An EHR audit might seem stressful, but there are steps you can take to ensure that it goes smoothly. But what happens after the audit? Here are some tips to prepare for an EHR audit and then use the results to plan for the future.
What To Expect From an EHR Audit
Due to the fact that electronic data held by healthcare facilities contains tons of helpful insights into the practice, EHR audits are in place to ensure that the data your facility is collecting is accurate and is used to make positive changes. The audit is also helpful to make sure your facility is complying with HIPAA and that your patient’s information is being protected. With that in mind, you can expect that any of the electronic data your facility uses to store patient information will be part of the EHR audit. During the audit, it is important to respond promptly and get any information needed back to the auditor. This will ensure that your audit goes over smoothly. Having some of the information ready and understanding what the auditor is looking for can make this experience much easier for everyone involved.
How To Prepare
In order to be best prepared for an EHR audit, your facility will need to make sure that its electronic systems are up-to-date and are properly recording user activity. The main condition of this is timestamped log-in and log-out behaviors. Although an EHR audit can look at the actual data being used, its main focus is to learn which users are accessing data and when. According to Science Direct, the log may include different categories such as “view task,” “update task,” and “document task”. To make sure your facility is meeting all of the necessary guidelines and appropriately using data, you can take steps to ensure that your audit is successful. For example, running your own reports and reviewing them can give you insight into what data is being accessed in your facility and allows you to understand the different types of information that will be seen in an EHR audit. Additionally, checking on the security of your data is essential for a positive EHR audit. In order to comply with HIPAA laws, your patients’ data needs to be secure. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, documentation to meet these requirements include “the procedures the physician took to complete the analysis” and a copy of the analysis results report. Notivate’s EHR integration makes it easy to prepare for an audit because data is updated constantly, allowing you to receive real-time updates on how your systems are performing and whether or not the standards expected in an audit are being met.
What To Do After an EHR Audit
After you receive the information from the EHR audit, you should take the necessary steps to improve your facility’s electronic data systems. If you failed the audit, you may be given steps to take in order to prepare for a follow-up. This will allow you to make the changes needed to ensure that your systems are secure and that all of the data is correct. However, even if you pass the audit, you can still take steps to improve your systems. Take time to review the results and see if there are any inconsistencies. Learn where your facility can make improvements, and put new systems into place to ensure everything is running smoothly. Additionally, you can take the opportunity to look at the information received and decide where certain clinical activities can be made smoother to increase productivity in your facility. If you would like to learn how Notivate can provide a more secure system than your EHR alone, schedule a demo today.
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