Published on May 28th, 2018 | by Sunit Nandi

Top 5 Tips to Choose the Right Practice Management Software

A Practice Management Software (PMS) is an integral part of every successful medical services facility. It allows for efficient running of the day-to-day operations of the facility. PMS solves the challenge of incorporating electronic medical records and using them to serve customers in a more effective manner.

Does your practice really need a PMS?

Benefits of Using a PMS

Streamlining your practice – PMS allows for flawless coordination of vital financial and logistic functions of your practice.
Reduced workload due to automation – The software eases the burden on your front desk by providing you with a patient portal on which patients can book appointments and fill various forms online.
More accurate billing – A PMS helps to ensure that claims are transmitted to payers accurately and timely. With properly-trained staff, you can use a PMS to increase the number of accepted claims.
Faster and more effective communication – Any communication to patients, may it be sending patient’s statements or any other matter is definitely easier with a PMS.

If you want to give your customers the best service and get the best from your practice, you need to have the right practice management system.

How do you know if a certain PMS is a boon or a bust for your practice? What factors do you need to consider? What are the right questions to ask when choosing a PMS? Find answers to these and other questions below.

Factors to consider when choosing the best Practice Management Software (PMS)

i. Who will be the users?

Since the software is supposed to coordinate different functions of your practice, many users will need it. It is important to determine who will use the PMS and their different needs. A simple way of making sure that you choose a system that meets all the needs of the users is to have a list of the desired features from each category of users (staff, management, clients, and so on).
These are the features that the PMS needs to have to ensure that the practice runs proficiently.

ii. Integration

How well will the PMS in consideration integrate with the other software currently in use?
You need to know whether the new PMS will allow for easy data transfer to and from other insurance, medical, or diagnostic software. The more the PMS can integrate, the better it is at streamlining your practice’s functions and the more it will be useful.

iii. The real cost of the PMS

As you compare different systems, dig deep into any print to know the exact cost of using the system. Ensure you can clearly differentiate between major costs and other fees that may not be too essential. Charges for registration, data conversion, cost per doctor, and cost per additional user are the main charges. But you will most likely encounter fees for a la carte features that may not be included in the basic package, as well as maintenance costs (for example, costs for software updating).

iv. Can you get a demo?

It would be great to test drive the PMS before purchasing it. Ask the PMS vendor whether they can offer a demo, if it’s not already indicated. As you explore the demo, check the dashboard and interfaces to ensure that they have all the essential features and are user-friendly.
Take this chance to ask all the questions you may have regarding the system and how features can be fine-tuned to fit the needs of your practice.

v. Analytics

Reports help to run a practice efficiently. What reports and analytics does the PMS provide?

Information such as aging statistics is vital to your practice and it should be provided in clear and concise reports. Information on profitability is also essential. For instance, you need reports on the average number of visits per patient over specific durations – monthly, quarterly, yearly – and the average profit for each visit.

Whatever the needs of your medical practice are, you can find a well-designed system for it. The OPS PM Software, for example, is a browser-based PMS that enables for real-time claims management and has features that help to improve cash flow, streamline billing, and ease the claims follow-up process. You can get a demo of this software to see how well it meets your needs.

Reflect on the benefits of having the right PMS. Check out different software from reputable sources and be sure to steer your practice to more success.

Tags: choose, practice management software, right, tips, top

About the Author

Sunit Nandi I'm the leader of Techno FAQ. Also an engineering college student with immense interest in science and technology. Other interests include literature, coin collecting, gardening and photography. Always wish to live life like there's no tomorrow.