Top 50 Mistakes When Choosing a Medical Software

Advanced technologies have revolutionized all fields of study. Medical practices are no exception when it comes to the impact of technology.

The pandemic time is the biggest example of how important technology is for easy access to medical practitioners. Doctors aim to improve the health of their patients. Also, at times patients need constant care and attention for their medical issues.

Even sometimes, patients are unaware of their own medical records. However, with more and more software being introduced for medical practice management and patient health, doctors are quickly opting for tools that do not fulfill their needs.

In fact, at times, they opt for tools that do not even fulfill their basic needs just because the software is recommended by literally everyone around them. This further leads to wrong decisions.

Here are the 50 mistakes that people make while choosing medical software:

1. No Automated Appointments

Day to day patient appointments is an essential part of any medical software. However, much medical software does not offer automated appointments. As a result, the patients have to wait all day long to confirm their appointment. Therefore, automated appointments with calendar support make the patient-doctor appointment process efficient.

2. Sms/alerts

At times, with busy schedules, doctors can forget their next appointment, especially when they don’t have any assistance. With SMS/alerts within the software, both patients and doctors can ensure that they are on time with their appointments. Moreover, if an application has medicine reminders, this can be a huge plus point.

3. No Telehealth Support

At times patients are too sick to reach for medical help. In such times, telehealth can be a great way to get instant doctor assistance. For instance, telehealth was the prime way for most patient-doctor communication in pandemics. However, if medical software does not have a telehealth feature, accessibility to medical help can be tough.

4. No E-prescription

Imagine you are done checking your patient online, but you cannot actually prescribe medication to them. Well, this is why you need to ensure that your medical software has an e-prescription option. If the e-prescription option is linked to a registered nearby pharmacy, it can be an added benefit.

5. Message Communication

Instant communication is something we all are used to. However, patients at times need constant assistance. For instance, you are a nutritionist, and a patient needs instant information on any food or allergies. Message communication can be helpful in such situations. Medical software not having this option can be a gap in the overall communication.

6. Refill Requests Not Allowed

Medical software missing a module for refill requests can cause patients and doctors a great deal of time. However, with easy access to patient records, reports, and refill requests, patients’ overall practice management and patient care process can become efficient. In fact, it can help prevent drug abuse and provide the right care.

7. No Color Codes for Tracking

Color coding and tracking make patient care, reporting, and analytics efficient. Unfortunately, a medical practitioner aiming for easy tracking and analysis can fall prey to outdated user interfaces and designs.

8. No Support for Tests & Reports

With the increase in online communication, it can be cumbersome for patients to share their reports. The medical software allowing integrations with labs for tests & reports can improve overall electronic health, medical record management, and patient care.

9. No Automated Referral Letters

To ensure security and medical health record management, referral letters within the software can make the process easier. Unfortunately, many medical practitioners, especially the ones used in hospitals, lack this essential feature that impacts patients’ electronic records.

10. Insurance Verification

Insurance verification is essential because of the fraud happening around. At times patients make wrongful claims that make it hard for the insurance companies and medical practitioners. Therefore, an in-built insurance feature can be an added benefit.

11. Claims Management

Claims management requires various forms. However, if medical software has a claim process inbuilt, patients can easily claim their insurance without any hassle.

12. No Patient Charting

Patient charting is essential for medical health record management. In fact, it gives instant access to the doctor about a patient. Hence, if this feature is missing, you miss out on a major process.

13. No Support for Notes

Notes make it easier to take notes regarding a patient. It is essential for medical practitioners in psychology and other therapies. If you support different doctors and patients, not having this feature within the tool can make the process tedious.

14. In-app Billing & Invoicing

In-app billing & invoicing makes invoicing easier for both patients and doctors easier. The patients don’t need to integrate other applications or share details from their bank receipts. Even it makes financial analysis efficient for doctors. Not having this feature can impact the dream of efficient workflows.

15. Drug & Medicine Help

At times it is essential to review a drug or medicine. If the doctor can search for it within the app, it can save time for both patient and doctor. Unfortunately, this is one of the mistakes that EHR practitioners make in that they don’t look into medicine and drug info support.

16. No Support for Data Analytics

Data analytics is the need of the future. Hence, medical software with data analytics should be selected to have in-depth reports, and supporting research.

17. No Scalability

With no scalability, you can end up paying for features that you don’t need. Therefore, create a list of features you need, and then look for medical software closest to your needs.

18. Integrations with Other Systems

Have a website you need to link with your medical software, but there is no option? This is another mistake that medical practitioners make while choosing medical software. Ensure that it allows integrations, which can be done easily by a non-technical user.

19. Voice & Handwriting Recognition

Need to record your voice or send an urgent note to the patient? Unable to do so? For efficient processes and note sharing, note and handwriting recognition can be helpful.

20. Multiple Report Formats

Graphs and reports make analysis easier, and if your medical software does not do so, you have certainly made a wrong choice.

21. No Patient Status Monitoring

Patient status monitoring is essential for effective treatment. Choosing software with no patient status monitoring can create a gap between the doctor and the patient.

22. Multiple User Access

Multiple user access allows users to have a system for various user roles based on their needs. In addition, it ensures security and that user have access to the features they need.

23. Drug & Medicine Help

Drugs & medicine help assists both medical practitioners and patients. Knowing information from the system ensures the right information.

24. Digital Patient Records

Having digital patient records is essential for easy access to doctors. Integrations further make access to patient information efficient.

25. Design & Ease of Use

Ensure that the medical software is easy to use. Both patients and doctors should not spend too much time understanding the tool. 

26. Scalability

At times medical practitioners don’t need many features. However, they might need more features in the future. Therefore, buying software with no thought of future use can be a hassle.

27. Billing & Invoicing

Integrating software can be painful. In fact, having separate invoicing & billing software can be hectic. Hence, not having the billing & invoicing within the tool can make the process unnecessarily lengthy.

28. Easy Search & Filter

Search, and filters make patient tracking and tagging easier. Therefore, filters and Search make the tool user easier and faster.

29. Integrations

Integrations help connect your existing system with a new tool without much hassle. Hence, look for software that can efficiently take up your current system or data.

30. Task Management

Medical practitioners have different tasks at hand. Therefore, not having software that does not allow task management for different users can make overall management difficult.

31. Support Documentation for Medical Use

Medical documentation creates new avenues for research. Hence, a medical practitioner often misses documentation, leading to different areas to manage.

32. Data Analytics

With the need for more data and patient analytics, having a tool with no data analytics features can be tough to manage. Therefore, ensure that the medical software offers data analytics.

33. Data Tagging & Segmentation

Segmentation and tagging make patient management easier. Hence, opt for a tool that allows patient tagging and segmentation.

34. Online Portals

Online portals give easy access from anywhere and anytime. Unfortunately, desktop/on-premises do not allow patients the fast access they need.

35. HIPAA Compliant

Medical software must be HIPAA compliant to ensure patient-doctor privacy.

36. Real-time Patient Management & Workflows

The medical practitioner often needs real-time patient management in certain scenarios. Therefore, picking up such a tool can impact overall work management.

37. Approve Medications

At times doctors need to approve medication urgently. Hence, not having a way to do so in the medical software can be hard to manage.

38. No Customization for Templates & Orders

Customizations allow users with a system that fits well with their needs. At times medical software has multiple users. Therefore, customization can help all users.

39. No Multi-device Support

The multi-device support ensures better patient management. In addition, it helps 24/7 access without having to shift from device to device.

40. Financial Dashboards

Financial dashboards allow medical practitioners to know all their costs in a single software. In addition, patient records, lab costs, insurance tracking, and claims management within the tool ensure efficient workflow.

41. Radiology Images

Radiology imaging and lab results in a single software make patient checking and report analysis easier. Therefore, choosing software with no such feature support can make patient care faster.

42. Track MACRA/MIPS Performance

MACRA and MIPS try to improve the quality of the act by moving Medicare Part B providers to a performance-based payment system. But, unfortunately, medical software with no such performance major can make it hard to track individual performances.

43. Lack of Administrative Processes

The administrative processes are essential for all software. To ensure smooth workflows and security, it is essential to have a single administrative level user rather than access to all users.

44. Medication Decisions Support

With decision support systems, medications can be prescribed in a better way. In addition, since medical practitioners need to know about the latest medications, a medication decision support system can be helpful. 

45. Immunization & Vaccine Records

The immunization and vaccine records provide all the information doctors need in one place. Hence, providing quicker patient care.

46. No Patient Support

Patient support is essential, but much medical software does not offer such features accessible to both doctors and patients. Managing test results is hard for patients. They need to carry files and all to doctors, which is hectic. However, doctors can get results within their system and can check patient history in one go. 

47. Customer Relationship Management

There are various entities that medical practitioners and institutes need to manage. Therefore, a module for CRM can make your medical practice easier.

48. Network Wide Data Exchange

Network-wide data exchange is essential to maintain patient records and test results. Medical practitioners need data from other resources, and they need to share their data with other medical practitioners. Not having a way to share data can make patient management tedious.

49. Not Knowing The Requirements

Know your requirements as a medical practitioner. If you are a behavioral therapist, ensure that you have a notes/charting feature in the software.

50. Plan Your Budget

In addition to the cost of licenses make sure you include add-ons, 3rd party software, customizations and development, cost of training, integration, and other factors.

Conclusion

Overall, medical software may seem like any other management software, but small areas have a huge impact on the overall management. Practice management is a hard job and there are various aspects that need to be focused on. Electronic medical and health records need to be maintained and management, patient care, billing, and charting are a few of the essential features.  Therefore, it is essential to ensure that before you make the wrong choice, your medical software has all the necessary features required.

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