Choosing the Right Practice Management Software for Your Physical Therapy Clinic
Many therapists who run their own practices think that physical therapy management software is just an additional expense, not realizing what great advantages these tools can provide for their practice–and ultimately for their patients. The right physical therapy billing software or practice management software can help you increase customer satisfaction and improve your customer service. Many things can discourage your employees' ability to serve your clients effectively, resulting in dissatisfaction and a reduction in profitability. A physical therapy management solution tailored to the specific needs of your practice, such as PatientStudio PT Management Software, can prevent many lapses in your practice's performance, even if some of them are unintentional.
But finding the right system to maximize your PT practice’s efficiency and profit means evaluating lots of options. The following criteria should be considered when evaluating potential physical therapy EMRs:
The size of the practice: Some software is more appropriate for small practices, while others are better suited for larger practices. EMR software is designed with scalability in mind for a specified number and type of users. Your practice's number of physicians should determine the type of software you should select.
EMR Systems Architecture: It is possible to purchase physical therapy EMR software that is installed directly on your practice's computer servers ("client-server") or software that is stored in the cloud that you access via the Internet ("cloud-based," or software-as-a-service). Despite the need to maintain and upgrade these EMR systems on a regular basis, some physicians prefer client-server based EMR software because they feel more comfortable with HIPAA compliance. Cloud-based EMR software is also preferred by some physicians because it is accessible from almost anywhere. However, you rely heavily on your Internet connection, so you want to make sure your connection is reliable and consistent. If you want to choose software with the best systems architecture, you should consider all the advantages and disadvantages of each type.
Certification: When selecting your physical therapy EMR software, you should make sure that it is tested and certified by an ONC-Authorized Testing and Certification Body (“ONC-ATCB”). The ONC (Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology) is the responsible agency for establishing EMR certification standards and certifying vendor EMR products. With ONC-ATCB certification, you can be certain that your EMR meets the requirements for Meaningful Use ("MU"). In order to receive Medicaid (up to $63,750) and Medicare (up to $44,000) incentives for adopting an EMR, and avoid penalties for not adopting one, this is a prerequisite.
When choosing PT software, how do you know you are making the right choice? Consider the following factors:
The right software program can streamline service delivery, from tracking therapist performance and schedules to organizing client records, speeding up check out processes, and improving billing cycles. PT software programs can even encourage patients to restore engagement after delaying commitments for a while, so they can follow through with treatments during the appropriate and doctor-prescribed timeframe.
Physical therapy management software solutions offer various functions, but the best ones enable managers to gain excellent visibility into each therapist's and employee's tasks, schedules, and hours. Managers can also identify weak points in their processes through this type of visibility, enabling them to reorganize and address them for more efficient operations.
You will also be able to better manage cash flow with the right physical therapy billing software since you will be able to streamline billing and collections, as well as increase accountability for unpaid bills.
You can also maximize appointment systems by putting in place a PT software, allowing your therapists to accept and confirm client sessions, and using various facilities and equipment within your office that are crucial to PT sessions (such as treadmills and similar machinery).
Choosing the best physical therapy practice management software can transform your business in ways that can make it more efficient and profitable. Doing your research, for example looking at reviews, scheduling demos and researching all of the particular benefits of each system is crucial to finding the best fit for your office. Consider all of the integrated features that work together to form PatientStudio as you move forward with your search, you may not have to look very far for the perfect solution for your office.