A patient’s medical history and treatments are documented in his medical record. Healthcare providers must maintain and analyze this data to provide fair treatment and reimbursement. Due to this, they feel overwhelmed, which may lead to stress and errors in the medical records. Fortunately, medical record review services are one of the golden doors that help streamline medical documentation. There are many aspects associated with comprehensive medical record review, such as gathering, classification, and analysis. In this blog, we will decode the key tips while choosing medical record review services and the benefits of hiring them.
What Are Medical Records?
The overall collection of patients’ medical documents, including initial doctor’s visits, yearly physicals, lab test reports, etc., is called medical records.
Significance of Having a Medical Record Review Services
Specialization
Medical record review services are better equipped with all the necessary tools and technologies. Hence, provide expertise and proficiency in the solutions. For instance, they systematically evaluate the patient’s medical history and heal all the errors that may lead to potential discrepancies shortly.
Time-Efficiency
Managing medical records is more than a routine task; it demands expertise. There is already a lot of patient data to handle and manage. Hence, a considerable amount of time is needed for comprehensive medical record management. If an inexperienced person handles all this, many discrepancies can be expected. Professional medical record review services pave the way for effectively handling complicated medical history.
Accuracy
Accurate diagnosis coding and a comprehensive understanding of ICD-10-CM codes are necessary for fair reimbursement. Hence, an overall medical record history must be assigned a diagnosis code per ICD-10. Medical record review services encompass the required knowledge and understanding of the primary and complex nuances of a patient’s medical record management.
Who Needs Medical Record Review Services
Every healthcare organization has its needs and goals. It depends upon the organization which medical records are essential for their success. Apart from this, medical record review services can be used by:-
Healthcare Providers: Medical record review services help them identify missed diagnoses, resulting in improved reimbursement and better patient care.
Medical Coding Companies: They can scale up quickly in hiring and training additional employees.
Furthermore, health tech companies can also take medical record review services.
Prominent Tips to Choose the Medical Record Review Services
Expert Medical Coders: Check whether your chosen team has extensive knowledge of ICD-10-CM and HCC. Also, check their expertise in reviewing medical records and identify potential errors that may impact patient care.
Technology-Inclination: The evolving landscape of healthcare demands technology-driven solutions. While selecting medical record review services, examine whether they leverage the power of advanced technology, like NLP, OCR, etc. Technology helps review vast medical record data quickly and accurately.
Scalability and Flexibility: The healthcare landscape is dynamic, and the ability of medical record review services to scale and adapt to changing needs is crucial. Evaluate the scalability of the service to accommodate potential increases in record volumes. Additionally, look for flexibility in the service to allow for customization based on specific organizational workflows and requirements.
Turnaround Time: Time is of the essence in healthcare, and the turnaround time for medical record reviews is a key performance indicator. Inquire about the service provider’s ability to meet deadlines and average review turnaround times. A timely service contributes to improved patient care and streamlines organizational workflows.
Technological Infrastructure: Integrating advanced technologies is a hallmark of efficient medical record review services. Evaluate the technological infrastructure of potential service providers, looking for the incorporation of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation tools. These technologies not only expedite the review process but also contribute to enhanced accuracy, providing a more comprehensive and efficient solution.
Regulatory Adherence: Apart from data security and compliance, ensure that the medical record review services adhere to broader regulatory requirements. Verify that the service provider follows industry best practices and informs about regulation changes that may impact medical record reviews. This safeguards against legal complications and demonstrates the provider’s commitment to ethical and responsible data handling.
Wrapping Up
In the continuously evolving landscape of healthcare data management, selecting medical record review services is a decision that carries significant implications for patient care, compliance, and organizational efficiency.