Before she began using coding and billing computer applications developed specifically for radiology, Yvonne Moncovich, director of operations at Straightline Medical in Wilmington, NC, employed more people, struggled with an import/export function, and manually input data. Usually more than once.

But ever since her facility installed Fujifilm Medical System's Synapse RIS, life has become much easier, she said.

Fujifilm's product has a single database for RIS, PACS, and billing. Therefore, information like patient demographics, insurance card images, the referring physician's order, and the radiologist's report is all in one place. Because the product increases efficiency and cuts down on data entry, radiology firms can reduce the number of full-time employees they retain.

Fuji is not alone in its ability to help radiology practices cut labor costs. In fact, all the coding and billing software companies make the same claim, including Charlotte , NC-based IMAGINEradiology. One of Imagine's clients said it was able to cut 2.5 positions due to improved workflow and efficiencies.

"I have also been able to enhance positions by adding additional tasks to employees who before had a full workload, which has cut my payroll down significantly," said Nancy Holland from High Point Radiology in High Point, NC.

Another company that IMAGINEradiology frequently partners with, A-Life Medical based in San Diego, offers a billing and coding system that also saves firms time and money.

"A-Life coding and billing software has aided our radiology practice by decreasing our charge entry lag to two days," said Lorie Parker, billing operations manager at Piedmont Radiological Associates in Salisbury, NC. "It has increased the number of charges by 2% over the prior year. The practice experienced an 80% cost savings with the reduction in staff after the implementation of A-Life."

WHAT CAN SOFTWARE DO?

Billing and coding software falls into one of two camps. Coding and billing are either combined in one application, or they are separate.

In Fuji's case, the applications are combined. The Synapse is RIS-driven, so all the data are captured up front.

"All of the data that are needed and required to submit a claim for reimbursement are completed up front prior to the patient even walking in the door for the examination," said Mark Hilborn, director of Fujifilm's Synapse Information Systems.

When it's time to submit a claim, the employee acts more like an auditor because there is no need to retrospectively gather data. Rather, the data need merely to be looked over, he said.

Fuji's product also generates claims, posts payments, aids in collection management, captures credit card copays, conducts online eligibility verification, and creates management reports.