Working in the healthcare sector means that you are probably under the pump for a good part of the day.
Administrative duties go part in parcel with this type of work,
fortunately, there are digital tools that can help you manage your daily responsibilities more effectively. A simple and effective way to reduce the amount of administrative-related tasks you need to complete is with practice management software (PMS). Before converting to PMS, if you haven’t already, it is wise to do your research first to ensure you are getting the best possible program for your business and your specific needs. In this post, we’ll share the pros and cons of practice management software to help you make your choice.
What is practice management software, and what does it do?
Practice management software can provide a practice with a single platform that then can be used to manage all of its daily routine tasks. As PMS technology advances so do the number of features they offer. Rather than having information stored in various locations, it is all in the one spot and easy to access. Repetitive tasks that once would have to be handled manually can now be taken over by practice management software autonomously.
The pros and cons of practice management software
The pros
Automation
As touched on briefly above, automation is a key feature you can expect to find in practice management software, and it is a huge time saver! Having to manually enter data, send reminders and rewrite duplicate letters become a thing of the past with PMS. Once the information is entered into the system, the practice management software takes over and automates it for you. As much more time is freed up due to the PMS automation, staff can redirect their time, skills and energy into other areas of the business enabling your practice to boost productivity.
Billing is streamlined, and fewer errors occur
Human error is inevitable when data is handled manually. This can be detrimental to a practice’s reputation and bottom line. Practice management software can help you to avoid this. As everything is integrated into the system, there is no guesswork. You can add information, check dates, follow up on claims, and produce correct billing for services. With PMS, you can assure the financial stability of your practice.
The functions in clinical management software can also be used to streamline the billing process ensuring accuracy. There are purposefully designed tools within the software that ensure that the claim is filed accurately which speeds up reimbursement for the patient.
Streamline and simplify everyday work processes
Being organised is integral to maintaining optimal workflow and productivity during the day. PMS organises everything right down to the minor and finer details of managing your practice. Practice management software takes out the stress of running a medical-based business by collaborating all of your processes in the one user-friendly platform.
You can customise many elements on your PMS and prioritise certain tasks.
The Cons
You and your team may have to undergo training to learn how to use it
Practice management software has a wide range of features and resources which enable you to optimise your practice’s overall workload. Because of this, training is virtually always necessary to comprehend how to utilise the software effectively. Knowing how to use the software in-depth allows you to make the most of all of its features. The good news is, that this is unlikely to be an additional cost to you as most PMS companies will include free training and ongoing support. Training can take some time and like doing anything new, it may take some time to get used to it.
There will undoubtedly come a point where your practice’s workload and operations slow down a little while everyone is getting their heads around the new system however, once everyone is across the system, you can be sure that your practice will be more productive and efficient in delivering their services.
Most practice management software programs are user-friendly so most people should pick up on the logistics of how it works reasonably quickly.
Some practices may find it too expensive
There is no denying how beneficial practice management software can be but some practitioners may deem this additional expense too much. There are a couple of different ways you can go about funding your practice management software and it can vary depending on the provider that you go with. If you are considering PMS, it is worth looking at how much it is to integrate it at your practice, taking into consideration whether the provider charges for additional features, updates, maintenance etc. If you are a small practice, that has a very modest client base you may not benefit as much as a medium or larger practice.
Protracted contracts
If you decide to get PMS for your practice, you should be aware of the contract that the provider offers. Most will offer a set amount of time as per their contract and if you decide that it is not for you, you will have to continue paying for the service regardless of whether you are using it or not. If you are unsure whether you will utilise PMS long-term, ask the provider what their contract durations are. It can vary and can be anything from a month to a year. Ensure you are doing your due diligence and reading the conditions of your contract before signing.
So is practice management software worth it?
In short, yes! It offers so many benefits, if your practice isn’t using it, they are simply falling behind in terms of efficiency and streamlining the practice’s workflow.
If you would like more information on practice management software, feel free to reach out to the team at Nookal. We offer a state-of-the-art practice management software program and we would be happy to answer any questions you may have. Alternatively, if you want to try practice management software without the risk, why not take us up on our 30-day obligation-free trial? This allows you to see what it’s all about without having to commit first. We are confident that you will love it as much as our clients! Contact us today to learn how to get started.