By Robert McDermott; President/CEO, iCoreConnectWith the daily time-consuming routine of disinfecting, gowning up and testing patients, you have less time to see patients and focus on business. Like many, you’re probably wondering how to reclaim lost time and revenue.
If your practice management software is on a legacy hardware system—meaning it’s costly to upgrade, requires a server at your office, and is challenging to access from anywhere but your practice—moving it to cloud-based software is a major part of the answer.
Simply put, the technology you’re relying on has been superseded by smarter technology that can speed many operations and help you discover revenue opportunities you weren’t aware of.
Here’s what an exemplary cloud-based practice management system enables you to do.
Access Everything Quickly in One Place. Eliminate Redundant Tasks.
Jumping between secure and non-secure email, clicking on different windows and copying and pasting wastes time. A well-designed cloud software means you only need to enter information once, because it can automatically populate the information wherever it’s applicable—from reminders to intakes and claims.
Provide Care from Anywhere.
Having cloud-based software means your systems are accessible anywhere you have an internet connection—instead of from a server in your office. You can even use your phone as a hotspot. If a patient needs care while you’re out of the office, you can log in from anywhere, check records, write prescriptions and send or receive images. There are no limits to your workflow.
Rotate Locations.
If you have multiple locations, well-designed cloud software allows you to seamlessly rotate staff and doctors without disruption; and you can easily re-route patients. Additionally, advanced software can provide big-picture and detailed reports on the operational and financial health of your business.
Protect Your Records and Patients.
When all your practice data lives on one server (and possibly a backup hard drive kept in your car, briefcase or spare bedroom), a natural disaster, broken water pipe or stolen computer can result in total data loss, or theft and HIPAA-violation consequences. That could be catastrophic to your business, and require several weeks (or much longer) to remedy.
If you have a solid cloud-based practice management system, your data is automatically protected at multiple highly secure off-site data centers, and continually backed up in real time. Your records would not be lost or destroyed because of a disaster at your practice.
Save Money.
Eliminate Software Upgrade Fees.
Efficiently designed cloud-based practice management software includes automatic updates and upgrades every 4-8 weeks. Frequent updates improve functionality, keep you up-to-date with laws, and enhance your overall experience with the system. These improvements should be based on direct customer feedback and included at no additional cost.
Eliminate Hardware Fees.
If you’re using a server-based system, every time you need to update the hardware, you incur thousands of dollars of expenses. Replacing a server every few years can easily cost $5,000 or more each time. Moving to the cloud eliminates these expenses.
Receive Real-Time Support at No Cost.
Look for a cloud-based provider that delivers real-time support at no additional cost. Support should be available when needed, and without a wait time.
If you haven’t already, there’s never been a more compelling time to move to the cloud. The speed and efficiency offerings can dramatically improve your practice workflow, as well as protect your data.