Emergency Response Management Coupled with QPP MIPS
Technology expedites healthcare delivery so that maximum help reaches the afflicted in minimum time. To aid the process of emergency response and management, medical personnel along with an interconnected set of devices may get the job done. For those eligible clinicians of the ER, reporting measures add to their MIPS final score resulting in Medicare incentives. Thus, the process and the personnel walk side by side.
Natural disasters, aging, growing population, urbanization, and chronic injuries, and now, COVID-19, put immense pressure on our emergency medical services. The secret to healthcare survival lies in their evolution. And, once they do, we may actually deliver healthcare at a much rapid pace.
Before a hospital, patients have to stay in a prehospital space. For instance, when an accident occurs, the ambulance unit and paramedics become our first points of relief. It is their role that is crucial to our safety, eventually. If I were to say, emergency medical services and equipment are our first safe space after an accident; I wouldn’t be wrong.
The Future of Emergency Services and MACRA MIPS
When it comes to emergency medical services, healthcare teams being punctual get the situation under control. The increase in demand for such services has made their role more critical.
Therefore, toward the end of 2019, the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) declared the modern ambulance a mobile healthcare unit. Now, it is not just a vehicle for transporting patients but a mini-hospital. It consists of all the necessary tools to face emergencies.
One of the MIPS Quality measures talks about limiting acute hospitalizations, and that correctly determines the efficiency of our emergency services. It may take us one step closer to achieving value-based care. Besides, we may deal with emergencies better with the empowerment of our frontline workers.
Hospitalization of patients puts a significant burden on hospitals. It also increases the probability of patients coming in contact with secondary pathogens causing uncalled for infections.
The National Health Service sees paramedics as more than mere support staff. They want them to act as healthcare providers, made possible by technology advancements and rigorous connectivity. As a result, patients get immediate medical help on the go, in their homes, and across community areas.
How Can We Prepare for the Times Ahead?
Preparing for what’s about to come is inevitable for us. In the field of medicine, where unpredictability is the golden rule, preparation is mandatory. We can’t let the risks dominate and must work to minimize them. Furthermore, COVID has left us with no choice except to move forward with a heavy heart. Although, the vaccines are here to help and protect us from COVID-19.
Let’s take a look at some devices to push healthcare beyond the atmosphere of risks and injuries.
1. Wearables and IoMT
Wearables are an extension of smart technology that has been buzzing for a few years now. Samsung and Apple smartwatches are two of the most popular ones in this regard. Moreover, the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) surfaces for patients to move toward wellness rapidly. It involves the use of Internet of Things (IoT) technology. By definition, it is a network of connected devices by which medical personnel and physicians leverage healthcare data to benefit patients in an emergency.
Promoting interoperability, one of the MIPS categories — fuels itself through such technological measures. MIPS solutions require clinicians to submit data that facilitate electronic health information exchange.
Ordinarily, compliance standards are set to improve the patient experience. QPP MIPS and AAPMs are two of their finest examples. Moreover, patients taking care of their health using medical devices (strapped to their wrists) equipped with sensors is a step in the value-based direction. How to submit MIPS data and selecting the appropriate MIPS data submission method are where it all begins and ends for eligible clinicians.
The engineering of biosensors for chronic injury management is already in motion. They help providers monitor the physiological conditions of the wound without any further delay. Additionally, they relay information to other providers in that context. It is their massive use that could be the game-changer we were looking for.
2. The Stakeholders’ Point of Collaboration
The emergency teams we come into contact with first must have seamless communication with all the stakeholders. They must act as one-link access to caregivers and be able to facilitate information sharing. Big data analytics and machine learning, in this regard, identify the risks and hazards across regions. Soon, we are going to have a plan in place way before an emergency occurs.
The risk-based emergency map is crucial for the preparation, mitigation, and delivery of care. Data analytics provide the help required in unbelievable circumstances by assessing the risks in communities, and in that way, EMTs may respond well to emergencies.
3. Telemedicine as The Tool for Future
The benefits of telemedicine are not hidden from anyone anymore. Apart from being an alternative to traditional healthcare, it is also an effective patient education medium. The remote availability of doctors connected through software systems facilitates a safe exchange of patient information. It speeds up clinical decision-making while lowering the cost of healthcare at the same time.
We all bear witness to the benefits of telehealth through the year 2020, and it will continue to reflect positive patient outcomes in the years to come. For more insights into billing, take a look here: telehealth billing services.
The combination of emergency response with telemedicine has the potential to avert crises effectively. For instance, equipping emergency personnel with portable laboratory equipment for field testing would change healthcare delivery for the better. Such quick tests would help EMS officials in the field hasten patient assessments; all we have to do is show the will for it.
With a growing aging population and widespread diseases like obesity and diabetes, patients with chronic wounds are bound to increase. It would put pressure on the overall healthcare system.
Once we equip the EMS with the right telemedicine equipment, we can administer help right there and then lower the rate of hospitalization.
The clock Is Ticking for MIPS 2021 Reporting!
We are almost on the horizon of MIPS 2022 and the MIPS 2021 performance period is about to end. The point is that COVID-19 is almost over, and we have many technologies that have helped healthcare workers with their tasks.
Medical billing services, medical practices, and MIPS-qualified registries all have implemented technology and innovation. These innovations were part of a struggle for clinicians, as they had to adapt promptly, which also caused issues for them.
But in the long run, they have managed to modify and can report for MIPS 2021 and the upcoming years.
Provided a MIPS-eligible clinician submits the specialty-specific measures, they can receive up to 5% of the MIPS incentives and qualify for a $500 billion bonus.
Thus, yes! The sudden transition has been tough for the healthcare industry. However, stakeholders who managed the situation effectively can enjoy the CMS flexibilities and receive a bonus for exceptional performance.
End
Let’s think ahead and stay on the path of technology. It not only supports healthcare professionals but also provides MIPS consultants and medical billing services with the right impetus to move forward. In fact, it is progressive healthcare IT upon which the future of healthcare depends. If we work together to ensure technology is our guide, we may be remembered as the ones who changed the course of history. Future generations would probably call us proactive healers.
