Have you got more than one practice that needs a dental practice management solution?
Effective digital systems can help practices organise information, safeguard precious data, provide useful business metrics, streamline financial management processes, manage the team more effectively and enhance communications with patients.
If you have more than one practice, these functions need to be effective across every site you own. Gaining control of all the many complexities and variables represented by different staffing, different locations and different environments can make all the difference to the successful management of a busy multi-site business.
Why your multi-site practice needs an integrated system
Data integration involves the extraction of information from disparate sources to create new information and useful metrics, combined into a single view. A system that quickly and efficiently converts comparative data from disparate sources into a single view can enable you to perform detailed analyses on different metrics of interest to you across different locations.
For example, you can test your preconceptions on what procedures work best at different sites at different times. You will develop insight on what staff training to prioritise, and scheduling tools will help you manage working patterns remotely.
Selecting the best system for your business
If you have been dealing with a system that doesn’t match your needs, it’s easy to be reactive, and concentrate on the gaps in the system you have rather than on the opportunities to rethink procedures and processes.
Having a set of clear criteria is vital before embarking on the process of selecting a new practice management system that better suits your particular business. Once you’ve created your wish list, it’s important to identify the business need for all the functionalities you’re hoping for, and to prioritise these throughout the process of selection.
Think about your whole business – your locations, your patients and ways of working. What are your current systems? What do users like and dislike? Try to attach a financial cost and benefit to different features of interest. For example, how do any delays in accessing patient data affect consultations, patient perceptions, clinician stress and what does this cost you? Think about your wide business development objectives and how these might those change over time.
Before you start – who will benefit, and how?
- Have you identified all stakeholders?
By stakeholders, we mean more than users. Yes – team members who interact with data are stakeholders, whether they are inputting medical information during patient consultations, finance management or business analysis, but so are patients, and those in the business who don’t interact with data, but who benefit from efficient systems around internal communications and staff scheduling, for example.
- Have you consulted them?
Surveying the needs and experience of stakeholders is extremely important when implementing any change that affects them. During this process, you will identify where your current systems might be working well and where they might be improved.
Consultation with patients will offer useful information. What is the patient experience, and how might interactions with your practice be easier for them? Do clinicians have accurate and up to date records at their fingertips? Do patients receive relevant information promptly and in a consistent way?
Management functions and compliance
From your perspective, are you certain your data management is compliant with the ICO and safe and secure from data breaches? Can appropriate information be accessed quickly and securely by those who need it? Can you quickly analyse which treatments are most successful in each location? Can you do quick, live, dynamic comparisons on the relative performance of one location over others?
Get out there and start looking!
Every practice will have their own criteria, but as you go through the procurement process, don’t be afraid to ask difficult questions; for example, about scalability, data migration logistics, compatibility with other systems, or any additional costs, like licence fees, hardware or support.
AeronaDental practice management software offers full functionality to seamlessly integrate systems for any multi-site dental business. Cloud-based, the system safely retains all patient information, appointment types, clinical information, recall durations, and medical histories, which are easily accessible across sites. Patient engagement is aided by powerful communications tools, including access to the appointments calendar across all sites. Professionals can use the system to communicate with others in different locations, and business metrics can be analysed instantly, putting you in control of the whole business.
When you do start your search, the product team’s response to requests to clarify details important to you will be very telling. Do be wary of the sales pitch, and be sure to keep score against your criteria as you interview and trial different systems.
For more information, please visit aerona.com
