The technological innovations of the digital age have been helping businesses improve operations and essentially raise their revenues. In medicine, leaps in data science have also been instrumental in improving health care on all levels. There are several compelling reasons for the whole industry to embrace these innovations.
Having your own practice actually gives you a stronger impetus to adapt. Especially since according to Forbes, the Physicians Foundation found that the percentage of independent physicians dropped from 62 percent of the doctors in the US in 2008 to 35 percent in 2014. The only way forward is to change with the landscape.
To help you with this transition, here are a few tips for digitizing your private medical practice.
Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
Adopting the EMR is probably the most consequential digital change across the whole medical industry. Simply by departing from your usual paper-based medical records and moving to digitally kept entries can help maximize the efficiency of the business end. The predictive characteristic of data can also increase the chances of a more accurate diagnosis and prognosis.
The EMR also ensures that health care stays consistent and linked throughout changes in location, timeline, and medical professionals involved.
For your private practice, the industry offers a wide range of EMR applications to cater to your specific needs. Most of these applications are customizable and can be integrated with other software, including those that handle appointments and billing. Find out which features are ideal for your practice.
Practice Management System
Speaking of integration, a good practice management system manages all the data needed to run your business. It should work seamlessly with your EMR. Ideally, having a Practice Management System will also already take care of scheduling and billing your clients. This means the system will also keep track of your revenue for tax purposes.
Some systems even have integrated messaging features you and your clients can use to keep in touch. Most of these features are accessible through your phone and other devices you and your staff may be using.
Outsourced Billing
You may also take the route of outsourcing your bills. The ease of digital records opens this option for you. Your Practice Management System will still handle billing records but liaising with your clients will be left to a third party.
A common pain point in private medical practices is maximizing reimbursement. There is an array of reasons for delayed or absent payments including issues with co-pay, insurance claims, and many others. Outsourcing is also one way to better address this difficulty without the taking it on as much of a burden for your practice. A third-party organization will have better footing when collecting payments and claims and you can focus on delivering excellent health care.
A Digital Mindset
Data management applications do have a pivotal role in digitizing your practice, but there is only so much these tools can do on their own. The challenge, particularly for those who have been in the industry for a while now, is to adopt a digital mindset. Having the curiosity and the drive to reinvent your practice, learn about the latest trends, and stay open for the changing future will be as important for improving as the applications mentioned here.
