Blog Feed: Integrated Data Management Systems

Don’t Forget: Eligible Hospitals Must Begin 90-Day Reporting By July 3

Published on 2011-06-27 23:45:21

At Integrated Data Management Systems, we are dedicated to staying up-to-date with CMS news, policy changes, and deadlines so that our clients remain compliant. Today, we will remind you about some important deadlines, one of which is happening this > read more

Data Backup Can Ensure Safe Patient Records and Proper Compliance (Part 2)

Published on 2011-06-23 21:00:53

Electronic data backup is a simple way to secure patient data and ensure compliance. IDMS explains the best options for data backup. > read more

Data Backup Secures Patient Records and Ensures Compliance (Part 1)

Published on 2011-06-21 20:53:33

Electronic data backup is a simple way to secure patient data and ensure compliance. IDMS explains the importance of data backup. > read more

Data Extraction Experts Can Improve Emergency Department Efficiency

Published on 2011-06-20 03:28:34

Ambulance diversion in hospitals is an issue for hospitals, but the data abstraction experts at IDMS can help you improve your efficiency and patient care. > read more

New Answers to Tricky Meaningful Use Questions

Published on 2011-06-14 16:00:53

The staff at Integrated Data Management Services keeps a close watch on communications from CMS so we can stay up-to-date and help our clients maintain accurate data. > read more

CMS to Make Medicare Records More Accessible for Provider Rankings

Published on 2011-06-10 00:33:56

As part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), CMS proposed new rules last week that would allow authorized organizations to access Medicare claims data that would help them compare physician performance beginning in 2012. The organizations could then com > read more

New CMS Proposal Could Ease Electronic Prescription Transtion

Published on 2011-06-06 12:46:33

CMS has recently proposed new rules to make the transition to e-prescriptions easier. IDMS can also help ease the switch through assisting with efficient, accurate documentation and analysis. > read more

Physician Chart Auditors in Dallas Ft. Worth Advise Early Transition to ICD-10

Published on 2011-05-28 19:05:44

Though HIPAA’s deadline to switch from  ICD-9 to ICD-10 is October 1, 2013, over two years from now, hospitals need to begin preparing for the transition right away. But the CMS deadline for qualified participants to switch to X12 Version 50 > read more

How CMS Calculates PQRS for Individuals Within a Practice

Published on 2011-05-24 22:02:58

A problem that The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services often encounters regards the calculation and payment of financial incentives for an individual physician who satisfactorily reports PQRS (formerly PQRI) quality measures but is part of a g > read more

PQRS Paying Off for Physicians

Published on 2011-05-17 18:08:36

Integrated Data Management Services (IDMS) assists Dallas/Ft Worth physicians in capturing benefits of PQRS by identifying and correcting problematic areas. Through data abstraction and analysis, hospitals and physician offices can cut costs, improv > read more

IDMS Abstraction Services and Core Measures Improve Dallas/Fort Worth Hospitals Quality of Care

Published on 2011-05-16 17:59:27

With constant expansion of clinical quality reports for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and The Joint Commission each quarter, hospital administrators continue to improve processes for collecting accurate documentation and key in > read more

IDMS Assists Dallas/Fort Worth Hospitals with Audits

Published on 2011-05-06 18:10:10

Clinical audits aim to improve quality of care. Through systematic review explicit criteria audit results contribute to positive changes. The key component of an audit is to review performance and provide guidelines for improvement. > read more

Why Texas Hospital Need Data Abstraction

Published on 2011-05-02 17:48:08

Texas Department of State Health Services strives to keep patient safety its number one priority. The organization’s mission is to protect, promote, and enhance the health, well-being, and productivity of all Texans through: > read more

PQRI Changes to PQRS

Published on 2011-04-29 13:20:20

Physician’s Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) is continuously changing in the areas of requirements, deadlines for submissions, and associated payments. In fact, PQRI has changed to PQRS (Physician Quality Reporting System). Centers of Medicare > read more

Partnership for Patients Gains The Joint Commission’s Approval

Published on 2011-04-25 17:23:53

The Joint Commission pledged its support and participation in the public-private effort to ensure safety and reliability, and to cut expenses in hospitals. The program was designed to decrease the number of preventable harm cases and hospital readmis > read more

Texas House of Representatives Vote for More Control over Healthcare

Published on 2011-04-21 17:44:37

Today the House of Representatives passed a bill that would allow Texas to enter into a healthcare compact with states of similar beliefs. The bill essentially takes control of the healthcare system away from the federal government. > read more

Know Your Care

Published on 2011-04-15 17:32:33

A new healthcare organization has been formed to help educate people about the Affordable Care Act’s life-saving consumer and patient protections. The group was formed by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, former Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, an > read more

How Government Shutdown Would Affect Medical Industry

Published on 2011-04-11 15:40:29

With the threat of impending government shutdown, the Department of Health and Human Services released information on programs to be put on hold. Several new clinical trials would be put on hold at the National Institutes of Health’s Clinical Cente > read more

Medicare Patients Can Review Hospitals Conditions

Published on 2011-04-07 17:59:15

Medicare patients can now view how often hospitals report serious conditions and obtain data on that hospital’s safety. The Hospital Compare website can be viewed at www.HealthCare.gov/compare. > read more

Book on “Close Calls” Improves Patient Safety

Published on 2011-03-24 11:36:29

Joint Commission Resources (JCR) released the book, The Value of Close Calls in Improving Patient Safety: Learning How to Avoid and Mitigate Patient Harm. JCR is a nonprofit affiliate of the Joint Commission. The book was designed to help physicians > read more

Importance of Data Collection and Analysis

Published on 2011-03-21 10:41:05

Hospitals need to run efficiently, economically, and safely. Government agencies place strict regulations on hospitals. The Joint Commission constantly provides information to patients concerning quality of care. Hospitals and physicians are now elig > read more

Medicare to Cut Physician’s Pay in 2012

Published on 2011-03-18 12:01:35

In January of 2012, physicians who provide care to Medicare patients may face a nearly 30% rate cut. The latest estimate can be found on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’(CMS) website. > read more

Speak Up Video

Published on 2011-03-11 12:08:04

March 6-12 is National Patient Safety Awareness Week. To celebrate, the Joint Commission released the first in a series of animated videos called Speak UP to encourage patients to communicate actively with their healthcare providers. > read more

R3 Report

Published on 2011-03-08 09:36:23

The Joint Commission (JCAHO) is now offering a complimentary electronic bulletin that delves into the rationale behind the standards, research, and development of the JCAHO’s requirements. The bulletin is called R3 Report – Requirement, Rationale > read more

20ll Hospital National Patient Safety Goals

Published on 2011-02-28 16:21:24

Earlier, we gave you the links to obtain JCAHO’s easy-to-read locations. Today, we want to focus specifically on the 2011 Hospital National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs). > read more

How the Affordable Care Act Affects Medicare Fee-for-Service Claims

Published on 2011-02-21 17:03:15

Due to the retroactive effective dates of service, many Medicare fee-for-service claims will be reprocessed. CMS will begin to reprocess the claims over the next several weeks.CMS is taking steps to ensure that the claims are reprocessed accurately a > read more

Hospitals & Physicians Need Data Abstraction for Quality Improvement

Published on 2011-02-15 13:46:40

It sounds highly technical and time consuming, but data abstraction and analysis can help your hospital or physician office cut costs, reduce risk, and improve quality of care. If the results sound great, but you don’t know where to start, turn to > read more

Hospital Inpatient Value-Base Purchasing (VBP)

Published on 2011-02-11 16:16:01

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) held a Special Open Door Forum (ODF) on February 10, 2011 to discuss the Hospital Inpatient Value-Base Purchasing (VBP) program that goes into effect October 1, 2012. > read more

Why You Need a Performance Improvement Consultant

Published on 2011-02-08 14:57:46

From national hospital chains to independent physician offices, medical professionals are turning to consultants more than ever for performance improvement assistance. Why? Limited internal resources is one reason. Everyone on staff has a job to do, > read more

4 Tips for Improving Return on CMS’s Pay for Performance Incentives

Published on 2011-02-03 12:55:17

The best way for physicians and hospitals to see an improvement in revenue from CMS’s Physician’s Quality Reporting Initiative is to get ahead of the game. > read more

PQRI Qualified Registries from CMS

Published on 2011-01-26 14:34:42

If you plan to submit for 2010 PQRI, you’re just about out of time! Here’s a list of certified PQRI registries for quick reference. You might also plan ahead for 2011. A year will pass before you know it. Wouldn’t it be nice to know that you do > read more

Physician Compare and PQRI

Published on 2011-01-24 12:38:38

As a physician who accepts Medicare, whether you’re a GP or a specialist, you should be featured on Physician Compare at Medicare.gov. The website is intended to help consumers find and compare healthcare providers based on location, gender, langua > read more

HIPAA Facts for Physician Offices

Published on 2011-01-19 15:59:19

HIPAA regulates all types of communication, written, verbal, electronic, and even emails and social networking posts. > read more

Physicians Can Take Baby Steps into the Digital Age

Published on 2011-01-17 09:22:26

By moving in the direction of a paperless, fully digital practice, you'll be moving toward the future. Postpone the inevitable, and you'll get left behind! > read more

Affordable Care Act and PQRI Through 2014

Published on 2011-01-09 12:05:23

It can be quite an undertaking for a physician's office or hospital to ensure they consistently comply with quality measures throughout the year. That's where Integrated Data Management Services can help. Our chart auditors and trainers will abstract > read more

JACHO 2011 National Patient Safety Goals Available in Easy-to-Read Version

Published on 2011-01-05 14:35:59

At Integrated Data Management Services, we create systems, documents, and forms, and offer training, to help physician offices and hospitals comply with regulations such as the NPSGs and PQRS. If your office or hospital needs assistance in meeting re > read more

Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation

Published on 2010-12-21 09:55:48

Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, there’s a new kid on the block called The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. This entity will consult with healthcare leaders to come up with initiative that will improve primary care > read more

Big Healthcare News: Virginia Judge Rules Healthcare Law Unconstitutional

Published on 2010-12-15 11:59:41

The “Individual Mandate” is scheduled to be instituted in 2014 and will require all Americans to carry health insurance or face a fine. While proponents claim that the law would keep insurers from denying coverage, Judge Hudson and his supporters > read more

Physician Chart Audits

Published on 2010-12-11 10:12:49

Medical chart audits should not be intimidating. They are simply way to accurately measure quality of care, monitor improvement, and learn important information about your practice. For family physicians and specialists, chart audits are a practical > read more