| What is EMR and what does it have to do with | | | | government agencies, software companies and |
| the medical coding process? EMR stands for | | | | consulting firms. EMR is a necessary base for |
| "Electronic Medical Records" and is a system that | | | | medical coding. Physicians and doctors find EMR to |
| is used by doctors and hospitals to electronically | | | | be a very powerful tool that allows complete |
| store and manage patients' medical histories. | | | | medical documentation in an easy manner. Many |
| Today because of the Government regulations | | | | payers and other agencies like Medicare have to |
| (like HIPAA compliance) all patient records have to | | | | keep checking up if the medical coding has been |
| be handled with the utmost confidentiality. | | | | done rightly or if there has been a mistake. This |
| The huge and growing database of medical | | | | process of checking can be done and is supported |
| information has given rise to the development and | | | | only because of EMR implementation. |
| use of the sophisticated electronic medical records | | | | However indiscriminate use of EMR can result in |
| systems which is good for the insurance | | | | major errors and so caution must be taken to |
| companies, doctors, hospitals and also for the | | | | avoid mistakes in the medical billing process. These |
| HMO (Health Maintenance Organization). Handling of | | | | are, |
| huge quantities of medical documents efficiently in | | | | Checking the software's default settings and |
| less time is made possible because of EMR. | | | | override whenever necessary. |
| Medical coding is about assigning codes to the | | | | Personalizing records as much as possible. |
| diagnosis and various procedures used for | | | | EMR training for all. |
| reimbursement from insurance companies and | | | | |