November 2010 Newsletter
Designing for Efficiency: Autofilled Forms in PAS
The Patient Advocacy System software (PAS) is an ever evolving application used for Quadax Reimbursement Support Services. Based on input from internal users and clients, the PAS development team regularly implements improvements to the software that simplify and automate processes. One such improvement in a recent software release streamlined the process of submitting the forms that many payers require for appeals or information requests, such as for statements of medical necessity or prior authorizations.
PAS users typically filled out these forms manually; the blank forms were printed, and then information was entered by hand or on a typewriter. Much of the time required for this manual process has been eliminated by incorporating automation into the software. The first step in the process is to upload a PDF version of a form to the PAS server so it is available from within the application. The form in PAS can then be easily customized by dragging and dropping merge fields onto the form image. Once the setup is completed, users simply click a link while on the Journal page for a patient, and the appropriate form opens with the merge fields autofilled with patient data. The form is then ready to be printed or faxed. A merged form not only saves time but improves accuracy since the fields are automatically populated with information from the database. Forms can also be part of a larger merged document that includes a cover letter or other communication.
The process improvement for forms is just one example of how our in-house development team collaborates with PAS production staff to design a better system. They regularly discuss how to make processes more efficient because the ultimate goal is to save our clients time and money.