EHR Management Tips for Chiropractors

Even with an electronic health record (EHR) system, using it can still take a great deal of time. With a better EHR management system, this can be avoided. Here are a few of the better features of EHR management that chiropractors should look for.

One important principle of EHR management is having accurate SOAP notes. These make it easier to find out what procedures were done on a previous visit, and they can show what procedures and tests were or weren’t done at a visit, in case a claim is made. If you are audited, SOAP notes are your best protection. The more accurate they are, the more protection you have. An EHR system like ChiroSpring can be automated so it checks to see if all the codes match. If the documentation does not support something, it will alert you. If it is correct, you can input your signature and approval of those notes.

EHR management can make doing those SOAP notes easier. With ChiroSpring, areas to fill out can be brought up with a few clicks. Ideally, a system should move to the next portion of the form once one area is filled out, so none of them are forgotten. Patients who fill out online intake forms can be integrated and added to the system automatically, so all records are in the same place for easy access. Specific forms can be added and classified as well, like personal injury records. This makes the notes simpler to compile and creates an audit-friendly record. With ChiroSpring’s Edit process, SOAP notes can be created even faster. Content such as charges, diagnosis (and pointers), adjustments, and SOAP-free text can be automated. If they are not changed, the system can note them as “SALT” (Same As Last Time).

The best EHR management systems can go beyond those features. They can also automate work from patient insights. “X person was involved in Y incident on (date)” is a simple statement, but it can begin a patient story from intake. These clicks can be the beginning of a narrative for the chiropractor to work with during future appointments.

A further developed story can continue like this: “The injury was a result of a fall at work. They injured the following areas: left leg, left ankle. They describe the pain as 9 out of 10. They did not go to the hospital.” Accurate notes may take longer, but ChiroSpring’s automated process will put all that work directly into the system. Once done, only minor adjustments and expansions need to be added. Exams, such as range of motion, orthopedic tests, and more, can be pulled from the previous exam in one click. Online intake done by the patient can provide all the personal information for their visit. The system can be modified to include all sorts of different categories, such as patient complaints, review of systems, outcome assessments, medications, allergies, problems, and even your own customized intake questions. The system should be set up so you can add customized text to any charge or diagnosis code in Settings. When those charges or diagnoses are used, you can be guaranteed that your note will describe the correct one in detail.

Basic SOAP notes are not the only process of ChiroSpring EHR management that can be automated. Text codes can be added to notes that create adequate documentation of conditions and diagnoses if you are audited. A good system can also remind you of any missing forms for any given patient, so there are no gaps in the record. A cloud-based system can also easily travel from one office to another, so there isn’t a concern about records that only exist in one office.

EHR management isn’t just about SOAP notes or automated processes. If you spend less time on records and notes, you can spend more time with your patients. If those notes are in an automated system like ChiroSpring, they can easily be pulled up on a subsequent visit, and you will be reminded of any recent events. These notes can even include non-clinical information about patients, which can be used to ease into conversations about uncomfortable topics. Any medical complaints that they may have can be updated from the online booking information, and it can show the progress made from one visit to another. Online booking and rescheduling means that you will save money by hiring fewer staff members to manage what could become a dizzying amount of changes. Having notifications can mean that you get fewer no-show visits. Patients can simply put a notification in the system and reschedule online, so there’s no chance of missing a call or a message.

Billing can also be made easier with the right EHR management system. In ChiroSpring, bills can be sorted by age, so you can find out which ones are due soonest. They can be paid online by a patient, and all the data is put on a secure platform, so no patient has to be concerned about their information being stolen. Payment schedules can be automated, saving both time and money that would be spent chasing after those who don’t pay. Simplified billing makes submitting claims easy. It takes just two clicks to submit through SFTP to your clearinghouse.

AR reports and ChiroSpring’s Billing app provide tracking with filters for aging or date range. Add notes to any charge and re-submit with ease. Reconciling is fully automated using ERA files. The software will post allowed amount, payment, and PMR and even submit it to secondary if necessary. Unpaid charges are flagged so human intervention can resolve them.

It’s clear that the right system of EHR management can make your chiropractic practice much more manageable, whether you’re just getting started or have been in practice for a while. Knowing what you need in software before purchasing a system and what features will help you the most will make this decision even easier.

ChiroSpring is an all-in-one practice management and EHR system built specifically for chiropractors to help them regain face-time with patients, spend less time on back-office tasks, maintain a limited staff, and save operational costs.

To see how ChiroSpring can help you simplify how you manage your practice, reach out to one of our specialists today!