At the end of this month I am going to go back to doing CCM manually for a while.
We actually had less CCM revenue last month using the ECW module than when we did it manually through a CCM “progres note”.
Currently, the module needs some polishing before we can use it the way we need to0
Focusing CCM on an easy to set up and record progress. There is so much more than just documenting time.
The current CCM module seems like it was developed for workman’s comp and just transposed onto primary care.
CCM for my practice is essentially everything I do outside the office visit so having an easy to use tool that is integrated into the current ECW workflow rather than added as extra work.
An update is in the works so we are hoping that it will smooth out some of the issues that we have run into:
1. The timer is the best feature. Unfortunately it is not easy to get to. It would be nice if it was available on the right r=chart panel. Currently, the only option in the right chart panel is to add time manually.
2. Turning off the timer after completing some ccm work requires several steps: clicking on the ccm button in the CCMR band, clicking the check box for timer running, click filter, and then finally click stop.
3. A pause button is needed for the timer. Medical offices are busy places. Things come up in the middle of tasks and we have to change gears.
4. If we are taken away from the ccm task and the timer runs over 20 minutes, a claim is created even if we hit reset. The claim then has to be deleted to prevent the possibility of submitting a claim when we haven’t accumulated 20 minutes.
5.An effective search engine: At times the current search engine cannot consistently find some enrolled patients. Another
problem with the search engine that is even when it can find the name, there are enrolled patients who don’t show up after applying the filter.
6. Problems are not linked to ICD codes.
7. Problems entered are not consistently available for use in the Care Plan.
8. Customized Goals and Objectives are not easily created or added.
9. Care plans are clumsy to create or update. Creating them is limited to a virtual visit.
10. ECW wants us to create the plan face to face. This is lost revenue because the CMS and AAFP training that we have gone through are very clear that time spent face to face cannot count to
Respectfully submitted and hoping that this will bring about some dialog that will help CCM integrate into our awesome EMR.
PS
11. Templates when we are describing what we have done for the patient that we can customize to the situation would be gravy