Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/101200
provide this offer two different systems ��� one for EHR and one for management. These usually are not integrated, and that may cause problems in the future because these two systems have to talk to each other. You always have to be communicating between them, and any changes in one will require changes in the other ��� and that becomes a big issue. We found that when we evaluate a system, we would also like the system to offer us both management and EHR abilities integrated into one and not separate from each other. Q What has been the greatest benefit of adopting an EHR system in your office to physicians and patients? A: When you are starting to go through that process, it is really difficult to see the benefits, but eventually you will find benefits because of the availability of data to the doctor. Now, we can access our records from anywhere we want, from any computer we want, as long as we have an Internet connection. That is a big benefit to us. Over the weekends when we are on call, patients call us, and we can review their charts and determine the best treatment for them based on that. So, this has been one of the most tangible and useful changes we have seen lately. On the other hand, implementing an EHR system costs a lot of money. Hopefully in the future, by entering the data electronically without dictating the histories and patients��� notes, we can save some money, but at this point, it has not been a moneymaker in any way. Q As today���s patients are becoming more involved in decisions about their medical records, how do physicians at your facility ensure empowered patients receive the best possible care? How did the Internet change your physicians��� practices? A: I think the major change is that information is readily available to patients and, at the same time, patients are looking for information more than they used to. I believe that this is a very positive change because it makes it easier for the doctor to make decisions. I believe most of the patients we see are able to make decisions regarding their health; all they need is to be offered the correct data. What we do is try not to make decisions for the patient or instead of the patient. Instead, we tell them to read information we give them and then ask them to come back to discuss it with us. One of the problems with the Internet is that it is very difficult to differentiate advertisement from real medical information. That is the only problem we see in this trend, and it is easily controlled by our doctors because we provide them with sources that are reputable and dependable. Q How is your practice incorporating leading-edge robotic technology into patient care? A: Wichita Urology Group was the pioneer in robotic surgery in Wichita. We worked very hard at persuading hospitals to buy the technology early on. It was not easy because the financial benefits were not readily obvious to them. However, after years of talking to them and trying to convince them, once they bought the first robot, they noticed significant improvement in patient care and also realized it was financially viable. Because of that, we now have more than eight robots in Wichita. Our group has always been at the cutting edge in utilizing robotics in urologic surgery. Some of the most complicated cases in the country, we do here in Wichita. Robotics has improved outcomes for patients and, at the same time, we have been able to be a more attractive group to new recruits. It is very difficult to recruit urologists to Wichita, but having the robotic technology in Wichita made it easier for us to get new doctors. Therefore, the technology has caused a significant improvement to urologic care in Wichita. Q With medical cuts looming, how do you plan to reduce the impact of these cuts on your practice? A: With the kind of services we offer to our patients, our practice will definitely be changed if there are to be significant cuts to reimbursement. We will have to cut our costs and increase our volume. To cut our costs, we will have to close some locations, if needed, and decrease the number of employees we have, if we can. At the same time, we would like to be more efficient in seeing patients, and we would also like to increase our volume. We are setting up multiple satellite clinics in multiple locations in Kansas where our services are needed. Hopefully, that will provide us with additional volume, which will eventually make these Medicare cuts less painful to our practice. For more information, please call (316) 636-6100 or visit www.wichitaurology.com. ��� mdnews.com ��� md news Greater Kansas |9