NMMRA Articles

Published In: MD News, June 2006

NMMRA Assists Physician Offices with Implementing Electronic Health Record Systems

By Mark Gottlieb, PhD, NMMRA DOQ-IT Manager

The New Mexico Medical Review Association (NMMRA) is providing assistance to physicians in their efforts to select and implement electronic health record (EHR) systems in their offices. Under the Doctor's Office Quality - Information Technology (DOQ-IT) project, several offices in the state are utilizing NMMRA's services. As part of this program, family practice, internal medicine, and other primary care practices serving Medicare patients are receiving assistance with planning and analysis of their processes and workflows to facilitate successful adoption of EHR systems. The DOQ-IT project is an initiative of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in partnership with the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Center for Health Information Technology.

Support to prepare individual and communities of practice for EHR implementation is available. This support includes helping in EHR vendor selection and working with practices and vendors to implement the systems they select. The assistance will not stop after installation. NMMRA continues to provide ongoing support to physician offices to assist in optimizing the use of their EHRs to improve practice performance by identifying areas for improved care management.

There are many benefits to utilizing electronic health records. Denise Leonardi, MD, and Conchita Paz, MD, Las Cruces family physicians in private practice, state, "Because of the [EHR] system, we've been able to expand our practice."  The financial benefits of an EHR system include reducing or eliminating the need for transcription, reducing coding/billing errors, improving the accuracy of billing, and reducing claim denials. The quality of patient care is also improved as evidenced by better coordination and tracking of patient care. Increased timeliness of referrals to other health care professionals has been noted, as well as improved preventive care for patients. Additionally, more effective patient education and facilitation of clinical diagnosis and treatment are made possible by improved access to laboratory and other diagnostic results.

The process of installing an EHR system is not easy and must be made with careful preparation. An EHR system changes the way a practice captures and uses information critical to coordinated clinical care. Done properly, these changes can greatly improve the efficiency and quality of care, but any change can be disruptive. NMMRA will assist offices throughout the planning and implementation phases to ensure smoother transitions and positive outcomes. Michael Grafe, DO, a primary care practitioner in Artesia, says, "The change was hard, but I knew I needed to do it. If I were starting all over, I would not go into practice without it [EHR]."

And what about the patients? John Seibel, MD, an Albuquerque endocrinologist in private practice and NMMRA's medical director, states, "The patients are impressed."

NMMRA is New Mexico's quality improvement organization (QIO). Funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, NMMRA works to improve health care quality, promote the efficient and effective use of health care resources, and ensure that care meets professional standards for Medicare consumers in New Mexico.