AS I SEE IT


Accessing ASC Information for Regulatory and ACO Reporting Benefits of a discrete data EHR system BY DAREN SMITH


For many years, numer- ous ASCs have benefit- ted from the discrete data capability of their elec- tronic health record (EHR)


systems. Now, with a greater focus on reporting in a number of areas, including regulatory requirements and accountable care organizations (ACOs), discrete data is taking on an even greater purpose and importance.


Understanding Discrete Data Computers record information in dif- ferent ways. One method is to create a digital image of a chart and anno- tate on that image. This method pro- duces “non-discrete data” that cannot be searched or used for report creation. “Discrete data,” on the other


hand, is created by entering data ele- ments into distinct fields (e.g., drop- down lists, radio buttons, checkboxes) that are searchable and can be elec- tronically compiled and analyzed for reporting purposes.


Quality Reporting Applications Nationally, ASC quality reporting began a few years ago when the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) began requiring ASCs to report quality data G-codes or face Medicare payment reductions. These quality measures included patient falls, patient burns and hospital transfers/admissions. Within the last few years, CMS and other regulatory agencies have been adding clinical quality measures. Many of these new measures are more difficult to track than those associated with the G-codes. In the future, the list of clinical quality measures is set to continue to grow in number and complexity.


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ized to keep a specific group of peo- ple healthy. If an ASC wants to partic- ipate in an ACO, it will need to be able to report data on its patient population. The sharing of data exported from a discrete data EHR to an ACO serves mul- tiple purposes. If you are reporting data on the health of patients to your ACO, then the ACO is able to perform more targeted interventions. For example, if you are performing body mass index (BMI) reporting and show the BMI of your patient population is increasing annually, an ACO might introduce a weight-loss program or get primary care physicians involved in providing patient education on lowering BMI. There also is great value in provid-


If an ASC lacks the ability to effectively capture and report data, it may soon find itself struggling to survive and thrive in this challenging health care environment.”


—Daren Smith, AmkaiSolutions


For ASCs using paper records, recording and reporting the data requires creation of a new process that clinical staff members can use to note the details of the specific event and then manually compile and assemble the reports. For ASCs using an EHR with discrete data capability, these details can be noted in the clinical doc- umentation. When it is time to report on the new measures, it is simply a matter of generating a report that com- piles and exports the data.


ACO Applications ACOs are concerned with the health of their population. They are incentiv-


ASC FOCUS NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015


ing your ACO with data on quality out- comes. If you have a discrete data EHR, you can look at the outcomes manage- ment of your patients and share infor- mation such as lower complication rates and pain levels reported during post-op calls. This data will help support the critical role your ASC plays in deliver- ing high-quality and low-cost care to patients served by the ACO. With a discrete data EHR, an ASC can help an ACO accomplish its popu- lation health goals and demonstrate the role the ASC plays in attaining those objectives: providing the right care at the right time at the lowest cost while avoiding unnecessary duplication of services and preventing medical errors. Data is the new currency in health care. If an ASC lacks the ability to effectively capture and report data, it may soon find itself struggling to survive and thrive in this challenging health care environment.


Daren Smith is a senior clinical solutions specialist at AmkaiSolutions in Armonk, New York. Write him at dsmith@sisfirst.com.


The advice and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author’s and do not represent official Ambulatory Surgery Center Association policy or opinion.


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