Insurance companies require them to process claims. Attorneys need them for their casework. Other doctors require them for consults. Handling ROI (release of information) requests is a daunting task, often relegated to a low priority administrative chore. It doesn't take long for medical records requests to stack up. 

 

Several years ago, Elliott Holt stumbled across the ideal solution for physicians wanting to outsource that unenviable task. Holt, a Nashvillian with nearly two decades of experience in the health information industry, established Medi-Copy Services Inc. (MCSI) with an offer physicians haven't refused. With no upfront cost, signup fee or contract to bind them, MCSI comes to physician offices on a pre-determined routine basis, scans onsite the requested medical records (paper charts or electronic medical records [EMR] format), and responds to ROI queries within 24 hours. The rapid turnaround not only cuts out excessive calls and second requests, but also allows the physician to remain in complete control of the medical records. As a bonus, physicians save money by eliminating expenses incurred with reproducing medical records—payroll, postage, toner, paper, envelopes, long-distance faxes and phone calls.

 

"Between a challenging economy, staff cutbacks, and decreased reimbursements, more medical offices and hospitals are turning to health information outsourcing services to cut costs," said Holt, CEO of MCSI, who has built his clientele largely based on recommendations from successful customers. An added incentive: a $250 referral fee for each new client. "This is a free, simple solution to their medical records department. We make it a hassle-free administrative task by taking the burden off them."

 

MCSI also provides EMR conversion, data storage, document management, and document destruction services. The firm's trained copy consultants are well-versed on state laws concerning medical records reproduction and are HIPAA-compliant. Among clients outsourcing ROI requests to MCSI: Covenant Health, Premiere Orthopaedics, Spine Surgery Associates PC, and The West Clinic.

 

"Medi-Copy has been copying for us since 2004, and has been great," said one client. "Philip comes into our office on Wednesday morning and picks up the charts, goes to the back and we never hear a peep out of him. He's very precise and conscientious while doing his job. He also completes the charts in a very timely manner—a major asset."

 

An initially reluctant client confided, "In the past, our main concern with the release of medical records has been accuracy. We've found that MCSI excels in this regard, as well as the speed in which the records are distributed. Because MCSI performs so well, we've had significant reduction in the number of second requests."

 

Another client commented on the Medi-Copy team's professionalism, efficiency, and organizational skills. "They go straight to work without being intrusive to our patient schedules or our team member duties," she said. "Record keeping has been accurate and the paper trail is easy to follow."

 

So how does MCSI make money by offering a free service with an expedited, guaranteed turnaround time for results? By billing ROI fees directly to the party requesting the medical records, with the exception of doctor-to-doctor requests. That's free. Physicians are never billed.

 

"We're enthusiastic about helping Tennessee medical practices lower their costs and increase their profits," said Holt, who services more than 100 medical practices located from Memphis to Knoxville. MCSI is a member of the Tennessee Health Information Management Association (THIMA), affiliated with the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

 

 

(615) 780-2741 (local) or

(866) 587-MCSI (toll-free) or visit www.MediCopy.net.