The Challenge
Driving clinical excellence was a priority for Dr. Sahas. However, a number of challenges needed to be overcome to achieve financial health, transform into value-based care, and operate efficiently. These challenges can be encapsulated into four main areas:
1. ADOPT THE RIGHT TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM AND PARTNER
- Adoption of a flexible, fully-integrated EHR platform ready to grow with the changing landscape of healthcare
- Provide diabetes education using tech tools easily to non-technical populations
- Drive care in a variety of settings including rural locations, hospitals, assisted-living facilities, and more
- Seek customized consulting solutions from a reliable platform vendor
2. BUILD CREDIBILITY WITH ANALYTICS AND REPORTING TOOLS
- Track patient data to enhance patient outcomes
- Maintain accreditation with accreditation agency
- Build credibility with payers, primary care physicians, and patients
3. MANAGE AND NURTURE REFERRAL NETWORK
- Require a high-performing referral management solution to improve health outcomes and patient satisfaction
- Increase and nurture referrals from payers, providers, and self-referring patients
4. INTEGRATE RPM TO EXPAND REACH
- Empower patients to share blood pressure, pulse, oxygen levels, temperature, or blood sugar levels with providers in real-time and receive support, from any locations, at any time reliably and securely
- Streamlining clinician workflows by creating an EHR API integration with chosen RPM provider
The Solution
Over several conversations with the CharmHealth Sales team, Dr. Sahas discovered a highly personalized, concierge-style approach with weekly and biweekly meetings that would ultimately result in a unique combination of ready and tailor-made solutions for MDT's business model.
"The CharmHealth team took a special interest in providing valuable suggestions for the growth of my practice." said Dr. Sahas
1. CLOSING THE GAP WITH KEY EHR FEATURES: PREDICTABLE MONTHLY EXPENDITURE
CharmHealth's pricing model supported adding providers without financial risk/burden. The schedule management platform was flexible with the growth of My Diabetes Tutor. Remote technology expanded reach and empowered patients toward self-management and adherence.
- Growth-Oriented Pricing Model: CharmHealth's pricing model provided the startup with a predictable monthly expenditure, adding a layer of security. My Diabetes Tutor could also add additional Certified Diabetes Educators (CDEs) to the schedule and on demand.
- Scheduling Ease with Multiple Providers: CharmHealth's appointment scheduler enabled each CDE to manage their schedules independently. Adding new providers on demand would mean CDEs require an EHR with a quick learning curve. CharmHealth is a highly physician-friendly EHR with a highly intuitive user interface.
- Access at the Point of Care: CharmHealth's EHR-integrated telehealth kiosk would be highly tailored to the unique needs of the patient and could be made available at healthcare systems, senior care facilities, and private offices. CharmHealth's telehealth kiosks would break geographical barriers and provide equal access to medical services and interventions. Chronic patients, who would otherwise be unable to receive diabetes education and routine care, would be able to access regular care and consultation.
CharmHealth's zero-capital start and "pay-per-use for add-ons" model fits well with starting My Diabetes Tutor. "The pricing model is one thing that sets CharmHealth apart from other EHRs", according to Dr. Sahas
2. EXPANDING CARE NETWORK WITH DATA ANALYTICS AND REPORTING TOOLS
My Diabetes Tutor employed CharmHealth's ready and custom tools to share reports with accreditation agencies and similar organizations. Reporting and analytics within CharmHealth created credibility and increased My Diabetes Tutor's reputation to significantly expand referral network. My Diabetes Tutor rapidly gained an increase in contracts with multiple payer plans.
- CharmHealth is equipped with versatile reporting and data analytics. In addition, the CharmHealth development team worked closely with Dr. Sahas to build custom reporting and data analytics to show specific outcomes to the IPA and ADCES.
- Having powerful and readily available reporting and data analytics gave Dr. Sahas a leg up on his competition.
3. NURTURING REFERRALS PROMOTE PRACTICE GROWTH
Dr. Sahas employed CharmHealth's integrated referral management system to close the referral loop and ensure continuity of care.
- Referral-In: My Diabetes Tutor could receive referrals electronically into the cloud-based EHR's referral workflow. Electronic information transmission would minimize the risk of manual errors, streamlining the referral process for My Diabetes Tutor's providers and the primary referral.
- Referral-Out: My Diabetes Tutor would send concise timely reports back via the Referral-Out system to the primary referral in a highly readable format with discharge instructions, lab results, and insurance notes.
"Referral management reduced the paperwork involved for My Diabetes Tutor. It is a great feature." -Dr. Prem Sahas
4. INTEGRATING RPM TO OVERCOME ACCESS BARRIERS
- CharmHealth provided a customized integration with the RPM provider to achieve interoperability with the EHR. Patient data is automatically uploaded and the provider can review the reports for valuable insights into a patient's condition. This integration would assure a continuous flow of information between the telehealth kiosk, EHR, and medical devices.
- For a smoother claims process, CharmHealth customized all the billing codes for RPM as needed for Dr. Sahas's practice.
Conclusion and Impacts
Over several conversations with the CharmHealth sales team, Dr. Sahas discovered a highly personalized, concierge-style approach with weekly and biweekly meetings that would ultimately result in a unique combination of ready and tailor-made solutions for My Diabetes Tutor's business model. After 12 months, Dr. Sahas saw a growth to 2200 patients, a 40% increase in referral network, and a 15% improvement in patient A1C.
"Around 30-40% of our patients are receiving education from the CharmHealth telehealth kiosk, which would not have been possible otherwise." - Dr. Sahas
1. REDUCED NO-SHOWS
- According to Dr. Sahas' study, of 930 chronic care patients My Diabetes Tutor served, the kiosk provided diabetes education to 280 patients- 30% of patients who could not otherwise receive care.
- Telehealth kiosks played a distinct role in attracting referrals and establishing My Diabetes Tutor as a preferred provider over other chronic care providers. Dr. Sahas' practice saw the number of patients grow from 600 to 2200 patients over a 12-month period.
2. A LEG UP ON THE COMPETITION
- Potential patients or providers are more likely to refer an accredited diabetes education provider over one that is not accredited. "I can share the information with them easily. It is so quick!", says Dr. Sahas referencing the ease of showing reports and analytics to ADCES's random audits.
- My Diabetes Tutor saw a 40% growth in its referral network over a period of 12 months and a 3x increase in its practice revenue over one year.
3. TRUST BUILDS RELATIONSHIPS
- Nurturing and building trust with referral networks were vital to MyDiabetesTutor becoming a preferred provider for Diabetes Education and Management. CharmHealth's integrated referral management furthered timely communication and a streamlined referral workflow.
4. INTEGRATION WITH RPM
- Integrating RPM allowed patients to overcome access barriers at a low cost, helping them to drive health equity in areas that have limited capabilities. The latest technology with RPM made it possible to provide a more personalized care plan by providing therapy and behavioral modifications to improve the patient's overall diabetes management.
- Just after 3 months of RPM, Dr. Sahas is happy to report an additional boost in practice revenue.
