Tag: Precyse

Training program noted to be mature, comprehensive and flexible
Wayne, PA and Alpharetta, GA Jan 8, 2013 — Precyse, a leader in Health Information Management (HIM) technology and services, announces that Precyse University has received praise for its innovative applications and tools for ICD-10 training in a recent KLAS report titled “ICD-10 Consulting: Roadmap to a Successful Transition.” Engagements for Precyse were completed through the use of technology, so the overall performance scores are not directly compared to the other consulting firms included in the report.
Training tied for the second-highest area of ICD-10 services provided by third-party firms and is the primary area providers claim they need the most help with in preparing for ICD-10. To achieve ICD-10 readiness, providers reported both clinician training (52%) and coder/staff training (40%) were their greatest needs. In the KLAS report, Precyse tied for the top overall Staff Training score and was the “only firm in this report to receive 100% positive comments from their clients about their ICD-10 services,” wroteErik Westerlind, the report’s author. Precyse clients praised the Precyse University training program as mature, comprehensive and flexible.
“Precyse University offers a one-vendor solution for all ICD-10 education needs within an organization,” said Chris Powell, Precyse President. “We provide each impacted population the education required to be successful in ICD-10. In addition to the comprehensiveness of our solution, we also offer myriad advanced courseware, applications and tools to make the education more practical, relevant and accessible.”
According to the KLAS report, Precyse clients selected Precyse University because of the company’s experience with ICD-10 and coding, as well as its tools and applications. In the report, a Precyse client said, “Precyse had tools that the other firm we looked at did not, and their teaching and training seemed to be ahead of the curve. Their training is visual and virtual. They have an arcade game they use for teaching people … They just had what we wanted.”
Another client reported, “We felt that Precyse’s online tools, including the academy and arcade, were easy to use and navigate. The content was educational, and when we shared it with the coding staff members, they were very excited. Additionally, Precyse’s pricing was very good.”
The “ICD-10 Consulting” report also noted that providers are anticipating a considerable reduction in the productivity of their coders with the conversion to ICD-10. According to the report, some providers mentioned a projected loss of 50% to 70% in coding productivity. Computer-assisted coding and outsourced coding services can potentially minimize the decrease in productivity, and Westerlind anticipates a growing demand for coding services.
“Precyse has put a lot of time and energy into looking at our coding process and our coding staff from a quality perspective,” said Sandy Wood, Director of Revenue Cycle, Naples Community Healthcare System. “With the training they are providing, we are confident that we will be prepared to meet the challenges that arise when ICD-10 goes into effect.”
The Precyse University ICD-10 Education Solution offers the most comprehensive array of courseware, tools and applications specifically built for ICD-10 in the country. It offers innovative and practical solutions that go beyond just “courses” to include a full sensory experience that drives understanding and confidence in the new ICD-10 system. Partnering with HealthStream as an exclusive ICD-10 education partner, the Precyse University ICD-10 Education Solution can be provided through an existing HealthStream Learning Center system, a current non-HealthStream learning management system or a custom ICD-10 site for delivery of the education. No matter the current systems or setup, Precyse and HealthStream can deliver ICD-10 education to all of a facility’s employees and affiliated professionals.
On-demand education is essential for a change as large and impactful as ICD-10. As an official Apple™, Google Play™ (Android Store) and Amazon® Store developer, Precyse University has launched ICD-10 smartphone apps to make content easier to deliver and update for all learning populations. Precyse University has also launched courses capable of running on mobile-ready devices, specifically optimized for the iPad®
.
“We believe that healthcare professionals will need to ‘touch and feel’ ICD-10 prior to the go-live,” said Thomas Ormondroyd, BS, MBA, vice president, general manager, Precyse Learning Solutions. “From coding to documentation to general interaction, learners need the practical application of what they have learned to build a solid understanding and capability. The Precyse University ICD-10 Innovative Applications and Tools allow our learners to have this interactive and practical experience. From reallife practice with our Virtual Simulators to lighthearted fun with our Arcade, our learners will enjoy unique and innovative education.”

Achieves the top MTSO ranking while offering a trifecta of HIM services, including coding, transcription and full HIM department strategic sourcing
Wayne, PA and Alpharetta, GA Jan 7, 2013 — Precyse, a leader in Health Information Management (HIM) technology and services, announces that it has been named Best in KLAS for Transcription Services in the recent KLAS report titled “2012 Best in KLAS Awards: Software & Services.” Precyse is also the No. 1 ranked vendor in the KLAS “HIM Services 2012: Helping to Weather the Storm” report for Transcription Services.
Precyse achieved the top medical transcription service organization (MTSO) ranking, receiving very high marks for its turnaround times (TAT), report quality, account management and administrative tools. Precyse was the only fully rated firm to score above average in all four performance areas, and according to the report, Precyse received the highest score of any firm in report quality, demonstrating
consistent service delivery among its client base.
“Providers recognize the critical nature that vendors play in improving healthcare delivery,” said Adam Gale, KLAS president. “Thus, a growing number of providers are weighing in on vendor performance. It speaks volumes that providers want to be heard and be counted. And vendors are listening.”The clinical documentation of the patient story is critical to the success of a healthcare facility. Without
accurate, concise clinical documentation it is impossible to achieve Core Measures, to transition to ICD-10 or to establish clinical data mining to produce required statistics. Precyse’s combination of technology, processes and services accelerates turnaround time, reduces costs, minimizes capital outlay and transforms dictation into meaningful clinical information for ultimate patient care while achieving financial goals.
“I am so proud of our Precyse colleagues who believe in our mission and work every day to make this Best in KLAS recognition possible,” said Chris Powell, president of Precyse. “This type of recognition does not just happen. It takes commitment, hard work and a relentless focus on continually improving. I am thrilled to see Precyse honored as Best in KLAS for Transcription Services this year, not to mention
the year-over-year consistency of our second place ranking for the previous three years.”
Precyse’s Transcription Technology and Services drive exceptional electronic documentation that better supports the data challenges healthcare providers are facing today, such as ICD-10, Meaningful Use and Core Measures. “Precyse has been an excellent company to work and partner with. Their turnaround times, reporting and customer service are all excellent,” wrote one customer on the KLAS website. “I recently had them help me develop an interface with our EMR vendor. They completed this project on time and within budget, and it is working flawlessly. Lastly, unlike other vendors that I have worked with and am currently working with, I actually have seen a cost reduction with Precyse’s services for the past couple of years. Precyse is an excellent partner, and their customer service makes them my personal favorite.”
Another client wrote, “Precyse has done an excellent job for us since we contracted with them a few years ago. They have been a pleasure to work with, and their turnaround time always and easily meets our needs. … They are a trusted partner with us, and I can’t see why we would ever change to another vendor. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for transcription services.”
In addition to the accolades for its transcription technology and services, Precyse received praise for its coding accuracy, great relationships, responsiveness and professionalism in the KLAS “HIM Services 2012” report. Also in that report, the majority of Precyse’s coding customers claimed Precyse’s service is on par with its highly rated transcription offering. Precyse was praised for its personal touch and customer service and received high marks for quality, turnaround and accuracy.

Wayne, PA and Alpharetta, GA Aug 30, 2012 — Precyse, a leader in Health Information Management (HIM) technology and services, announces that Cheryl Robbins, RHIT,CCS, Precyse director of remote coding operations, will participate as an expert panelist in the Neonatal/Pediatric workgroup on the ICD-10-CM/PCS conversion of Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Quality Indicators(QI)™. The research team at University of California Davis, under a federal contract with AHRQ, has the lead role for the conversion process.
These workgroups are being formed as part of a structured approach for converting the existing QI specifications from ICD-9-CM to ICD-10-CM/PCS, incorporating coding expertise, clinical expertise and health services research/quality measurement expertise. The workgroups will evaluate the results of automated “code mapping” from ICD-9-CM to ICD-10-CM/PCS, providing input and advice regarding similarities and differences between ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM/PCS codes that are mapped to each other. This workgroup process will lead to recommendations regarding how the existing AHRQ QIs should be re-specified using ICD-10-CM/PCS codes, retaining the original clinical intent of each indicator while taking advantage of the greater specificity of ICD-10-CM/PCS to improve the indicator’s validity.
“I am so honored to participate as a panelist on this ICD-10 workgroup,” said Robbins. “I am excited and ready to contribute my expertise on behalf of the Precyse team, and I am looking forward to making a difference in this thought-leading group.”
Robbins was selected due to her knowledge of health care quality measurement using administrative data in specific, relevant clinical domains, as well as her expertise in ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM/PCS coding; hospital quality improvement, patient safety and clinical documentation improvement; and her familiarity with the AHRQ Quality Indicators and their application.

Wayne, PA and Alpharetta, GA Aug 29, 2012 — Precyse, a leader in health information management (HIM) technologies and services, leading up to the AHIMA 2012 Annual Conference and Exposition, released the following open letter from Chris Powell, president of Precyse, to all healthcare colleagues regarding the announced ICD-10 final rule. The open letter, answering a critical question at this hour: “How do we reinvigorate our planned ICD-10 implementation roadmaps?” is available below. AHIMA attendees are encouraged to visit Precyse at Booth #236 to continue the ICD-10 conversation.
Healthcare Colleagues,
On August 24, the CMS published a rule finalizing the compliance deadline for converting to the ICD-10 system of diagnostic and procedural coding to Oct. 1, 2014 from Oct. 1, 2013. HHS said the extra time would allow healthcare organizations – especially small organizations – adequate time to get prepare for the changeover.
“By delaying the compliance date of ICD-10 from October 1, 2013, to October 1, 2014, we are allowing more time for covered entities to prepare for the transition to ICD-10 and to conduct thorough testing,” HHS said in the rule. “By allowing more time to prepare, covered entities may be able to avoid costly obstacles that would otherwise emerge while in production.”
Precyse has not stopped preparing for the implementation of the new coding rules and stands ready to support and meet the needs of nearly 1,000 clients – many who rely on our management, staffing and technology solutions – through their training and implementation process. Because Precyse not only supports, but actually operates, entire HIM and coding departments for some of these clients, here are our recommendations:
1. Documentation. Increase your clinical documentation training programs for physicians and other caregivers. You should develop processes, guidance and support for improved clinical documentation under ICD-10. Improved documentation skills – even minor changes such as more specificity in their notes – create obvious financial and non-financial rewards: fewer claims denials, reduced RAC audit exposure, improved case mix index, and improved cash flows. Most important for all of us, patient care is improved when downstream clinicians can review more complete chart notes and better data is available for analytics and comparative studies. Target high volume specialties in your organization most impacted by ICD-10 and train these specialists in proper documentation while training the coding team on accurate coding; then, move to the next specialty for training.
2. Training and Development. Act now to invest in the training of your coders AND those who will use
the data. Improve the basic skills of your coders in ICD-9 areas that will also be required in ICD-10. The transition to ICD-10 has pushed healthcare to appropriately invest in training our coders as skilled knowledge workers. As part of our own ICD-10 preparations, Precyse assessed the coding skills of nearly 300 coders on our staff to evaluate their ICD-10 readiness. We found additional training needs related to anatomy, physiology and pathopharmacology, as well as opportunities to improve their understanding of coding system logic and principles. So Precyse invested in and developed a comprehensive and multifaceted training program that can be delivered via virtual webinars and our online Precyse University, while developing individual training plans for every coder. This investment has paid off for Precyse clients handsomely, yielding a better case mix index for hospitals, improved coding compliance audit results, increased coder retention, and attracting new coder recruits who are eager to develop and perfect their skills. So we recommend that you perform side-by-side ICD-9 and ICD-10 coding, assessing the documentation and coding gaps and target training based on these findings.
3. Build a strong foundation for process improvement. Assess the flow of your information across your organization and develop a plan to address gaps through process improvement and technology. Invest in automated systems that streamline the entire clinical documentation process. ICD-10 was never just about re-training medical coders–it was and is about having better data about patients and their treatments, affording vast opportunities for improvement in how data are captured and processed. This leads to a more complete and useful set of codes, which is crucial in a fully automated electronic medical record environment. Today, inefficient, labor-intensive workflows abound, whether involving clinical information inputs such as dictation and transcription; service approvals, coding, physician queries, and other myriad facets involved in billing for services; or abstracting and analyzing quality indicators to improve patient care. We also recognize the promise of future innovations such as automated speech recognition, Computer Assisted Coding using Natural Language Comprehension™ (NLC), and clinical decision support tools – but know that realizing their full promise tomorrow requires that we improve how current users interact with and use their systems today. Those of us in the health care information management/information technology community must use our skills to innovate for clinicians. We must develop workflow platforms and applications that allow health care providers to do their jobs more efficiently and effectively. We do not want to add more time and complexity to an already burdensome process.
At Precyse, our vision is a world in which meaningful information is available, whenever and wherever needed, and this information helps save time, money and lives. We are an innovation company that listens carefully to our clients and prospects; every day we challenge ourselves to come back to these clients with solutions that solve their business problems while improving patient care and outcomes. We pledge to our clients and future prospects that we will never stop innovating in the midst of very challenging times.

Wayne, PA and Alpharetta, GA Aug 2, 2012 — Precyse, a leader in health information management (HIM) technologies and services, announces the appointment of three industry leaders to influential positions targeted at supporting clients with their ICD-10 strategies and beyond. James H. Crook, Jr., a veteran of the healthcare software and services industry, has been appointed to the Precyse Advisory Council (PAC). Chris Skiffington, a proven leader in healthcare technology sales, has joined Precyse as Senior Vice President and
National Sales Manager. Debra Stenner, a market-winning healthcare IT product development and strategy expert, has joined the company as Vice President of Business Planning and Product Strategy.
Crook brings more than 30 years of experience to the Precyse Advisory Council, which functions as a source of high-level input and advice on the strategic positioning and expansion of Precyse’s service and technology offerings. The PAC also serves as a conduit for new business opportunities because of the extensive experience and networks developed by each of the council members.
“We are delighted to welcome Jim to the Precyse Advisory Council,” said Precyse CEO Jeffrey Levitt. “His deep healthcare IT experience will provide an invaluable contribution as Precyse strives to offer the HIM industry the technology necessary for the completion of strategic initiatives such as EHR, Meaningful Use, ICD-10 and other initiatives.”
As Senior Vice President and National Sales Manager, Chris Skiffington will lead the Precyse sales organization as it focuses on existing and new client sales, as well as a solution expertise. A member of the Precyse Executive Leadership Team, Skiffington will report directly to Chris Powell, president, and will be based in the company’s corporate office in Wayne.
“Chris brings tremendous expertise in healthcare, technology and sales management to his role,” said Powell. “His background in enterprise selling is well-positioned to ensure that Precyse is front and center nationally.”
In her role as Vice President of Business Planning and Product Strategy, Debra Stenner will lead Precyse’s strategic product management functions.
“Debra’s role is fundamental to our success as a true innovation company,” said Powell. “She is committed to working with our hospital and physician practice clients to find innovative ways to improve productivity, quality and accuracy, streamline processes and increase revenue.”
James H. Crook, Jr., Precyse Advisory Council Member
Crook recently retired as Chief Executive Officer of IDX Systems Corporation, a leading provider of software and services to the healthcare industry. He was responsible for all aspects of the IDX business, including overseeing relationships with customers at over 3,400 healthcare organizations and 2,400 employees working in 10 locations throughout the United States and the United Kingdom. Crook had previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer of IDX, during which time he oversaw the restructuring of the company and the implementation of a newly aligned Operating Unit model. He holds a bachelor of arts degree in Administrative Science from Colby College in Waterville, Maine.
Chris Skiffington, Senior Vice President, National Sales Manager, Precyse
Prior to joining Precyse, Skiffington led the Southeast Zone for GE Healthcare HCIT division and was responsible for the P&L’s performance across the portfolio in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina. Prior to that, Skiffington was employed for 10 years at IBM, where he was responsible for leading and managing a 162-person, $500 million sales business and achieved award-winning sales performance year after year. He also had served as the Regional Sales Manager and Senior Sales Professional, as well as a Software Account Manager. Skiffington holds an MBA from Boston College and a bachelor of science degree in business management from Westfield State University.
Debra Stenner, Vice President of Business Planning and Product Strategy, Precyse
Stenner has more than 25 years of industry experience. She most recently was principal of Four Winds Consulting, where she aided clients in establishing go-forward product strategies and new product commercialization. She previously was vice president of business planning and product strategy, Imagecast Division, for IDX Systems Corp. She also served as a member of the Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) initiative, a joint initiative of the Radiology Society of North America (RSNA) and the Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS). A graduate of the University of Wisconsin in Platteville, Stenner holds a BS in medical technology. She continues to publish healthcare technology and life sciences articles and to present at a variety of industry events.

Las Vegas, NV Jun 25, 2012 – Precyse, a leader in health information management (HIM) technologies and services, leading up to the HFMA Annual National Institute 2012 , released a new report titled, “Stay the Course: Trust Innovation to Guide Your ICD-10 Transition.” The new report was launched after the recent shift in the proposed compliance date for ICD-10 from Oct. 1, 2013 to Oct. 1, 2014. “Even though it is a proposed rule that has a 30-day comment period, many industry leaders do not anticipate the date to move again. So what should you do with all this extra time? Stay the course and use it as your opportunity to get prepared,” says Precyse President, Chris Powell.
The 8-page report, authored by Dee Lang, Precyse Vice President of Product Management and Strategy, advises providers to use this extra time to capture better data to create a more complete and useful set of codes, especially if you are in a more automated electronic medical record environment. “This delay provides the time you need to focus on improving your clinical documentation and determining whether it supports ICD-10. Non-specific codes are still available in ICD-10. But if we continue to use non-specific codes, what are we really accomplishing?” said Lang, “What we are going to need to do is get providers to think and act differently.”
Precyse will also announce at the show its latest accolades for its precyseCode™ computer assisted coding (CAC) solution. In a KLAS report titled “Computer-Assisted Coding: A Glimpse at the Future of HIM Technology,” Precyse was “praised for [its] strong technology and received the highest scores of providers’ perception that their solution will meet their needs,” wrote Graham Triggs, author of the KLAS report.
While ICD-10 readiness, increased productivity and improved efficiency are major forces behind the interest in CAC, Precyse believes providers should also focus on the clinical and quality implications of CAC.
And Precyse isn’t the only one receiving accolades. Precyse client, Baptist Health System (BHS) was awarded the 2012 MAP Award for High Performance in Revenue Cycle by HFMA. The award was given for an achievement of measurable excellence in the revenue cycle and
their model will be used as a best practice for the healthcare industry. Precyse is a sponsor of HFMA ANI 2012 and will be located at Booth #1653 – where it will be conducting demonstrations of precyseCode and the latest enhancements to Precyse University™ education program, which offers one-of-a-kind education and training delivered onsite or online to enhance the knowledge and expertise for all populations impacted by ICD-10.
More than 1,000 hospitals are now committed to Precyse University education. Equipped with more than 300 coders and hundreds of HIM and clinical professionals on staff, Precyse has a track record of developing tried and true educational content to keep its team of experts consistently meeting or exceeding industry accuracy and timeliness benchmarking standards. Precyse has used this same approach for building its ICD-9 and ICD-10 education content. The Precyse ICD-10 education content is available online through Precyse University or the HealthStream Learning Center®.

Wayne, PA and Alpharetta, GA Jun 5, 2012 – Precyse, a leader in Health Information Management (HIM) technology and services, announces it has entered into a software interface license agreement (SILA) with 3M Health Information Systems. The agreement licenses the interfacing of precyseCode™, Precyse’s computer assisted coding (CAC) solution to the 3M Coding and Reimbursement System.
“We are pleased to announce this agreement with 3M,” said Chris Powell, president of Precyse. “According to a recent KLAS report, nearly half of providers are looking to purchase a CAC solution in the next two years, and this agreement is one of our many efforts to better serve the healthcare community as it prepares for the ICD-10 transition.”

Wayne, PA and Alpharetta, GA Jun 1, 2012 – Precyse, a leader in Health Information Management (HIM) technology and services, announces that it has received the highest scores for provider perception that its precyseCode™ computer assisted coding (CAC) solution will meet their needs. In a KLAS report titled “Computer-Assisted Coding: A Glimpse at the Future of HIM Technology,” Precyse was “praised for [its] strong technology and … received the highest scores of providers’ perception that their solution will meet their needs,” wrote Graham Triggs, author of the KLAS report. “These providers have liked what they have seen compared to competing vendors.”
According to the KLAS perception report, a Precyse client said, “We chose Precyse because we wanted to help our coders be more efficient and enhance our productivity. We knew ICD-10 was going to create an even bigger deficit in their productivity. Precyse had a nice way of showing us the difference between ICD-9 and ICD-10 so we could know what documentation we might be missing for ICD-10.”
The ICD-10 implementation deadline has been pushed back to a proposed date of Oct. 1, 2014, but many providers are still looking seriously at purchasing inpatient CAC solutions within the next two years; 33% of providers who don‟t currently have a CAC solution plan to buy one in 2012, and another 15% are considering a CAC purchase in 2013. Providers understand that solutions aimed at improving clinical documentation and coding will lead to productivity improvements and enhanced reimbursement. They are not waiting, despite the delay.
“While ICD-10 readiness, increased productivity and improved efficiency are major forces behind the interest in CAC, Precyse believes providers should also focus on the clinical and quality implications of CAC,” said Chris Powell, president of Precyse. “Precyse’s CAC has solid science behind it, with a well-designed Natural Language Comprehension™ (NLC) engine and supporting applications to effectively support the ICD-10 transition. Precyse also has a large group of experienced coding and clinical documentation improvement (CDI) professionals to support CAC and CDI during the ICD-10 transition.”
PrecyseCode offers the combination of NLC-enabled computer assisted coding with intelligent workflow for clinical documentation improvement and coding. PrecyseCode provides a single, comprehensive platform that unifies the clinical documentation improvement workflow to optimize coding processes. This combination is the single best solution for providers as they face the imminent challenges on the horizon for the healthcare industry.
The Baptist Health System (BHS), which includes four hospitals in the greater Birmingham, Alabama area, saw immediate improvements when it began working with Precyse’s expert resources and implemented precyseCode. BHS experienced a 20% increase in coding quality, 5% increase in DRG based revenue through more accurate coding and improved Case Mix Index (CMI), 10% reduction in voluntary auditing and an overall reduction in audit costs, coder productivity improvement, and a revenue increase due to better information and more accurate coding.
“Not only were we pleased with Precyse’s team of experts, but we’ve also found their technology solutions to be instrumental to our coding department. Using PrecyseCode, we’ve seen a significant improvement in our coding department’s quality, productivity and accuracy,” said Chloe Phillips, corporate director of HIM, BHS. “They are, truly, a partner for life.”
Geisinger Health System (GHS) of Danville, PA, is also seeing positive results from precyseCode. “We’ve already seen 20% increases in coder productivity with precyseCode, and we expect that figure to climb as high as 50% as the system ‘learns’ from its earlier coding assignments,” said Sue Trewhella, senior director of coding for GHS.
“We made the decision to partner with Precyse because we shared in their vision about how Natural Language Comprehension could be applied to computer assisted coding technology to significantly accelerate the revenue cycle,” said Barbara Tapscott, vice president, revenue cycle for GHS. “Though we are still early on in our implementation of precyseCode, the results we are achieving thus far are already validating our combined vision. I have no doubt the improvement will continue and we will be well prepared for ICD-10 and other challenges on the horizon.”

Wayne, PA and Alpharetta, GA May 2, 2012 — Precyse, a leader in Health Information Management (HIM) technology and services, announces the release of an industry report titled ―Health Information Management in 2016: The HIM Industry’s Transformative Journey to Enterprise Information Management – What Does the HIM Department of the Future Look Like?‖. Authored by Linda L. Kloss, RHIA, Kloss Strategic Advisors, Ltd., former CEO of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and one of Modern Healthcare’s top 25 Women in Healthcare, in collaboration with well-known HIM leaders from 20 top health care institutions nationwide, the report focuses on the changing information management landscape in healthcare, and the implications and strategic opportunities for healthcare organizations in this evolution.
As a leading HIM technology and services company, Precyse is committed to driving innovation in HIM. Founder and CEO Jeff Levitt initially convened an Innovation Community of Precyse employees to think about what the HIM department of the future might look like and enlisted Kloss to help facilitate these sessions, and extend this dialogue to thought leader groups within Precyse and across the broader HIM and informatics landscape. ―Healthcare organizations are dramatically expanding their use of information to improve patient care and organizational performance,‖ said Kloss. ―But foundational information management practices are not fully up to the demands of a digital information environment. New thinking and new learning about capturing, managing and using digital information assets is urgently needed.”
Based on analysis of the trends and drivers of change identified by the HIM Innovation Community, a position paper was authored using four potential scenarios that reflect how HIM services might be delivered in 2016. Those scenarios range from the ―Model T‖ — where the base department functions and processes have had to develop many workarounds, hybrid or paper records, minimal integrations and questionable data quality – to ―Life in the Fast Lane,‖ where HIM departments are working in a state of superior and optimized results and there is an enterprise approach to content and information management to ensure information assets are optimized for clinical and operational performance.
Informed by the conclusions of this study, Precyse’s HIM Strategic Sourcing product offering has now been positioned to help HIM departments optimize their effectiveness and advance their capabilities and functions so they will be prepared for the ―life in the fast lane‖ scenario by 2016. For example, in just 4 months, Precyse was able to help Naples Community Healthcare System (NCHS) decrease its inpatient weekly DNFB (Discharged Not Final Billed) from more than $16 million to $5 million, and its outpatient DNFB from more than $14 million to under $2 million. In addition, outpatient accounts receivable days went from 7 to 2, and average inpatient accounts receivable days went from 10 to under 2. NCHS has consistently surpassed its goal of 95 percent coding accuracy, now achieving a rate of 98 percent. Finally, the system’s medical record delinquency rate, which had been as high as 22 percent is now under 2 percent.
Precyse Releases Report on the Future of Health Information Management Page 2 of 2
―While the numbers speak for themselves, beyond these outcomes, Precyse has brought a level of comfort to us about our HIM and Medical Records areas that we never experienced before,‖ said Sandy Wood, director of revenue cycle at NCHS. ―Aside from the day-to-day service, support and expertise they provide, Precyse has put metrics in place to help us monitor key indicators that we weren’t able to monitor before.”
NCHS is just one example of how Precyse HIM Strategic Sourcing is helping HIM departments prepare for the future. At Benefis Health System in Great Falls, MT, Precyse is helping to position its HIM department to not only survive, but thrive in the highly charged environment of healthcare reform.
The Benefis initiatives for Patient Centered Medical Home and payment reform required new forms of assistance with coding, understanding the medical terminology process and educating staff and physicians. To this end, in addition to auditing for coding accuracy, embarking on ICD-10 preparation and decreasing DNFB from $16.2 million to $7.6 million, Precyse has increased Benefis’ transcription compliance to turnaround time from 33.6 percent to 98.7percent, and the documentation quality rate from 96.6 percent to 99.6 percent. For chart analysis, the backlog went from 22 days to 1 day for inpatient charts and from 14 days to 1 day for outpatient charts.
According to Dr. Paul Dolan, chief medical officer of Benefis, the health system is looking to Precyse to further improve outcomes as it plans for the future. ―We are confident that Precyse will take the lead as we move forward and build our technological capabilities in order to meet Meaningful Use criteria, in areas such as speech recognition and concurrent computer-assisted coding, as well as electronic health records,‖ said Dr. Dolan. ―We definitely made the right decision to strategically source our HIM function to Precyse. This was an extremely complex project, but Precyse has managed to bring about the needed transformation in our HIM function.‖
Precyse’s Strategic Sourcing services are comprehensive and far reaching and provide HIM departments with the leadership and collaborative spirit needed to drive behavior change in clinical documentation to improve bottom line results, ensure accurate clinical records and position clients for future success.
Health Information Management in 2016: The HIM Industry’s Transformative Journey to Enterprise Information Management – What Does the HIM Department of the Future Look Like? can be read in its entirety at www.precyse.com. For more information on Precyse HIM Strategic Sourcing, visit http://www.precyse.com/strategicsourcing.

Wayne, PA and Alpharetta, GA Apr 9, 2012 — Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen G. Sebelius today announced a proposed rule that would delay the compliance date for the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition diagnosis and procedure codes (ICD-10) from Oct. 1, 2013 to Oct. 1, 2014.
When HHS originally announced its intent to delay ICD-10 on Feb. 16, 2012, Precyse carefully reviewed the implications of the announcement and the need to advise its more than 1,000 clients who relied on its management, staffing and technology solutions and professional advice in health information management matters. Precyse advised its clients to stay the course and continue their ICD-10 preparations, and continues to advance that position.
“We’re telling our current and prospective clients that now is not the time to procrastinate. This delay provides them the opportunity to refocus their efforts and get it right,” said Chris Powell, president of Precyse. “Precyse believes this delay will allow providers the time they need to improve their clinical documentation processes and build a strong foundation for process improvement. In addition, the delay allows payers to prepare for the change and enables providers to focus on technology implementations and more thorough testing with their vendors.”
Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) Program:
Precyse believes that now is an excellent time for providers to increase their clinical documentation training programs for physicians and other caregivers. Medical coders frequently face incomplete or vague records that are inconsistent or missing information. This results in increased physician queries and a decrease in coder productivity. If this is happening now with ICD-9, it will only worsen with ICD-10, which is far more complex in its requirements for specificity and completeness. It is important that providers take this extra time to develop processes, guidance and support to improve their clinical documentation. Studies have shown that even minor documentation improvement changes will create obvious financial and non-financial rewards: fewer claims denials, reduced RAC audit exposure, improved case mix index and improved cash flows. Most important, however, is that patient care is improved when chart notes are complete and better data is available for analytics and comparative studies. Provider Action Item: Target high volume specialties in your organization that will be most impacted by ICD-10 and train those physician specialists in proper documentation while training the coding team on accurate coding; then, move to the next specialty for training.
Process Improvement Program:
The proposed delay also offers the provider the opportunity to assess the flow of their information across their organization and develop a plan to address gaps through process improvement and technology. Precyse advises clients to invest in automated systems that streamline the entire clinical documentation process. ICD-10 is not just about re-training medical coders — it’s about capturing better data to create a more complete and useful set of codes, which is crucial in a fully automated electronic medical record environment.
Despite ICD-10 Delay, Precyse Encourages Providers to Continue Preparations Page 2 of 2
Precyse recognizes the promise of future innovations such as automated speech recognition, Computer Assisted Coding using Natural Language Comprehension™ (NLC), and clinical decision support tools — but also notes that realizing their full promise in the future will require that current users will need to improve the way in which they interact with and use their systems today. Provider Action item: Develop workflow platforms and applications that allow healthcare providers to do their jobs more efficiently and effectively.
Training and Development:
Take this time to not only invest in the training of coders but also intensify the training for those who will use the data. Now is a great time to improve the basic skills of coders in their ICD-9 knowledge that will also be required in ICD-10. The transition to ICD-10 has pushed healthcare to appropriately invest in training coders as skilled knowledge workers. As part of its own ICD-10 preparations commencing in 2010, Precyse assessed the coding skills of its nearly 300 coders to evaluate their ICD-10 readiness. Precyse found that in order to successfully prepare its coders to become certified in ICD-10, Precyse would need to invest in additional training related to anatomy, physiology and pathopharmacology, as well as opportunities to improve their understanding of coding system logic and principles.
Precyse invested in and developed comprehensive and multifaceted training programs that can be delivered via virtual webinars or through its online Precyse University, while developing individual training plans for every coder. As Precyse’s clients began to deploy these training programs, many have noted improvements in case mix index, improved coding compliance audit results, increased coder retention and satisfaction, and improved coder recruiting metrics for new coder recruits who are eager to develop and perfect their skills. Provider Action Item: Perform side-by-side ICD-9 and ICD-10 coding analysis, assess the documentation and coding gaps of coders and other caregivers and target training based on these findings.
“Precyse is an innovation company that listens carefully to our clients and prospects; every day we challenge ourselves to come back to our clients with solutions that solve their business problems while improving patient care and outcomes,” Powell continued. “We don’t believe that an ICD-10 implementation delay changes our goals. We pledge to our clients and future prospects that we will never stop innovating and improving even in the midst of very challenging times.”