Bayou Pathology Increases Efficiency, Productivity, And Accuracy With A Paperless Practice Management Solution

In order to serve a growing client base and fulfill strict record retention guidelines, Bayou Pathology implemented a paperless document imaging system that interfaces with their practice management system. As a result, Bayou Pathology has improved customer service, streamlined workflow, and increased staff productivity. That solution, a combination of Companion Technologies' Practice Management application and Optical Image Technology (OIT), Inc.'s DocFinity® software suite, has resulted in a nearly paperless office and has almost paid for itself within one year.

Bayou Pathology realized early on that significant benefits could be derived from an electronic document management system (EDMS). When digital scanning that was scalable to a smaller company became available and affordable, they seized the opportunity. DocFinity's seamless integration with Companion Technologies' Practice Management application made it a natural choice for Bayou Pathology. The DocFinity system can be used for capture, storage, creation, and retrieval of patient records; integration with electronic medical records (EMRs); automation of HIPAA, HCFA, Medicare, and other compliance measures; and even management of non-clinical business and staff records.

Bayou Pathology uses DocFinity primarily in the business office. The lab's medical secretaries also use it to track and file reports from reference laboratories. The DocFinity-Companion Technologies system allows Bayou Pathology to electronically file data, which gives them immediate access to documentation. As Hebert remembers, "Even though the DocFinity indexing system required some basic staff training, the efficiencies that we experienced were almost immediate. DocFinity equipped the staff with the tools they needed to provide better and faster service." As part of their batch posting process, Bayou Pathology scans and indexes patient charges and payments as well as insurance payments, posting close to two hundred billing cases each day. Each billing case usually has two to five related documents that need to be scanned and stored in addition to all related payment information and insurance EOBs.