EHR – Electronic Health Records – maximize management and boosts productivity within a dental practice. Electronic health records give easy access to computerized patient files, allowing dentists, dental nurses, and orthodontists to view records on tablets and laptops. EHRs contain basic information about the patient, such as their past dental treatments, allergies, gender, age, and more.
While paper health records are still in use, more dental practices have moved towards electronic data storage as an effective way to maximize growth. Patient records are easier to access and that allows for a more effective treatment plan to be given.
EHRs are there to encourage the flow of foot traffic.
How Does Dental EHR Management Boost Practice Growth
Dental EHRs are paperless and entirely cloud-based. Having a digitalized set of patient dental records can improve the organization and management of the dental facility. Dental management software creates a viable system for patient records and files. It reduces the need for paper records and takes away storing hundreds of patient files within the office.
Effective EHR management software allows dental practitioners to access patient files anywhere within the office or at home. It makes it easier to access new patient files or transfer them over to orthodontists and other such offices. Management software can ensure better organization within a small or large practice.
How Effective EHR Management Helps Your Business
Patients find their time with the dentist an uncomfortable experience. Having a more effective management system helps to reduce their overall time in the practice. Good management software cuts back on waiting times, streamlines the creation of plans and treatments, and makes for a smoother billing process.
The right management tools maximize productivity and growth, allowing practices to develop new contacts and expand.
What Is Dental Practice EHR Management Software?
There are several dental management solutions, including EHR software. Electronic health record management software creates a system specifically for dental facilities. It digitalizes and organizes patient files so that dentists and dental nurses can view them when necessary. EHR management software can become the backbone of the practice as it makes treatments more effective and creates better interaction between dentists and patients.
The creation of the digital system ensures patient engagement is clearer through dental imagery. Some even have marketing tools to expand the business.
Dental practice EHR management software can do the following:
- Process Patient Payments
- Send and Receive Patient Data from One Dental Facility to Another
- Schedule and Cancel Appointments
- Process Patient Insurance Claims
- Allow Dentists to Compile Notes and Store Patient Records Efficiently
- Easy Access to Patient Records
- Allows For Better Communication with Patients
- Can Offer Employee Time Tracking Abilities
Dental EHR management must be effective to drive the practice forward, and management software creates an effective system. It is there to replace most paper records which makes it easier to locate certain files. There is no longer a need to store data onsite, freeing office space.
The Advantages of Using Dental EHR Software in Your Practice
Having effective management of a dental practice can cut costs but ensure your practice runs smoothly. It is more efficient for patients and employees alike, and managers can organize the office better.
Here are just a handful of the potential advantages you can get with dental EHR management software solutions.
- Reduces Missed Appointments and No-Shows: Software management solutions can send out an automated email or text message, reminding patients when their appointment is. This cuts back on patient no-shows and missed appointments. It offers a friendly reminder to the patient.
- Patients Schedule Appointments at Their Leisure: Online scheduling is available with digital management solutions. This allows your patients to book appointments at their convenience, allowing them to see the full list of appointments available on their chosen day. It’s convenient for them but also for the dental practice.
- Secures Patient Data and Reduces Paper Waste: Management software keeps patient data secure in their cloud-based system. It also cuts back on the amount of office paper waste.
- Offers A More Accurate Chart System: You can streamline the treatment process. With the EHR management software, patient charting is done in real-time, allowing for relevant treatment plans to be created.
By choosing dental EHR management software, you streamline the entire administrative process. Patient care is more effective, there is less strain put on dental nurses and reception staff, and it creates a flowing work environment. You can save time and money through effective management solutions. You’ll find it cuts back on unnecessary paper storage and by digitalizing patient records, fewer files will be misplaced.
It’s easy to access and makes the overall process kinder to the patient.
Typical Dental Practice Management Software Features
Management solutions do vary considerably, so it’s crucial to choose software that is most effective for your practice. It is essential to consider the things you would need, such as employee time tracking, and what you would prioritize above all else.
So, here are a few of the more common features you are likely to come across while searching for dental EHR management software solutions.
- Simple Billing Formats: Finance might not be your strong suit, but the patients must be charged for the treatments they’ve received. The right management tool should automate billings. It should make it easier for patients to identify the total costs and have a breakdown of them too. It should also make the invoice process simple for you and your employees.
- Simple Document Creation and Viewing: Real-time patient charts are crucial when it comes to delivering quality care and ensuring the necessary treatments take place. The right management solutions should allow you to create clinical documentation – such as patient charts – with ease and also be viewable. It makes your job easier and puts the patients at ease too.
- Effective Appointment Scheduling: Management tools often have integrated features that link to your website for convenience. Appointment scheduling is one of those crucial features. It allows patients to schedule appointments at home as well as allow your staff to do so with ease. You can even send reminders to patients to ensure they don’t miss their appointments.
- Better Scheduling Tools for Staff: Management solutions should offer staff scheduling features as it makes your task easier. The practice manager can organize the work rota, and everyone is clear about where and who they are working with each day. It reduces the trouble of having too little or too much staff in on the wrong days.
- Security for Patient Data: Dental facilities must comply with HIPAA guidelines and your management solution must offer sufficient security. So, management tools need to come with good encryption and security features to keep the patient data safe at all times.
- Quick Access to Patient Files: Any management system must allow for quick access to patient records. Those records must be updated as and when treatment is carried out. Cloud-based systems give you immediate access and can be more effective than dealing with dozens of paper copies.
EHR management software features are not always given much thought; however, they can be crucial. They are there to make your life easier, not to mention ensure the patient gets the right treatment plan.
How Dental EHR Management Maximizes Growth
EHR management is all about streamlining the dental practice. It is about creating an effective solution to scheduling appointments, ensuring there are fewer no-shows, having immediate access to patient files, and having the flexibility to access records anywhere.
Paper records are still in use; however, electronic files do maximize a facility’s growth. Digitalizing reduces paper waste and the need to have a physical form stored in the office. This in turn reduces office space, allowing for additional facilities in the practice. It is possible through effective dental EHR management.