Primary Care FAQ's
 Specialties FAQ's
 
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FAQ's - Primary Care Physicians and Specialists
How does MediDox work?
How can MediDox increase my revenues?
How can MediDox decrease my costs?
How can MediDox save me time?
How can MediDox save time for my staff?
What methods of importing patient demographics will work with MediDox?
Can I write an Rx with MediDox?
Can I issue a laboratory or imaging order with MediDox?
If I use MediDox will I still need a Superbill?
Does MediDox require special hardware?
Will MediDox work on the Tablet PC?
I am a novice computer user; what is the learning curve?
I have heard mixed reports on speech recognition. Does speech recognition really work?
Handwriting recognition is new. What are its advantages and what are its limitations?
Can I have a paperless office using MediDox?
Is MediDox HIPPA compliant?
Can I extract patient information from MediDox for use in other programs?
What if I want my own templates?
Do all physicians in the office have to use the same templates?
Can I search my patient records for specific information?
All this sounds expensive. How much does MediDox cost?
My medical office is already under financial pressure. How can I justify more expense?
What is the next step?

How does MediDox work?

MediDox uses structured templates designed for your specialty. Templates are enabled with our patent-pending, point and click MDx Technology that speeds completion of the medical record. Speech recognition and/or handwriting recognition can be used to enter information.

How can MediDox increase my revenues?

Many physicians bill at a lower E&M code than is appropriate for the work they actually do. They do so because they don’t document completely, and they don’t want to run the risk of an audit. Loss of revenues can be in the $100’s of dollars per month per physician to as high as $5,000 per month per physician.

Medical and Surgical Specialists are dependent upon referrals for their business. Better, more readable, and promptly provided reports generate more referrals.

How can MediDox decrease my costs?

MediDox eliminates the need for medical transcription. Transcription costs vary widely by practice. Some practices spend only a few hundred dollars per month per physician and some spend several thousand.

Of course, some physicians handwrite their notes. We believe that handwriting is the most expensive way to document. The costs are hidden in lost physician time, lost staff time, in audit risk, and in less precise patient care. You may not see these costs, but they are there.

A properly designed MediDox system will decrease labor costs and increase the amount of time the physician has available to see more patients or to have a life outside of the office.

How can MediDox save me time?

In order to answer this question, we must separate the documentation tasks into four components:
1) creation of the note for the first visit;
2) creation of the follow-up note;
3) review of already created notes in the context of a follow-up visit or a consultation with another physician; and
4) creation of written reports to the referring physician.

The creation of the note for the first visit is the most complicated of the four documentation tasks. If complete histories are entered at the patient’s first visit, it can take slightly more time than dictation-transcription -- particularly with multi-problem patients.

Once that initial investment is made, however, every subsequent step is faster and more complete. On the follow-up visit medical and family histories, the problem list, a list of medications, a notation regarding medication allergies, and if you wish a complete copy of your last exam will all be presented as you start the follow-up note. Creating the follow-up visit – even for complex patients -- can take less than a minute.

Reviewing charts is as easy as a couple of mouse clicks. You can see a patient summary or any of your exam notes without waiting for the paper chart. This is a real time-saver on the follow-up visit or when you are consulting with a colleague.

Sending referral letters is quick and easy. If you choose, they will be automatically faxed to the referring when you sign the note. Don’t want to fax the whole note? MediDox will fax an abridged version with only the information of interest to the referring.

How can MediDox save time for my staff?

Looking up information on a computer is inherently faster and more efficient that finding the patient chart and then looking through the chart to find the desired information. Charts completed with MediDox can be copied or faxed quickly without leaving the workstation to find the paper chart or to use the fax machine.

What methods of importing patient demographics will work with MediDox?

MediDox will import patient demographics in any standard format. If your practice management system can export patient demographics, we can import them. There are practice management systems that will not export patient demographics. Please contact us if you have such a system, because we may be able to extract the necessary data with special tools.

Can I write an Rx with MediDox?

Yes. MediDox has the complete pharmacopoeia available at the click of your mouse. The pharmacopoeia is used with our prescription writer to create the Rx. MediDox then enters the Rx into the patient record, and either faxes it to the patient’s pharmacy or prints it at the front desk.

When you write an Rx you use frequently, MediDox can enter it into your favorites list. The next time you write the same prescription, a single click will enter it.

Can I issue a laboratory or imaging order with MediDox?

Yes. It works much the same way as the prescription writer. All you have to do is enter your standard orders into MediDox. When you are documenting a patient visit, you select the order you wish to issue. You may select the order with a mouse or by voice command. The order is entered into the patient record and is either faxed to the lab or imaging center or is printed at the front desk.

If I use MediDox will I still need a Superbill?

After your MediDox system is set up, you or your staff enters the information on your Superbill into MediDox. Then you may enter E&M codes, other CPT codes, and ICD 9 codes into your note with the click of your mouse or by voice command.

If I need to look up an ICD 9 code, can I do so in MediDox?

Yes. We have the complete ICD 9 code book on line, coupled with a search engine so that you can find what you are looking for.

Does MediDox require special hardware?

The performance of the speech engine is highly hardware dependent. We furnish high-quality Voice Workstations with our multi-user systems. Staff workstations should be relatively new machines running Microsoft XP Professional.

Will MediDox work on the Tablet PC?

The Tablet PC is the newest hardware technology for physicians. Along with SOAPMaster for the Tablet PC, it makes electronic documentation during the patient visit a reality. The most efficient way to document is to complete as much of the note as possible before going on to the next patient. At the end of the day, you are not facing a huge stack of charts.

I am a novice computer user; what is the learning curve?

Learning enough MediDox functionality to create notes takes less than an hour. Most people learn the basics during our online demo. The best way to become familiar with the templates is to use them in your practice. Speed increases with usage.

I have heard mixed reports on speech recognition.
  Does speech recognition really work?

Yes. Speech recognition is now capable of producing professional quality work with error rates that approximate the error rate of traditional dictation-transcription.

Besides a quality speech engine, you will need a high-quality, speech capable computer. You will become familiar with talking to a computer. There are approximately a dozen commands that you will learn. You will also to learn to enunciate clearly to obtain maximum accuracy.

Handwriting recognition is new.
  What are its advantages and what are its limitations?

Handwriting recognition works well on the Tablet PC. It is best for short entries; multiple sentences and paragraphs can be completed faster using the speech engine.

Can I have a paperless office using MediDox?

We believe that a paperless medical office is the ultimate goal. MediDox creates a paperless record of all your patient encounters. However, most of medicine is still paper-based. Reports from laboratories and imaging centers is usually paper based. There are two solutions.

You may scan lab and imaging reports into your computer and attach them to the patient’s medical record.
Or, you can encourage your labs and imaging centers to supply reports in electronic form. We will work with you, your labs, and your imaging centers to obtain reports in electronic form in order to eliminate paper in your office.

Either way, the place to start is by using MediDox SOAPMaster to create and manage your patient notes.

Is MediDox HIPPA compliant?

Yes, MediDox will support your HIPPA compliance program. Transmissions over the Internet are encrypted as required by HIPPA. Password protection is available for your computers. Of course, you must follow all required compliance procedures such as placing monitors where they are not visible to unauthorized people.

Can I extract patient information from MediDox for use in other programs?

Yes. We can create custom reports that will extract desired information from patient records.

What if I want my own templates?

We furnish MDx Structured Templates that are specific to primary care and most specialties. You may modify these templates to your own documenting style, and you may create new templates to meet your specific documenting needs. We are available to help you.

Do all physicians in the office have to use the same templates?

No. Each physician may have a unique template set.

Can I search my patient records for specific information?

Yes. Our research function allows you to search on one or more variables.

All this sounds expensive. How much does MediDox cost?

Cost depends on how extensive a system with which you choose to start.

Our entry-level plan for a SOAPMaster Single User has a monthly subscription fee of $295 and an installation fee of $500. There is a thirty-day money back guarantee and only a month-to-month commitment after that.

Multi-user systems are designed to meet the specific needs of each medical office and are priced according to their size and complexity.

My medical office is already under financial pressure; we need to cut costs not add more expenditures. How can I justify one more expense?

A MediDox system that is properly designed for your office will increase your revenues and decrease your costs by more than the cost of MediDox itself.

Legible records increase the value of your practice and mitigate the possibility of adverse legal consequences from incomplete documentation.

Progressive medical professionals cannot afford to wait. The longer you wait, the further behind the technical curve you will be.

What is the next step?

Schedule an online demonstration so that you can judge MediDox’ functionality for yourself.

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