In part one of this blog post we covered two features that you should definitely be looking for when you’re preparing to switch to a new medical practice management software:
- Simplified scheduling and insurance verification
- EHR integration
In part two, we’ll cover a couple more important features to look for, and a couple of things you might see available but don’t necessarily need.
3: Paperless Billing & Online Bill Pay
As most of the world goes to paperless (online) billing, it’s surprising how many medical clinics still rely on a paper-based system to send bills to patients. While paper bills may never go away entirely, you can significantly reduce paper use, costs, and the time it takes to get paid for patient balances by using a paperless system. That means sending claims immediately to payers, then sending out bills for patient responsibility balances electronically via email or a patient portal. Finally, it’s important that you can also accept payments online without the need for someone to make a phone call or mail in a check.
4: Cloud-Based System
One feature you may not really be looking at during your evaluation of practice management systems is how you access it, but this is very critical. Today the way to go for small or medium-size clinics is a cloud-based system. That means the software program and all your data is housed “in the cloud” and not on a physical server at your clinic location. It might sound a little scary, but these systems are extremely secure and HIPAA compliant, and allow you to log in from anywhere. The company offering the software also provides all the tech support, so you won’t need to hire a whole IT team just to manage your software system.
Some Things You Don’t Need
As you’re evaluating your options for new practice management software, you’ll probably notice that there is a wide range of added bells and whistles for you to choose from. While these might sound appealing, the reality is that most small clinics won’t use the really “deluxe” features. You want basic reporting capabilities that provide you with the information you need to make good business decisions, but you don’t need a reporting module that allows you to print out a trillion different reports (when would you even find the time to read all of them?).
You also don’t necessarily need the most deluxe system all at once right now. Instead, consider a modular system that allows you to purchase the basics, get familiar with the software, then add on as your practice grows or your needs change.
AdvancedMD offers a comprehensive practice management solution with modular capabilities to add on as much, or as little, as your practice requires for streamlined, efficient operations. Talk to us today to see a demo and get started.
