June 6, 2013 — MedInformatix announced dramatic results for clients using its radiology information system (RIS) software version 7.5. Since its availability in 2003, the MedInformatix RIS solution has been implemented in nearly 100 radiology practices across 27 states, helping practices and providers meet or exceed federal government Meaningful Use (MU) requirements.
A provision of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the Meaningful Use initiative provides incentive bonuses to physicians using certified technology to collect and track patient data. Radiologists who attested starting in 2012 are eligible to receive up to $44,000 in incentive bonuses over five years. Those who fail to comply by 2015 face penalties, according to rules set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
MedInformatix clients have been among the first radiology practices and providers in the nation to collect Meaningful Use incentives. Through April 2013, practices implementing the RIS V7.5 solution have collected more than $3.4 million in payments.
“Radiology is a priority market segment for us,” said Michele Jones, chief marketing officer of MedInformatix. “The specialty is already technologically advanced, so they appreciate the power of our RIS platform in helping streamline data and workflow efficiencies for both their practices and patients alike. We have developed great partnerships with our radiology clients and we are thrilled with the bottom-line results they are achieving with MedInformatix 7.5.”
One of the first MU-certified software platforms available, MedInformatix RIS with EHR Version 7.5 assists radiology practices in producing a comprehensive data matrix that includes patient demographic and ethnic data, drug-to-drug interactions, allergies and active medications, as well as computerized imaging order entries. The fully-integrated RIS Patient Portal provides patients with appointment reminder and office visit summaries. Patients can review imaging procedures and read radiologist reports from their own web browsers.
RIS streamlines a host of work duties, including insurance verification and patient data exchange. For example, the system lists tasks and priorities by job function, differentiating work performed by a computed tomography (CT) technologist and a mammography technologist, and records frequency of use of different imaging modalities. The RIS Provider Portal allows referring physicians to check patient status, history and receive imaging reports according to their delivery preferences, as well as the ability to transmit patient reports to physicians handling follow-up care in rehabilitation or nursing facilities or other medical practices.
According to Jones, the Meaningful Use incentives are important, but the real impact to radiology is the long-term benefit practices and providers achieve through RIS implementation. The ability to automate and appropriately share critical patient information within a practice and interdepartmentally between numerous medical specialties creates an immeasurable efficiency, minimizing margin for human error and saving valuable time. Patients spend less time at the practice and medical professionals spend less time asking redundant questions.
“RIS essentially provides a seamless integration of data and workflow between the administrative functions of a radiology practice’s front office with the imaging functions of the practice’s back office and other medical specialties. In the end, our solutions reduce cost and increase efficiency in a manner where both the practice and patient benefits.”
For more information: www.medinformatix.com
July 25, 2024 
