Today, many of the physicians are not enjoying carrying out EHR documentation, as it is slowing them down considerably. Entering patient data in EHR templates is burdensome for many practitioners, as it involves a lot of paperwork and typing, filling out all the forms and scheduling things accordingly.
Though EHR systems help to improve efficiency and cut down documentation mistakes, physicians should spend extra time in front of the keyboard, wasting their valuable time. According to a study presented at the American Academy of Family Physicians, resident physicians were spending an additional 16 minutes a day on EHR documentation. It can also affect their professional satisfaction, as they are forced to stare at a computer screen during consultation with patients.
As a solution to this, many physicians prefer employing medical scribes or qualified assistants for data entry. The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) has come up with a new assessment based recognition (ABR) program to meet the rules of the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) on order entry staff.
ABR Certification – An Option to Address the Challenge of EHR Data Entry
In order to have a smooth clinical practice and to ease the burden of data entry, it is better to assign medical transcription to an external agency that can offer the service of trained and experienced medical transcriptionists. According to the rule announced by AAMA, as on January 1, 2013, only ‘credentialed medical assistants’ (in addition to licensed health professionals) have been permitted to enter medication, radiology, and laboratory orders into the electronic health record (EHR). However, as per the rule announced on September 5, 2012, Individuals who are granted with ABR in order entry meets the ‘credentialed medical assistant’ requirement.
More precisely saying, those with CMA (AAMA) Certification or ABR certification are eligible for order entry. For medical assistants to be eligible for CMA (AAMA) Certification Examination, they should be either:
- Graduates from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or
- Graduates from the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
Working medical assistants who are not graduates of any of these programs are ineligible for the CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam and cannot fulfill CMS requirements put forward by AAMA. As a solution to this, AAMA introduced an assessment-based recognition to those who meet certain knowledge and experience requirements.
How to Obtain AAMA Credential for Data Entry
During the final two year of studies of the ABR program, applicants should have been employed at a healthcare facility, where they were under the supervision of a licensed provider.
They have to submit documentation from their supervisor attesting that the applicant is well-versed in the use of EHR technology. In addition, aspirants must also complete five AAMA continuing education courses in legal and practical EHR-related subjects.
- Lost in Translation: Eliminate Medical Errors
- Disease Screening
- Medical Records: A Vital Wave
- Legal Aspects of Patient Care Documentation
- Clinical Laboratory Testing
At the end of the course, the licensed provider will issue a document/certificate to prove that the applicant is proficient in the use of EHR technology and have completed AAMA educational courses in EHR related subjects.
It is estimated that in the near future, physicians will be using a scribe or some other qualified person to help with EHR documentation. Physicians just cannot lose valuable consultation time typing away at the computer. Associating with a medical transcription company allows doctors to select the dictation method of their preference and the transcribed reports are returned within the required turnaround time. Reliable transcription companies also provide state-of-the-art EMR and EHR transcription interface solutions designed to ensure a smooth transcription process and valuable time and cost savings.
