Medical Record Numbers

There has been some concern brought forth of why Medical Record numbers are important to be collected in Image Trend. The collection of the MR number has less to do with billing and more to do with QA.

 

Our goal is to work with LMHS to provide an open sharing of patient outcomes and in turn drive our treatment guidelines based on patient outcomes. The agreed upon tracking mechanism is the Medical Record number. We currently have an established agreement with Trauma Service and Cardiac Services that provide patient outcomes for us. We hope to be able to expand this to all patient types but will not be able to without Medical Record numbers.

 

This is all part of the bigger picture of practicing evidenced based medicine. We currently develop treatment guidelines based on current medical evidenced. Establishing feedback mechanisms on patient outcomes is paramount to measuring our effectiveness.

 

I am fully aware of the constraints at some facilities for collecting certain information including the MR number.  As we continue to collect the numbers, the EDs become accustom to us requesting it; it will become ingrained in the routine process of patient exchange.

 

(submitted by Deputy Chief Scott Tuttle)