Why Protocols?
Protocols automatically track and monitor patient care within
your practice. Protocols consist of phases (such as Baseline,
Re-Evaluation, etc) and the information (questions and measures)
that is collected at each phase. When the data is collected
in this manner, patients are trended over time and compared
to risk-adjusted norms (group average for the same injury type
and severity) to view their treatment goal progress. Tracking
patient progress with protocols, helps to justify medical necessity
and length of treatment, monitor clinical effectiveness and
market your practice to patients, referral sources and payors.
Chiropractic generally breaks down into the following phases:
Baseline, Frequent Visit (1-2 weeks), Re-Evaluation (4-6 weeks),
Semi-Annual, Annual and Final. The first phase, establishes
the patient’s baseline status (medical history, injury
history/type/severity, initial levels of pain, function, disability
and mental health) and displays Red and Yellow flags. Some
Chiropractors look to the Re-Evaluation (4-6 weeks) for the
next phase, but 85% of injury restoration cases have been
resolved
by then so Frequent Visits (1-2 weeks) track how the patient
is doing during the initial acute stage of restoration. Semi-Annual
and Annual phases examine sub-acute and chronic restoration
issues and wellness and maintenance topics.
Protocol configuration
When you start an assessment on the tablet for one of your
patients, you will be asked for the patient's current protocol
phase (Baseline, Freq Visit, etc) and the measures you have
setup for that phase will automatically be administered and
reported. Chiropractic Outcomes will work with you to setup
the specific phases and associated measures that you want
to track and monitor. A typical assessment configuration might
look like the following:
Protocol Configuration Matrix
Performance Reporting
Along with the individual Case Management reports generated
for each administration, reporting packages can be setup to
automatically aggregate your data, making comparisons with
normative data to show the performance of your practice on
a monthly, quarterly and annual basis. You can use these reports
to negotiate with payors, improve your practice processes
and market to your patients and referral sources. Automation
and your patients do all the work.
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