Durham Nephrology Associates

When Durham Nephrology Associates implemented Allscripts Professional EHR in 2003, they believed that an EHR was the only long-term, effective way to organize patient charts and clinical notes. Although few practices had been down the EHR path at that time, the practice could envision the ways in which an EHR would force more legible notes, facilitate more objective clinical decision making, save time and energy, and enable the practice to bill more accurately, delivering better overall patient care and bottom line performance.

Durham Nephrology Associates has used Allscripts Professional EHR since 2003 has more recently relied on the Stimulus Set within the Professional EHR to help attest for Meaningful Use by generating the reports needed to verify success. The Stimulus Set collects the required data from the system and facilitates submission to CMS.

Attesting to Meaningful Use

The physicians at Durham Nephrology began planning for Meaningful Use attestation nearly a year early. The practice went to work assessing and upgrading their system, including hardware upgrades. The staff listened to educational webinars, attended conferences, and consulted with Allscripts to navigate the new attestation process.

“The Allscripts experts helped us build the reports and templates we needed,” says Charles Cooperberg, MD, the practice’s EHR physician champion. “With the work we put in and the groundwork Allscripts did – we made it. If we can do it, anyone can do it!”

Leveraging templates and Stimulus Set reports provided by Allscripts, the team met weekly to review their performance on all Meaningful Use measures. In seconds, they could run their data by physician or by measure to verify successes and identify opportunities for improvement.

Capturing Meaningful Use Incentives

The Physicians of Durham Nephrology Associates were understandably reluctant to attest. Preparing for the process seemed like an overwhelming amount of work, coming on top of already full schedules.

“We were fortunate because Allscripts gave us the tools we needed,” Dr. Cooperberg recalls. “But we still had a lot of work to do – everyone does. After all, meaningful use is not a reporting exercise. The intent is that providers will do the work of self-evaluation and improvement.”

In May 2011, the physicians attested to their Meaningful Use of Allscripts Professional EHR. The months of preparation paid off and each physician received their full 2011 incentive payment of $18,000 in June – the down payment on a four-year series of annual payments that can total $44,000.

Dr. Cooperberg advises, “This is a long-term project – it’s not something you can do in weeks or even several months. Attesting is just a start. Ultimately, your EHR is a permanent way of life – so you’d better learn how to do it now.”

He added, “If you have a vendor who fully understands the process, like Allscripts, it’s easier to get where you need to be.”