EHR in ASCs Big Trends Emerging
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EHR in ASCs: Big Trends Emerging Featuring: LoAnn Vande Leest RN, CEO Northwest Michigan Surgery Center Cindy Klein VP, CMIO United Surgical Partners International R. Michael Boyer DO, FAOCA, Physician Consultant Joint Commission International lectronic health records are revolutionizing health care delivery at hospitals and physician offices. Now ambulatory surgery centers are seeing the benefits of EHR technology and are searching for the appropriate technology for their site. “In order to truly be agile, efficient and cost-effective, we are focusing on standardization of data and...

holders to develop the appropriate technology. Interoperability is key for ASCs to communicate with physician offices as well as potential hospital partners. “We will never get to where we globally need to be without interoperability,” says Dr. Boyer. “Lack of full interoperability is bad for patients, for institutions and for the health care system.” As providers move closer toward providing high quality, seamless care, the health care market will demand systems speak with one another. “If you look at the interoperability requirements CMS is working on now, the goal of our government is to...

create a certification for ASCs that includes measures that matter.” Some centers that were early adapters can see long-term benefits from employing an EHR in their HIT strategy. “EHR technology was invested in by our last CEO, as he was a very forward-thinking individual and he wanted NMSC to be cutting-edge in technology — and the assumption that it would soon be required,” says Ms. Vande Leest. “Over the years, the popularity of that decision has waxed and waned, but overall when the system is working out well, it is more of a benefit than a hindrance.” ...the popularity of that decision...

Accurate data is necessary for best clinical decision making and for developing best financial efficiencies. The EHR system allows all staff in the ASC to access the patient’s chart at the same time and see where the patient is within the episode of care. The nurses are able to eliminate duplicate questions because information can flow from one form in the EHR to another. “The EHR allows us to access cumulative information quicker and easier,” says Ms. Vande Leest. “This helps in a myriad of ways, from infection control research to staffing as well as internal and external benchmarking. It...

"In the end, the ultimate goal is to provide best-practice patient care, quality and safety." In the future, EHR technology will also play a role in patient engagement and decision-making. “Care pathways are very important in the ASC,” says Ms. Klein. “We can tell the total knee replacement patients where they should be in each step of the process, from preoperative to surgery and then recovery. We can show them where they should be and communicate electronically about their process. We can send direct emails back and forth to improve patient engagement.” EHRs can also improve an ASC’s...