electronic health care record systems.  “All our competitors have to have to meet the guidelines set by that regional extension center,” says Bates.  The vendor guidelines vary from state to state; for example, a state may require prospective vendors to already have a certain number of customers in their state to get listed on the website.  REC sites work great for vendors, claims Bates, if the vendor meets requirements and the EMR software is certified, they get listed.  However, some REC sites chose to remain vendor-neutral.

Receiving assistance from an REC actually improves the doctor’s chances of choosing the best EHR and successfully meeting meaningful use.  Some physicians started on paper charts and need the extra guidance; the REC holds their hand in regards to demos of EMRs the doctor is looking at – they set up the interface between the doctor and vendor.  “Doctors really need someone in their state that they can rely upon and not pay an ungodly fee,” says Bates.   “The role of the REC is to be someone neutral that has the doctor’s best interest in mind – that’s why the pricing matrix is for all vendors, so they get to see the cost up front.”  Physicians reap the benefits by having all this information on a website and it provides an assessment for their practice.  The REC is paid grant money to work with the physicians and therefore, the physician gets to engage with someone neutral that doesn’t have ulterior goals in mind.

Bizmatics sales rep Kemp Stephens believes this dreaded latter view is brought on by the fact that many EMRs expect users to adopt all features within a certain short period of time, causing everyone involved to have a nervous breakdown.

Stephens offers these handy stress-reducing steps to ramping up before going live:

Choose 3 New Patient candidates from tomorrow’s schedule:

This sets a nice limit so that you don’t have to stress out. Continue working with all other patients the way you always have. Your chosen EMR may have other “easy yet useful” features to consider using first, but the idea is to just practice and build up your confidence with your 3 candidate patients until you feel that you can take on the World, which will be surprisingly fast!

Start using features that are both easy and useful to you:

Scanning – Faxing

Most EMRs have the capability to allow scanning of paper and receiving of digital faxes.

Let your staff get used to categorizing and attaching these new, incoming documents into patient’s charts, such as labs, radiology and consult letters. At the same time, they will also be able to notify you with a message in your in-box – get used to reviewing these documents in your in-box as well as learning how to retrieve them directly from a patient’s EMR chart.

Communication

Practice taking phone messages, sending and replying to internal messages between you and your staff, using the internal e-mail that your EMR provides.

Electronic Results

If electronic results from labs and radiology facilities are available to be turned on, do so and test them before you “go-live”.

E-Prescribing

Get familiar with sending e-prescriptions and processing refill requests.

Basic Documentation

Don’t get slowed down by unfamiliar templates. Most EMRs should allow you to breeze through the ROS and physical exam with minimum mouse clicks. For the more subjective areas such as HPI, or your assessment and plan, be prepared to try out your handwriting recognition, voice recognition or typing, until you become familiar with or have customized the templates to your liking.

Choose ICDs and CPTs:

Consider very minimal documentation – or skipping it entirely – by simply choosing the appropriate ICD and CPTs from your EMR’s electronic charge slip and then close your visit. Your biller should immediately see the charges, quickly approve and then submit as a claim.

Building confidence from the beginning with your EMR, in a non-stressful way through these essential features, is vitally important for your implementation. Otherwise, you risk leaving a bad taste in everyone’s mouth for the system’s useable life in your office.