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Tag Archives: Digital

Give Your Patients the Digital Experience They Want

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Kyruus survey shows that patients prefer the convenience of digital avenues when scheduling appointments and researching care options. To ensure that your healthcare facility offers a positive interaction with potential and existing patients, it is important to understand what patients want and, increasingly, expect. Kyruus recently announced the findings from its fifth annual survey, published […]

The post Give Your Patients the Digital Experience They Want appeared first on AAPC Knowledge Center.

AAPC Knowledge Center

Patient Education in the Digital Age

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Improve patient comprehension of their health by updating your mode of communication for the 21st century. A recent study found that the average human attention span has fallen to eight seconds. In comparison, scientists believe that the goldfish has an attention span of nine seconds. We have become conditioned to the barrage of texts, tweets, […]

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AAPC Knowledge Center

Digital vs Plain Film X-ray (Adenoid & Sinus)

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We were recently told that there is a reimbursement difference when billing for digital x-ray versus plain film x-ray. In particular we still perform lateral x-ray’s of the adenoids and occasionally sinus views on an older plain film machine and are needing to upgrade at this point. I do not see where there is a difference for CPT code regardless of plain film or digital. Can anyone elaborate on this specifically if there is a reimbursement difference? Thanks!

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

How to Find a Coding Job in the Digital Age

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Remember the days when finding a job literally meant searching the Help Wanted section of the newspaper? Maybe you don’t, and I’m dating myself. That’s the way it was done back in the day, though. The job listings took up several pages in the paper (no kidding). If a listing looked good, the protocol was […]

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AAPC Knowledge Center

Finger radial digital nerve exploration

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Hello Fellow Coders,

Does anyone know if cpt 64702 can be used for exploration only. Pt has dist finger closed fractures and developed absent sensation so the MD wants to confirm the digital nerve was not lacerated as well. Surgeon incised middle aspect of the finger with exploration and closure.

I’ve exhausted my resources and not sure since 64702 states Neuroplasty as well.

Thanks in advance

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Practice Professionalism in the Physical and Digital World

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Whether interviewing or already working, put your best foot forward and march. Being a professional in our chosen field means much more than earning a degree and wearing a suit. We must conduct ourselves professionally on all levels — from the job interview to the office, and when using social media. Be a Professional The […]
AAPC Knowledge Center

Digital X-ray VS Computed X-ray

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One of our offices recently acquired a digital x-ray system, while the other still has the cassette system. When billing Medicare for x-rays, we bill for the technical component and send the x-rays out to be read by another company. Should I be using different modifiers to distinguish which type of system was used. Example: for a chest x-ray, 2 view, I usually bill 71046 TC.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Radiology PACS Are the Command Center For Your Medical Digital Imaging

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If you are looking for the best way to store, view and distribute the digital medical images produced at your hospital, medical center, small or medium-sized medical facility, dental or veterinary office, then what you want is a fully functional radiology PACS system. Web based PACS systems allow for teleradiology, which enables you to send digital images over the World Wide Web, saving time and money. There are flexible and cost-effective solutions for every type of medical environment that uses a radiology PACS system.

Digital images offer a wealth of cost advantages over traditional film imaging. You will save on the costs of film and development chemicals when you make the switch to digital imaging. You will no longer need the personnel to maintain those digital images either, another cost advantage to your medical facility when you utilize the power of a PACS system.

A radiology PACS system works much like a computer network. There is a server that is host to your database of digital medical images. These images are accessed by individual workstations via a LAN or WAN. Security is achieved with a web based PACS that utilizes a virtual private network or secure socket layer protocol.

By combining the speed of the Internet with the functionality of a radiology PACS solution, the ultimate in ease of use and flexibility is achieved in every medical environment, whether large or small. Multiple modalities can be accommodated by a quality DIDOM PACS system, making a radiology PACS a key component in office efficiency.

A PACS system will also allow for text to be incorporated with digital image reading. This makes it very easy for radiologist to complete records and reports utilizing this customizable PACS system software and hardware.
Storage is one of the key features of importance in any DICOM PACS system. Archival systems must be secure, and must be expandable. They must meet HIPPA standards for backup and disaster recovery as well. Radiology PACS systems are outstanding in this regard, because you can send images daily and automatically to both on- and off-site backup locations for ease of retrieval in case of a fire, flood or earthquake. Records can be kept safe because individual usernames and passwords are put in place, and that, along with 128-bit secure socket layer encryption or VPN security features will ensure that your records are kept in a controlled environment.

When all of this is taken into account, and other amazing features are added to increase the customization of the systems, many medical facilities turn to a radiology PACS solution to meet their needs for viewing, distributing and archiving their medical digital images.

In this article Jonathon Blocker writes about radiology PACS.

Medical Monitors Help You See All Your Digital Images

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Diagnostic medical monitors are available for every viewing purpose your hospital or clinic may have. Medical displays allow you to view ultrasound, endoscope, CT and MRI images, chest x rays, angiography images, mammography images, and come with black and white as well as color image capabilities. The type of medical display you ultimately choose will depend on the types of modalities used in your medical practice.

Dicom systems are used to standardize the grayscale tone of medical monitors. Medical monitors may vary a bit in terms of their grayscale tone, and so Dicom is used to bring all of the various monitors in use at your medical facility up to standard.

You do not want to skimp on the quality of your medical display for several reasons. If you have several monitors networked into your Dicom system, you will want to ensure that all of the medical monitors offer the same display of the medical image. Quality medical displays also help to prevent rendering irregularity over time, and allow you to see the delicate shadings in your medical images.

Shadings in medical images are very important, especially when it comes to chest x rays. Certain medical LCD monitors allow for ultra-high resolution, high contrast ratio and high luminance.

You will also want to consider the pixel size of the medical images that you need to display on your medical LCD. There are medical LCD displays ranging in size from one mega pixel all the way up to six mega pixels. The larger sizes are more appropriate for chest images and CT images, because you will be able to see the whole image displayed at once without any loss of resolution or quality of the image. The largest, six mega-pixel medical monitors, allow you to read digital images from different modalities side by size on the same screen, because it is set up in a wide-screen configuration.

Consider a medical LCD display that also offers ergonomic and green design features. There are many medical LCD monitors that allow the backlight to turn off when it is in screensaver mode. Many also allow you to adjust the height and the position of the stand for better viewing comfort.

How easy the medical display is to use and its cost are also important factors in your selection of a monitor. Choose one that is user friendly and and is inexpensive to operate over the life of the monitor.

Better medical monitors come with other useful features. You will want to check on the warranty, and how long it is and what it covers. Some of the best offer limited five year warranties.

In this article Jonathon Blocker writes about medical monitors.

Acquire Medical Digital Images With a Kodak Point of Care CR System

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Small and mid-sized medical facilities, mammo centers, radiology departments, imaging centers, dental and veterinary offices can benefit from a cost-effective Kodak CR system for acquiring digital medical images. The Kodak POC, or point of care, systems offer a range of options designed to retrofit your existing radiography equipment so that it functions the way you want.

Your medical office can save money by using a Kodak CR system for medical imaging. The Kodak Point of Care units use imaging plates instead of film. Those imaging plates are reusable, but film has to be replaced for each image taken; thus, due to the necessity of replenishing film and developing supplies, your medical facility will save money on supplies when you switch to a Kodak Point of Care CR System.

Another of the benefits that comes from using a Kodak CR system is that you will be able to have your medical images in a digital format. Once you have captured an image on the imaging plate, the system processes that image through a scanner, thereby creating a digital image. At this point, you have many options for viewing your image created with the Kodak POC. Digital images can be manipulated via the system software so that the image can be enhanced, zoom can be used, greater contrast and brightness and a host of other features in order to help you obtain better images for superior patient care at a reduced cost for your medical office.

The Kodak CR systems, including the KODAK CR 120, offer an excellent digital imaging choice for low-volume imaging. The Kodak CR units also come in the equally popular CR 140, CR 260 and CR 360 systems. The Kodak CR 360 and CR 140 units also are available with an optional mini-PACS system, allowing you to store, manage, distribute and view your digital images. The mini-PACS offers you a smaller yet effective solution for digital images at an affordable price.

The kodak point of care systems, including the KODAK CR 120 unit, are meant to be used for in-room digital imaging, as would be found in diagnostic imaging centers, orthopedic clinics, intensive care and pediatric departments as well emergency rooms. All of the Kodak Point of Care systems come with PC-based review stations. They are small in size, perfect for compact offices, and offer a system designed to capture high-quality x-ray images. Now you have a way to take great digital images and then store them on DVDs, CDs or print as you need.

In this article Jonathon Blocker writes about–Kodak Point Of Care CR Systems.