These apps can give physicians an on-the-go view of health information which can lead to better outcomes for patients.
Technology is disrupting and transforming the health care industry, from wearable and implantable devices to computer-assisted coding systems and interoperable electronic health records systems. For the home health industry, electronic visit verification, or EVV, has been making waves and provides several benefits to clinical operations.
EVV is an electronic process that verifies care provider visits for personal or home health services. These electronic records track the types of services performed, date and time of visit, the location of the service and information about the service provider. EVV allows health care workers and caregivers to utilize mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets and allows on-the-go access to the most up-to-date patient records, equaling overall better-quality care for patients.
EVV was mandated for home health service providers and reimbursements under Medicaid by the 21st Century Cures Act, which was signed into law in 2016. Home health care agencies have until Jan. 1, 2023, until they are required to have EVV in place for Medicaid reimbursements. While the mandates have created problems for some organizations, the good news is that EVV has shown to have many benefits for both health care organizations and patients. The right technology solution can help make the transition process simple, so that clinics and patients alike can experience the following six benefits of using EVV:
In addition, enabling caretakers to access the most up-to-date patient records and information and update it in real-time, helps create the best patient experience and communication possible, which positively impacts patient health outcomes.
Ineffective team communication has been found to be the root cause of approximately 66% of all medical errors. In addition, the root cause of the majority of malpractice claims is a breakdown of communication between the clinician and the patient. Easy and immediate access to records is the most important aspect of EVV.
EVV also opens the door to more mobile use in other types of health care clinics and has applications in telehealth and remote patient monitoring. Any time new technology is mandated it can create pushback and a scramble in the industry, especially during these times when there are already strains placed on the industry by the pandemic. However, EVV is hugely beneficial and an important step in the right direction for mobile device adoption and remote access to patient information. It’s time to stop thinking of EVV as a checkmark and start thinking of it as an important and exciting innovation that will improve the health care industry as a whole.