Catch Phrase for Taking Picture of Patient for EMR

[Guest guest]

We occasionally have patients decline to take a picture of them for the EMR we use.

 

The mini-photo (worse than a driver license photo, but still helpful) isn't very good quality, but I do find it helpful for the following reasons.

 

I've thought about having the staff say something like -- " To prevent insurance fraud and identity theft, and improve your healthcare, may we take a picture of you? "

But that seems like a mouthful.

Most patients just say yes. But perhaps I could have the staff say the above to those patients that decline.

If they say no to the picture, then staff would say -- " Dr. Locke has asked us to obtain a photo of each patient to prevent insurance fraud and identity theft, plus improve your healthcare. "

Then if they say no, ask if there is a picture on the web that we could use (many professionals have a nice photo on the web -- ie realtors, etc).

Then if they say no to that, we let it drop and cut/paste the photo from the Driver License.

 

Here are my thoughts on why I like photos in our system.

 

1. A photo - Just like when you are at a party and your spouse says  - remember Jo Blo? And you can't - but she points him out at the party and you go -- Oh Yeah, him -- he's the guy that....etcSeeing a photo of someone seems to bring out all kinds of memories of a patient that can be helpful in the care of a patient.

A name says -- - Diabetes. A photo says - - Diabetes - and the guy who refuses insulin, who's married to Jane who skydives and they go to Mexico every year, and he looks pretty sun exposed, so I should remember to check for AK's next visit.

 

2. A photo allows my staff to realize that while they know they are talking about Jr (dad), the photo in the chart they are in is Sr (his son), therefore, they need to get into a different chart.

 

3. A photo can prevent insurance fraud -- friend or relative comes in and tries to use the insurance card that the patient uses (why insurances don't put faces on their cards is beyond me) - but with a photo in the EMR, it might allow us to look into the ID further if the patient standing there doesn't look like the patient in the photo.

 

4. A photo can also help prevent confusing 's or 's. Not so much a problem in small practices (maybe), but in a large practice, one could have a 100 's. But even in our practice, we may know which patient we are speaking with based on the refill request, etc, but we might pull up the wrong photo.

 

Anyway, I think a photo is a great idea.

But some patients still refuse.

Our workaround is that we also require a scan of the Driver License and then cut/paste the photo on that ID into a jpeg and import it into the EMR -- sometimes this photo looks even better than the one we take with our little camera.

 

Locke, MD

 

[Guest guest]

I know this is a little crazy, but I'd love the idea of installing one

of those machines that you sit in that takes a strip of 4 (usually

black & white) photos in the waiting area. Just think of all the cool

photos people would take in medical waiting rooms!!

Nobody would refuse. It is SO MUCH FUN!

Pamela

>

> We occasionally have patients decline to take a picture of them for the EMR

> we use.

>

> The mini-photo (worse than a driver license photo, but still helpful) isn't

> very good quality, but I do find it helpful for the following reasons.

>

> I've thought about having the staff say something like -- " To prevent

> insurance fraud and identity theft, and improve your healthcare, may we take

> a picture of you? "

> But that seems like a mouthful.

> Most patients just say yes. But perhaps I could have the staff say the above

> to those patients that decline.

> If they say no to the picture, then staff would say -- " Dr. Locke has asked

> us to obtain a photo of each patient to prevent insurance fraud and identity

> theft, plus improve your healthcare. "

> Then if they say no, ask if there is a picture on the web that we could use

> (many professionals have a nice photo on the web -- ie realtors, etc).

> Then if they say no to that, we let it drop and cut/paste the photo from the

> Driver License.

>

> Here are my thoughts on why I like photos in our system.

>

> 1. A photo - Just like when you are at a party and your spouse says -

> remember Jo Blo? And you can't - but she points him out at the party and you

> go -- Oh Yeah, him -- he's the guy that....etc

> Seeing a photo of someone seems to bring out all kinds of memories of a

> patient that can be helpful in the care of a patient.

> A name says -- - Diabetes. A photo says - - Diabetes -

> and the guy who refuses insulin, who's married to Jane who skydives

> and they go to Mexico every year, and he looks pretty sun exposed, so I

> should remember to check for AK's next visit.

>

> 2. A photo allows my staff to realize that while they know they are talking

> about Jr (dad), the photo in the chart they are in is Sr (his

> son), therefore, they need to get into a different chart.

>

> 3. A photo can prevent insurance fraud -- friend or relative comes in and

> tries to use the insurance card that the patient uses (why insurances don't

> put faces on their cards is beyond me) - but with a photo in the EMR, it

> might allow us to look into the ID further if the patient standing there

> doesn't look like the patient in the photo.

>

> 4. A photo can also help prevent confusing 's or 's.

> Not so much a problem in small practices (maybe), but in a large practice,

> one could have a 100 's. But even in our practice, we may know

> which patient we are speaking with based on the refill request, etc, but we

> might pull up the wrong photo.

>

> Anyway, I think a photo is a great idea.

> But some patients still refuse.

> Our workaround is that we also require a scan of the Driver License and then

> cut/paste the photo on that ID into a jpeg and import it into the EMR --

> sometimes this photo looks even better than the one we take with our little

> camera.

>

> Locke, MD

>

[Guest guest]

Another fun idea I borrowed from Mike Neskovic from Glendale, CA at IMP camp one year.....he asks if he can take a picture of himself with the patient....seems very friendly and less likely to get refusals.  He also gives people one " bye " if they don't feel well or just don't want to get their picture taken the first visit.

I'm not worried about insurance fraud but in a larger practice, photos can sure help memory.

SharonSharon McCoy MDRenaissance Family Medicine10 McClintock Court; Irvine, CA  92617PH: (949)387-5504   Fax: (949)281-2197  Toll free phone/fax: 

www.SharonMD.com

 

I know this is a little crazy, but I'd love the idea of installing one

of those machines that you sit in that takes a strip of 4 (usually

black & white) photos in the waiting area. Just think of all the cool

photos people would take in medical waiting rooms!!

Nobody would refuse. It is SO MUCH FUN!

Pamela

>

> We occasionally have patients decline to take a picture of them for the EMR

> we use.

>

> The mini-photo (worse than a driver license photo, but still helpful) isn't

> very good quality, but I do find it helpful for the following reasons.

>

> I've thought about having the staff say something like -- " To prevent

> insurance fraud and identity theft, and improve your healthcare, may we take

> a picture of you? "

> But that seems like a mouthful.

> Most patients just say yes. But perhaps I could have the staff say the above

> to those patients that decline.

> If they say no to the picture, then staff would say -- " Dr. Locke has asked

> us to obtain a photo of each patient to prevent insurance fraud and identity

> theft, plus improve your healthcare. "

> Then if they say no, ask if there is a picture on the web that we could use

> (many professionals have a nice photo on the web -- ie realtors, etc).

> Then if they say no to that, we let it drop and cut/paste the photo from the

> Driver License.

>

> Here are my thoughts on why I like photos in our system.

>

> 1. A photo - Just like when you are at a party and your spouse says -

> remember Jo Blo? And you can't - but she points him out at the party and you

> go -- Oh Yeah, him -- he's the guy that....etc

> Seeing a photo of someone seems to bring out all kinds of memories of a

> patient that can be helpful in the care of a patient.

> A name says -- - Diabetes. A photo says - - Diabetes -

> and the guy who refuses insulin, who's married to Jane who skydives

> and they go to Mexico every year, and he looks pretty sun exposed, so I

> should remember to check for AK's next visit.

>

> 2. A photo allows my staff to realize that while they know they are talking

> about Jr (dad), the photo in the chart they are in is Sr (his

> son), therefore, they need to get into a different chart.

>

> 3. A photo can prevent insurance fraud -- friend or relative comes in and

> tries to use the insurance card that the patient uses (why insurances don't

> put faces on their cards is beyond me) - but with a photo in the EMR, it

> might allow us to look into the ID further if the patient standing there

> doesn't look like the patient in the photo.

>

> 4. A photo can also help prevent confusing 's or 's.

> Not so much a problem in small practices (maybe), but in a large practice,

> one could have a 100 's. But even in our practice, we may know

> which patient we are speaking with based on the refill request, etc, but we

> might pull up the wrong photo.

>

> Anyway, I think a photo is a great idea.

> But some patients still refuse.

> Our workaround is that we also require a scan of the Driver License and then

> cut/paste the photo on that ID into a jpeg and import it into the EMR --

> sometimes this photo looks even better than the one we take with our little

> camera.

>

> Locke, MD

>

[Guest guest]

Yes! would be so cool to have the doctor in the photo with the patient!

And then patients can leave with a copy to put on their frig at home!

Awesome Sharon!

Pamela

> > >

> > > We occasionally have patients decline to take a picture of them for the

> > EMR

> > > we use.

> > >

> > > The mini-photo (worse than a driver license photo, but still helpful)

> > isn't

> > > very good quality, but I do find it helpful for the following reasons.

> > >

> > > I've thought about having the staff say something like -- " To prevent

> > > insurance fraud and identity theft, and improve your healthcare, may we

> > take

> > > a picture of you? "

> > > But that seems like a mouthful.

> > > Most patients just say yes. But perhaps I could have the staff say the

> > above

> > > to those patients that decline.

> > > If they say no to the picture, then staff would say -- " Dr. Locke has

> > asked

> > > us to obtain a photo of each patient to prevent insurance fraud and

> > identity

> > > theft, plus improve your healthcare. "

> > > Then if they say no, ask if there is a picture on the web that we could

> > use

> > > (many professionals have a nice photo on the web -- ie realtors, etc).

> > > Then if they say no to that, we let it drop and cut/paste the photo from

> > the

> > > Driver License.

> > >

> > > Here are my thoughts on why I like photos in our system.

> > >

> > > 1. A photo - Just like when you are at a party and your spouse says -

> > > remember Jo Blo? And you can't - but she points him out at the party and

> > you

> > > go -- Oh Yeah, him -- he's the guy that....etc

> > > Seeing a photo of someone seems to bring out all kinds of memories of a

> > > patient that can be helpful in the care of a patient.

> > > A name says -- - Diabetes. A photo says - -

> > Diabetes -

> > > and the guy who refuses insulin, who's married to Jane who skydives

> > > and they go to Mexico every year, and he looks pretty sun exposed, so I

> > > should remember to check for AK's next visit.

> > >

> > > 2. A photo allows my staff to realize that while they know they are

> > talking

> > > about Jr (dad), the photo in the chart they are in is Sr (his

> > > son), therefore, they need to get into a different chart.

> > >

> > > 3. A photo can prevent insurance fraud -- friend or relative comes in and

> > > tries to use the insurance card that the patient uses (why insurances

> > don't

> > > put faces on their cards is beyond me) - but with a photo in the EMR, it

> > > might allow us to look into the ID further if the patient standing there

> > > doesn't look like the patient in the photo.

> > >

> > > 4. A photo can also help prevent confusing 's or 's.

> > > Not so much a problem in small practices (maybe), but in a large

> > practice,

> > > one could have a 100 's. But even in our practice, we may know

> > > which patient we are speaking with based on the refill request, etc, but

> > we

> > > might pull up the wrong photo.

> > >

> > > Anyway, I think a photo is a great idea.

> > > But some patients still refuse.

> > > Our workaround is that we also require a scan of the Driver License and

> > then

> > > cut/paste the photo on that ID into a jpeg and import it into the EMR --

> > > sometimes this photo looks even better than the one we take with our

> > little

> > > camera.

> > >

> > > Locke, MD

> > >

> >

> >

> >

>