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Medical Practice Management Software

How to Choose Medical Practice Management Software

PUBLISHED ON

Oct 25, 2018

6 MINUTES READ

As a doctor, are you too busy to try keeping up with the latest in computer technology? Medical accountant Kym Nitschke explains why investing in the right practice management software could be the best business decision you make.

Do You Really Need Medical Practice Management Software?

It’s easy to think that a digital spreadsheet or finance tracking app have little in common with the vast and complex field of medicine.

But understanding software as it applies to your medical practice is more important than you may know.

Here are just a few of the reasons why this kind of software is so necessary:

Medical practice management software will save you time.

You’d much rather spend face-to-face time with your patients than with a computer. The right programs will cut down significantly the amount of administrative tasks you have to do and free up your time to actually treat people.

Medical practice management software will save your staff members’ time.

It will help support staff focus more on customer service and other important matters. Your team will become more productive and cooperate better with one another when they have the right tools at their disposal.

You can earn more money with the right software in place.

The more free time you have, the more efficient your practice is, the more patients you can fit into your schedule, and the more you can earn.

Medical practice management software can keep your business afloat.

You need to be able to forecast the financial future of your practice. The right software can help you track revenue and create a financial plan for the future using the profits. This will keep your business from uselessly spinning its wheels, and will also manage your cashflow.

The right software will improve your communication with patients.

Everyone hates those misunderstandings that lead to communication breakdowns and the loss of a valued patient. Messaging and notification apps, patient portals and other software can help you enhance the patient experience and retain a loyal patient base. Did you know that patients can even update their data and check medication lists and records right from home?

You can streamline your office workflow with the help of medical practice management software.

Stay on time when it comes to bills (both billing patients and paying the bills you owe), contacting patients and communicating with suppliers.

How to Choose the Right Medical Practice Management Software

The next challenge is, how do you select the right system in a confusing sea of tech and software?

Start out by carefully considering exactly what your practice needs.

You should choose a system that suits your practice size and budget. There’s also no use in paying for features that your team probably won’t use. Know what you need well in advance. Have a list of all the admin problems you’d like to see solved with an efficient management system.

You should also take care to select programs that will be of particular help in your field. No two systems are alike, just as no two branches of medicine run the same exact way. You’ll find that certain medical practice management software is geared towards your area of practice or specialty whereas others are not.

Once you know what your office needs, you’ll have a better idea of what you’re looking for.

Next, find a system that’s easy to implement. Get your staff’s input on the decision to integrate a new system. They’ll be the ones using it, after all. Try out three to five different systems to see which one has the best feel (schedule a free demo). This way, you’ll understand what makes them different and which features are most important to your practice.

Also, ask the company offering the product about their IT support. They should have someone ready to guide your staff and help them adjust to the new system.

It’s time to get technical with the next step. You’ll have to decide whether you want your systems stored on a local server or in cloud-based storage. You will also need to make sure that whatever programs you add are compatible with your current EHR (electronic health records) system.

If you’re just getting started, a medical software vendor can help you out. Otherwise, contact another tech specialist to get a better understanding of your current situation.

Most importantly, make sure that you don’t simply pick a medical software because it’s a big name, used by other major medical institutions, is the cheapest or priciest or you just liked the look of the first one you saw. There’s no one system that’s perfect for every practice.

What you need to do is a little bit of research and trial to find out which system is right for you.

It’s definitely worth the time!

What Kind of Software Can Benefit Your Medical Practice?

Here are just a few apps and systems suggestions to start your thinking process:

– Genie or Gentu by Genie Solutions

– Cliniko

– Timely

– Houston Medical

– coreplus

– Clinic to Cloud

– Xero Practice Manager

How can you fit management software reboot into your practice’s budget?

That’s where Nitschke Nancarrow is here to help. Contact us to schedule a consultation. We’ll be happy to sit down with you to review the most current and efficient systems out there. From personal finances to business accounting to patient management and other data organisers, there are virtually countless software possibilities for you to discover and benefit from.

Get advice

Nitschke Nancarrow are experts in the business of medical professionals – whether it is running a medical practice, or a personal tax or investment matter – contact us to get the right advice.

Contact Nitschke Nancarrow managing partner Kym Nitschke for a free initial discussion about your situation. Call us on (08) 8379 9950 or send me an email.

– Kym Nitschke

The information contained on this web site is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser.

Taxation, legal and other matters referred to on this website are of a general nature only and are based on Nitschke Nancarrow’s  interpretation of laws existing at the time and should not be relied upon in place of appropriate professional advice. Those laws may change from time to time.

Nitschke Nancarrow specialises in accounting, tax and financial advice for superannuation. Contact us now for a no obligations discussion about your needs.

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