February 9, 2010 — The Case for the iPad: Mobile Charge Capture for Physicians
Physicians know what they want from technology: simplicity, mobility, and automation. These three elements are the focus of all software development at pMDsoft. It's why pMDsoft has embraced new platforms such as the iPhone and BlackBerry, knowing that a great user experience is essential to achieving 100% adoption from every physician in a medical practice. Only excellent software can deliver the ROI that physicians expect from a mobile charge capture solution: typically a 10% increase in revenue from hospital rounding. But excellent software can only be written on an excellent hardware platform.
That's why pMDsoft is so excited about the new Apple iPad. pMDsoft's iPhone app has been such a great success because it employs Apple's best practices, so when the iPad was announced on January 27th, the development team was eager to find out what it has in store for us. After more than a week of intensive software development on the iPad, it's clear that the its innovations will take the already-legendary simplicity, mobility, and automation of pMDsoft's charge capture application to the next level. Here's how it will deliver what physicians want from technology.
Simplicity
Like the iPhone and iPod Touch, the iPad connects to the iTunes App Store, so more than 140,000 existing applications - including pMDsoft - can already run on it without modification, simply magnified to suit the larger form factor. But pMDsoft is going one step further by redesigning its charge capture application to take advantage of the iPad's huge screen, fast processor, and revolutionary user interface innovations.
In particular, two new user interface features on the iPad will allow pMDsoft to condense its main, day-to-day functionality onto a single screen: split screens and popovers. It has always been extremely fast to enter patients and billing information in pMDsoft; but with this radical change, physicians are saved additional taps and screen transitions each time a patient is seen. In aggregate, that translates to precious minutes that are returned to pMDsoft's customers every day. Physicians can't afford to use any technology that's slower than paper, or that won't work reliably, or that they can't take with them when they round at different hospitals.
Mobility
The iPad will fill a void in the medical industry, where tablet PCs have already become popular. It takes the large, vivid, touch-sensitive screen of a tablet and adds great battery life (10 hours of continuous use, enough to last an entire shift at most medical practices); a single easy-to-wipe-clean surface; and a featherweight body (1.5 lbs). Plus, it removes the visual clutter of a typical tablet, devoting every inch of the screen to whatever application is currently being used.
By itself, the iPad could make a great replacement for charts, clipboards, superbills and hospital charge cards. It's an all-in-one device with the versatility to help the physician in the office as well as in the hospital. And for physicians who love the even greater mobility of an iPhone or BlackBerry, the iPad is the perfect complement, providing a bigger keyboard for entering data and a larger screen on which to view information.
Automation
The iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad have an amazing selection of mobile applications, so physicians who use these devices can provide better care because they are better-informed; and can be more productive because they are better-equipped. There is nothing stored in any EMR that couldn't be rendered beautifully on this device. Combine that with drug references, e-prescribing solutions, and shared hospital rounding lists, and the iPad starts to seem like the perfect tool to reduce or eliminate paper, and to increase efficiency by sharing information within the practice and automating time-consuming billing tasks.
Coming Soon
pMDsoft for the iPhone has gotten great reviews from its users, but the company isn't satisfied with being the best charge capture solutionon the market. "The release of the iPad has provided the perfect opportunity to save physicians more time and add more value for our customers," stated Philippe d'Offay, the CEO of pMDsoft. "That's why we're committing, right now, to developing a version of our software that is completely optimized for the iPad."
The iPad complements pMDsoft's existing iPhone, BlackBerry, and iPod Touch support. Physicians who have considered using the iPhone, but are not AT&T customers or already have a phone that they like, will appreciate having another mobile device option. Others will enjoy its big, easy-to-read screen and a huge touch keyboard that makes typing easy.
pMDsoft is already writing software for the iPad, as evidenced by the attached screenshot. Stay tuned for more screenshots soon! If you want to be an early adopter or simply to stay up to date on the latest iPad news from pMDsoft, please send an email to sales@pmdsoft.com
September 9, 2009 — pMDsoft Announces Interfaces with Additional EMR, EHR, Practice Management, Hospital and Billing Systems
pMDsoft, Inc. today announced the completion of over a dozen more HL7 interfaces with some of the most recognized and popular software systems in the medical industry. pMDsoft's industry-leading interface engine has allowed it to integrate seamlessly with its customers' existing software infrastructure, eliminating data entry and increasing the accuracy of their claims. The variety of different interfaces available has taken pMDsoft beyond the limits of charge capture, allowing it to act as an elegant EMR front-end; a mobile practice management system; or a gateway to the local hospital. Because of its all-inclusive pricing policy, pMDsoft has never charged to create an interface.
Charge Interfaces Eliminate Data Entry for Billers
By adopting a charge capture solution such as pMDsoft, in-house and third-party billing organizations typically see an immediate reduction in the amount of time that their staff have to spend obtaining charges and looking up diagnosis and procedure codes. These personnel can instead focus on increasing revenue by coding complicated procedures or investigating rejected claims instead of writing them off. Many organizations take these efficiency gains one step farther and achieve paperless billing by putting an electronic charge interface into place, sending the charges directly into their billing system and avoiding manual re-entry. This is only possible if the charge capture solution is willing and able to communicate with the billing solution.
Through its all-inclusive pricing policy and through a series of more than a dozen major interface projects, pMDsoft has pushed the envelope to make sure that the answers to "willing" and "able" are yes. That means developing multiple different ways of transferring information to accommodate partners as diverse as GE Centricity, Cerner, Athena, doc-tor.com, PBSI, Misys Tiger, ADS, MedEvolve, Medtopia, Versys, Allscripts A4, and NextGen; as well as the proprietary systems of third-party billing companies such as PracticePlus and MDeverywhere.
The experience gained from these projects has allowed pMDsoft to improve its technology, becoming the industry leader for interfaces. The result is a faster turnaround and a better experience for its customers, as JoAnne Wilson, billing manager of The Kidney and Hypertension Center in Ohio, attests: "We were shocked at how rapidly pMDsoft implemented a billing interface with Misys Tiger. It was live one week after the project began! As a result, pMDsoft has improved our revenue significantly without adding back-office overhead."
Charge interfaces allow customers the financial, time-saving, and compliance benefits of charge capture; with the flexibility to keep their existing billing software. pMDsoft has a proven record of providing them more rapidly than its competitors - and at no cost.
Appointment Interfaces Let You Take Your Schedule With You
pMDsoft's customers also have the option to view appointment schedules on an iPhone or BlackBerry, even if they're using a different practice management system. That way they can look at their office schedule while they're on the go; and when they see a patient in the office, they can access that patient's clinical information from the hospital.
pMDsoft recently added appointment interfaces with Greenway, Athena, and GE Centricity. Its customers who use those systems are excited to access their calendars quickly on the go, without having to leave behind their existing practice management system.
Hospital Integration Eliminates Face Sheets and Demographic Entry for Doctors
Eliminating data entry is a major goal of intelligent software, and doctors' time is particularly precious. Therefore, integrating with hospitals is a priority for pMDsoft. The entire community of providers who work at the hospital can benefit from having patient demographics sent to their devices in realtime. Furthermore, their billers save time by having insurance information available, so they don't need to pull face sheets before they can start their work. This further tightens the reimbursement cycle by removing manual steps.
Of course, not every hospital is willing or able to send patient information to pMDsoft. But pMDsoft is always willing and able, and from recently-completed projects at Huntington Hospital in New York and El Centro Regional Medical Center in California, the company has become expert at removing potential barriers to these types of interfaces. Carole Jungkurth, vice president of Practice Plus Solutions, Inc. in California, has found that "pMDsoft has been very responsive to our needs and the needs of our client. They quickly integrated with our billing software and also with the facility software that is a crucial part of our client's practice. All of the adjustments, changes and additions were provided at no additional charge to our client, which is a rarity in our industry."
pMDsoft is an unusual company, committed to working tirelessly for its customers and growing its tool set to deliver the results they want. With new interface projects starting up at other forward-thinking facilities such as The Christ Hospital in Ohio and New York Hospital Queens, pMDsoft continues to follow through on its intention to improve connectivity and communication at medical communities across the country.
July 21, 2009 — Selecting or Designing iPhone and Mobile Software for Physicians
Adam Kenney, a lead software developer at pMDsoft, recently wrote a guest article for the well known industry blog "The Healthcare IT Guy". In it, Adam gives an overview of the role of mobile software in a modern healthcare practice and key functionality to consider when selecting a solution.
Any physician who spends time in the hospital setting understands the importance of "taking it with you". Web-only software is great; but even now, when many hospital rooms have a terminal on hand, the overhead of logging in and logging off for each patient can be intolerable for busy physicians who are already spending too much time on administrativia.
This is where mobile software comes in. Doctors were among the first adopters of mobile devices such as Palms. With the rise of smartphones, and with government initiatives such as e-prescribing, mobile software is more appealing than ever. But it's challenging to make software that fits the constraints of a mobile platform yet is fast, fun, and friendly to use; and only usability will allow you to save time and achieve 100% adoption within your organization.
One of the biggest factors in the usability of mobile software is how data gets onto and off of the device. Here are a few of the most common approaches that mobile software companies take, with the pros and cons:
Option 1: "What happens on the device stays on the device"
The simplest applications are native (i.e. installed on the device) and have no way to exchange information with outside systems. In some cases - such as a drug reference, calorie counter, medical calculator, or a personal to-do list - this may be all that's needed. This type of software is fast to develop and easy to support because there is no shared data, either between users or between the device and a server; so the range of possible scenarios is narrow.
There are some downsides to this approach that make it unsuitable for complex or mission-critical applications. For one thing, there is no ability to exchange information between users, so any situation that requires shared data - such as an EMR or rounding list - is beyond the capabilities of a standalone app. Additionally, if the software stores sensitive patient information on the device, it must both encrypt (scramble) that information; and also use a logout mechanism to prevent anyone who picks up the device from seeing it. Finally, if anyone loses or breaks their smartphone, you have no recourse except to hope that there's a recent backup. Otherwise, the data is gone.
Option 2: "Your information is out there somewhere"
Mobile-optimized Web sites and native applications whose data are stored entirely "in the cloud" have enjoyed great popularity recently. Mobile Web browsers have become increasingly capable, and we live in the golden age of cloud computing, where software is increasingly being liberated from local environments and stored instead on a third-party hosted server. It's an appealing approach: the data is stored and backed up at a centralized facility, so disaster recovery is simplified. You can access it from anywhere, as long as you're connected.
That's the kicker, though. If an application doesn't store any data locally, or stores only a subset of the data it needs, then the user experience is terrible whenever the device doesn't have a strong signal. Hospitals have notoriously poor cell phone reception and spotty WiFi coverage. Indeed, we hear horror stories about a duct-taped "X" on the floor marking the only spots that can get a signal. This scenario is so common that it's crucial to design for it, otherwise the users will have to waste a lot of time searching for a signal just to get their job done.
With growing support for emerging Web technologies such as AJAX and HTML 5, it's increasingly possible for Web applications to provide a satisfying offline experience. The line between Web applications and native (installed) applications is blurring. But it's still a lot faster to use an application that's installed on the device, assuming it's well-designed.
For example, iPhone and BlackBerry users can access a webmail site - sometimes a highly-optimized one such as GMail - using the Web browser on their phones. But, they'll almost always prefer to use the built-in email software instead, because it can combine emails from various personal and work addresses; it allows them to tell when new messages have arrived; it has a user interface that was designed from the ground up for that device; they don't need to have network coverage to read and compose emails; and they are never logged out of it. Similar advantages hold true for many kinds of medical software.
Even Web applications that contain sensitive patient information must take certain precautions to ensure that the data is kept safe. Secure sites must use the HTTPS protocol - the same method of communication used by bank Web sites - to encrypt data while it's being transmitted. When creating Web-based software, it's necessary to enforce strong passwords, since an attacker can use any computer to try to gain access to a user's account. Finally, even mobile Web sites can end up storing some sensitive data on the device in the form of cached pages. Web browsers automatically store copies of pages that you've visited, to speed up page loading in the future; but unless your site explicitly disables this behavior, or you put a password lock on the entire device, it can be a security risk.
Option 3: "Your information is everywhere you are"
An application that uses two-way synchronization combines either the best or the worst aspects of the above approaches. It's notoriously hard to do sync right - and when it's done wrong, you can end up with data that's trapped on the device; frustration and wasted time trying to sync; users who are missing information that they expect and need; or, worst of all, data loss.
But having a fully-functional offline mode is rightly considered the holy grail of mobile user experience. If all of your data is stored on the device, then you can use the software anywhere, whether or not you have a signal. The app will start quickly and respond instantly to your actions, yet your changes are safely uploaded to the cloud as well, where they are out of harm's way. And if the synchronization is wireless and happens seamlessly in the background, then updates from other users in the group can appear almost magically during use, and users can stay informed throughout the day.
It all comes down to the quality of the engineering. A well-designed and well-executed application syncs transparently, letting you know when you're working offline without interrupting you. And it syncs efficiently, sparing your battery life by avoiding many of the data requests that a Web site needs to operate.
As you might expect, applications that synchronize need to address some of the security and HIPAA concerns of both other approaches. They must use encryption for any sensitive data that they store; must also restrict access on the device using a password; and must use HTTPS or another secure protocol when exchanging potentially sensitive information. At least they don't have to worry about browser caching, since the Web browser is not needed to use these apps!
What's right for you?
Usability - and specifically, data storage and synchronization - is just one of many factors to keep in mind when selecting or designing software. It is the most important single factor that distinguishes great mobile software from mediocre mobile software, but your organization may have additional requirements relating to HIPAA compliance, type of device (e.g. BlackBerry versus iPhone), and must-have features.
The important thing is to anticipate what it will really be like to use an application. Will it save time, or impose additional burdens on physicians? Will they love it, or want to throw their smartphones out the window? Taking the time to understand a solution well before you buy it can prevent headaches and remorse down the road.
May 14, 2009 — pMDsoft Adds Mobile Appointment Calendar to iPhone Charge Capture Software
pMDsoft, Inc. today announced the addition of an outpatient appointment calendar and call schedule to its popular iPhone charge capture software, fully matching the features of pMDsoft for BlackBerry. pMDsoft lowers the cost of running a practice, saves time that can be spent with patients, and now allows a practice to take its entire schedule on the go. Software interfaces allow pMDsoft to act as a mobile extension of an existing practice management or EMR system.
Reduce Costs and Improve Patient Care
Reducing the costs of medicine while improving the quality of patient care is now a national crusade. Many practices are adopting EMR systems, which can reduce the amount of paper that's needed and prevent costly mistakes. But charge capture software is another, faster, less expensive way to improve communication, eliminate superbills and charge slips, and lower a practice's administrative overhead. This liberates time that the physicians can spend with their patients instead of their paperwork.
A typical medical office burns through a significant amount of paper tracking patients and their encounters. This works well enough, but it has hidden costs in the forms of communication and administration time. With increasing pressures on providers' time, they want to reduce both the time they have to spend on the phone with their colleagues, staff, and billers; and the time that those staff and billers spend tracking down paper and reading handwriting. By eliminating these inefficiencies, providers regain some of their freedom to practice medicine, and practices have a financial foundation on which to build their other initiatives. According to Dr. Ian Meyer at Mt. Auburn Nephrology, "pMDsoft has allowed us to track and bill our patients with incredible ease and efficiency cutting our turnaround time on billing from weeks to days while eliminating the need for further billing personnel."
Medical practices and hospitals are searching for a way to combat the decrease in reimbursements from Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance carriers. pMDsoft's typical 10% ROI allows practices to absorb these changes without adding to the time they spend on administrativia. The software more than pays for itself and its other benefits, such as improved communication and quality of care. Tammy Bickimer, the head administrator for Nephrology Associates in Tennessee, reports that "Our doctors are fans, and have said that pMDsoft is just as quick, if not quicker, than paper. [...] I have been doing these types of implementations for about 20 years, and this was the easiest implementation I have ever done."
Why pMDsoft?
Only excellent software can deliver this kind of benefit. Because pMDsoft focuses on creating intuitive and user-friendly software, and because it offers mobile charge capture for the BlackBerry and the iPhone, adoption reaches 100% within a practice; and this in turn makes the software even more useful for patient hand-off. For Dr. dos Remedios of Jackson Purchase Pulmonary, the difference is clear: "I had a different charge capture software previously, but pMDsoft has sped up my charge capture and made it more efficient. Since I started using pMDsoft, I have lost no charges. Instant and accurate transmission of charges to my biller allows them to be posted faster."
Why do practices that have used multiple competing products finally find the ROI that they're seeking with pMDsoft? The software is streamlined and intuitive, so everyone in the practice uses it - even those who are typically technology-averse or strapped for time. Wireless push updates keep the providers' information current on the device, avoiding miscommunications and confusion, and saving time that would otherwise be spent trying to synchronize. Dr. Ronald Kotfila of Gastrointestinal Associates has found that "pMDSoft is quick and simple to use on a daily basis. It actually makes my rounding faster and more efficient. [...] When my office staff add a new patient to my list on their computer, the patient shows up on my iPhone screen in less than a minute!"
This always-connected mentality separates pMDsoft from the competition, and makes it the perfect complement to your EMR.
A Mobile Extension for your EMR
The addition of outpatient appointments to pMDsoft's iPhone software extends its reach beyond the hospital, nursing home, and dialysis clinic settings; it is nearly a mobile EMR. Providers can flip between the two sides of their practice - the inpatient census and outpatient appointments - with a single touch. This provides the missing piece for mobile physicians: a single coherent view of their patients' history, no matter where they were seen, accessible no matter where the physician is. The medical community's reaction to the new functionality has been very enthusiastic, with providers such as Dr. Gitomer of Alaska Kidney and Hypertension declaring, "I like the program so much I am now using it for my office visits. Highly recommended."
February 25, 2009 — pMDsoft Releases Charge Capture Software for BlackBerry Storm
pMDsoft, Inc. today extended its popular mobile charge capture and rounding software to the BlackBerry Storm. Combining on-the-go connectivity with the simplicity of a touch interface, this device is a natural evolution for pMDsoft, which emphasizes realtime communication and exceptional ease of use. Practices seeking to save time, recover lost income, and improve patient hand-off can benefit immensely from charge capture; but only if they choose the right solution for their needs.
What's Wrong with Paper?
A paper solution for capturing charges - such as 3x5 index cards, the status quo for tracking hospital patients in many practices - is quick to use and highly mobile. No one can dispute its simplicity. Nonetheless, it exacts hidden tolls in the form of lengthy hand-off conversations, lost or forgotten charges, and delays in reaching the biller. An electronic solution can address these concerns while actually reducing the amount of time that it takes to document each patient encounter; but only if it was designed well for this purpose.
Dr. Jonathan Matthews, DO of DFW Hospitalists has realized the benefits of adopting an elegant charge capture solution such as pMDsoft, declaring that "pMDsoft has made our lives a lot simpler, saving me hours of administrative work every week. Now when I leave the hospital, I'm usually done with my billing by the time I get to the car. Information flows easily within my practice, and my life is more efficient - which is more important than ever now that I'm starting to grow my small hospitalist practice." For small practices, great technology can make the difference between prospering and struggling to stay independent.
So what's wrong with paper? It cannot re-use demographics that you, your partners, or your staff have previously entered. It cannot help you stay abreast of which patients you and your partners have already seen, today or in the distant past. It cannot find its own way to your biller, or be accessed using a Web browser if you forget to bring it along. And if it is lost or stolen, your patients' privacy may suffer.
Fortunately, today's smartphones - capable, friendly devices such as the BlackBerry Storm and the iPhone - have allowed pMDsoft to create a solution that is not only better than the competition; it's also definitely better than paper.
Save Time, Recover Lost Income, and Improve Patient Hand-Off
If your practice is considering adopting mobile charge capture, first determine where your existing process could be improved. In the rush to provide the best patient care or spend time with your family, does your billing ever fall by the wayside? In this case, you stand to tighten your accounts receivables cycle, getting reimbursed more quickly and more reliably for your work. You may also benefit from being able to tell at a glance whom you've seen today and whom you haven't.
On the other hand, your billing might be airtight, up-to-date, and accurate; but the checks and balances that you've put into place to ensure this are consuming you with administrative work. You have a strong feeling that you could be spending that time in a more productive way. If this rings true, then you stand to recover an immense amount of time by transitioning to a system that cuts out the middle man and lets you send your encounters directly to your biller from the point of care. Like Dr. Matthews, you could already be finished with your billing by the time you leave the hospital.
Finally, you may be spending a lot of time on the phone with your partners, catching them up on the status of each patient in your census. In this case, your practice may improve both the speed and quality of hand-off by adopting a system that updates highly visible sign-off notes in realtime. Dr. Raj Patcha, MD, FACC of the Huntington Heart Center has found that "I am hardly calling my partners about whom I have to see as it continuously updates itself. It's like my biller is following my clinical rounds. Thanks for making my life easier to run our practice."
pMDsoft retains the best aspects of paper billing, and adds the power of a well-written, truly mobile software solution.
December 11, 2008 — pMDsoft Releases Native Charge Capture Software for iPhone
pMDsoft, Inc. today released the iPhone version of its acclaimed mobile charge capture and rounding software. The iPhone's elegant user interface makes it easy for physicians to track their patients, write sign-off notes while rounding, and enter billing information quickly.
pMDsoft's application is the first charge capture software on the iPhone App Store, so it can be used even in lead-lined rooms and remote areas with no signal. All changes are automatically synchronized in the background, ensuring a steady flow of information between providers. pMDsoft's system works ceaselessly behind the scenes to make this communication seamless and to integrate your mobile information with your practice's other software.
Bringing the iPhone's Legendary Usability to Charge Capture
Doctors love the iPhone, which has achieved incredible traction in the smartphone market because of its unprecedented customer satisfaction levels. In its customers' demand for this platform, pMDsoft saw a chance to bring its user-friendly charge capture software to even greater heights of usability. Early adopters such as Dr. Michael Mumma of Florida Cardiac Consultants appreciate that "pMDsoft integrates seamlessly with the iPhone - it's beautifully designed to take advantage of this device." Being first to market is just icing on the cake.
It's part of pMDsoft's culture to invest fully in each new platform - that's why the company created a native application that's specifically optimized to run on the iPhone whether or not it has a data signal. Because it's not just a Web site, the iPhone version of pMDsoft responds quickly; and it looks and feels like other iPhone applications.
This streamlined simplicity allowed early converts to the iPhone to manage their census, enter new patients, and submit charges before we even had a chance to train them. Dr. Madhu Kollipara of Texas Pulmonary & Critical Care Consultants exclaimed, "I love the user interface - it is very intuitive and entering charges is a breeze!"
Your Patients, in Realtime, the Way You Want to See Them
pMDsoft uploads your charges and pulls down patient updates steadily in the background, giving you the latest information while you're on the go. This addresses a need that nearly all rounding physicians have encountered, and for those - such as Dr. Kollipara - who understand the importance of rapid inter-physician communication, it's nearly an obsession: "Having a mobile patient list with updates in real time has been our holy grail and we have finally found it!"
Because your pMDsoft census is shared with the other physicians in your group who round at a particular hospital, it's a snap to maintain from one day to the next. Your office staff can help out by entering consults, as well! Best of all, the patients are organized in a way that works for you, which simplifies your rounding and reduces or removes your reliance on paper.
Dr. Valeriy Kraydman of Huntington Hospital Hospitalists in New York has found pMDsoft invaluable as a rounding tool: "pMDsoft for the iPhone is intuitive, very easy. It works well and it just makes sense. I like how it sorts my patients the way I round, so I don't have to carry paper anymore." Your iPhone could be the only patient list you need.
Charge Capture That's Everywhere You Are
It's misleading to call any software mobile if it takes ages to reload each screen, or if it only works in some areas. That's why pMDsoft went the extra mile to build a native iPhone application instead of a Web site. Unlike a Web site, pMDsoft is fully functional everywhere, even if you're offline - so you can get your billing done even in hospital elevators or remote nursing homes. Dr. James Landis of Florida Cardiac Consultants raved about this freedom: "pMDsoft for the iPhone is awesome. Spectacular. This thing is the best! It's unbelievable - I could enter charges in the cath lab, which is like a lead-lined catacomb!"
What happens when you leave the lead-lined catacomb? Once you re-establish connectivity, pMDsoft picks up where it left off, quietly pushing information to and from the device. This gets the newest information to you and your partners as quickly as possible. Dr. Mumma reports that "we've had no problems with pMDsoft for the iPhone. I think it's great! The push technology in particular plays a huge role in our business and greatly assists us in sharing information."
The fully-functional offline mode even allows pMDsoft to be used on devices that have no cell phone subscription at all, such as the iPod Touch. Large, cost-conscious groups may favor this approach because they aren't tied to a phone or data plan - instead, their doctors can use pMDsoft anywhere, and upload their work wherever they find a wireless Internet connection.
This is well and good; but perhaps you don't want a charge capture system that stands alone. Fortunately, pMDsoft's world-class HL7 engine allows it to interface patients, charges, and appointments with other software, such as EMRs, practice management software, billing systems, or a hospital's census. Total integration allows pMDsoft to act as a mobile front-end to these systems, and gives you the most bang for your existing software infrastructure.
November 16, 2008 — pMDsoft iPhone Beta is Underway
It's official: the beta program is underway for pMDsoft's iPhone charge capture software. We've been too busy feverishly working on the release to announce it earlier, but we've added users steadily from our waiting list, and so far their feedback has been red hot: we've heard "it's super intuitive," "I love the interface," and even "this is heaven!"
So what are the beta users raving about? For one thing, they have managed their census, entered new patients, and created charges without any training. We pride ourselves on making software that's intuitive to use, and the iPhone platform has let us succeed at this beyond even our high expectations. Our customers love seeing their patients' clinical notes at a glance, and browsing the visit history of patients past and present. The smooth, seamless flow of information between the iPhone and our secure Web site kept their census fresh, while HL7 interfaces allowed the iPhone software to act as a mobile front-end to their practice management systems or EMRs.
We listened to our users and went the extra mile to build a native app instead of a Web site. So unlike a Web application, pMDsoft is fully functional wherever they are - so they can get their billing done even in hospital elevators and remote nursing homes. This strategy has led to some unexpected benefits as well - for example, large cost-conscious groups can give each of their doctors an iPod Touch with no phone or data plan, allowing them to use pMDsoft anywhere and synchronize wherever there's a wireless Internet connection.
September 26, 2008 — So Good It's Scary
Take a look at that census: it's familiar; it's comfortable. If you've used pMDsoft before, then you already know how to use it. And even if you haven't, carrying an iPhone for a day or two will tell you everything you need to know. That's because we followed Apple's conventions and standards when we designed pMDsoft for the iPhone, so it "just works" like you'd expect.
At the same time, you can see that we've carried forward our successes from the BlackBerry platform. In some cases we've taken them even further: not only do you have access to a preview of each patient's clinical note, but you can see it at a glance as you flick through your patients. And we upload your charges and pull down patient updates steadily in the background while you're using pMDsoft, to give you the latest information while you're on the go.
These features are great, but what makes our software incredible is what you don't see: tedious nested menus, cluttered control panels, and sluggish user interface are, as always, nowhere to be found. You also won't see the Safari Web browser in this screen shot, because pMDsoft for the iPhone is not a Web site - it's a native application that's fully usable even when you're in an elevator or a lead-lined room.
After all that, it's hardly surprising how much interest we've received in the upcoming beta release of this version. Are we still allowed to call it a beta if we get more doctors calling and emailing every day, asking how soon they can try it? It's a testament to the popularity of the platform and the amount of excitement that Apple has generated in the medical community, and as always, we're right there with you on the cutting edge.
You may not be surprised that we're working on a version of pMDsoft for the iPhone, if you're familiar with how we do things.
Of course, you can use pMDsoft on an iPhone right now, thanks to the full functionality of our Web site. But even that isn't good enough: we're
"going native," creating an application that's specifically optimized to run on your iPhone whether or not you have a data signal.
To us, that's what it means for charge capture to be mobile: it's lightning-fast and it works anywhere, even in a lead-lined room.
We embrace new devices and technologies before our competitors, and the iPhone is clearly the next big mobile platform, bringing the benefits of
smartphones beyond the business world.
Its adoption rate has been staggering, and its customer satisfaction is stratospheric. Perhaps most importantly, this is the first time our
customers have come to us in droves asking for a specific platform. As always, we've listened well.
And we're acting quickly: the Apple App Store opened its doors in June, and we're on track to become its first charge capture
application. We still have some work to do before it's ready for beta testing, but already pMDsoft for the iPhone is impressing us with its
beautiful, crisp looks and svelte, intuitive user experience.
We know your expectations are high - that's why you're here. Even so, we think you'll be impressed.
July 10, 2008 — pMDsoft 4.1 for BlackBerry Takes Appointments and Call Schedule Wireless
pMDsoft, Inc. today released a major upgrade to its mobile charge capture software for the BlackBerry. Version 4.1 adds support for outpatient billing, allowing providers to enter charges directly from the day's appointments. The new release, which is free to existing customers, also gives every provider a personal view of the practice's centralized call schedule.
The addition of office billing and practice management takes the revolutionary charge capture solution to the next level, creating the only complete inpatient and outpatient charge capture system for private practices. Philippe d'Offay, the company's president, declares that "physicians are tired of trying to piece together their billing using a patchwork of hospital systems and paper. They're tired of playing 'telephone' with patient hand-offs, and of storing sensitive patient data in Outlook calendars. They're ready for a secure, integrated solution that will enhance communication, capture charges that would have been lost, and play well with the software infrastructure that they already have."
Mobile Appointments Simplify Office Billing
pMDsoft's fully-functional Web-based calendar has been enhanced to support recurring appointments, reducing the overhead of scheduling patients. Thanks to pMDsoft's wireless background sync, these appointments - and any changes or cancellations - are pushed automatically to doctors' BlackBerries, ensuring that they always have the latest schedule even when they're on the go. Entering charges for these appointments takes just a few clicks, and is often faster than paper billing because the date, place of service, and patient information are already in the system. Color coding provides a clear visual indicator of which appointments have charges entered, and which still need attention.
This feature completes the package for any physician who sees patients in the outpatient setting, and brings the advantages of the BlackBerry platform to specialties that are almost exclusively office-based. Dr. Dessye-Dee Clark of Sound View Counseling exclaims that "I really like using pMDsoft for the BlackBerry for my office billing! It's fantastic that I have an up-to-date schedule with me wherever I'm at, and I can enter charges easily throughout my day. pMDsoft's support has been wonderfully attentive, not only regarding their software but also with the transition to BlackBerry."
Your Call Schedule, Where You Want to See It
Enhancements to pMDsoft's online call schedule now allow staff to create recurring shifts and assign doctors to them with a single click, eliminating duplication of effort when the same shifts are used from one month to the next (even if the doctors change). Each doctor's call schedule is integrated with the BlackBerry's calendar, helping them stay organized and avoid schedule conflicts. As with appointments, automatic wireless synchronization keeps doctors' BlackBerries up to date with the latest changes, so they can always tell when they'll be on call.
Michael Rotman, MD, of Urological Consultants takes full advantage of the automatic over-the-air updates while he travels between multiple offices and facilities, rejoicing that "I've found software that's truly mobile, and actually faster to use [than handwritten sheets]. Consults entered on the Web site census by my staff appear automatically on my BlackBerry, saving me time."
Improved Auto-Sync, Yet Even Better Battery Life
The realtime auto-sync functionality that allows pMDsoft for the BlackBerry to provide full functionality anywhere, with or without wireless coverage, has been optimized to sync faster, smarter, and even when the BlackBerry is locked. That means doctors already have the most current data when they wake up in the morning, because pMDsoft has been pushing it to their BlackBerries throughout the night. There is no battery tax for these improvements: pMDsoft works hard to keep the footprint of its software on the device tiny, so the application's power usage has actually decreased by nearly 60% in version 4.1.
It's this obsession with perfection that has made pMDsoft successful, and has customers such as Mitchell Yadven, MD, of Urology Partners singing its praises: "The simple efficiency of the pMDsoft system on the BlackBerry platform is time saving and a pleasure to use."
February 7, 2008 — pMDsoft Releases Charge Capture Solution for the BlackBerry
pMDsoft 4.0 revolutionizes mobile charge capture by allowing doctors to enter charges anywhere and sync wirelessly automatically. This release responds to providers' needs for a realtime system that not only simplifies their billing, but also improves their practices by streamlining communication and organizing information.
pMDsoft, Inc. announced today that it has released a new version of its mobile charge capture software for health care providers. pMDsoft 4.0 for the BlackBerry improves on earlier versions' easy and powerful charge entry, adding effortless, automatic wireless synchronization. Charges are pushed to the Web-based system where billing staff can process them; or, with the assistance of pMDsoft's industrial-strength HL7 interfaces, the charges can be sent directly to billing software.
The future of charge capture is bright: Brian Dickover, MD, of Maurice Ndukwu, PC, has realized that "pMDsoft has allowed me to keep better track of my patients' billing, which has liberated time that I can now use for clinical concerns. Our office manager is now able to manage my billing so quickly and accurately as to possibly eliminate the need for more full time employees."
Philippe d'Offay, CEO of pMDsoft, says, "By listening to our customers, we've discovered that none of the charge capture products that have been on the market are as mobile or as complete as doctors need them to be. That's why we've taken this extra step to provide an utterly seamless offline experience. We're setting a higher bar for charge capture: it's dead simple, it's wherever you are, and it just works."
Other advantages of this upgrade include full-text search of referrals, diagnoses, and procedures; complete visit history for each patient; and more information at-a-glance without ever leaving the census. Meanwhile, the features that made pMDsoft 3.0 for Palm great have been included and improved in the new BlackBerry version: a complete patient list for your entire practice, available no matter where you are or whether you're connected; a simple workflow that makes entering charges fast and easy; and seamless support for sharing patients between rounding doctors, enhanced by the new auto-sync to allow nearly instantaneous flow of information.
Our Customers Respond
Doctors who have used pre-release versions of pMDsoft 4.0 love its simplicity and minimal data entry. Gary H. Friedman, MD, of Interventional Cardiac Consultants has found that "it made communication between partners in the practice very seamless and efficient because you do not need to sync with a computer," while Henry S. Cunningham, MD, of Texas Pulmonary & Critical Care Consultants has said that "adding patients and charges is a breeze - I recommend pMDsoft for the BlackBerry highly."
Providers also rave about the switch from Palm to BlackBerry: Dr. Cunningham "used a palm for years, so switching to a device on which a stylus is not used took a little time. After getting used to the BlackBerry I've loved it." Andrew E. Lituchy, MD, found that "it was easy to convert over my address book, calendar, tasks, etc. Within a few minutes I was able to use pMDsoft and enter names and visits rapidly. Finally, the device itself is awesome and addictive. I intend to use it to replace my Palm, my phone and my beepers."
Despite the additions and improvements to the software, the cost to customers -- typically far less than they save by using charge capture -- is unchanged. pMDsoft is committed to building and supporting the most innovative charge capture software on the market, and the incredible power and mobility of the BlackBerry platform will send customer satisfaction higher than ever and pave the way for future advances.
Jan. 25, 2008 — It's Simple to Create a Visit
We heard you: you want entering visits to be as intuitive as breathing and as fast as we can make it. Finding referrals and ICD/CPT codes needs to be a snap; you don't want to enter the same information every time; and you want the visit to be uploaded for review automatically and immediately - like magic.
Well, there's no sorcery required to use pMDsoft for the BlackBerry. As you can see, the Create Visit screen is simple, but we think that's a good thing. And don't let appearances deceive you: there's a lot of power here. For example, if you just start typing into any of these fields, pMDsoft will do the right thing: you'll grab a referral from your list by first or last name, or search the entire name of a diagnosis or procedure as you type. You can see the diagnoses and procedures that you've already added, so it's easy to review them and delete the ones that you don't want with a single click. You can even view and adjust their ordering while you're choosing them.
Once you're a BlackBerry user, some things become easier than they ever were on the Palm: you can type or scroll to choose the visit date, for example. And with the full QWERTY keypad, typing in that visit note is a breeze - some users reach 50-60 words per minute! Finally, because BlackBerries are built for wireless connectivity, there's virtually no lag between when you enter the visit and when it's ready for review.
Our BlackBerry customers have told us unanimously that entering charges is easier on the BlackBerry than they've ever seen it. We've heard "it's really cool," "it's super simple," "terrific," "I can't believe how much faster it is to enter visits" and - most importantly for us - "I love it."
Dec. 14, 2007 — So What Does pMDsoft Look Like on the BlackBerry?
We heard you: you want a census that puts all the information at your fingertips and helps you find the patient you're looking for. We've been working hard to put more usability than ever in the palm of your hand, and as you can see in this sneak preview, our mobile software has come a long way. Read on for a whirlwind tour of the main screen of pMDsoft's new charge capture software for the BlackBerry!
As in our Palm software, the familiar patient list is front and center. The census is where you live - your patients are at the heart of your practice. In our BlackBerry software, everything you do comes from the census, and everything returns to it, so you never feel lost or confused. Your census is organized the way you want to see it - you have the choice to sort your patients by location or by name.
Thanks to the four-directional trackwheel, scrolling in the BlackBerry is incredibly fast - but even that's not easy enough. If you have a patient in mind, you can just type the patient's name to search with instant results! In addition, you can filter your census for the most relevant possible view, showing only the patients at a particular location (as in the screenshot) or assigned to a particular doctor.
Finally, the new census puts even more information within your reach than ever before. In addition to the patient's location and room, last visit date, and the initials of the rounding physician, you can now preview the patient's note without leaving the census! Just a flick of the trackwheel reveals the first line of the note, so the most critical information is right in front of you (as it is for Kermit in the screenshot).
Nov. 28, 2007 — pMDsoft for BlackBerry Completes Fully-Functional Preview Release
We've finished our programming work on the first fully-functional preview version of pMDsoft 4.0, our new mobile software for the BlackBerry, slated for final release in January. We had an opportunity to get feedback on this release from a number of our customers, and what we heard is that we're on track to meet the high expectations that we set for ourselves when we begin the beta program on December 12. Everything seems to be coming together, and we continue to see excitement about our move to the BlackBerry — the doctors we talked to are eager to consolidate their cell phones, PDAs, and pagers into the single device that's taking the medical industry by storm. Due to greater interest in our beta program than we anticipated, we are no longer accepting additional beta customers, but watch this space for sneak preview screenshots of the beta version!
Oct. 26, 2007 — pMDsoft Releases Product Updates
A new version of pMDsoft's Web application and HL7 interface adds value across the board. The enhancements, driven by customer requests, focus on practice management and administration - highlights include call schedule tracking, a new print view for calendars, enhanced reporting and significant improvements to billing software interfaces.
Calendar Improvements
Calendar events can now be created to signify a physician's call status: on duty, off duty, on call, or on vacation. Collectively, these events make up the call schedule for a practice, simplifying rounding and improving communication. Now there is a single, centralized place where your practice's call schedule can live - and best of all, it's printable! The new print view creates an elegant display of call schedules and appointment calendars, with spaces where you can enter notes. Finally, you can schedule meetings with other doctors and staff; these appear in the appointment calendar and on the mobile device of every invited doctor.
Report Enhancements
By popular demand, the queued visit report can now be sorted by visit date or by patient name. And in addition to the existing ability to filter by doctor, you can filter this report by location, making it super-easy for billers to find the visits awaiting billing that they're looking for.
Interface Updates
Our best-in-class interoperability with billing software and hospital information systems has just gotten even better, thanks to a batch of improvements to the robustness, administration, and performance of our HL7 interface! Message archival on our secure servers keeps a seven-day backup of transmitted information. A new, multi-threaded architecture improves responsiveness while keeping message transmission instantaneous. And a bevy of logging and administration additions help you stay up to date on the interface's activity.
Oct. 12, 2007 — pMDsoft Charge Capture for the BlackBerry, coming soon!
We heard you. You told us you love pMDsoft's charge capture software, but you wanted a device that would make your life easier, not harder; simpler, not more complex. You want stable and well-engineered hardware - and so do we. That's why we've chosen the BlackBerry by Research in Motion as our next hardware partner.
This is a platform that was designed with health care professionals in mind. Its security and reliability are widely considered the best available, the devices' power and elegance are astonishing, and cutting-edge medical software such as Epocrates is increasingly making BlackBerry the focus of new development. You can install and synchronize BlackBerry software over-the-air, without coming near a desktop PC. And that's not all: they don't call it the CrackBerry for nothing! People love the BlackBerry so much, they don't want to stop using it. Our new mobile charge capture software should be the same way, so it's a natural fit.
Still not convinced? Maybe you want a device that fits in your pocket better than a PDA, like the slim BlackBerry Pearl - no problem, any BlackBerry device will run our new charge capture software. Maybe you want to talk on the phone while checking your email or using pMDsoft - with a Bluetooth headset, the BlackBerry can handle it! (Think about it - CEOs and secret agents love the BlackBerry. Would James Bond delay an urgent message to take a call?) Okay, maybe you just want a device that will let you do your job whenever and wherever you are, and will bring a smile to your face at the same time.
We heard you, and believe us: BlackBerry is it.
10/4/2007 — Something new is on its way...
We heard you. You told us you were tired of medical software that's confusing, slow, and hard to use. You said you want tools that will help you practice medicine, not get in your way. You want the information you need at your fingertips, not buried out of sight. You don't want to spend time fussing with the technology, and you want charge capture to be effortless and automatic. In short, you want a system better than anything you've used before.
We heard you, and we're almost ready to give you what you've been asking for. Our customers have told us that our software is the most intuitive on the market, but we thought we could do even better. We're all sick of complicated programs with bad user interfaces, so we put our proven philosophy of simplicity and innovation to work, and we think it will take your breath away.
You'll see clean, beautiful, information-packed views inspired by user interface innovators such as Apple, Google, and BlackBerry. Your data will efficiently and automatically be kept up-to-date over the air, but you'll still have 100% functionality when you're offline or outside of coverage. And you'll love our new hardware partner, a platform with proven reliability, world-famous usability, and impenetrable security. This software will make your colleagues jealous.
Coming soon - watch this space for updates and sneak peeks!
8/24/2007 — pMDsoft Guarantees PQRI Compliance for Physicians
pMDsoft charge capture software helps physicians earn a 1.5% bonus from CMS. This voluntary program rewards timely and accurate reporting, which electronic charge capture makes possible.
pMDsoft, Inc., a medical software company offering mobile charge capture solutions for physicians, announced today that it has completed a series of error-checking measures designed to help its customers comply with the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative issued on July 1, 2007 by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Physicians who participate in this optional program by meeting frequency and accuracy benchmarks receive a 1.5% bonus on their Medicare reimbursements for the period in question. pMDsoft's Web-based practice administration software now finds reporting errors based on specific CPT and ICD-9 codes that would cause PQRI violations and notifies the billing staff, allowing practices to become 100% compliant with the PQRI program.
The PQRI functionality is yet another way in which pMDsoft can help its customers become more profitable. The company's focus on streamlining charge capture gives customers a better experience than one-size-fits-all EMR suites - indeed, Michael Fagan, the Vice President of Finance and CFO of Huntington Hospital, declares, "When we requested support for the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI), pMDsoft delivered in less than a month and at no charge. [...] We would recommend pMDsoft's solution to any other hospital in the North Shore Long Island Jewish hospital network - maybe even any other hospital in the country. The quality of the software is fantastic, the customer service is very good, and our doctors are extremely pleased with their product. This is definitely one IT product where you get value for your dollars."
Without an automated, easy to use charge capture solution, medical practices are finding it increasingly difficult to track the information that they need, while complying with governmental regulations such as HIPAA and, now, PQRI. Says Philippe d'Offay, CEO of pMDsoft, "The landscape of medicine is changing, and physicians are forced to adopt new technologies so that they can stay focused on the practice of medical care. Many don't realize that a cumbersome EMR system can actually cost them time and money, while a charge capture solution such as pMDsoft provides many of the same benefits with none of the headache." pMDsoft customer Nick Fitterman, director of Huntington Hospital's hospitalist group, agrees: "pMDsoft has allowed me to not only capture missed billing opportunities but also track productivity. I have used data readily available on it to plan staffing models and justify hiring to my administrators. The support team is attentive and very user friendly."
Initiatives such as PQRI emphasize the need for automated solutions in the increasingly complex world of medical coding. Physicians who are already using Web and mobile charge capture solutions such as pMDsoft are well-positioned to take advantage of these opportunities, while reducing their administrative overhead and keeping their doctors focused on the art and science of medicine.
CMS and the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative
Title I, Section 101 of the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 (TRHCA) authorizes CMS to create a physician quality reporting system. This optional statutory program, called the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI), creates a financial incentive for physicians to meet designated accuracy and timeliness measures: a 1.5% bonus, subject to a cap, of total allowed charges for covered Medicare physician fees in the period from July 1 to December 31, 2007.
12/31/2006 -- pMDsoft makes a bold move - to New York City
Location, location, location, the old adage says it all. That is exactly why pMDsoft recently moved its headquarters to New York City from Atlanta. Relocating to a city that is ahead of the curve on food, fashion and technology has definitely paid off. pMDsoft has seen a 39% increase in customers since the 2006 move with 61% of their clients being in the New York area.
According to a 2005 American Medical Association statistic, the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut is composed of 87,000 doctors, roughly 10% of doctors nationwide. In addition to having some of the best and brightest doctors in the world, the area boosts MDs that are also technology savvy and tend to work more independently of HMOs. This allows individual doctors and smaller groups to make quicker decisions and adopt value-added technology for their practice much faster. With so many doctors in the tri-state area leading the rush to implement new and effective medical technologies, pMDsoft is now right here to provide it to them.
Located conveniently in Long Island City, just across the East river from the United Nations, pMDsoft is now close to four subway lines, two airports, the Long Island expressway and according to an unofficial office poll, some of the best pizza in town. Founder and CEO Philippe d’Offay expressed it this way, “Though we sometimes miss the big oak trees in Atlanta there is something to be said about the big ideas you can only find right here in NYC.”
Headquartered in New York City, pMDsoft develops wireless applications that help physicians streamline and automate their entire practice from point-of-care through reimbursement. The company was started in 1999 to address mobile physicians' needs for an effective alternative to their paper-based method for recording patient encounter information. pMDsoft’s automated charge capture solution adheres to the highest standards for performance, security and reliability. For more information, visit www.pmdsoft.com.
2/15/2005 — PMDSOFT ANNOUNCES RELEASE VERSION 3.0 — PMDSOFT PROJECTING PROFITABLE FIRST QUARTER
ATLANTA (February 15, 2005) – pMDsoft, the leading developer of wireless applications that help today’s mobile physicians streamline their entire practice from point-of-care through reimbursement, announced today the latest release of its software solution for hand held devices. The new release is based on feedback and ideas from their client base and includes several key updates and enhancements to the software.
The most significant update of version 3.0 is that it can now interface with other office systems that expand the functionality of a physician’s practice – including practice management systems, billing companies, clearing houses, lab systems and e-prescribing systems. Additional enhancements include:
- Upgrading the enterprise scheduling functionality to allow a physician to manage both outpatient and in-patient functions.
- Enhancement of the billing workflow that allows billing experts to review and queue charges before processing.
- A new template system of standard medical forms to help physicians collect patient information and reduce the paper flow in the office.
“Our product has been and continues to be designed for scalability, by growing with a physician’s practice as they add on new doctors, being able to capture more of the physician’s practice by building more functionality into the product and by enabling pMDsoft to grow in a balanced strategic approach that does not take away from our service to the customers,” said Philippe d’Offay, Founder of pMDsoft. “This latest version enables a practice to run their entire office, from point-of-care through billing submission. This means that any practice that uses an outside billing company can now use our product to run their entire practice and communicate electronically with their billing company. For practices that already have a billing system, they can now go paperless by adding pMDsoft to their present system.”
The release of Version 3.0 coincides with record client growth for pMDsoft in 2004, including retention of 95% of physician practices and marking its third year of increased growth. The momentum continues for pMDsoft in 2005, with a profitable first quarter projected, making it one of only a few select profitable companies in the healthcare software industry.
Headquartered in Atlanta, pMDsoft develops wireless applications that help physicians streamline and automate their entire practice from point-of-care through reimbursement. The company was started in 1999 to address mobile physicians' needs for an effective alternative to their paper-based method for recording patient encounter information. pMDsoft’s automated charge capture solution adheres to the highest standards for performance, security and reliability. For more information, visit www.pmdsoft.com.
6/16/2004 — PMDSOFT INKS DEAL WITH HUNTINGTON HOSPITAL IN NEW YORK
ATLANTA (June 16, 2004) – pMDsoft to provide scheduling and billing software for doctors' group.
pMDsoft announced today that it had signed a contract with Huntington Hospital, part of the North Shore - Long Island Jewish Health System, in Long Island, New York, to implement the pMDsoft hand-held data capture system. The pMDsoft product will provide the doctors with the ability to schedule cardiac patients for out patient procedures, record visit transactions and send billable transactions directly to the hospital's billing services. The pMDsoft functionality will eliminate unwanted paper trails and improve billing accuracy.
The first implementation of pMDsoft in the Huntington Hospital system was with members of the Cardiology Department and according to Electrophysiologist, Dr. Paul Maccaro, "We selected the pMDsoft system based on its ease of use and efficiency of collecting billable patient data." In addition, Huntington Hospital will roll-out the system to its Critical Care doctors who will record charges at the point of care. The system will permit physicians to automatically relay clinical, census and billing data to other members of the team as well as to their billing service, while making patient rounds.
"We are very excited about the relationship with Huntington Hospital," said Philippe D'Offay, Founder of pMDsoft. "This implementation demonstrates the system's flexibility and broad functionality in both the small to large group practice as well as the system's ability to serve the unique needs of a large hospital environment."
Headquartered in Atlanta, pMDsoft develops wireless applications that help physicians streamline and automate their entire practice from point-of-care through reimbursement. The company was started in 1999 to address mobile physicians' needs for an effective alternative to their paper-based method for recording patient encounter information. pMDsoft's automated charge capture solution adheres to the highest standards for performance, security and reliability. For more information, visit www.pmdsoft.com.
Huntington Hospital is a 398-bed community hospital, located in northwestern Suffolk County, on Long Island, New York. It provides a full range of inpatient, outpatient, and specialized healthcare services with a special emphasis on cancer care, cardiology, maternity and neonatal care, and specialized surgical procedures including complex orthopaedic surgery. One of the hospital's flagship programs is the freestanding Dolan Family Health Center, Long Island's only charitably supported, hospital owned healthcare center for the uninsured and underinsured. In 2003, the Center logged more than 25,000 patient visits.
1/12/2004 — PMDSOFT FORMS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH MATRIX MANAGEMENT SERVICES
ATLANTA (January 12, 2004) – pMDsoft announced today that it had signed a strategic partnership with Matrix Management Services (“Matrix”) of Brooklyn, New York, to implement the pMDsoft hand-held data capture system in over 100 skilled nursing and assisted living facilities throughout New York, New Jersey and Florida by year end. The partnership is a result of a successful trial implementation in which the system was used for data capture and billing by Matrix Physicians in over 25 skilled nursing facilities. The information was integrated with Matrix’s proprietary administrative back office system and provided a seamless approach to billing. The pMDsoft-Matrix partnership resulted in reduced billing costs, improved charge capture, and improved cash flow management.
The system far exceeded expectations according to Matrix’s President, Michael Quilty. “The system eliminates the need for unnecessary paper work and has increased charge capture by 5%, resulting in over $200,000 in found revenue. In addition the system supported a reduction in billing errors, the elimination of billing paperwork, and helped facilitate a shift from weekly to daily billing, all of which has improved cash flow,” stated Quilty. The pMDsoft system also provides Matrix with real time information about visit frequency and coding breakdowns for data analysis and compliance monitoring.
The trial took place over 90 days at 25 skilled nursing facilities throughout New York, New Jersey, and Florida, with the actual installation of the pMDsoft system and physician training completed in less than one week. During the trial Matrix was able to recoup lost revenue well in excess of the cost of the pMDsoft implementation. Based on these favorable results, Matrix made the decision to fully implement the system across the facilities it serves.
“Matrix presented an opportunity for pMDsoft to grow and expanded its customer base into the skilled nursing arena. The successful Matrix implementation demonstrates how our product expands the continuum of care while generating a very attractive return on investment for our customers. We are very proud to report this success,” stated Philippe d'Offay, Founder of pMDsoft.
Headquartered in Atlanta, pMDsoft develops wireless applications that help physicians streamline and automate their entire practice from point-of-care through reimbursement. The company was started in 1999 to address mobile physicians' need for an effective alternative to their paper-based method for recording patient encounter information. pMDsoft’s automated charge capture solution adheres to the highest standards for performance, security and reliability. For more information, visit www.pmdsoft.com.
Matrix Management Services provides administrative support to physicians practicing in the long-term care setting. Matrix Physicians are focused solely on the care of patients in skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities and other long-term care facilities. Matrix Physicians do not have office-based practices—their only priority is delivering the best possible care to patients by working with the facility, its administration, and staff. Matrix partners with managed care organizations, hospitals, and State Medicaid programs to improve the health status of patients in the long-term care setting. For more information, visit www.matrixhealth.net.
9/30/2003 — PMDSOFT LANDS NOVANT HEALTHCARE AS CLIENT
ATLANTA (September 30, 2003) – pMDsoft will begin a 600 doctor rollout of its point of care documentation system.
pMDsoft announced today that it signed a multi-doctor deal with Novant Healthcare to provide a point of care documentation system for its physicians. The system will be used to chart physical findings and patient diagnosis. The information will be integrated with the administrative back office system to provide a seamless approach to billing – virtually eliminating errors in coding that lead to lengthy accounts receivables. The system will work to improve efficiencies and productivity, both from the clinical and administrative perspective. “The system has been easy to implement with less than one day to set up. This is due in part to the system’s architecture and mobile computing environment,” stated Toni Kourey, CIO of Novant Healthcare.
According to John Gardella, M.D., who lead the five doctor task force that made the decision to purchase the pMDsoft product, "The decision to use pMDsoft was made after careful comparison with other electronic billing applications. Our physicians and support staff found the application easy to use and that the pMDsoft staff is readily available to help the end users with any questions. Once fully implemented, the system will free the physicians from the chore of paper billing, and will allow us to grow our practice without the addition of administrative staff." The system was built for use in the physician’s office, hospital or nursing home and operates on a Palm Device Application, eliminating the historical problem with desk top applications, which presented a barrier between physician and patient.
“Novant Healthcare is an ideal client for pMDsoft because we modeled the architecture for an enterprise client. Strategically it has always been our plan to implement our product in an enterprise health system and Novant Healthcare represents the fourth physician group of its kind to deploy the system,” stated Philippe d'Offay, Founder of pMDsoft. “Unlike other physician documentation systems, we have experienced success due to the fact that the product is simple to use and does not require that the physicians change the way they care for patients,” added Mr. d’Offay. Novant will begin by deploying 22 licenses in 2 hospitals and by end of the year that number will be doubled and include a third hospital.
Headquartered in Atlanta, pMDsoft develops wireless applications that help physicians streamline and automate their entire practice from point-of-care through reimbursement. The company was started in 1999 to address mobile physicians' need for an effective alternative to their paper-based method for recording patient encounter information. pMDsoft’s automated charge capture solution adheres to the highest standards for performance, security and reliability. For more information, visit www.pmdsoft.com.
Novant Health is a non-profit healthcare system in western North Carolina, serving people in 32 counties reaching from southern Virginia to northern South Carolina. Novant and the majority of its facilities are 501(C)3, private, community organizations.
The healthcare system consists of seven hospitals in the Triad and Charlotte markets: Forsyth Medical Center, Medical Park Hospital, and Thomasville Medical Center in the Triad market; Presbyterian Hospital, Presbyterian Orthopedic Hospital, Hemby Children's Hospital and Presbyterian Hospital Matthews of the Charlotte market. Other facilities and programs of Novant Health include three philanthropic foundations, three nursing home and senior residential facilities, physician clinics, outpatient surgery and diagnostic centers, rehabilitation programs and community health outreach programs.
Novant Health has been nationally recognized as one of "10 Best Companies for Working Mothers" by Working Mother Magazine and one of the "Top 40 Family-Friendly NC Companies" by Charlotte Parent and Piedmont Parent magazines.
11/01/2002 -- PMDSOFT AND MILLBROOK FORM PARTNERSHIP
pMDsoft has formed a partnership with Millbrook Corporation, provider of the #1 rated physician practice management software. The two companies will integrate pMDsoft with Millbrook Practice Manager to extend the benefits of both solutions to their customers. This integration enables a seamless flow of information between physicians’ practice management system and their PDAs. "By aligning with best-of-breed providers like Millbrook, we are able to offer a complete solution that improves information flow and delivers greater efficiency to physician practices," said Philippe d’Offay, president of pMDsoft.
