Fall Gratefully and with much Thanks-Giving

By Penny Henriksen, Genius Solutions' News writer and editor

If you haven't noticed yet, the holiday madness is nearly upon us. Not long after you read through this newsletter there will be some over-eager disc jockey that decides to start rotating Christmas/winter holiday music even sooner than last year. The reason I mention the madness is that before it really hits, we get one, really awesome, nearly relaxing holiday to kick off the true season: Thanksgiving.

Coding, Get a Clue!

By Penny Henriksen, Genius News Writer/Editor

Have you ever played the board game "Clue" by Parker Brothers? You have to figure out who did what to whom, where, and with what. Oh, and be right of course! Well, proper coding is like a game of Clue. Coders and billers need to find out what the physicians did with whom, where, with what, and how they reasoned out their solution that way. Moreover, if someone else comes knocking at your door wanting to know the reasoning, you need to have everything properly documented and accessible, so that anyone might be able to solve the same game from all of the clues, in the same way. It can be the difference between game success and game over.

In all of the history of mankind, doers do and recorders record. If a woman (or man) conquered the world, but no one was there to write it down for anyone else to know about it, did they actually do anything? By definition, "history" begins with written records. The doer and the recorder are each others’ right-hand. How legitimate is one without the other? This principle applies to your office as well.

Q. Battery Backups, what are they and why should I care?

Q. Battery Backups, what are they and why should I care?

A. A battery backup is just as the box says- it is an extra, limited time, power supply backup that can save your computer, your data, and your business!

Normally your equipment will plug into the battery backup and then the battery backup will plug into the wall. Most of the time you can get battery backups that will also feature built-in surge protectors or power regulators. This is a double save-your-business bonus! A battery backup allows you time to save your work or backup and gracefully (properly) shut down and unplug your computer equipment, in case of a power outage (blackout or brownout), or power spikes (lightning hits the transformer next to your building, etc.).

Netiquette- Online Etiquette

By Penny Henriksen, Genius Solutions' News writer and editor

Do you have Netiquette? No, I’m not talking about those hairnets your grandmother uses to keep her curls in order. I’m talking about proper etiquette on the “net” (over the Internet)—Netiquette.

With the advent of cell phones and text messaging the written word has taken a real nosedive, this is your chance to bone up on a form of art that many consider to be the true sign of civilization- written words. Our mass migration to the World Wide Web (WWW) seems quite inevitable and is not a bad thing, but it is a very good time to review manners and courtesies in communicating with each other online. This is especially true as we begin to seriously reach out and communicate with each other via e-mail. To this end we list a few of the e-manners that will make you an e-superstar!

Avoiding The Interview Trap

By Patrice Barry, Operations Manager - Genius Solutions, Inc.

There are several federal laws involving all 50 states that limit what employers can ask on employment applications and in interviews. A wrong question can land an employer in court for discrimination.

It seems that every year the process of interviewing and hiring becomes scarier.  The federal laws are to protect applicants from discrimination based on numerous protected classes such as race, national origin and age.

Q. Why didn’t my claim Autopost?

Q. Why didn’t my claim Autopost?

A. The top reasons why your claim may not have AutoPosted are as follows:

• You may get an 835 reports for claims sent on paper as well as for claims sent electronically, but in order for a payment to Autopost in THOMAS, the claim must have been sent electronically. You can tell by looking at your 835 if a claim was sent on paper, because there will be NO account or claim number listed for that claim.
• The 835 data itself could have a discrepancy in the dollar amount. If the amounts in the file contradict one another, THOMAS does not know what to do and will not post either amount. This is generally shown on the exception report as “Patient Liability Discrepancy”.
• Your claim may already be paid! THOMAS will not post an insurance payment twice.
• If your 835 is old, it may not load into THOMAS. To avoid this problem, make sure that you post your check as soon as possible, after you receive payment.
• THOMAS will not Autopost a claim that has a payment amount of zero.

Eyestrain: When it’s Cruel to be Cool

By Penny Henriksen, Genius Solutions’ news writer and editor

Have you ever been caught sitting in front of your computer wearing your sunglasses?  Everyone thinks you’re too cool to talk to, but all you want to do is scoop your eyes out with a rusty spoon? Yeah, I’ve been there. You probably wouldn’t know it just from reading the newsletter, but I spend a lot of time in front of my computer at work and at home. It is my lifeline, for research, writing, graphics, even my very thoughts often go directly to my computer screen before they have a chance to cross my mind.

Because so many of us spend so much time in front of our computers it is important to think of our eyes, before we want to gouge them out. There is even a syndrome for us computer user types called Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). Basically it is extreme eye strain. There are current claims, stating that evidence is beginning to show a link between heavy computer use and an increase in glaucoma.

Energize Your Team Members and Make Them More Productive

By Vipa Thanyakarn, Genius Solutions’ Vice President of Operations

“The best way to inspire people to superior performance is to convince them by everything you do and by your everyday attitude that you are wholeheartedly supporting them.”

Harold Geneen Former CEO of ITT (International Telephone & Telegraph Corp.)

As an employer, good employees are hard to find. When we do find the right person, we want to keep them. As employers, we offer the jobs, set the wages, and give employees their job responsibilities and duties; however, there are other things we need to consider when we want to create a long-term employer and employee relationships.

Q. How do I know if my back up is good?

Q. How do I know if my back up is good?

A. That is a GREAT question and you should ALWAYS be asking that question!

The simple answer is to check your data disc or the data on your thumbdrive. If you can open the data on your disc and see the files and data like you can in your THOMAS, without error, then you probably have a good data back up.

We also recommend that once a year, you can send in a back up to us, here at Genius Solutions, and we can check the data for viable data and give you some added peace of mind. Please call us first, we can then send you a Service Authorization granting us permission to check your data, and we will be looking for its arrival. When we are through with the data disc we can either shred the disc, or send it back to you for the cost of shipping.  If you send a thumbdrive, we would want to send it back to you.

An EHR Video Moment From PA

I found this great video that had been posted by an PA practice about their EHR implementation.  I thought you might enjoy it also, as you consider moving into the EHR world.  It's called "Teachable Moment-EHR Implementation"

http://www.prhi.org/TeachableMoments/2010/EHR.html

Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative EHR implementation experience of one local practice in Pittsburgh, PA.