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.
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[#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.

EMSOW RELEASE

[#19186] Critical findings reminder

We have added to EMSOW a reminder of critical findings. From now on, when a reading doctor finalizes a report, they are prompted to select if the report findings are critical:

If “Positive” is selected, some of your staff can receive a notification of critical findings:

EMSOW can send these reminders to certain employees or to all employees from a specific department. To use this feature and configure who will receive such notifications, please contact our support team.

INDUSTRY NEWS

George Curtis, HIPAA security officer at Houston Healthcare, talks about the EHR/EMR revolution and the pitfalls of EHR integration.

By the way, we have added some new EHR functionality to the latest version of EMSOW.

EMSOW RELEASE

[#19216] Displaying studies older than one year in patient history tooltips

From now on, patient history tooltips in the Processing and Billing modules can display full patient history, including studies that are older than one year:

To enable this feature or learn more about EHR functionality in EMSOW, please contact our support at support@emsow.com.

EXPERT TIPS FROM RADIOLOGY BUSINESS

“Listen and remain present.” These tips seem to be obvious. Still, radiologists should pay more attention to them, considers Radiology Business. With EMSOW, you can provide quality service and keep your patients happy! Here is a couple of our latest upgrades.

EMSOW RELEASE

[#19108] Ordering facilities filter in the “Dispatch turnaround time analysis” module

One of our customers asked us for functionality to analyze dispatch turnaround time for particular ordering facilities. And here we are with a new search filter in the “Dispatch turnaround time analysis” module. Select the needed ordering facilities in the corresponding filter, and all the studies ordered by those facilities will be displayed in a single click! For each of the studies, the module will calculate the time your doctors took to provide their reports.

INDUSTRY NEWS

The American College of Radiology (ACR) is going to promote diversity by offering internships for women. The program is aimed to help first-year medical students connect with practicing radiologists. Here at EMSOW, we cherish diversity, besides, we are promoting quality and efficiency in medical imaging!

EMSOW RELEASE

[#19162] New search filter in the Billing module: Unassigned payer
We have added a new search parameter to the Query filter of the Billing module, Unassigned payer. This new query allows you to search services, for which payer assignment is required (as per referring facility settings), but has not been completed via the Payer Assignment module. To use this search parameter, start typing “Unassigned payer” or select it in the dropdown menu of the Query field.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Healthcaretech Outlook reports increasing risk of HIPAA-protected patient information leakages. That is one more reason for imaging providers to consider switching to cloud PACS storage with encrypted connection.

EMSOW RELEASE

[#19057] Transfer CARC and RARC codes to secondary claims

From now on, CARC and RARC codes from ERA files will appear in secondary claims generated by the system. This helps you avoid denials and improve your bottom line.

MEDICAL IMAGING NEWS

Radiology Business reports an increasing ePHI leakage threat. Sometimes access to patient information reminds not even of hacking, but of walking into an open door. This serious HIPAA violation can be easily escaped by using secure cloud storage EMSOW provides.

EMSOW RELEASE

[#19041] Ability to upload EEG files

We have extended the functionality of document management in EMSOW. Now our users can attach EEG files with the “.eas” extension to study records. All in all, the “Documents” section currently supports 16 file formats! To attach a file to a study, click the “Documents” button in the Processing module or in the Technologist Portal.

[#19089] Check eligibility for the date of service

Previously, you could check insurance eligibility only for the current date. We have made the eligibility check feature more versatile, so now you can check eligibility for the date of service. For example, you can check if a patient is eligible to receive a service scheduled in advance.

MEDICAL IMAGING NEWS

The New England Journal of Medicine reports that vaping can cause lung diseases, i.e., marketing claims about the safety of electronic cigarettes may mislead the customers.

EMSOW RELEASE

[#19044] Patient address in templates

We have enhanced our templated reporting engine. Now EMSOW can automatically fill a patient’s street address, city, state, and ZIP Code in report templates.

By the way, did you know that you could use the templates to create not just ultrasound worksheets and image interpretation reports, but also consent forms, requisition forms and other types of documentation? Ask us how!

MEDICAL BILLING NEWS

AAPC discusses the new ICD-10 coding updates for 2020. If you’re dealing with venous tests, this article might be of interest to you. Here at EMSOW, we are following the latest updates to satisfy the needs of your business.

This time we have made a brief presentation about EMSOW billing. Your billers will love it, that’s for sure!

EMSOW BILLING FUNCTIONALITY

We have made a brief presentation about EMSOW billing. Your billers will love it, that’s for sure!
EMSOW automates your revenue management cycle – from generating electronic claims and posting ERAs to tracking your invoices and detailed financial reporting.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Healthcare Tech Outlook analyzes cloud mobility and its development. Our solution is cloud-based and absolutely mobile, which is ideal for businesses who work with traveling sonographers and mobile x-ray. This time we have added a new option, which can become useful for neurologists, and not only them.

EMSOW RELEASE

[#18999] Upload last saved drafts for certain templates

Now you can retrieve the recent clinical findings within seconds. Our latest update allows you to populate a report with data from the previous visit. This functionality is essential for some types of visits, e.g. neurology consultations. To enable this functionality, go to Setup > Reading > Report templates, select the needed template, click “Edit,” then check the box “Load last saved draft.”
This feature is also available in our mobile app.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Today, one of the hot topics is radiologists’ burnout. Radiology Business discusses the way EHRs contribute to it. Meanwhile, we are trying to decrease the professional burnout of the physicians by adding new automated features to healthcare software.

EMSOW RELEASE

[#18854] Ability to duplicate entity records

We have added functionality to duplicate entity records in setup modules. Select the needed entity (e.g., insurance), then click “Duplicate selected”. Make the required changes in the entity record, then click “Save”. Populating settings in EMSOW is much easier now!

EMSOW is one of the few platforms for automating imaging businesses, which takes pride in both its desktop and mobile versions. One of our latest upgrades is created to streamline the work of referring physicians.

With EmsowMobile Pro, you can access your patients’ diagnostic images and reports anytime and anywhere.

The survey findings published in Radiology Business say that the vast majority of radiologists see significant value in teleradiology, although there are some disturbing factors, which prevent them from using teleradiology solutions.
EMSOW is a cloud-based end-to-end teleradiology platform to improve your practice and eliminate technical issues. Today, we are proud to present our dispatching service in action (really, less than two minutes).

Automate your technologist management with EMSOW. In the Dispatch module, you can assign exams to imaging technologists in two clicks and track the exams status 24/7.

Industry news

On August 1, FDA published a list of recommendations to ensure the safety of patients and staff in MRI environments and improve safety testing and MRI information in medical device labeling.

EMSOW Release

[#18922] Dispatch Turnaround Time Analysis module

Now you can easily view, compare, and analyze the turnaround time of your facilities. We have created a new module, where you can filter the list of exams by referring facility and see turnaround time for each exam as well as average time for the selected date range. To access it, go to the Analysis module and select Dispatch Turnaround Time Analysis in the dropdown menu.

[#18758] Set the modalities to be displayed in AMI viewer

There are two image viewers available in EMSOW. Some of our customers prefer to view images of particular modalities on EMSOW viewer, instead of AMI viewer. Now you can customize AMI viewer on your EMSOW domain by choosing the modalities to be displayed in it. To apply this option, please contact our support at support@emsow.com.

Industry News

Radiologists tend to show the highest interest in telemedicine compared to other physicians, reports Doximity.
This trend can lead to a growing demand for teleradiology platforms. Since 2009 EMSOW has been offering a cutting-edge radiology platform, tailored especially for radiology business at a very reasonable price.

[#16984] Create documents based on templates

Besides file uploading and paperwork scanning, you can now use templates to create documents in EMSOW! Click the “Documents” button and then click “Add using templates” to create a new document:

This functionality is available in the Processing and Dispatch modules, as well as the Rendering Provider and Technologist portals. To set up document templates, administrators should go to Setup → Reading → Report Templates.

[#18431] Billing charges for multiple billing companies

Now you can specify more than one billing company in one billing charge record, instead of creating a separate record for each of your billing companies. Go to Setup → Billing → Billing Charges, create or edit a record for a CPT code, and use the “Billing companies” drop-down list:

We asked our customers to choose the top 5 features for the last month. Here they come…

#1 Rendering Provider portal

Here, you can create studies in order to save the results of your work with patients. You can also add notes to the studies based on customizable templates. User-friendly search filters allow you to filter the studies by any criteria, from the date of service to the patient’s or doctor’s name.

#2 New “Enterprise administrator” user group

We have added a new user group called Enterprise administrator. This group provides extended user rights and can be assigned to advanced EMSOW users who wish to set up and fine-tune EMSOW to meet their own needs and bring the highest level of efficiency to their system.

#3 Technologists can clock in and out via web browser

To enable this functionality, an enterprise administrator should click “Admin” → “Terminals” and create a new terminal record with the “Kiosk technologist time tracking module” option. Then your technologists will be able to go to your domain and check in. After they are done working, the technologists should go to the same address and check out.

#4 Copy diagnoses in Service Edit window

Save the time you spend on entering the same diagnoses for several studies. Make a single click, and the system will automatically copy all the diagnoses to the rest of the studies, if their Diagnosis fields are empty.

#5 Copy address from “Nursing home” type referring facilities

We have increased the automation of data entry. Now you can copy the address of a referring facility to service records if the referring facility is a nursing home.

If you want to learn more about our updates or services, please feel free to contact us at connect@unvsoft.com.

INDUSTRY NEWS

According to the Journal of the American College of Radiology, the current trend is the consolidation of independent radiology groups into larger businesses. In this environment, it’s getting harder for smaller practices to survive. The alternative way is scaling up. This can be achieved by automation and reaching a vast marketplace. EMSOW offers both, and much more.

For example, this week we have improved our time tracking system to help you manage imaging technologists.

 [#18822] Technologists can clock in and out via web browser

To enable this functionality, an enterprise administrator should click “Admin” → “Terminals” and create a new terminal record with the “Kiosk technologist time tracking module” option. Then your technologists (i.e. users with a technologist link) will be able to go to <yourdomain>.emsow.com/kiosk and check in at referring facilities that they are visiting to work with patients. After they are done working, the technologists should go to the same address and check out.

To track working hours of your technologists, go to “Accounting” → “Technologists Time Tracking.”

Medical imaging news

CDs remain the predominant way of sharing radiological images with patients, says the Radiology journal. Today, with PACS storage and secure patient portals available, using CDs seems not entirely efficient, though.

EMSOW offers PACS with encrypted patient access and much more to streamline your imaging business.

EMSOW Release

[#18791] Copy address from “Nursing home” type referring facilities
We have increased the automation of data entry. Now you can copy the address of a referring facility to service records if the referring facility is a nursing home (i.e., its PoS code is 32). To use this feature, go to the Processing module, click Add or Edit, and click on the “Copy address from ref. facility” link.

Healthcare IT News

AI in healthcare is one of the most discussed and controversial topics in the professional community. Artificial intelligence has attracted the attention of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is currently working on the regulation of its use in medicine.

No matter whether you use artificial intelligence in your practice or natural intelligence of your team is enough, there’s good news from EMSOW.

EMSOW PACS Bridge update
EMSOW PACS Bridge has been updated to version 1.2.319.0ed142. The new version allows you to view DICOM images right after you transfer them from your diagnostic unit, and includes stability improvements.

[#18623] Enter a note on removing a settings record
When a user removes a settings record such as a reading or billing rule, EMSOW will prompt the user to enter a note to describe a reason for removing it. We hope this will prevent accidental removals and make it easier for our support team to restore mistakenly removed records.

[#18669] Automatically reassign reading providers in case of reading delay
If a reading doctor or facility fails to upload a report for a study in due time (as specified in the Reading Times module), the study can be automatically reassigned to another reading provider. To use this feature, you need to configure reading rules. Simply create a new reading rule and add the option “Use to reassign a reading provider in case of reading delay” to conditions of the rule. Then, this rule will be applied in case a reading delay occurs, and the study will be sent to a new reading doctor or facility specified in the rule. Accordingly, the study will be removed from the physician portal of the previous reading provider who will also receive an email notification informing them that the interpretation order has been canceled (provided that an email address is configured in EMSOW for the doctor or facility).

[#18717] Study priority in DICOM tags
When sending studies to an external reading facility, you can now also transfer a study priority value (routine, ASAP, STAT). To that end, we have added an option to patch DICOM metadata with the study priority value. In order to use this feature, select the Study priority checkbox in the Send options tab of the Edit reading facility window. Now your external reading providers will be reliably informed of urgent cases!

[#18741] Services become “performed” on completing a preliminary report in Rendering Provider Portal
With this update, scheduled services will automatically change their status to performed when a user completes a preliminary report in the Rendering Provider Portal. This will let practitioners upload their notes to EMSOW without asking their administrator to change the status first.

[#18749] Rendering Provider filter and column in Rendering Provider Portal
We have added a “Rendering Provider” column to the grid in the Rendering Provider Portal. The search filter in the portal now also features a new field to search for services assigned to specific providers. This will make it easier for administrators to track work progress (just a reminder: the providers themselves only see their own services when they log in).