18 June 2013 - 18 June 2013 - 3M Health Information Systems, part of US diversified technology specialist 3M Company (NYSE:MMM), said Monday it had launched a computer-assisted coding (CAC) solution developed specifically for small rural and community-based hospitals.

The web-based software, called 3M CAC System for Small Hospitals, reduces the time for chart review and aids the coders to identify missing information in physician documentation, thus speeding up the coding process without affecting accuracy and compliance, the company added.

Moreover, the software significantly decreases the need for interfaces to electronic documentation sources, therefore helping small facilities that do not have extensive IT resources. The solution integrates with the 3M Coding and Reimbursement System to capture the patient chart as soon as it is ready for coding, as well as leverages 3M natural language processing (NLP) to assign accurate codes for human review or to go directly to billing.

3M plans to fully release the system in the fourth quarter of the year.