ICD-10 and its impact on vendors

ICD-10 and software vendors:

Generally Health care providers depend profoundly on vendors for their EMR/EHR or Practice Management systems. In the present situation, after the announcement of new version of ICD-10, the providers need to be aware if their vendors are ready for the testing and implementation of the products or application that complies with the new coding standards.

Traditional deadlock between providers and vendors:

Every time when there is a new update in terms of software or any other service, the providers expect the vendors to inform them on the new updates, whereas the vendors wait for providers’ enquiry on the new version or product or service. This is one major reason for time delay in the implementation of any updated software or system. Due to lack of communication of the updated product between the duos has caused a reasonable damage to both the parties.

ICD-10 and Action plan:

It is the responsibility of every vendor to decide when and how they get started to the new trend. They need to equip themselves for the below queries.

How long does this take to implement the new system within your company?
How long would be the internal testing time?
How long would be the testing time with the customers?
What about the product deployment?

It depends on the vendor, how long it takes to complete the above tasks. But the pace of the tasks can be accelerated on customers’ demand and narrow deadlines. The prediction is that, vendors will catch about a time period of one year for total development and nine months to launch service to their customers’ deployment.

A ‘Toss-up’ situation:

Another setback that arises in the process is the rollout of software to all the clients. With several customers needing service at the same time, it is unfeasible to offer service to all the clients at a single shot. New strategies need to be worked out; a systematic calendar has to be created.

This also inclines with the customers’ decisions and acceptance to go first or last. It is obvious that the first customer getting deployed with the software has the maximum testing time whereas the last, the least testing time. So such a critical situation might arise where the vendor is expected to take wise decisions in handling and managing the roll out process.

The ‘See-Saw’ position:

Another aspect that draws the attention of most observers of the situation is that if the vendors are engaged in the gigantic process of software rollout to their clients, what would happen to their current software and its maintenance, how they could spend time on the other important aspects other than this rollout. This is a see-saw kind of situation that demands a great amount of diplomacy and expertise in handling.