How to Choose the Right Medical Practice Management Software

By now you’ve realized there’s a lot more to running your medical office than seeing patients and providing the best possible care. You must comply with a myriad of regulations and keep patient records organized so they are readily accessible. And of course, there’s always the pressure of staying on top of scheduling, billing and medical professional insurance requirements.

Choosing the right medical practice management software will give you a good head start in all of these areas. Your primary considerations should be ease of use, cost, accessibility, concerns specific to your specialty and patient support.

Ease of Use

What’s the point of having the most comprehensive software available if the people in your office can’t navigate it easily? This is also where the support provided by the vendor comes in handy. When you’re reviewing different packages for purchase, always make sure you include key members of your staff in the process. At minimum, you should allow your office manager to weigh in on the choice. The package you choose should be intuitive and easy to teach. What’s more, the company providing the software should be available during regular office hours to provide training and support.

Overall Cost

Yes, this means the dollar amount you’ll be expected to fork over to get a license to use the platform. However, it also refers to the amount of time it will take your staff to ascend the software’s learning curve to reach proficiency. After all, the more time your staff spends trying to figure out how to use the software, the less time they can focus upon patients. Maintenance is another consideration. Upgrades, patches and the like should be easy to accomplish with minimal effort. Consider all potential costs when you’re analyzing price.

Specialty Concerns

Sometimes it’s best to follow the crowd. Ask among your colleagues to find out what they’re using. If you find a consensus in your specialty, odds are it’s the best one for your type of practice. Certain areas have nuances others don’t. Your software choice should be capable of embracing those needs, ideally without customization. Bear in mind, money spent up front will likely result in savings on the back end, so make it a point get something tailored to your needs.

Ready Accessibility from Any Computer

A cloud-based software solution means you can log into your records at any time, from wherever you happen to be. Similarly, your staff can catch up on reports after hours using their laptops and mobile devices when the software supports such activity. A cloud-based solution also gives your patients the ability to access the aspects of their medical records you deem appropriate, as well as set and reschedule appointments. You’ll also be freed of the requirement to own a server to host the software, as well as many of the concomitant IT personnel costs.

Though management software should be accessible, you must prioritize cybersecurity to keep exploitative hackers out. Investing in cyber insurance can minimize the effects of a breach.

Patient Support Is Key

Good medical practice software allows you to automate patient services such as booking appointments, requesting prescription refills and viewing test results. Better software keeps track of a patient’s insurance coverage and accommodates billing accordingly. You can even have patients complete intake forms before they arrive for appointments, saving them and your staff time.

These are some of the ideal features to look for when you’re considering how to choose the right medical practice software. Good software will ease many of your administrative burdens, reducing mistakes and conflicts within your practice. Of course, management technology is just one component of risk management—it’s no substitute for medical professional insurance.

Safeguard your medical practice with the right policy through CoverHound today.