The software was developed as part of the Social Security Administration’s Health IT program launched in 2010. Mercy Health, a Catholic health system serving Ohio and Kentucky, is one of the first large health systems to implement the program, according to a news release.
Using EHR data, the process of applying for disability has been simplified, taking a few minutes rather than the days or weeks it takes to mail and request papers from various healthcare organizations. The process allows Mercy Health to reduce the number uncompensated patients it treats and reduce the costs of using paper, printing, postage and health information management labor, according to the news release.
“This speeds the process for patients who desperately need income to pay for basic needs,” said Stephen Beck, MD, CMIO at Mercy Health, in the news release. “Moving from paper to electronic processes also improves employee productivity, eliminating the need to fax, scan and mail paper records.”
