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AOA MORE assists ODs with quality initiatives
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ATLANTA – Optometrists can fulfill a requirement to use a registry to report for meaningful use in 2016 by signing up for the American Optometric Association’s Measures and Outcomes Registry for Eyecare, according to presenters here at SECO.
AOA trustee William T. Reynolds, OD, and AOA Quality Improvement and Registry Committee member Zach McCarty, OD, explained at a press conference that the CMS deadline to begin active engagement in a registry is Feb. 29.
“It’s important to begin the enrollment process to signify your active engagement,” McCarty said. “Just signing up is sufficient.”
Reynolds explained that in addition to assisting with federal quality initiatives, the registry will track your patient demographics, common diagnoses and most commonly used medications and compare that data to national averages. Specific clinical conditions will be rolled out over time.
“This is important, because payers review these systems, and if you’re outside of the normative database, you’re reviewed more often” Reynolds said. “It’s a good benchmarking tool and a good practice management tool. I was part of the beta testing, and it’s extremely valuable to look at your demographics so you know how to manage your practice better and if new equipment is worth it.”
He noted that neither the AOA nor AOA MORE will be able to see any individual doctor data.
“The only numbers the AOA gets are the aggregate totals nationwide,” he said. “Each doctor’s data is secure and private to themselves.”
Reynolds explained that the MORE registry integrates with your practice’s electronic health records system.
“The EHR automatically pushes the information to AOA MORE,” he said. “There’s no manual inputting of information. No special training is necessary.”
The registry was introduced last June at Optometry’s Meeting, and 3,300 optometrists have signed up so far, McCarty said. EHR vendor partners currently include Compulink, MaximEyes and RevolutionEHR.
“Even if you’re just joining us now, the data goes back to January if you’re with one of the first three vendors,” Reynolds said.
“We anticipate when the registry is live with the first three members, we’ll already have the visual field information in there,” McCarty said. “Hopefully every 3 months we’ll request another measure from the vendors that we can include in the registry.”
Eyefinity, Crystal Practice Management, Practice Director Software and NextGen will eventually be added, he said.
Reynolds said users will be able to make suggestions regarding additional EHR vendor partners.
Registration in AOA MORE is free with AOA membership. – by Nancy Hemphill, ELS, FAAO
Disclosures: McCarty is a member of the AOA Quality Improvement and Registry Committee. Reynolds is an AOA trustee.