MCMP (Medicare P4P) Update

MCMP is the Medicare P4P program. For our office, it represents the main reason we got an EMR. Specifically, to track patients and use data to be proactive around their care.
It has not been an easy process. There is a significant amount of manual data entry taking place. We plan on spending 40- 60 hrs. entering in data such as types of chronic medical problems and lab values. We have hired an additional staff member to accomplish this.

With regards to eCW, there was discussion about a year ago around creating an export tool. Such a tool would decrease the data entry time requirements dramatically but does not exist yet, as far as I know.

There are not too many EMRs who have dedicated resources to building an export tool. I believe there are about a dozen. To date, I believe one (NextGen) has an export tool in place for their users.

 I have about 80 patients. The gal entering the data is not clinical and this has slowed things down a bit, but she is learniing quickly. I think we have a lot of data to put in...so many have multiple medical problems.

My EMR promised an interface tool....nothing yet. 

Linux:

Yes, an export tool would help and if this P4P program catches on then I'm sure the vendors will build it.

I would argue the other way around: That if the vendors provided an easy way to extract data from the system, more people would be apt to collect P4P dollars. I could go further about where a majority of vendors are in this process respective of their underlying data structures, but then Nick would have to hit me with a Prozac cannon .

On second thought, what the hell - it's Friday.

I think the fact of the matter is that any vendor capable (both with product capability and development capability) of developing a tool to help people like Lowell among others in this regard would have done so by now, because there can be significant dollars associated with the programs assuming you don't have to pay 15-60 hours of labor for every reporting session. Unfortunately, I am running into more and more vendors that are telling their prospects and clients that programs like P4P, PQRI, etc. are just fads and not here to stay. Reading in between the lines, I'd bet my lunch money that this is a front for a product incapable of storing data and exporting it in a fashion acceptable to these programs. Just my $0.02.

Happy Friday...

Patrick

Gotta agree here ..export of such data is a fairly trivial exercise in the scheme of creating an EMR.

If you have unprotected access to the backend tables and schema, you could do it your self with a reporting tool such as Crystal Reports. 

Graham,

While exporting the data my be fairly trivial exercise, locating the data may be another story.  That is, a physician does a monofilament test of the feet,  finds abnormalities, and records them.  How many EMRs have a hidden unique identifier on those findings to allow that EMR to check all encounters to show only those with monofilament testing of the feet?  Now take that example and multiply it by hundreds of possible values.  Labs are simple because they are often imported, have identifying codes, and are often compartmentalized in the database.  Separating a foot exam from a chest exam is a bit more difficult for the average EMR. Thus, Lowell has human eyes reviewing the record to extract that data.

 With regards to MCMP, there is a list of what's being tracked. This list is similar for my other P4P project and similar to the one i would create on my own. With a list in hand, how hard is it create an export tool?

Bottom line question for me is, "why have some EMR companies indicated that they will build this tool and then taken what seems to be an unnecessary amount of time to build it"?

In other words, why is NextGen the only vendor with an MCMP export tool? 

Lowell, would you post the list here so we can better comment on why your EMR might not be able to readily export the data.

Synapse also doesn't record monofilament testing as a specific test unless the user sets it up that way - easy enough.  

DrQuit:

 In other words, why is NextGen the only vendor with an MCMP export tool? 

I guess I would say, because we felt it was important enough to do and because our templates are set up as totally structured data, it was possible. Sometimes being a "big boy" EMR is a good thing. as we have the resources to devote to things like this and our application is mature enough to allow us to do so. There are others in this same position and I have no illusions that we will be the only vendor to do this, but we will always be the first!

 BTW, any emrupdaters going to the MGMA meeting next week in Philly, please stop by the NG booth and say Hi!

opus313:

BTW, any emrupdaters going to the MGMA meeting next week in Philly, please stop by the NG booth and say Hi!

 

Any giveaways on your booth?? 

gchiu:

opus313:

BTW, any emrupdaters going to the MGMA meeting next week in Philly, please stop by the NG booth and say Hi!

 

Any giveaways on your booth?? 

Bob is giving out free hugs. Quantities are limited.

NextGen-BW:

Bob is giving out free hugs. Quantities are limited.

 

Scary - I think I'll pass on that. 

By limited, Patrick means limited to hugs for attactive females.

Actually I think we are giving away 25 iphones.

Of course getting a chance to talk with me personally would be its own reward ( or curse depending on your viewpoint)

opus313:

By limited, Patrick means limited to hugs for attactive females.

 

Well, let's hope he gets arrested for assault and battery with an iPhone then! 

gchiu:

opus313:

By limited, Patrick means limited to hugs for attactive females.

 

Well, let's hope he gets arrested for assault with an iPhone then! 

Hugs don't imply "Business time"* and thus are not considered prosecutable!

* Gratuitous "Flight of the Conchords" New Zealand reference. Please see Youtube and search if unfamiliar - Hey this is a Friday Funnies post now!