athenaClinicalsSM: Our “Life Changing” Solution Looks Ahead
As the end of the year approaches, we’re happy to reflect on the accomplishments of athenaClinicals, athenahealth’s unique EMR solution, and the direction we’re headed in next year.
First, we’ve been implementing athenaClinicals for almost two years, but this year more providers than ever went live with athenaClinicals with rave reviews.
In July, athenaClinicals implemented provider number 100 and processed over 100,000 documents on behalf of clients. And the adoption rate continues to be exponential. In its first 12 months, athenaClinicals welcomed 30 providers. In the first 6 months of this year, we added 70 more. We will have added another 100 before the end of 2007.
Positive feedback from athenaClinicals clients has been significant. One physician told us she has been waiting for this kind of life-changing solution ever since she started practicing medicine.
Throughout the year, we’ve learned and improved more athenaClinicals functionality as we understand exactly how providers use it in their practice.
For example, we have spent time reviewing the product design with providers to ensure that the flow of the software matches the flow of the provider. If we can develop a coherent clinical workflow, we will enable providers to capture their clinical thought process accurately and easily.
We’re also working on a variety of other workflow enhancements, including a refined surgery scheduling workflow, templated HPI documentation and more flexible user preferences for configuration. 2008 will bring many more enhancements to existing functionality as well as exciting new features, including claim workflow integration, enhanced clinical content services and support for cardiology practices.
Another area we continue to improve is the “clickiness of the application,” or the number of “clicks” a provider makes each day within athenaClinicals. “We know that even one extra click per encounter can potentially take away a full appointment slot’s worth of time by the end of the day,” said Kevin Tolin Scheper, athenahealth’s director of clinical implementation services. Julie Holmes, the athenaClinicals practice performance manager, is examining the workflow to eliminate extra clicks and further maximize the provider’s time.
In addition, we have several big picture enhancements underway. This fall, athenahealth established a new team to focus on “clinical content.” The team, headed by Andrea Nilsen, will develop specialty-focused content to guide practices from the beginning to the end of each patient visit.
“We’re focusing broadly on developing content that is meaningful to each specialty we serve,” said Nilsen. “athenaClinicals content will help providers maximize the effectiveness of their time with the patient, and ultimately the practice’s profitability.”
And it gets better. With athenahealth’s clinical content, we can provide feedback on the evaluation and management level the provider performed based on the documentation of the patient’s visit.
A second major development is the ability to track every aspect of patient care in order to increase productivity and quality of care.
That’s right: we’re building functionality into athenaClinicals that will help practices understand every aspect of the patient care they provide – and improve on it – to increase productivity and profitability.
“We have a big, exciting vision for this new component of athenaClinicals, called Practice Performance Management,” said Julie Holmes, the product manager heading up this initiative.
“Practices will be able to track (and act on) data from every aspect of patients’ visits. From check-in to intake, exam and test ordering, and through check-out, each practice will understand exactly what goes on during these phases, and for how long,” she said.
Practice Performance Management will be a powerful tool not only for athenaClinicals clients, but for the health care industry. “At athenahealth, we have a history of building tools and services that set best practices for clients looking to maximize billing and profitability,” said Tolin Scheper. “Now, athenaClinicals clients will be able to capture the effect of being part of a constantly improving network reflecting best practices in the clinical setting.”
Are you confident that your practice is operating at peak performance? With our results-oriented services, significant plans for the future, and solid successes to date, athenaClinicals provides an entirely new level of efficiency and accuracy for your practice.