Dear imaging providers!

EMSOW delivers full-cycle exam processing services, from dispatching and PACS to image reading at a very affordable price and billing. However, in the rapidly developing imaging industry, our customers demand more features to optimize their processes, especially now, when their businesses are recovering from the COVID-19 crisis.

This week we have added some improvements to facilitate your communication with your referring doctors and facilities. This can be done either within our platform or through other healthcare software, because one of EMSOW’s key features is its interoperability with other systems through the HL7 protocol. Below please see our latest updates in more detail. If you would like to learn more about our services or find credentialed reading physicians in your state, schedule a demo with our representative.

[#20315] Include image links in HL7 report messages

We have improved EMSOW’s HL7 functionality. Now you can add image links to HL7 report messages. Your referring facilities, referring doctors, or even patients will be able to view the images (X-ray, ultrasound or even MRI) in EMSOW’s DICOM Viewer, by clicking a secure link from their EMR, even if they don’t have an EMSOW account.

To enable this option, start editing a referring doctor or a referring facility record or create a new one, open the Report tab and select the Include shared viewer link checkbox.

[#20225] Document sender

EMSOW has great reporting functionality – from a customizable set of report templates to built-in electronic fax. But sometimes it’s not enough, and your referring physician may require additional information. For such cases, we have created a document sender to communicate any document via email, fax or SFTP, and track the delivery status.

Select the needed service in the Processing or Dispatch module and click the Documents button. Select the documents you need to send, and click Send selected documents. In the window that opens, select email, fax, or sftp, then click OK.

To track the delivery status, click on Medical records in the menu bar and select Files Delivery Tracking in the dropdown menu. EMSOW’s Files delivery tracking works similarly to the Report tracking module.

This week we’ve been working hard to facilitate the imaging workflow for reading radiologists, billing specialists, and nursing home providers. An updated insurance crossover option, enhanced functionality for professional component claims, and more intuitive experience, that’s what you’ll find in the latest version of EMSOW.

If you’re not our customer yet, but would like to know how we can optimize your medical imaging processes, reduce costs, find new customers, or reading physicians, just smash the link to our calendar!

[#20295] “Use response to detect crossover” as the default choice in insurance settings

We have changed the default settings for insurance crossover detection. Now the “Use response to detect crossover” option is set by default. When EMSOW receives an ERA file from an insurance company that automatically forwards secondary claims to additional payers, it can detect if the crossover transfer has been done by analyzing the EDI 835 message. To change the crossover setting, go to Setup > Insurances, double-click an insurance, Select Yes, No or Use response to detect crossover in the Crossover section of the Billing tab, then click Save.

Yes: EMSOW assumes the primary insurance forwards a secondary claim on its own, and no secondary claims are sent from EMSOW

No: secondary claims are sent from EMSOW

Use response to detect crossover: the system behavior depends on the ERA received from the primary insurance

[#20232] Referring facility info in Box 32 for professional component (26) claims

If you work with billing component 26 and PoS 32 (nursing homes), we have an improvement for your workflow. Now you can select what information will be entered into Box 32 of HCFA forms: the reading doctor’s or referring facility’s (in previous versions, the only available option was the reading doctor’s information).

To set this option, follow the path: Setup > Billing > Billing companies. Start editing an existing billing company record or create a new one. In the Claim/Statement properties section of the General tab, select Reading doctor or Referring facility.

Note that this option affects both printable HCFA 1500 forms and electronic claims.

[#20171] Mouse wheel zoom in the DICOM Viewer

Many radiologists find it convenient and intuitive to use the mouse wheel for zooming. In previous versions, you had to press and hold the Ctrl key to zoom in and out with the mouse wheel. Now, you can also click the Enable mouse wheel zoom button in the DICOM Viewer in order to use this feature. Click the button again to scroll through images.

Dear friends!

We hope this Independence Day brings you happiness and hope!

Please note that in observance of the holiday our Sales and Support offices will be closed Friday, July 3rd, 2020.

EMSOW software and services continue to be available 24/7. If you need assistance during this time, please send an email to support@emsow.com, and support will respond when we return on Monday 07/06.

This week has been very busy for our customers, who are gradually recovering from the crisis caused by the pandemic, as well as for our support and development teams. This time we have focused on improving the dispatching functionality.

If you would like to know how to optimize your imaging processes, integrate through HL7, and considerably cut your costs on exam processing and image reading, just let us know!

[#20259] Notes from Contacts in the “send report” window

If you deal with multiple referring facilities or doctors, this improvement is just for you. We have added notes from the Contacts section of the Referring module to the Send report window. Now you will be able to view a contact note before sending your report to avoid any confusion.

[#20247] Check mandatory fields when dispatching exam orders

Double-checking is an essential part of patient data entry, and in some cases, EMSOW can do it for you. Now the system will double-check mandatory fields rules before you dispatch an exam order to a technologist. This can be crucial if orders come to your EMSOW account through HL7, since such orders may lack important patient information. If you try to dispatch a service with blank mandatory fields, the system will return an error.

[#20222] Display service notes in the Dispatch module

If there is any additional important patient information your dispatcher needs to know, they will have it right at their fingertips. We have added the Notes column to the Dispatch module. Hover your mouse over the “note” icon, and the notes that are entered in the “Edit service” window will be displayed as a tooltip.

[#20206] “Disable selected” button in Mandatory Fields Rules

A diagnostic platform is not always a “plug-and-play” thing; it needs to be flexible and easily adjustable, since your conditions may rapidly change. Besides, sometimes you want to test these conditions. For these purposes, we have added the Disable selected button to the Mandatory Fields Rules. Select the rules you need to disable, click on this button, then click Yes in the Confirmation window.

Time to get back to business!

Finally, there’s good news! About 40% of our customers who were forced to put their business on hold due to the pandemic are back, and the others are on their way. Just during the past week, they uploaded to EMSOW 30% more studies compared to the week before. By the way, about a quarter of those were read by radiologists from the MDW marketplace, our trusted partners. Thank you for staying with us!

We keep our fingers crossed for you, but that’s obviously not enough to overcome the crisis. We are working as hard as never before to ensure your success. If you would like to learn about our services, discounts, and anti-pandemic packages, please book a demo.

But before scheduling the demo, you might be interested in what we have done this week to become more efficient and improve your diagnostic workflow. Wise choice!

[#20209] Automatic processing of HL7 orders

We have taken EMSOW’s interoperability and automation to the next level! As you may already know, EMSOW is integrated with numerous EMR solutions and we keep adding new integrations. Now our system automatically processes orders that are received via HL7 and creates service records that are ready to be dispatched to a technologist. Patient demographics, CPT and ICD-10 codes, as well as physician comments are imported automatically — and all you need to do to send your technologist to a facility is click “Dispatch”! Or maybe you wish to automate that too? Let us know!

If you would like to learn more about our HL7 capabilities to receive orders, please check our updated user manual.

[#20224] Updated formatting of amended reports

We have slightly changed the formatting of amended reports so that your referring physicians could easily identify them. Now, if a report was amended, you will see the date and time of new report creation under its heading.

[#20223] Overlay text on X-ray images

We have added the date of service, patient name, and image number overlays to X-ray images in the DICOM viewer.

You can turn the overlays off by unchecking the Display OSD box in the Options menu.

 [#15556] Auto-fill billing information for studies with reports only

We have added a new feature to ensure that imaging studies will not go to billing without an attached report from a reading doctor. Click Setup > Rules > Billing Rules, create new or start editing an existing rule, and select Received report in the Triggers dropdown menu.

If this trigger is enabled, the system will display an error message in the Billing result column of the Auto fill studies window.

COVID-19 outbreak led to a nation-wide business slowdown, especially in the diagnostic imaging industry. We have received hundreds of emails from our existing and prospective customers, who would like to make their companies mobile and paperless.

EMSOW has been around for 10 years, delivering full-cycle exam processing services to portable imaging companies, nursing home providers and teleradiologists, helping them decrease their turnaround time by up to 60% and finding trusted radiologists to read their exams as cheap as they never paid before (down to 70% of their normal rates).

As always, we’re committed to your success, so if you would like to save your money on image reading and exam processing, please get in touch with us and let us know how we can help you to keep your imaging business moving forward. We’re ready for customers who are looking to go mobile or want to optimize their workflow and cut expenditures, and if you feel that you need to handle the demands of this new reality sooner – just let us know.

Now, to our latest updates for your diagnostic business.

[#20217] A new condition for mandatory fields: “Reason for Exam or Diagnosis”

We have added a new condition to make data entry more flexible. Now you can make it mandatory to fill in at least one of the fields that store patient history, Reason or Diagnoses. Customers who do not always use ICD-10 coding may find this feature helpful because it will allow them to save the history information in a free-text form when diagnosis codes are not available.

To use this condition in your setup, follow the path: Setup > Rules > Mandatory Fields Rules. Open the Edit mandatory fields rule window and add Reason for Exam or Diagnosis to the Fields section.

[#20150] Display study documents as an image series in the DICOM viewer

Sometimes reading doctors need to refer to study documents while preparing their reports. With EMSOW, the doctors can easily retrieve any patient documents as PDF files from the Physician Portal, but this time we decided to make their work even more convenient and save their time.

Now you can convert study documents of particular types (e.g. tech sheets) to DICOM files so that your doctors could see them in the DICOM Viewer along with patient images. To enable this functionality, start editing a reading facility record in the Setup menu, open the Send options tab, and enter the needed document types in the File types field under Portal. The documents will be displayed as a separate image series.

[#20194] Insurance type filter for electronic claim submission

We have upgraded the electronic claim submission functionality. Now you can select a particular insurance type for submission: primary, secondary, or other. Open the Submit electronic claims window and select the needed type in the Insurance type field.

[#18924] Receive critical findings from MDW and get a reminder

We have improved EMSOW’s interoperability with Medical Diagnostic Web (MDW) – a radiology marketplace, where you can find a board-certified radiologist licensed in your state who can read your images at an affordable price.

Now you can choose a department or specific users who will get reminders if critical findings have been discovered in the studies you send to MDW for interpretation.

This new option can be essential for your referring physicians, as it can help them get information about any critical findings as soon as possible, prioritize their work, and even save lives.
To set up this option, please contact our support.

Of all of the business types affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, portable imaging companies, nursing home providers, and radiology services are among the hardest hit. In addition to companies reducing their volumes, there’s still a high level of general anxiety around the risk of visiting healthcare facilities.

While we at EMSOW® are committed to providing you with all the services you need to optimize your imaging workflow, save your turnaround time and money on reads and PACS, we also understand the need for flexibility based on your individual circumstances. To make sure you can work with confidence, we’re offering flexible setup waivers to startups and small businesses.

This week’s release is focused on Modality Worklist integration, study quality control, invoicing functionality and overall stability of the system to help your business optimize processes, which is essential during this pandemic.

If you don’t feel like going through a list of techy information, we welcome you to see our system in action and learn how you can streamline your workflow, improve your study processing, or find a trusted reading physician.

 [#20173] “Any document” condition in the Study Quality Rules

Study quality matters, that’s why we improved the functionality of its control and made it more adjustable to your needs. Previous versions of EMSOW allowed you to set a list of necessary patient documents with the “and” condition only so that all the specified documents would be mandatory to send an exam for reading. If any of these documents were missing, the system would not allow a user to send the exam.

Now, you can set a document list with the “or” condition as well, so that any document on the list suffices to transfer the exam for reading.

Follow the path: Setup > Rules > Study Quality Rules and open the required rule. Enter an or-conditioned list in the Documents (any) field of the Restrictions section.

For example, the rule below will allow sending exams that have at least a referral form or an insurance copy attached (but not necessarily both of those together) and will always require a consent form, a HIPAA form, and a tech sheet.

[#20180] Attach images based on the DICOM accession number

EMSOW has a capability to attach images automatically to pre-scheduled exam records. By default, it matches image uploads to the records you create in Dispatch based on a combination of conditions, including the patient name, date of service, and study description. From now on, technologists who use DICOM Modality Worklist (MWL) can opt to attach images based solely on the accession number generated by EMSOW. After a dispatch user has created an exam, its accession number is transferred to MWL, and when the images are uploaded, the system will simply compare DICOM tag 0008,0050 with the dispatch record and attach the images if the number matches. Note that EMSOW will not check the date of service if this option is enabled.

To try out this new feature, please contact our support.

[#20066] Add user signatures and c.c. users when sending an invoice

We have personalized facility invoice emails so that the receiving facilities could see who sent an invoice, including their contact information (first name, last name, and email). The person who sent the invoice will also receive a copy of the invoice email.

No one could have predicted how difficult this year has been. The imaging industry faces a pandemic and is still adjusting to its implications. Many businesses did not survive it, and we face an unprecedented decline.

All this makes us work even harder, and our developers are doing their best to improve the functionality of our platform so that your diagnostic business could overcome any new challenges. This week we have improved our PACS, DICOM, billing functionality, as well as compatibility with other medical software to help you focus on your patients and streamline your daily tasks. In this release, you’ll find just some of this week’s updates.

If you don’t feel like going through a techy long read, we welcome you to see our system in action and learn more about how you can save on reading and image storage expenses.

[#20153] Improved “Add Eligibility” option

We have improved the Add electronic eligibility option by adding the Authorization field. To check it out, select a service in Processing or Billing, and click Eligibility > Add.

Here you can select the authorization status: pending, not required, or complete. If the service contains more than one study, you can indicate which of them require authorization in the Note field. Please note that since we added a new field, we have renamed the Status field to Eligibility.

We have also added Eligibility and Authorization filters to the Billing module so that you could search services by these parameters. This feature can help you track services with inactive insurance and exams that require authorization and thus control denials from insurance companies.

[#20152] Default impression text for the “Sign and send” option

Previously, reading doctors had to enter an impression manually when signing PDF files, such as neuro and allergy tests. Now you can set the default impression text and add only case-specific information to each report.

This new option helps you improve the standards of your services and decrease reading turnaround time since the doctor doesn’t need to type the whole impression from scratch every time. Instead, they make some minor changes, sign the report, and send it. To learn more about this option, please contact us at support@emsow.com.

[#20151] Pre-cache the latest prior study

We have made updates to EMSOW’s DICOM Viewer so that you could more conveniently compare current images with prior ones (if they are available in the system).

In the new version of EMSOW, the previous study images will be automatically preloaded to speed up their opening. This update can substantially reduce the time of creating a report, especially if you deal with two studies consisting of multiple images.

Also, in the new version of EMSOW, the images of the latest prior study are shown by default, if you use the window mode. If you need to disable this option, go to the Physician Portal, open the Preferences menu to the right, and uncheck the “Show images of previous study” box.

[#20149] Show prior studies in Physician Portal’s grid view

In the new version of EMSOW, prior studies can be displayed in the grid view. This view is essential if you read a lot of exams daily. Hover your mouse over the History icon to display the count of related studies:

Click on it to open the patient history window:

By clicking the Images link, you can open any of the available prior studies.

[#20148] “Date of service” column in the grid view of the Physician Portal

Another improvement to the grid view of the Physician Portal is the Date of Service column. Now you can sort studies by this parameter.

[#20138] Jump to Dispatch from HL7 Requests

Now you can open ordered services received via the HL7 Requests module right in EMSOW’s Dispatch without surfing through the navigation panel. Just select a processed request and click Open in Dispatch.

You will be taken to the Dispatch module where you can dispatch a technologist momentarily.

Dear imaging providers!

We are glad to inform you that a new version of EMSOW has been released this week with some general improvements and a new feature in the Invoices module.

[#20088] Option to sort invoices by patient name

We have improved the facility invoicing functionality of EMSOW. Previous versions of the system would always sort invoices by service ID. Now you can sort them by patient name. To enable this option, follow the path: Setup > Billing > Referring > Referring facilities. Open a facility record and click on the Billing tab. In the Invoices section, select Patient name as the preferred sorting mode, and then click OK.

To learn more about the facility invoicing functionality and other useful features for your imaging business, please contact us at connect@emsow.com.

EMSOW® simplifies your diagnostic imaging workflow. We help hundreds of mobile providers all over the USA decrease their turnaround time, cut reading costs, and speed up revenue collection cycle.

This week we have put out seven improvements that enhance EMSOW’s DICOM and billing functionality and make our platform even more intuitive and user-friendly!

[#20089] “Remove” button in the Dispatch module

Now you can remove services from the Dispatch module. Select the services you need to remove, click Remove on the toolbar in the Results section, and then click Yes to confirm the action. Please note that once you click the Yes button, the service will be permanently deleted from EMSOW.

[#20085] Change study descriptions for dispatched cases in the Technologist Portal

The new version of EMSOW allows you to change study descriptions right in the Technologist Portal. Open the Studies section, select a date of service in the Date field, and click the Change study description button as shown below.

In the window that opens, start typing the new study name or its CPT code, or select the needed study type from the drop-down menu, and then click OK.

[#20074] “Uncancel” button in the Dispatch module

We have added a special option to reorder a canceled study in the Dispatch module. To reorder, click the Uncancel button on the upper toolbar of the Results section.

[#20064] Technician hours billing

The new version of EMSOW allows you to invoice a facility by the hours your technicians worked. Follow the path: Setup > Billing > Referring contracts. Start editing an existing contract or add a new one. In the Generic section of the Edit or Add new window, fill out the Technician hours rate field.

When adding an invoice, enter the hours worked. Then click Save.

The Quantity, Rate and Total technician charge will be stated in the invoice.

[#20045] Order the Resident Visit List by type of visit, patient name or room number

In previous versions of EMSOW, studies in the Resident Visit List (RVL) were always ordered by type of visit. Now you can order the studies by patient name or room.

Go to the Schedule module, select the Patient schedule tab, click on the Print button, and select Resident Visit List in the drop-down menu. In the Order by section of the window that opens, select Patient name, Room # or Type of Visit.

[#20033] New HL7 requests notifications

From now on, the HL7 Requests item on the menu bar will turn red if there are new study requests received through the HL7 protocol. Your dispatch will never miss a new order!

[#19902] Scroll through X-ray images with a mouse wheel

We have simplified your work with X-ray images in the EMSOW DICOM viewer. Previously, scrolling through X-ray images was done by pressing Shift and rotating a mouse wheel. Now you can do that with your mouse wheel only, no need to press and hold the Shift key!

Dear imaging providers!

We are glad to present a new version of EMSOW with enhanced search functionality and interoperability.

[#20065] Service ID search filters in the Invoices and Payer Assignment modules

We have improved the search options of EMSOW’s billing portion. Now you can search exams by service ID in the Invoices and Payer Assignment modules. You will find the corresponding search fields in the Options section on the left.

[#20027] Auto-rotate uploaded JPEG images

Previous versions of EMSOW did not recognize the orientation of uploaded JPEG files. Therefore, some files were displayed incorrectly, e.g. a tech sheet that was intended to be viewed vertically might have been displayed horizontally or vice versa. We have fixed this issue, and now all the JPEGs are displayed correctly.

[#18753; #20022] Sending guarantor information through HL7

We have improved EMSOW’s interoperability with other healthcare systems. If you send images for reading to external radiology platforms that receive order information via HL7, now you can send insurance guarantor information in the GT1 segment of ORM messages. To add the guarantor information, open the Edit service window in the Processing or Billing module. By default, EMSOW defines the patient themself as a guarantor.

Clicking the Self button under the “Guarantor” label on the right of the Insurance section will allow you to change the guarantor relation to spouse, parent, other, employee, guardian, or life partner, and enter the guarantor information.

In the future, we are going to make it possible to send the guarantor information in electronic insurance claims as well.

The new version of EMSOW that has come out this week contains some improvements aimed at facilitating your work in our image viewer as well as invoice management.

[#19997] Search by invoice number in the Invoices module

We have added a new filter that allows you to search for invoices by invoice number. To use this feature, follow the path: Billing > Invoices. In the Options panel on the right, you will find the Invoice number field. Enter the invoice number you are looking for, then click Search. The system will display the referring facility or account for which the invoice was created.

[#19918, #19974] Flip and rotate tools in the DICOM viewer

Sometimes tech sheets come into the PACS system in a wrong orientation. We have added a simple tool that helps you fix such issues. Now you can rotate the tech sheets and images right in the DICOM viewer by clicking the Rotate right and Rotate left buttons on the toolbar.

In addition, the Flip image buttons allow you to mirror images horizontally or vertically.

Dear imaging providers,

We are glad to inform you that we have released a new version of EMSOW with a focus on interoperability. EMSOW takes EMR integration to a new level by allowing your dispatch to keep full control over incoming exam requests.

[#19978] Receive orders through HL7

The new version of EMSOW allows you to receive orders from your clients’ EMRs through the HL7 protocol. Open the HL7 Requests module from the upper menu bar. If your EMSOW is integrated with an EMR, incoming requests will be displayed in this module.

Here, you can set search parameters to apply a filter to the requests: Status, Created date, Processed date, and Provider. Enter the required parameters, then click Search. Select the required request in the Results window, then click Process. EMSOW will open a service creation wizard to import data. Then you will be able to dispatch a technologist to perform the requested exam by using the Dispatch module.

[#19968] Search for unpaid non-denied studies from the Billing query

We have improved your revenue collection management by adding the Unpaid non-denied search option to the Billing module. It is available in the Query field in the Options panel. This option helps you retrieve unpaid studies without denials posted in EMSOW.

[#19948] Service object pair (SOP) ID search filter in PACS storage

We have extended the search options of EMSOW’s PACS Storage module. Now you can search studies by SOP ID. This filter is located in the Quick search section of the Options panel. Enter the SOP ID, then click the Search button.

We hope this release finds you well. Here at EMSOW, we have been productive this week and put out 7 updates to improve your imaging workflow.

EMSOW RELEASE

[#19955] Group exams by accession number in EOM report

We have extended the functionality of the End of month report (EOM). Now you can group studies by accession number. Open the Billing module, click Report, then select End of month (EOM) report in the dropdown menu. Select Accession number in the Group by section of the window that opens, select the columns you want to include, then click OK.

[#19951] Copy addresses from referring facilities of any type

In the previous versions of EMSOW, you could copy a service address from nursing homes only. We have improved this option, and now you can copy the address from referring facilities of any type.

[#19630] “Check payer” search filter in the Billing module

We have added the Check Payer search filter to the Billing module. It is located in the Payments section of the search panel. Type the payer’s name in the field or select it from the dropdown menu, then click Search.

[#18935] Support for DICOM transfer syntax 1.2.840.10008.1.2.4.102

We added support for DICOM transfer syntax 1.2.840.10008.1.2.4.102 “MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 High Profile / Level 4.1” to play cineloops in MPEG-4 format in our image viewer.

[#19961] Service ID column in RVL

We have added a new column to the Resident Visit List (RVL), “SID”. The new column shows the service ID for each record. To download the RVL, go to the Processing module, click on the Print button in the order pane, then select Resident Visit List in the dropdown menu.

[#19604] Sort RVL by Type of Visit

The new version of EMSOW allows you to sort the RVL by the type of visit. Click Print in the order pane of the Processing module, then select Resident Visit List. In the window that opens, select Service type or Study type. The RVL will list new studies first, and then it will list follow-up studies.

[#19623] Create tentative orders

From now on, referring physicians can order studies from service providers without specifying an exact date of service. This can be very helpful when the date on which a study should be performed is to be determined at some point later.

To order a study, open the Physician Portal and click the Order studies button on the toolbar. The Ordered studies window will open. In this window, you can add new and manage your existing ordered studies. For a new study, simply click the Add new button on the toolbar:

Here, you can enter necessary patient information, select the type of study, and choose a tentative study date or leave this field blank. Click OK to create a study.

After that, the created study goes to the Dispatch module for further scheduling and dispatching. To manage the ordered studies from the Dispatch module, click the Order studies button on the toolbar. The Ordered studies window will display the Schedule button on the toolbar:

This button turns a tentative study into a confirmed one that dispatch can assign to a technologist.

COVID-19: EMSOW Update

We hope our newsletter finds you well. The COVID-19 pandemic forces radiologists to work from home, and many turn out to be unprepared for it. A cloud solution for image storage with an integrated DICOM viewer and a billing module can help a lot to streamline the new process and stay 100% HIPAA compliant. This week, we have made three new improvements to EMSOW.

EMSOW Release

[#19927] Improved transportation code assignment (R0070/R0075)

We have improved the functionality of the Assign R0070/R0075 option in the Processing module. Now the Date of Service and Referring Facility fields of the Add transportation codes window are populated automatically based on the order information. To add transportation codes in the Processing module, click on the Assign R0070/R0075 button in the Order information section to the right.

[#19884] Patient SSN field in the Dispatch module

We have extended the search options of the Dispatch module by adding a Patient SSN filter to the Options panel. Enter a patient’s social security number and search exams by this parameter.

[#19908] More flexibility for box 32

Now you can activate the “Keep box 32 empty” option in billing company settings selectively for nursing home facilities and/or different components.

COVID-19: EMSOW UPDATE

Hope you’re well. Meanwhile, radiologists have to use WhatsApp to gather second opinions. During this restless time, patients should be treated by whatever means necessary. However, there are also special-purpose solutions, HIPAA-compliant and way more convenient.

EMSOW RELEASE

[#19917] Remove sent invoices

Now you can remove sent invoices. This can be useful if you have created an invoice with an error and need to replace it. Follow the path: Billing > Invoices. Select the required invoice, click Remove selected, then click Yes in the confirmation window.

[#19901] Change a referring facility from the Dispatch Module

The new version of EMSOW allows our users to change the referring facility for an exam record right from the Dispatch module. Go to the Dispatch module, select the needed service, and click Edit. The Edit service window will open. Change the referring facility in the corresponding field. If the service is scheduled for the future, the technologist who is assigned to the case will receive an updated dispatch notification.

[#19888] Send studies for reading from Dispatch and Technologist Portal without additional confirmation

Now, when you click the Reading button in the Dispatch module or the Technologist Portal, the “Send all” checkbox will be selected automatically, so that you do not forget to deliver images to a radiologist in time.

[#19887] Add the FY billing modifier to studies with CR images

We have increased the automation of your billing management. From now on, the system will automatically add the FY billing modifier (“X-ray taken using computed radiography technology/cassette-based imaging”) to studies with Computed Radiography (CR) images.

[#19882] Improved End of Month reporting

We have enhanced the functionality of the End of Month (EoM) report. Now you can disable the Primary insurance, the Primary member ID, and the CPT code columns. Also, you can include in your report the Branch, Modality, and Finalized date columns by checking the corresponding boxes in the Print End of Month Report window.

[#19880] Dispatch performance report

This new report allows you to track the performance of your Dispatch users. Go to the Dispatch module and click the Performance report button. In the window that opens, select a date or a date range and run the report. An Excel file that includes patient and exam data and the names of users who created those exams will be downloaded to your computer.

[#19855] Add billing modifiers from the Processing module

In the new version of EMSOW, you can add billing modifiers to studies from the Processing module. Start creating a service or open the Edit service window. Click on the “arrow” button in the Studies section and select Edit billing modifiers list in the dropdown menu. In the window that opens, enter the required modifiers, then click Save. Please note that changing these modifiers after creating a claim will have no effect, as this feature is supposed to be used before you click the Auto-fill button.

[#19813] Assign referring contracts to accounts and create invoices for them

Now you can assign referring contracts to accounts (along with referring facilities). This can be used if you have a group of facilities that need to receive a collective invoice. Please note that this option will be unavailable if the contract is specified for both an account and a facility that is part of that account.

[#19900] Use branch links in EMSOW Mobile Pro

If a user is linked to branches in the Users module, they will be able to view only the orders for these branches in our iOS application.

COVID-19: EMSOW Update

HealthExec: “CMS conducted an inspection of a nursing home based in Kirkland, Washington, the Life Care Center, considered to be the epicenter of the state’s outbreak of the new coronavirus, COVID-19.

Over a course of several weeks, two-thirds of the nursing home’s residents fell ill with COVID-19, as well as 47 workers. Overall, 35 people have died from the virus, exemplifying a worst-case scenario of the disease. COVID-19 disproportionately impacts the elderly by causing more severe illness and often requiring intensive care.”

We hope that our newsletter finds you well, and the self-assessment tools, discussed in the article, would help to control the threat.

EMSOW Release

[#16154] HIPAA Privacy Policy Notice

We have added a HIPAA Privacy Policy Notice for new EMSOW users. It will appear when they login to their EMSOW domain for the first time. To proceed, a user needs to accept it.

Read the notice carefully, check the Agree box, then click OK.

You can make the new users accept the HIPAA agreement by checking the corresponding box in the “Create new record” window of the Users module or disable this feature by unchecking it.

Also, under this checkbox, you will find the Force to change password checkbox, which was previously located at the bottom of the window.

COVID-19: EMSOW Update

Dear EMSOW customers and business owners!

We hope this newsletter finds you well. Here at EMSOW, we are closely monitoring the situation with COVID-19. We are strictly observing the health authorities’ recommendations and do everything we can to keep our team healthy and our customers timely supported. EMSOW, as well as our customer service, will operate as normal. You can count on us 24/7.

EMSOW Release

[#19843; #19739] Reschedule dispatched exams

Now you can change service dates right in the Dispatch module. Double-click on a service, then enter the required dates in the Order date and Date of Service fields.

Moreover, we have improved the automation of your scheduling management. If you move a service from the Dispatch module to another date, the system will automatically create the corresponding event in the Schedule module. If there are no orders for this date, an order and an event will be created. This feature will not be activated, if the event has been canceled.

[#19830] Referring groups in Billing Rules, Transportation and Setup rules

We have extended the functionality of EMSOW’s Billing, Transportation and Setup rules, by adding the Referring groups condition. To add it to a rule, click on the “Plus” button in the Add new rule or Edit rule window.

[#19806] Billing state field in referring facilities

Now you can indicate billing states for referring facilities according to Medicare localities. Follow the path: Setup > Referring > Referring facilities. Start adding a new facility or editing an existing one. In the Billing tab of the window, you will find the Billing state field. Start entering the state or select it from the dropdown menu.

Then, you can filter services in the Billing module by Referring billing state. Use the corresponding filter in the Referring doctor section of the Options pane.

Modality Worklist: A Brief Introduction for Beginners

Check out our introductory article about the Modality Worklist on Medium. The Modality Worklist (or MWL) is a feature of the DICOM protocol that allows you to transfer procedure lists to be performed from a PACS server to your diagnostic equipment. Being a comprehensive yet user-friendly and intuitive solution, EMSOW supports this functionality.

EMSOW Release

[#19755] Technologist Portal will warn the user if the DICOM patient name does not match the patient name from Dispatch

We have decreased the risk of human error in the Technologist portal. Now, if you attach images to studies by using the drag-and-drop function and the patient name in the images does not match that in the dispatch entry, the system will warn you with a confirmation window.

[#19754] Social Security Number in the Portable Services Requisition form

We have added the Social Security Number (SSN) field to the Portable Services Requisition form, which you can print from the Billing module.

[#19751] Keep the state of the Worksheet filter in the Technologist Portal

We have improved the search functionality of the Technologist Portal by adding a stateful Worksheet filter. It is located under the Group by filter in the Options panel and contains the following options: Saved, Not saved, and All. The stateful filter “remembers” the search condition used in the previous search, so you can set up your portal to display studies without a saved worksheet at all times.

[#19752] New stateful filters in the Dispatch module

We have added new stateful filters to the Dispatch module. They include the following search options: Dispatch stage, Critical Findings, Priority, Branches, Referring facilities, Technologists, Modalities, Hide items flagged as “phoned”, Hide items with delivered reports, Hide items flagged as confirmed by technologist, and Show cancelled items. Check the needed box once, and the system will remember your choice for all the future searches!

[#19798] Self-payment option in Referring Contracts

We have added the Self checkbox to referring contract conditions so that you could apply them to self-pay patients. EMSOW considers a patient self-pay if there is no insurance specified for him or her. To use this option, follow the path: Setup > Billing > Referring contracts. Create a new contract or start editing an existing one.

[#19753] Charge percentage in Referring Contracts

Another improvement in the Referring Contracts functionality is the percentage field (displayed as %:). This field is used to apply a percentage to the Charge based on field that allows you to reference an insurance company’s fee schedule in your contracts.

An article from EMSOW: PACS for Beginners

Thinking about getting a PACS solution? If you are about to launch your own mobile diagnostic business, check out our introductory article about PACS technology.
Subscribe to our blog on Medium to read more articles!

[#19756] “Group by” search option in the Technologist portal

We have improved the search options in the Technologist portal by adding the Group by option, similar to that in our PACS storage module. Now, you can group your images by Study UID, attached studies, and DICOM studies (default). Previously all the images were automatically arranged by Study UID.

[#19579] Transaction conditions for billing

We have improved our auto-posting feature. Now you can automatically write off a pending amount when you receive a denial with certain codes. Go to Setup > Billing > Transaction conditions. Click Add new and enter a range of CPT codes, insurances, as well as CARC/RARC codes.

[#19726] “Cancel” button in the Dispatch module

Now you can cancel exams right in the Dispatch module. Select the needed studies, click the Cancel button, enter a cancellation reason in the window that opens (you can also skip it), then click OK. The exams will receive the canceled status and disappear from the Dispatch module. Please note that if an exam is confirmed by a technologist, it cannot be canceled. To cancel unconfirmed studies, you will need to “undispatch” them and notify the technologist.

“Extended functionality” – that’s how this week’s updates can be put into two words. We have improved referring facility records management, and updated the reading rules module to add support for conditions based on the date of service. Moreover, we have improved the transportation coding functionality. If you are a portable X-ray company and not our customer yet, book a demo and take a look at EMSOW in action (check out the “Schedule a demo” button on our website).

[#19639] New columns in the Referring Facilities module

We have added new columns to the Referring Facility module so that you could manage your referring facility records more efficiently. Now you can display the following parameters for them: Short name; Full name; Account; Ordering facility; Billing settings; Contract; Contacts; Study groups.

You can add the corresponding columns to the Results pane or remove them from it by clicking the “arrow” button to the left of each column.

[#19420] Date of service conditions in reading rules

We have extended the functionality of reading rules. Now you can add the DoS from and DoS to conditions. For example, this update is helpful if you need to autofill your services from/to a specific date or within a date range. To add these (or any other) conditions, go to the Reading Rules module and add a new rule or start editing an existing one. In the window that opens, click the “plus” button, and add the needed conditions from the dropdown menu.

[#19649] Reworked feature: “Related transportation codes”

Now you can assign X-ray transportation codes in the Processing, Billing, and Payer Assignment modules by clicking the Assign R0070/R0075.

In the window that opens, enter search options in the Options section, click Search, select studies that were done within the same trip, and click the Add transportation codes button. This will add HCPCS code R0070 to studies done within single-patient trips, and R0075 (with appropriate modifiers) to studies done within multi-patient trips.

Hi, we hope you had a wonderful Presidents’ Day. Meanwhile, we put out a new feature to improve your scheduling management.

[#19588] Counters for performed, scheduled and canceled services

Previously, you had to scroll the mouse down the order window to see the number of scheduled, performed and canceled services. Now you can view these details in the Order Information section of the Processing module. The number of services is displayed near the icons, which refer to the service status.

This week we have been working on automating EMSOW’s insurance management. And here’s a new improvement, check it out!

[#19595] Insurance overrides based on service address

In addition to our previous update (#19561), now you can override multiple insurances at once, on the basis of the service location zip code. It can be either a facility’s or patient’s zip, depending on the PoS code.

Also, we have changed the directory of this setting. To access it, go to the Setup menu, click Rules, and select Insurance Overrides.

Last week, our developers focused on improving insurance settings and the Clearing module. With the latest version of EMSOW, you’ll get more flexibility for automatic replacement of insurances and ERA management.

[#19553] Hide notice pages in paper statements for patients

By default, past due and final patient statements generated by EMSOW include a notice page, reminding that the payment is past due. If such reminders are undesirable, you can create statements without the notice pages by selecting the “Do not include notice pages in pastdue and final account statements” option in the billing company settings (Setup / Billing / Billing companies).

 [#19561] Override multiple insurances based on ZIP code

The Insurance Overrides module replaces patient insurances based on the ZIP code of the referring facility. Now you can override multiple insurances at once, without creating many insurance rules. Go to the Setup menu and select Insurance Overrides. Add a new or edit an existing insurance rule. In the Insurances field, you will be able to enter several insurances.

[#19564] Additional search options in the Clearing module

Now you can manage your ERAs more efficiently, thanks to two additional search options in the Clearing module. First, we have added the Taken search option, where you can select files marked as taken, not taken, or any. For example, you can select Not taken, and the system will display unposted checks, if you use the “Taken” flag to mark completely posted ERAs.

Another update is the Files without tags checkbox right below the Tags field, which allows you to retrieve files without any tags. Reminder: you can create tags for ERAs by going to Setup / Billing / Clearing Tags.

[#19562] Prefix filter in the Clearing module

If you use the “Prefix for Claim Submitter’s Identifier” setting in the “Billing companies” module, you can now use those prefix values as filter criteria for incoming ERAs in the Clearing module. This will allow you to find ERAs that reference claims submitted on behalf of specific billing companies.

If your imaging business covers multiple states, this EMSOW update is right for you. Another useful feature inspired by our customers!

[#19528] Search referring facilities by state

We have added the State filter to the Processing and Billing modules. In both modules, they are located in the Options panel to the right of the window – in the Filter menu of the Processing module and in the Referring doctor dropdown menu of the Billing module. This feature helps you easily find services referred by facilities, operating in various states.

Here is an important update to improve your imaging workflow with EMSOW:

EMSOW RELEASE

[#17866] Add new facility and doctor records while creating or editing orders and services

Now you can add a new referring doctor, facility or rendering provider while scheduling an exam, even without going to setup modules. For example, in the Edit service window, click on the “plus” button to the left of the Referring doctor field. In the window that opens, enter the details of the new referring physician, then click Save. The same can be done for referring facilities and rendering providers.

INDUSTRY NEWS

TechCrunch: “Every day, millions of new medical images containing the personal health information of patients are spilling out onto the internet.” About half of these images belong to patients from the USA. It seems like cyber-security risks are becoming more acute. One of the ways to minimize them is to use a secure cloud platform for image transfer.

In response to these challenges, our developers are constantly working on enhancing EMSOW’s security. However, this week we have focused on improving our billing and posting systems.

EMSOW RELEASE

[#19412] Do not create patient statements for claims forwarded to a secondary payer

We have updated our payment posting feature to prevent errors and improve your billing accuracy. From now on, the system will not create a patient statement when you are posting a payment from an ERA that indicates that the original claim was forwarded to a secondary insurance carrier. If the secondary insurance is not entered into the service record, an error message will be displayed, asking the user to add the secondary insurance to the service.

[#19372] Updates in the Clearing module

To further improve your billing accuracy, we have also updated the Clearing module. Now, before you mark a file as taken by ticking the flag icon in the Taken column, you will see a confirmation window. To mark the file as taken, click Yes. Besides, we have added the Date taken column so that you could easily track the date and time of when the files were taken.

[#19482] Improved claims search

Now you can gain better control over your revenue streams. Previously, the Unsent claims filter disregarded the claims that users marked as submitted manually, so the filter would display those claims as if they were unsent. We have fixed this issue. Also, we have added a new filter, Unsent claims (via clearing house), which allows you to search specifically for claims that are supposed to be sent electronically.

[#19490] Billing status icons in the Processing module

You asked us to visualize the billing status of exams in the Processing module, and we did it. We have added visual icons to the billing status line. Now, along with the textual description, you will see status icons: ‎✅ for paid exams, ⌛ for pending payments, and ✍️ for written-off amounts. This update will help your staff see the billing status of the exams at a glance!

EMSOW TEAM WISHES YOU HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

[#19104] EmsowMobilePro for iPhone and iPad: Administrator Mode and More

If you are about to go mobile (or already running a mobile diagnostic business), there’s good news. We have significantly improved our mobile application so that your traveling technologists and clinicians could get the most out of it. Moreover, this new version of the app enables practice administrators to access all procedure records, even on the go.
Here’s the complete list of updates:
* iOS 13/iPadOS support added
* Application icons and images redesigned
* New report template engine implemented – more productive, fast and user-friendly
* Administrator mode implemented – now you can view visits and exams for all users
* Study management system updated:
* patient editing available to all users
* patient insurance editing available to all users
* study lookup improved
* patient state lookup improved
* exam editing available to all users
* exam diagnosis codes viewing/editing implemented
* exam follow-up date viewing/editing implemented
* scheduled exam viewing/editing implemented
* app stability and performance improved

INDUSTRY NEWS

If you are a mobile imaging provider, then you must secure your patient information and eliminate any leakage risk. Jennings Aske, an information security expert from NewYork-Presbyterian, describes cyber-security challenges.

Thinking about a secure way to store, transfer and manage your images and documents? Check out EMSOW website!

EMSOW RELEASE

[#19257] Updated ICD-10 code database
We have updated the ICD-10 code database according to the changes released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in October 2019. The latest ICD-10 codes are now available in EMSOW.

[#19346] Critical findings checkbox in the report interface
We have replaced the critical findings window in the report interface. Now reading physicians do not need to select if the report findings are critical when finalizing each report. Instead, they can either click the new checkbox at the bottom of the screen or ignore it (if there are no critical findings).

Happy Thanksgiving!

EMSOW Team wishes you and your loved ones a day full of splendor and gratitude! We are looking forward to helping you in the future. Happy Thanksgiving!

Meanwhile, before the Thanksgiving dinner is ready, our developers have added a couple of useful updates.

EMSOW RELEASE

[#19315] Post payments even if some CPT codes are closed
A few of our customers had reported being unable to post co-pay payments to multi-CPT study records. Our tech team investigated the issue and released an update to resolve it. Now you can post payments to study records consisting of several CPTs even if the billing history for some of the CPTs has been closed due to zero balance (e.g. if you have posted an insurance payment with a co-pay value that only applies to one of the CPTs).

[#19323] Rejection management in the Clearing module
With the latest Clearing module update, you can manage rejected claims more efficiently. Find claim responses for a certain date range by using the filter and click on the claim number link in the Claims column. In the details window, you can view rejection reasons and claim information. The Actions column contains buttons to edit service and billing information that allow you to quickly correct any data and resubmit the claims. Also, there is a Service ID link to jump from this window to the Processing module.