Physical Therapy Products recently spoke with Greg Winterkamp, the founder, owner, and CEO of Addison Health Systems Inc, Dallas, about the advantages of electronic medical records (EMR) for physical therapy practices.

PTP: Why has the need for EMR increased?

Winterkamp: During the past 2 years, two significant developments accelerated the need for EMR and electronic health records (EHR) for PTs: the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, which included important provisions for health information technology (HIT); and Executive Order 13335, which calls for the widespread adoption of interoperable EMR and EHRs within 10 years. This is for all health care providers. There is now a HIT national coordinator who is responsible for overseeing an extensive plan to have interoperable EHR within 10 years. This means that not only will all health care providers’ clinical records need to be computerized, so will all patients’ records. This important undertaking will change the way PTs practice—and get paid.

PTP: What are the top three things that PTs can do to prepare for a switch to EMR?

Winterkamp: (1) Do a practice analysis and return on investment (ROI). A good practice analysis looks at your patient coverage, referral sources, business philosophy, and clinical expertise in becoming electronic. The ROI puts your present business model into hard dollars.

(2) Get organized! Review your work flow processes, such as: what happens before your patient comes in, what outside information you need to review, history intake, the steps it takes for a full evaluation and treatment, reports back to the referring providers, and how you get paid. Too many practices do not have a good grip on their documentation; thus, they have high accounts receivables.

(3) Make a commitment to training and learning. Not having a concerted commitment is like trying to get a noncompliant patient healthy. To be successful, you need to really know your EMR system and let it drive efficiency into your practice.

PTP: How can using EMR be less intimidating for PTs who have been manually taking notes for years?

Winterkamp: You need a company that has a well-organized and logical implementation plan. The company should provide a step-by-step plan, and re-evaluate and measure progress when hitting milestones until full implementation.

Look beyond EMR to companies that have a plan to computerize patient records, such as by allowing patients to input their information electronically, either in your clinic or over the Internet. The forms they fill out should automatically integrate into your practice EMR. This saves PTs time and money, helps minimize errors, and allows PTs to be efficiently up to date with patients’ information.

PTs are on the forefront of all health care providers in empowering their patients—by providing education and evaluation on treatments and exercises, they help patients learn, in essence, to self-heal. Having an EMR system gives PTs important efficiency tools to ensure patient recovery.