Recommendations for Selecting a Practice Management Software System
May 13, 2014
In the Physicians Practice article “Replacing your Practice Management System”, Keith Martin provides a guide for not only selecting a practice management system, but also expectations for implementing the system. Below is a list of his suggestions for selecting the right system for your practice:
- System must be compliant with ICD-10
- Vendor Evaluation to find the best fit for your practice
- Clearly define your current problems and request explanation from vendor how the system will handle them
- Decide whether system should be installed on-premises or hosted (software as a service)
- Don’t be persuaded by the look and feel of a system. Select the system with functionality that handles your requirements
- Additional functionality, “Nice to Haves”, can be used to differentiate systems
- Select a respected and knowledgeable employee as Project Manager
- Don’t forget about Training. A successful implementation may depend on the success of the training
- During the entire project, from selection to implementation, select an employee that will be directly affected by the system to promote the system to other employees. User buy-in is critical to a successful implementation.
- Seek Third Party Audit of the vendor, software and project agreement
When selecting a system, evaluate the implementation schedule and favor the vendor that is most realistic about the timeline for implementation. And even with a conservative implementation estimate, most projects will take longer to implement. A successful implementation will depend on the user buy-in. Set expectations early in the project and take your time to work out any bugs and provide adequate training. System Go-live should not necessarily be defined by a date, instead the Go-live will happen when the new system’s functionality meets or exceeds user expectations.
View the full article at Physicians Practice:
http://www.physicianspractice.com/practice-management-systems/replacing-your-practice-management-system