Medical Group Management Association’s survey unveiled healthcare leaders’ pivot, prioritizing EHR usability (35%) over AI (13%). Patient communications (26%) and revenue cycle management (21%) also surfaced as key concerns. Goals include enhancing interoperability, refining patient interactions, and streamlining billing systems. Despite AI’s promise, only a fraction (10-20%) of medical groups have integrated AI tools. The focus lies on fortifying EHR functionality, addressing post-COVID challenges, and refining administrative workflows.
In a recent survey conducted by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), healthcare leaders have diverged from the buzz surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) in favor of prioritizing the enhancement of Electronic Health Record (EHR) usability within medical groups.
Among 424 relevant responses analyzed, a substantial 35 percent of medical group leaders identified EHR usability as their foremost health IT concern, eclipsing other pivotal areas.
Patient communications and access emerged as the second-highest priority at 26 percent, followed closely by revenue cycle management (RCM) and billing systems, garnering 21 percent of the responses. Surprisingly, AI lagged, with only 13 percent of respondents marking it as their top health IT priority.
An additional 6 percent of respondents highlighted various “other” initiatives, including cybersecurity projects, underscoring a diverse range of concerns within the healthcare sector. The MGMA editors clarified that percentages may not sum up to 100 due to rounding issues in the survey.
EHR USABILITY IMPROVEMENTS
The surveyed leaders outlined multifaceted objectives aimed at enhancing EHR usability over the next six to twelve months, primarily focusing on bolstering interoperability. Strategies included transitioning to a consolidated EHR system and amplifying interoperability among different locations. Moreover, leaders emphasized initiatives to foster interoperability with insurance entities and augment the functionality for quality reporting.
PATIENT COMMUNICATIONS AND ACCESS ENHANCEMENT
In response to post-COVID-19 challenges and persisting staffing shortages, medical group leaders are directing efforts toward optimizing administrative workflows, such as phone calls, portal messages, and scheduling procedures. Many respondents indicated investments in new systems or vendor pursuits to refine patient communications, thereby enhancing the overall patient experience and potentially improving online reviews. Additionally, there’s a push to enable patients to self-schedule appointments and swiftly access waiting lists for last-minute cancellations, aimed at reducing no-show occurrences.
RCM AND BILLING SYSTEMS UPGRADES
The polled respondents articulated specific objectives for RCM and billing system enhancements within the forthcoming six to twelve months:
1. Streamlining workflows to ensure more precise and prompt payments.
2. Eliminating accounts receivable (A/R) extending beyond 120 days.
3. Strengthening revenue cycle reporting, analytics, and benchmarking capabilities.
4. Implementing automated billing and processing mechanisms.
AI IMPLEMENTATION AND ITS TRAJECTORY
While AI adoption holds promise, the MGMA report indicated that its integration remains a longer-term endeavor for many medical groups. According to MGMA’s March 2023 poll, merely one in ten medical groups regularly utilize AI tools. Subsequently, the September 2023 survey revealed that approximately one in five medical groups had initiated or expanded AI usage, highlighting a measured and gradual approach to AI integration among healthcare entities.
In summary, despite the burgeoning hype around AI in healthcare technology, healthcare executives, as per the MGMA poll, have steered their immediate attention towards fortifying EHR usability, signaling a strategic shift in their IT priorities for the foreseeable future.
