Elsevier Introduces SimChart for the Medical Office, a Hands-on EHR to Teach Medical Assistant Students Electronic Documentation

PHILADELPHIA, September 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Competency-based, online simulated EHR to teach students front office, clinical care, and coding and billing skills

Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, today announced the launch of SimChart for the Medical Office, a competency-based, simulated electronic health record (EHR) that gives medical assisting (MA) students hands-on practice performing front office, clinical care, coding and billing skills.

SimChart for the Medical Office allows MA students to walk through a patient visit from check-in through payment collection. Interactive assignments help prepare students for externships and certification exams, and provide employers with job-ready students.

"Employers place greater value on graduates who have experience with electronic documentation and EHRs. We created SimChart for the Medical Office so students can immerse themselves in a realistic practice setting," said John Danaher, President, Education, Elsevier. "Our product helps ensure career preparedness for medical assisting students."

SimChart for the Medical Office was developed by MA educators and practitioners, tested by students in multiple program settings at varying levels, and is designed to integrate seamlessly into an MA curriculum.

"We put the needs and expectations of practitioners at the forefront of development," said Jeanne Lawo, MSN, R.N., Clinical Manager at SLUCare, St. Louis, MO. "When hiring, I look for students who have EHR experience because prepared students reduce training time and drive cost-efficiencies for the practice." Lawo, a practice subject matter expert who served on the SimChart for the Medical Office advisory council, assists with managing St Louis University's externship program and recruits and trains medical assisting students and employees.

Elsevier textbooks enhance SimChart for Medical Office and the MA program curriculum by linking reading and learning to action. The solution offers both integrated assignments and a non-structured pathway to promote critical thinking and build student confidence. All 100 built-in assignments map back to core ABHES and CAAHEP competencies to ensure compliance with accreditation standards. The curriculum is compliant with ICD-9, ICD-10, 5010, and meets many of the Core Objectives for Ambulatory Meaningful Use.

"Training the next generation on today's new technologies is imperative, and with so much to learn students need a practical hands-on simulation tool to prepare them for their careers in a medical office," said Amy DeVore, MSTD, CPC, CMA, Assistant Professor and Program Director, Medical Assisting at Butler County Community College and author of The Electronic Health Record for the Physician's Office, published by Elsevier.

These features, along with a robust set of instructor resources for assignments and lesson plans, allow instructors to focus on student learning. Additional resources for instructors include a guided tour and quick tips so they can quickly and easily implement the solution into their curriculum; PowerPoint lectures, auto-grading, summary reports, competencies overview and student portfolios.

SimChart for the Medical Office can be accessed from any computer or mobile device with internet access and includes all content and resources for teaching students how to use an EHR. To learn more visit: http://www.elsevieradvantage.com/article.jsp?pageid=12120

Elsevier will unveil SimChart for the Medical Office at the 2013 American Association of Medical Assistants meeting during exhibit hours on September 29, 2013 in Atlanta.

About Elsevier

Elsevier is a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. The company works in partnership with the global science and health communities to publish more than 2,000 journals, including The Lancet and Cell, and close to 20,000 book titles, including major reference works from Mosby and Saunders. Elsevier's online solutions include ScienceDirect, Scopus, SciVal, Reaxys, ClinicalKey and Mosby's Suite, which enhance the productivity of science and health professionals, helping research and health care institutions deliver better outcomes more cost-effectively.

A global business headquartered in Amsterdam, Elsevier employs 7,000 people worldwide. The company is part of Reed Elsevier Group plc, a world leading provider of professional information solutions. The group employs more than 30,000 people, including more than 15,000 in North America. Reed Elsevier Group plc is owned equally by two parent companies, Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV.

Their shares are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RUK and ENL.

Media contact
Christopher Capot
Director, Corporate Relations
Elsevier
+1-212-633-3164
c.capot@elsevier.com