Is your medical practice reliant on routines and processes that exist just because that’s how it’s always been done? If your paperwork is piling up, staff are struggling to stay on top of admin, and you find yourself wasting time on routine tasks, it’s time to throw out those old processes and embrace the efficiencies afforded by technology.
The right tech tools can streamline repeat processes, minimize the administrative burden on your staff, and reduce human error. But even though medical professionals know that tech is the way of the future – and even the present – it can be hard to take the plunge, especially when you’re unsure where to begin or how to incorporate tech without disrupting your day-to-day work.
While a full-scale practice management system might be in your future, dipping your toe into the medical technology world doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Try getting started with these.
Medical Billing Software
Medical billing is one of the biggest challenges of any medical practice and can take up a huge amount of staff time. Digitizing your billing can reduce coding errors, speed up the invoicing process, and automate collections. There are several great billing tools out there, but make sure yours supports collaboration, simple coding, easy reporting, and automated follow-up. A system that allows you to collect payments digitally will also reduce the time spent on manually processing physical payments.
Practice Management Software
Scheduling appointments, managing consultation rooms, inputting patient data, tracking down health records, and checking for insurance eligibility all present a serious juggle for practice staff. While there are systems that can handle all of these elements, you can ease in with technology that automates one or two of your most challenging processes. If appointment scheduling represents your biggest hurdle, look into software that can book and reschedule appointments as well as send appointment reminders. If your staff spends time retyping and copying over patient data, try a system that allows patients to do so digitally. Even a device that scans photo IDs and insurance cards can be a huge time saver.
Electronic Health Records
Paper files may make it easy to slide printouts into or jot notes onto, but they’re also messy, hard to search through, and can potentially get lost. An electronic health record (EHR) system can be a game-changer. By bringing all your patient files into a central system, you and your staff can quickly find what you need, make updates, refer to a patient’s medical history, and share visit summaries, recommendations, and reminders with patients. An EHR can consolidate enormous amounts of paperwork, reduce time spent on data entry, and ensure important files or results don’t fall between the cracks. Couple an EHR with a patient portal, and you’ll find it easy to communicate with patients while also helping them take control of their care.
Electronic Prescribing Software
Writing prescriptions not only takes time, but it’s easy for handwriting to be indecipherable to patients or pharmacists. Electronic prescribing software helps you easily write prescriptions with clear instructions – and automatically send them to your or the patient’s preferred pharmacy. You’ll reduce the risk of errors and cut an extra admin step from your day.
Reputation Management Software
Patients increasingly choose their doctors based on reviews and feedback. Reviews are also a great way for you to gauge the quality of care you’re providing and where improvements can be made. Reputation management software is a simple, hands-off way to encourage patients to leave a review or feedback after a visit – and can help bolster the standing of your practice in the community.
Incorporating Tech into Your Practice? Talk to GZ Realty
When incorporating tech into your practice, one thing to keep in mind is to ensure that your building is equipped with the telephony and communications technology you need to ensure smooth access and constant uptime. If upgrading your tech means upgrading your space, talk to the expert team at Gittleson Zuppas Medical Realty. As specialists in medical real estate, we can help connect you with the tech-forward space you need to succeed.