ortho query response
For those who have good response rates, how are you accomplishing this?
Our ortho group has always had a low CC/MCC capture rate. They recently renegotiated a contract and one of the metrics included was that they must sign queries in 48hrs (this actually was NOT CDI driven). Of course now that they went live with this they are realizing how complex this is (and complaining to us). The issues mainly surround their work schedules. Several of them are often not in house for days/weeks at a time. They don't get into our EHR from their offices, etc. Our queries are electronic so they argue they don't know when they are placed until they came back into the facility.
Is this something you see at your facilities? Do your orthopods have a different schedule/workflow or how do you get around this? Do they respond when they are in the office/off service? Are they just more engaged and 'bought in' then ours?
On one hand I understand that 48hrs might be unreasonable for some of them. On the other hand, these charts are often coded within 2 days of discharge so if they have an outstanding query and the coder doesn't hold, we potentially lose SOI/ROM on these patients. And we all know how important this is right now....
Thanks!
Katy Good, RN, BSN, CCDS, CCS
Clinical Documentation Program Coordinator
AHIMA Approved ICD-10CM/PCS Trainer
Flagstaff Medical Center
Kathryn.Good@nahealth.com
Cell: 928.814.9404
Our ortho group has always had a low CC/MCC capture rate. They recently renegotiated a contract and one of the metrics included was that they must sign queries in 48hrs (this actually was NOT CDI driven). Of course now that they went live with this they are realizing how complex this is (and complaining to us). The issues mainly surround their work schedules. Several of them are often not in house for days/weeks at a time. They don't get into our EHR from their offices, etc. Our queries are electronic so they argue they don't know when they are placed until they came back into the facility.
Is this something you see at your facilities? Do your orthopods have a different schedule/workflow or how do you get around this? Do they respond when they are in the office/off service? Are they just more engaged and 'bought in' then ours?
On one hand I understand that 48hrs might be unreasonable for some of them. On the other hand, these charts are often coded within 2 days of discharge so if they have an outstanding query and the coder doesn't hold, we potentially lose SOI/ROM on these patients. And we all know how important this is right now....
Thanks!
Katy Good, RN, BSN, CCDS, CCS
Clinical Documentation Program Coordinator
AHIMA Approved ICD-10CM/PCS Trainer
Flagstaff Medical Center
Kathryn.Good@nahealth.com
Cell: 928.814.9404
Comments
Just a thought.
Ann
If we know the physician is going to be off for his/her 7 day break, we will text page them to check their queries.
Fortunately for us, they have remote access via their home computers/I phones etc.
If you find that the query response is that critical, (and for us it is), you may want to investigate a means to answer queries remotely.
Good Luck
Lisa
Lisa, what EMR are you using that allows them access from their phone? I don’t think ours can do that.
Thank you!
Katy Good, RN, BSN, CCDS, CCS
Clinical Documentation Program Coordinator
AHIMA Approved ICD-10CM/PCS Trainer
Flagstaff Medical Center
Kathryn.Good@nahealth.com
Cell: 928.814.9404
Our queries are actually placed in McKesson HPF. Our physicians use an HCare portal and our IT department assists them with access.
Are you willing to give me a bit more information on the mobile access or perhaps give me a contact with IT that could explain how this works? You can email me privately at the address below.
Thanks!
Katy Good, RN, BSN, CCDS, CCS
Clinical Documentation Program Coordinator
AHIMA Approved ICD-10CM/PCS Trainer
Flagstaff Medical Center
Kathryn.Good@nahealth.com
Cell: 928.814.9404
Deanne Wilk
dwilk@gshleb.org