HIPAA Compliant Medical Record Scanning & Indexing
Electronic medical records (EMR) demand that healthcare organizations continually strive to gain greater access and insight into their patients and therefore reach new levels of patient care. In order to do so, these organizations must make decisions related to the management of critical data to expedite the healthcare process. Management of protected health information (PHI) is one of the most important responsibilities of covered entities under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Effective management, processing, and storing of PHI as well as electronic PHI (ePHI) can provide drastic time and cost savings to healthcare organizations of all sizes.
Having been in business in 1976, ILM prides itself on being able to help organizations make better decisions with data. The two primary ways ILM helps healthcare organizations is by digitizing their paper medical records and capturing data from medical forms. Using a service bureau for these processes – medical record scanning and data entry – helps healthcare organizations focus on providing expert patient care. Despite the numerous benefits of utilizing electronic medical records, many smaller healthcare offices continue to use paper based recordkeeping systems.
ILM provides medical offices of all sizes with medical record scanning and data entry services.
In the past decade, speculation has surfaced regarding the role current systems for managing healthcare information play in the complicated healthcare industry. There are a number of reasons why paper-based records are not fully sufficient in the digital age. Short of being inaccessible, incomplete and time consuming to manage, paper health records do not meet the guidelines to protect a patient’s personal information. Paper charts and records also don’t promote care coordination, quality measurements or a reduction in medical errors. Many of these critical elements of healthcare just are not possible without the adoption of computerized systems. The implementation of electronic medical records is an important step in improving the nation’s healthcare system.
Medical e-charts, electronic records, and document management software systems are increasing in prominence as healthcare providers consider the transition, and work towards compliance with new healthcare provisions. ILM helps healthcare organizations with their medical scanning needs by converting patient records into electronic files and indexing the information into an accessible, user-friendly system. This includes digitizing existing paper charts, lab results, prescriptions, billing records, insurance correspondence, explanation of benefits and physician notes just to name a few.
Not every service organization is well suited to handle and process documents containing sensitive information such as PHI due to light physical and electronic security measures. ILM places the utmost importance on privacy and security. While any organization can theoretically say it is HIPAA compliant, ILM goes the extra mile by entering into business associate agreements with covered entities and having each employee undergo HIPAA privacy training during onboarding and again each year. ILM’s stringent privacy and security protocols help establish a chain of trust between healthcare organizations and ILM as an external service provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is medical record indexing?
Medical record indexing is the process of organizing medical records and information into an accessible user friendly system.
How do I convert paper records to electronics?
ILM helps organizations with their scanning needs by converting paper records into electronic files and indexing the information into an accessible, user-friendly system.
Why do we digitize records?
There are a number of reasons why paper-based records are not fully sufficient in the digital age. Short of being inaccessible, incomplete and time consuming to manage, paper health records do not meet the guidelines to protect a patient’s personal information.
What is a medical records scanner?
A medical records scanner is an individual or organization that converts patient records into electronic files and indexes the information into an accessible, user friendly system.
What documents should I scan?
Paper charts, lab results, prescriptions, billing records, insurance correspondence, explanation of benefits and physician notes are just a few of the documents that you should scan as a medical professional.
If you are interested in learning more about ILM’s medical record scanning and indexing services, call us today at 540-898-1406.
