ST. LOUIS— AOAExcel, the wholly owned subsidiary of the American Optometric Association, will present an “EHR & Medical Records Compliance Program” starting in Atlanta on Aug. 21. Subsequent presentations will be held Aug. 23 in Dallas, Nov. 6 in Chicago, and Nov. 8 in Las Vegas. Faced with regular audits by Medicare and other payers, eyecare professionals (ECPs) can attend this program to learn how to maintain better paper and electronic patient records to ensure enhanced patient care, increased communication among doctors and staff, more accurate coding, and reduced stress regarding audits, according to the presenters.

The program will take ECPs through the step-by-step approach to Meaningful Use Stage 1, with up to $15,000 for you to claim now, state the program’s organizers. It will also help ECPs understand how to participate in the EHR Incentive Program when the doctors in the practice are not. In addition, speakers will help decode health information technology lingo such as interoperability, image management and connectivity.

Speakers include Chad Fleming, OD, FAAO, AOAExcel business and career coach; Chuck Brownlow, OD, AOAExcel medical records and coding consultant; and David Jaco, OD, AOAExcel EHR coach. The event is being sponsored by RevolutionEHR, VisionWeb, FoxFire Systems Group, MaximEyes by First Insight, and AT&T ForHealth.

"The EHR and Medical Compliance Program has created a venue that allows optometrists to walk through Meaningful Use with optometrists who have implemented EHRs, met Meaningful Use guidelines, attested to Meaningful Use, received payment, assisted with MU audits, and keep records that meet today's standards,” Fleming told VMail.

“This is the event for those ODs desiring to move forward but don't know where to start or have started but their GPS is telling them to recalculate. There still remain four events in Atlanta, Dallas, Las Vegas, and Chicago. With Stage 1 Meaningful Use approaching its final deadline and Stage 2 getting ready to launch, now is the time to work this program into your schedule," he said.

Registration for the day-long event is $150 and includes sessions on “The Business of EHRs” and “Developing a Medical Records Compliance Program in Your Office,” breakout sessions on “EHR 101: The Basics” or “EHR 201: Beyond the Basics,” and a panel discussion with the three speakers. Attendees can also visit an exhibit hall during breakfast, lunch and other breaks throughout the day.