Beginning January 1, 2008, MedaPhase will start to use a new computer system for its billing information system.  After months of reviewing proposals and viewing demonstrations AdvancedMD was the unanimous selection by MedaPhase directors, managers and supervisors.  Anyone interested in knowing more about the system itself and the company can review several of its features on the internet at www.advancedmd.com.   

For dates of service January 1^st and beyond, the patient encounter will be posted into AdvancedMD and the claims filing and payment postings will be done accordingly.  For dates of service prior to January 1^st, follow-up to claims and payments will be processed in the former system.  During this time, we will have to combine reports from different systems. Although the majority of collections will be realized within about ninety (90) days, the former systems will continue to be used for a period of about six (6) months.  At the end of that period, either balances will be posted to AdvancedMD or sent to an outside collections agency according to each individual collection policy.  

Now for the opportunities; there will be a transition period during which staff will work from more than one information system.  A national industrial manufacturer once heralded the philosophy that “We do not have ‘problems’ within our company; we have only ‘opportunities to demonstrate our leadership abilities’!” No doubt during the next six months our staff will have plenty of opportunity to show their leadership abilities!  Actually I believe that we are already benefiting from a great by-product of this process. It is stimulating us to reevaluate the rationale of our current processes one by one.  The result is better designed, more efficient processes. 

Although we do not anticipate any interruptions in the collections cycle, there is naturally a slight risk that glitches could occur.  However, every staff member at MedaPhase is totally dedicated to monitoring, adjusting, and modifying  the system in an expeditious manner to insure seamless transition to the new software. Training programs are being held and repeated so that we are in a high state of readiness by the first of the new-year.  Auditing systems are being installed to ensure daily processes are working properly.  

Our team is so enthusiastic about the long-term advantages of AdvancedMD that they are committed to ensuring its successful implementation.  More robust reporting capabilities will be developed.  Access will eventually be more readily available to physicians, hospitals and staff alike to the extent that it is a web-based product.  Data is redundantly stored in separate parts of the nation so that if one site is temporarily immobilized, the other is continuing to provide access to the same data.  Security is at a high level and fully HIPAA compliant.  Electronic records scanning is being installed to provide the record more timely and later stored in AdvancedMD for future reference as well.   

Indeed, all of us at MedaPhase feel that this is a new beginning with new opportunities.