Better care coordination is fundamental to improving both patient health and the healthcare system as a whole— and in the long run will save the health care system billions. Medicare’s recent decision to pay physicians to better coordinate care for vulnerable seniors is a significant step toward reducing costs and bettering care by starting with the details that often go overlooked. A recent study found that comprehensive care coordination can reduce hospital readmissions by nearly 25%— over the course of ten years, MedPAC estimates the cost of preventable readmissions is nearly $245 billion.
This week, Kinnser Software announced Kinnser Link, a new home health app that allows clinicians to complete clinical documentation within the EMR, even at times when there is no Web access or cellular service. By eliminating one of the most common reasons that documentation is not completed while with the patient, at point of care, agencies can increase the accuracy of their clinical data and improve care. Increased document accuracy not only reduces error and improves patient safety, but it also increases overall operational efficiency, as accurate documents proceed through quality assurance (QA) to billing seamlessly.
According to a recent survey, three-fourths of home health industry thought leaders agreed that mobile devices like smartphones and tablets are the best tools for improving business and delivering superior overall care.[1] Additionally, clinicians report that mobile devices account for upwards of 40 percent of their digital time at work.[2] Kinnser Link meets the growing demand for integrated mobile care technologies and extends reliable access to the skilled clinicians who care for patients in a variety of locations, including rural areas or areas with unstable Internet connections.
How It Works
Kinnser Link was created for skilled clinicians who care for patients who may be in rural areas, or areas with unstable internet connections. Using any Internet-enabled tablet, clinicians load the documents they are scheduled to use that day –– through their Kinnser Hotbox™ –– into the HIPAA-compliant Kinnser Link app. These documents can then be accessed with no Internet access required. Later, when Web access is regained, the previously saved documents can be selected and sent at the touch of a button to the agency’s online Kinnser Electronic Medical Record –– Kinnser Agency Manager™. Data within Kinnser Link is fully encrypted, so protected health information is never at risk, even if the device is lost or stolen.
Mobile Health App Features
Key benefits of the new Kinnser Link mobile app include:
– Complete clinical notes without Web access: No more Web connectivity issues. Clinicians can access and complete clinical notes at the point of care even without Internet access or a cellular signal.
– Improve accuracy and patient safety: Documentation completed at point of care is more accurate. More accurate notes reduce errors and improve patient safety.
– Reduce back office costs: Because Kinnser Link securely connects to the Kinnser Agency Manager electronic medical record, clinical notes are submitted to QA more quickly. And because those notes are more accurate, they proceed through QA to billing more efficiently, reducing staff overtime and cutting costs. Agencies using Kinnser Link can become highly efficient paperless offices if they choose to.
– Device agnostic: Compatible with iPad and Android tablets, Kinnser Link fits the flexible technology needs of any agency.
– Patient Security Top of Mind: While working offline, Kinnser Link makes it easy to keep patient information confidential. Once the data is uploaded to Kinnser Agency Manager, the information is automatically wiped from the device.
“The home health industry is rapidly changing, and a new wave of mobile technology is ushering in an improved era of patient care by helping clinicians work faster and smarter,” said Chris Hester, president and founder of Kinnser Software. “Kinnser Link is a critical tool for the on-the-go home health workforce. Now, online or offline, every clinician can have access to crucial data at the touch of a finger, all while ensuring the utmost regulatory compliance and data security.”
Current Kinnser customers can download Kinnser Link today in the Google Play store here and the iTunes store here.
