Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital is a 650 bed acute care academic medical center located in central New Jersey, serving the region since 1884. RWJUH
previously outsourced all of their outpatient and inpatient charts. With high outsourcing costs and a constant struggle against chart backlog,
RWJUH took control of their coding problem with the implementation of Fusion CACTM powered by EMscribeTM.
The ProblemMedical coding is labor intensive and time consuming. Delays are costly. Improvements to the process can have a direct impact on a healthy revenue cycle. RWJUH wanted to employ the latest in technology to optimize their coding process. They looked to new technology emerging in healthcare called, Computer-Assisted Coding (CAC), as a solution.The SolutionRWJUH selected Fusion CACTM powered by EMscribeTM for its powerful natural language processing engine and its unique ability to work with both inpatient and outpatient charts to abstract ICD9 and CPT4 coding. The solution provided several key features that were identifi ed as valuable. Through integration to the various relevant systems that housed patient chart reports and data, Fusion CACTM became an integrated, electronic workplace for the coder. This eliminated the need for paper chart processing. Fusion CACTM also provided the powerful natural language processing engine that pre-coded the charts. This process reduces the effort of the coder and increases their productivity. Computer-assisted coding of this kind is new and some were skeptical of its viability. Traditional medical coders were concerned about losing their jobs to the technology. Administration needed proof of the return for their investment in the software. In order to convince the skeptics and to provide the ROI required, it was necessary to obtain measurable performance statistics in a limited implementation. Cecilia Hilerio, Director of HIM, made the decision to implement Fusion CACTM powered by EMscribeTM using outpatient records to start.The OutcomeBefore implementation, the weekly volume of outpatient transactions averaged 2,000 records per week and coders took an average of 80 seconds (range 60 to 90 seconds) to complete a typical record. After Fusion CAC™ was implemented, processing time was initially reduce from 80 seconds to 10 seconds. Almost immediately, Fusion CAC™, working together with the coders, resulted in an 89% time reduction. After extended use, the hospital now benefi ts from near zero processing time (less than .5 second average) with outpatient records. This productivity increase allowed for the redeployment of coding staff to more complex and critical charts. Increased speed, effi ciency and the reduction of coder variability were irrefutable outcomes that provide an overwhelmingly strong business case for the Fusion CACTM powered by EMscribeTM solution. RWJUH, over the past decade, has also deployed other mission critical voice and text solutions from Dolbey. The Fusion CAC™ powered by EMscribeTM solution builds on our successful longstanding relationship. 
For more information or
an on-site demonstration:
800-878-7828 / www.dolbey.com
