Top 3 Features a Cosmetic Provider Needs in Their New EHR

Searching for a new EHR can be a daunting task. There is a lot of mistrust and misinformation in the industry. For plastic surgeons and cosmetic providers, the task is even more challenging. The last thing you need is a one-size-fits-all software that will frustrate you and your staff because of its unnecessary features and menus.

There are 3 key features your new EHR needs to have in order to thrive in the aesthetic industry:

MULTIMEDIA 

In an industry where looks are everything, having compelling before-and-after images to showcase during new consults is crucial to new revenue. Your new EHR should allow you to easily capture high res images and integrate them directly into the patient’s chart with one click. It should also allow you to easily showcase them later on during new consultations. And don’t forget video. In today’s industry, utilizing video is a competitive advantage for your practice to increase patient engagement and decrease liability.

REPORTING 

Analytical and financial reports are a must-have for any new EHR. Patients have more and more options for aesthetic procedures, which means you have more and more competition. A solid reporting module provides you the detailed insight you need to identify trends and opportunities with the procedures you offer. It also allows you to track advertising ROI. But most importantly, analytics provide you the data you need to grow the revenue of your existing patients through segmentation and forecasting.

MOBILITY 

Providers using a mobile EHR expressed twice the satisfaction level as those using non-mobile EHRs1. Even the Wall Street Journal2 has declared that the future of medicine is in your smartphone. Having a fully functional EHR on your mobile device, particularly your phone, allows you to manage your practice when you are off-site. For those surgeons who work at an ASC or hospital on a regular basis, this remote access is a must have. A truly mobile EHR can also improve your patient engagement by allowing you to input the exam room information you need without staring at a computer screen.

CONCLUSION

Selecting a new EHR is a big decision. Make sure you have thought through exactly what you, as a cosmetic provider, need out of your new software. Or else you risk going through another EHR search in the near future. 

To learn more about Symplast, a complete ecosystem designed by plastic surgeons, contact us at sales@symplast.com or visit www.symplast.com/madeforplastics.

 

Founded by plastic surgeons in 2013, Symplast is what medical software should be: a simple, easy-to-use ecosystem that allows you to run your entire practice from any smartphone, tablet or PC. Symplast boasts intuitive modules for EHR, Practice Management, Marketing/CRM, Patient Engagement, eBilling, Inventory, Multimedia and more.

1Software Advice, 2014    2Wall Street Journal Online, 2015, 

Top 3 Signs Your EHR is Hurting Your Patient Engagement

It’s no secret that most doctors are fed up with their current EHR. A recent survey1 by AmericanEHR found that physicians are more dissatisfied with their EHR than they were five years ago. Inefficient workflows, expensive hardware, poor customer support, and a hindrance to patient interaction are common reasons for doctors and staff to be fed up with their software.

But what about your patients? Are they as unhappy with your practice’s software as you and your staff are? Here are 3 ways your EHR could be leaving a bad impression on your patients:

EYE CONTACT

A common complaint of EHRs today is that doctors feel chained to their computer screen. A study2 found that a patient’s satisfaction level with a doctor was related to the amount of time the doctor ‘gazed’ at them, making eye contact and making them feel like they were listening to the patient. If your EHR requires you to stare and type a lot, your patients will notice.

EASY ACCESS

With each passing year, more and more patients are demanding access to their health records3. Allowing your patients to access their data improves engagement and satisfaction, which can result in increased revenue via patient referrals and additional procedures for that patient. If your software does not allow you to quickly share images, videos and files with the patients you choose, you’re missing out on a golden opportunity.

DELAYS

A survey4 by Profitable Practice found that the #1 cause of a negative patient satisfaction levels was a long wait time (35%). A complicated, difficult to use EHR slows you down significantly, which in turn causes you to run behind schedule, resulting in very unhappy patients. If your software has unnecessary fields and dropdown menus, you’re not the only one who is feeling the frustration; it’s impacting your patients too!

CONCLUSION

If you and your staff are unhappy with your current EHR, chances are your patients feel the same way. The key to great patient satisfaction is finding a software that works for you, not against you.

To learn how Symplast can improve your patient engagement through smart mobile technology, contact us at sales@symplast.com or visit www.symplast.com/madeforplastics.

 

Founded by plastic surgeons in 2013, Symplast is what medical software should be: a simple, easy-to-use ecosystem that allows you to run your entire practice from any smartphone, tablet or PC. Symplast boasts intuitive modules for EHR, Practice Management, Marketing/CRM, Patient Engagement, eBilling, Inventory, Multimedia and more.

1American EHR/American Medical Association, Physicians Use of EHR Systems, 2014    2Journal of Family Practice, The Use of Electronic Health Records in the Exam Room and Patient Satisfaction: A Systematic Review, 2009    3Accenture Consulting, Patients Want a Heavy Dose of Digital, 2016    4Profitable Practice survey, Do Patients Really Care if You Use Your EHR in the Exam Room?, 2014