Windows 10

You may have noticed an addition to your Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 tool bar that looks like this:

This is your invitation from Microsoft to upgrade to Windows 10. This is a free upgrade and not a subscription. It will be available on July 29th.

For Windows 7 users there are major changes in Windows 10 that you should consider when deciding whether to upgrade. 

You will be asked whether you want to log in with a Microsoft account. You can either create one or choose the link that lets you sign in without a Microsoft account.

The start menu will look very different from Windows 7. The "tiles" found on Windows 8 are there but you can right-click and remove them as you wish. Happily the Start menu will have the features you have come to expect: a list of installed applications and power options.

Universal Apps and the Windows Store

Many of the apps that come with Windows 10 are "universal apps," which are the successor to Windows 8's "Metro apps" or Store apps." Unlike on Windows 8, these apps actually run in windows on the desktop, so you may actually be interested in using them.

To get more of these apps, you'll need to download them from the Windows Store. There's no way to "sideload" these types of apps by downloading them from the Internet, although you're free to avoid them entirely and install traditional Windows desktop applications from the web. You can also mix and match traditional Windows desktop applications and new apps from the Store. They'll all run in windows on your desktop.

Settings App or Control Panel

The Settings option in the Start menu takes you straight to the new Settings app, which is evolved from the PC Settings app on Windows 8. This is designed to be a more user-friendly way to configure your computer.

However, it still doesn't contain every setting. The old Windows Control Panel is still included. Some older settings may only be available in the Control panel, while some newer settings may only be available in the Settings app. To quickly access the Control Panel and other advanced options, you can right-click the Start button or press Windows Key + X.

The Refresh and Reset options also make the leap from Windows 8 to 10. These allow you to quickly get your computer back to a like-new state without having to actually re-install Windows.

You won't be able to disable automatic Windows updates on Windows 10 Home systems. You'll need Windows 10 Professional to defer updates.

Edge Replaces Internet Explorer

In possibly the most earth-shattering feature of the update, Internet Explorer is no longer the default browser, although it's still available for businesses that need access to its older rendering engine. In its place is a modern browser named Edge. Microsoft's Edge browser should be more standards-compliant and perform better. It also no longer supports ActiveX controls, so all those old Internet Explorer tool bars and browser plug-ins will no longer function. If you've been using Internet Explorer, this is the browser you'll be using instead. If you're using Chrome or Firefox, you can install that and continue browsing normally.

Desktop and Security Improvements

Windows Explorer was renamed File Explorer and now has a ribbon -- even if you don't like the ribbon, File Explorer offers many useful features. For example, the file-copying-and-moving dialog window is much improved and Windows can mount ISO disc image files without third-party software.

There are also many security improvements. Windows 10 includes Windows Defender by default -- Windows Defender is just a renamed version of Microsoft Security Essentials, so all Windows systems have a baseline level of antivirus protection. SmartScreen is a reputation system that tries to block harmful and unknown file downloads from harming your computer.

Windows 10 is much easier to navigate than Windows 8, but you may want to wait to upgrade until you have a chance to play with Windows 10 a bit.

Written by Janice Crawford

CMS Is Here to Help!

There are 79 more days till the ICD-10 switchover! Does it feel real yet? October 1, 2015, is rushing right up. Fortunately you are not the only one hoping for a smooth transition without painful claim denials and confusion. CMS is looking ahead and making preparations to help out. Recently CMS announced four key ways it intends to help:

1. Designating an Ombudsman

CMS anticipates questions and issues from many providers, so they are designating an official whose entire time will be devoted to investigating and resolving your problems as you adjust to ICD-10. Stay tuned for more information about how to submit issues to this ombudsman.

2. Leeway on Specificity

It can take a while to reach proficiency with any new system, so CMS is going to grant some leeway for the first twelve months: Your Medicare claims (under the Part B physician fee schedule) will NOT be denied because you used the wrong ICD-10 code - as long as you were close. Note that you could still be denied for something else, you still need to use a valid ICD-10 code, and you still need to use an ICD-10 code from the right family. However, this promise reassures you that as long as you are trying hard you will be given some grace for small mistakes.

3. Penalty Suspension

Similarly, for quality reporting for the year 2015 (i.e. Physician Quality Reporting System, Value Based Modifier, or Meaningful Use Stage 2), you will not receive penalties based on using an ICD-10 code that wasn't specific enough. The same caveats apply here: you do need to use a valid ICD-10 code from the correct family.

4.Advance Payments

If your claim is held up in processing because Medicare contractors are delayed by adjustment problems, you will be able to apply for an advance payment based on your claim. Again, stay tuned for more detail on how to do this when the time comes.

Thinking about all the areas this change to ICD-10 will affect can be a little daunting. However, whenever this gets you down, remember that CMS has options to make this easier for you.

Written by Laura Rowe

Release 10.80

Did you notice some changes this morning? We have another new release, just put out last night, with some exciting improvements.

Here are some of the biggest changes:

Charge Entry

We added three new diagnosis code fields to the Charge Entry main tab, opening up the possibilities for more diagnoses on one charge. This is in order to help you prepare for ICD-10. Since ICD-10 is more specific and designed to cover more than ICD-9, the days are coming when you will need to enter more and more diagnoses on one charge. We've got you covered!

Did you have a patient who jumped from a burning building after being pecked by a turkey and accidentally bitten by another person, all during a volcanic eruption, while pushing a babystroller colliding with a scooter (nonmotorized) ....? Again, we have you covered for the more complex ICD-10 coding coming up!

Managing Medication Lists

In the past, after you downloaded medications from Rcopia, in order for the patient's AuroraEHR medications list to accurately reflect them, you would have to tediously enter them in by hand. No more! Now with this one handy little button on the Medications screen, you can reconcile those two lists painlessly.

Reconcile with Rcopia takes you to the Clinical Reconciliation screen, where you can choose which medications from Rcopia and the patient's AuroraEHR medications list deserve to make the final cut, eliminate duplicates, and combine them into one accurate and concise list -- all with point and click!  We are waiting for a certification from Rcopia, but when it comes through, all this will work for allergies, too.

Ordering Labs and Pathology

We've reworked the method for ordering labs and added the ability to order pathology tests. Where you used to use Clinical Labs to order labs, you'll now use Outside Orders. Your old task for Clinical Labs should now go to Outside Orders, or you can find the Outside Orders button on the AuroraEHR-Patient View, on the bottom left. Once in the screen, you can review previously ordered tests and select one of the circled buttons below to order new ones. 

Clinical Reminders

One more important change is a new field in Account Registration. 

This is to record patient preference for what method you will use to deliver their clinical reminders. This is important for a Meaningful Use measure called Patient Reminders or Preventative Care. Don't stress about having all staff start using this field immediately, since you may need to update your patient registration forms, but by the end of the week it should be routine to check that this is filled out for every patient who comes in. Collecting this information is essential for Meaningful Use stage II calculations!

Hopefully all these improvements will do what they're designed to do: make your life easier, especially when it comes to complying with Meaningful Use! If you have any questions or comments, don't be shy to use the feedback button on the Rexpert main screen to contact us. We are happy to help!

Written by Laura Rowe