Case Study: Eisenhower Medical Center - Medical Records

Eisenhower Medical Center, a well-known and highly respected medical center in the healthcare industry, has provided high quality, compassionate care for nearly 30 years to residents and visitors alike, through a full range of state-of-the-art diagnostic, treatment, and emergency facilities. The 261-bed Eisenhower Memorial Hospital continues to be a leader in providing innovative treatment, leading-edge procedures, and important clinical research in cardiology, orthopedics, and cancer care, among other specialties.

Emergency Department Charts

Example of an ED patient chart retrieved in LibertyNET

The Business Challenge: A secure and efficient imaging solution

This would include scanning, coding, retrieval, and routing of ER charts. Essential for Eisenhower was that the chosen technology be flexible in order to accommodate existing processes, with the potential to grow to an enterprise-wide imaging solution. For cost considerations, it was essential that the system be able to be administered with existing in-house staff.

The Data Connect/LibertyNET Solution:

The chosen solution was the LibertyNET Information Management System in tandem with the technical services of Data Connect. DCC custom designed and implemented the Liberty software to enable Eisenhower to scan, code, store, retrieve, and route ER charts within the Liberty system and over the web.

The ED chart is scanned then distributed electronically through VPN to multiple off-site billing locations. The staff codes the chart from the images in LibertyNET while at the same time in their billing software. Should the chart be incomplete, LibertyNET's TaskFlo allows the coder to alert the EMC staff that a critical piece of information is missing. The missing document is added to the original document and the coder can complete their work in a timely manner.

Data Connect was able to consult, recommend, and resell the hardware and software solutions. Then install, program, implement a middleware interface, train, and provide help-desk support for the Emergency Department Application.

Thumbnail view of an ED chart

CLIENT BENEFITS:

Reduced Accounts Receivable Days

The discharge drop bill now has a turnaround of 4 days compared to 8 days before LibertyNET was installed. At an average billing of $1,000 per chart on 100 patients per day that results in $100,000 per AR day. DCC is assisting EMC with additional projects that will further reduce AR days and obtain accurate billing information, such as Data Connect's "Med ID Scan".

Customer Service/Fast Access

The medical records staff receives numerous calls from physicians requesting a copy of patient charts throughout the day. Prior to implementation of the LibertyNET system, it would take as long as 1 - 1.5 hours to locate and fax a single chart. Saving medical records staff countless hours; the chart is now instantly retrieved and faxed through LibertyNET as the requesting physician is on the phone.

HIPAA

As the medical industry braces for looming HIPAA regulations, Liberty NET eases concerns with top-level security. Liberty comes standard with complete audit trails tracking every facet of any interaction with patient files. Encryption, token security, and electronic signature provide required security.

Growth

Eisenhower Medical Center's LibertyNET system is robust and flexible allowing EMC to expand into other areas within the hospital. The Lab Department is now using LibertyNET to scan and retrieve lab requisitions. The primary goal was to be able to store and retrieve the requisitions for audits.