Lucian Newman III, MD, cofounder and CMO of Vincari, and Mercedes Dullum, MD, a regional medical director at Nuance, shared insights into how an artificial intelligence solution may improve clinical documentation during a May 10 presentation.
The presentation was part of a series of discussions during the Becker's Hospital Review Health IT + Clinical Leadership conference in Chicago, which took place May 10 through May 11.
Here are three key thoughts Dr. Newman and Dr. Dullum shared about Vincari, a physician assistant software solution that uses a rules engine to help physicians input accurate codes into EMRs.
Why accurate coding is important
"We still have a problem with physicians not embracing, or understanding, the [importance of documentation]," Dr. Dullum said. "There are so many physicians in all specialties who don't realize we need to grab the reins and run the charge on this, and make sure [documentation] is accurate and complete … It allows us to capture appropriate healthcare reimbursement and ensure risk-adjustment."
Why physicians struggle with accurate coding
"It's not fair to test me on a question that I've never been taught, which is what's happening [to physicians]," Dr. Newman said, noting some physicians struggle with accurate coding because they may not know the correct questions to ask to obtain the information. "If I say I'm going to give you $1,000 to drive to O'Hare [International Airport] and then I say, 'How many green cars did you pass?' you don't know, because you weren't looking."
How AI solutions like Vincari streamline the coding process
"[Vincari is] a physician interface, it's a different user interface that can go right back into whatever parent EMR you have," Dr. Newman said, adding physicians tend to complete compliant post-operative notes in under 90 seconds using the software. "When you log into traditional EMRs, you log into a giant screen … I call it the suitcase. The EMR's the suitcase, it's where you put the stuff, but [Vincari is] the dry cleaner. We're going to clean the stuff before we put it back into your suitcase."