Does your SNF use EMR in any capacity?

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If yes- how:charts are fully electronic, only nurse notes, MAR, TAR, order entry/transmittal to pharmacy, etc.? Thanks. From what I've read, it appears they are still entrenched in the dark ages.

Also- are there are incentives for SNFs to go electronic? I know physician offices have incentives based on Obamacare to go electronic, and after a time period there will be penalties for paper-based holdouts, but I haven't seen if SNFs are going to be modernizing.

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Specializes in Hospice.

Our facility uses EMR for nurses notes, MAR, TAR, orders (including electronic transmission to lab and x-ray providers) , all resident assessments are done in the EMR system, as is al reporting of falls / injuries. MDS uses the EMR for all MDS assessments. We do still keep a paper chart which includes copies of all physician orders, advance directives, and paper charting / notes from providers that do not have access to our EMR system. (Hospice, dental providers etc.)

The requirement for electronic medical records is older than Obamacare. I believe it was part of a law that was passed back when Clinton was president. The deadline is next year.

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Our facility uses EMR for nurses notes, MAR, TAR, orders (including electronic transmission to lab and x-ray providers) , all resident assessments are done in the EMR system, as is al reporting of falls / injuries. MDS uses the EMR for all MDS assessments. We do still keep a paper chart which includes copies of all physician orders, advance directives, and paper charting / notes from providers that do not have access to our EMR system. (Hospice, dental providers etc.)

The requirement for electronic medical records is older than Obamacare. I believe it was part of a law that was passed back when Clinton was president. The deadline is next year.

But Obamacare provides $ incentives, such as via HITECH. Sounds like your place is from the future?

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I wish! All paper at my facility. I was unaware of that deadline mentioned above. No word of that at my facility.

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Specializes in Hospice.
But Obamacare provides $ incentives, such as via HITECH. Sounds like your place is from the future?

No, not from the future, just owned by a good company that isn't afraid to spend money to make sure that things get done well and that our residents get good care. In the near future, we are also getting automated med dispensers that will package our med passes for us. Not sure how it's exactly going to work or how I actually feel about it, but it should prove interesting. Or scary.

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I wish! All paper at my facility. I was unaware of that deadline mentioned above. No word of that at my facility.

I haven't seen it mentioned about LTC. But providers that refuse to enter the EMR realm, after a certain deadline, will be penalized (I think 3% of Medicare reimbursement will be forfeited). I've been to a clinic that is totally paperless, it blew my mind. But it is impossible to safeguard all that digital data- everyday we hear about hackers getting celebrity info, and the like.

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I haven't seen it mentioned about LTC. But providers that refuse to enter the EMR realm, after a certain deadline, will be penalized (I think 3% of Medicare reimbursement will be forfeited). I've been to a clinic that is totally paperless, it blew my mind. But it is impossible to safeguard all that digital data- everyday we hear about hackers getting celebrity info, and the like.

I would love for the majority of our charting to be electronic... I don't want to speak with too much confidence as I'm never used EMR in an LTC environment, but at first glance, it seems like it would save a lot of time as well as prevent med errors. It would probably also be much easier to track certain things, like end-of-month MARs! I despise working the 31st! I wouldn't mind assessments and notes to be on paper though...

And yes, what you mentioned is true, but then, our tech support people at hospitals and the like do get paid BIG BUCKS to secure our info. A friend of mine from high school is getting paid near 100k/year by Cerner (electronic charting company, for those unfamiliar).

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.

I work at a "paperless" facility (I say "paperless" like that because for some reason there always seems to be papers scattered all over the nurses station but in theory we are paperless). This is all orders, MARS, TARS, notes, etc. All info from discharge, lab reports, X-ray reports, etc are scanned into the system. It's got it's good points and bad points just like everything.

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Basically the only things that isn't electronic are the MAR/TARs, and they're working on that. Paper reports and so on are scanned in. Pharmacy orders are automatically faxed by the computer system when placed, but if there's something unusual (needs a signature or whatever) we fax them manually. Medication reorders are placed electronically by scanning a barcode.

I am so thankful we do charting electronically. Handwriting is not my greatest strength.

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I work at a "paperless" facility (I say "paperless" like that because for some reason there always seems to be papers scattered all over the nurses station but in theory we are paperless). This is all orders, MARS, TARS, notes, etc. All info from discharge, lab reports, X-ray reports, etc are scanned into the system. It's got it's good points and bad points just like everything.

The clinic I mention has 'zero' paper. Nothing. Not a sheet of paper in the whole place. Nor, any phone calls. You go in, your ID is scanned, you are handed an 'etch a sketch' machine, you tap in your H/P, then are called (on a TV monitor) to a room, where the provider uses a POE system/laptop, etc. then zaps your Rx to a pharmacy. I've taken many HIT courses on the past two years, and was stunned at the place. LTC will be 10, 20 years to get to that point, it's just too expensive. The flip side? Anything that can be done on computer can be done in India, so more jobs are bleeding out of America...

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I work for a SNF and we are using EMR . Our facilities started last June. We love it.

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