In a highly competitive and rapidly evolving field of medical aesthetics, choosing the right Electronic Health Record (EHR) system is crucial. Whether you’re a new practice just getting settled or an established surgical center, the temptation to save money by selecting a lower-cost EHR can be strong, but the long-term consequences often prove that this is a short-sighted strategy.

Today, we’ll discuss the true costs of opting for a cheaper EHR solution and how you can effectively overcome these shortcomings, using Symplast as a guiding example, the leader in mobile medical software for aesthetic practices.

Low balling can mean lower quality results

Choosing a solution based primarily on its lower upfront cost often looks attractive initially, as it promises significant cost savings. However, the reality is that such systems may lack critical features, support, scalability, and security, leading to increased operational difficulties and hidden costs down the line.

Let’s go more into detail with these shortcomings and later, how you can avoid them.

Insufficient Features

Cheaper EHRs may not provide the comprehensive functionality that a modern medical practice requires, such as customizable workflows, detailed analytics, or integrated payment systems. This can lead to increased manual work, errors, and inefficiencies, and additional costs as you try to satisfy your requirements using multiple softwares, since you’re trying to fill in the gaps in what’s missing. Aesthetics practices need systems that streamline the entire patient’s journey from consultation through treatment to follow-up, ensuring high standards of care and efficiency.

Some of the most important components of an EHR include utilizing robust online scheduling capabilities, seamless payment systems, and effective communication tools. While it may seem challenging to find an EHR that includes all these features within your desired budget, investing in such a system will prove to be a rewarding decision in the long run.

So why should these factors be considered when choosing an EHR system?

An efficient EHR integrates payment systems that allow for seamless billing and accounting, reducing the administrative burden and enhancing the customer payment experience. Robust online scheduling capabilities ensure that patients can book their appointments at their convenience, view available slots, and even choose preferred services and practitioners. This increases client satisfaction and optimizes clinic operations. Effective communication tools are essential for engagement and retention. An ideal EHR offers features like automated reminders, marketing tools for promotions, and secure messaging to keep the lines of communication open and compliant with HIPAA.

Poor User Experience

An EHR system that lacks advanced features such as mobile access, easy scheduling, and streamlined communication tools can lead to a subpar patient and user experience. Systems that are not user-friendly can frustrate staff and patients alike, leading to lower efficiency and patient satisfaction overall. It’s important as an aesthetic practice that you can manage high volumes of leads and appointments and the great thing about a good EHR is that it can handle the brunt for you. By offering simple to navigate interfaces that offer comprehensive scheduling and communication capabilities, you don’t have to stress, the system can handle all of it for you.

Short-Term Focus and Increased Long-Term Costs

Low-cost providers may skimp on customer support and regular software updates, making it difficult to address issues or stay current with industry standards. It might also not be scalable, preventing your EHR from growing or adapting to your practice size/demands. These systems may be designed with a short-term perspective, lacking the capability to grow with your practice. Investing in a low-cost EHR can often lead to higher long-term costs due to inefficiencies, additional staffing requirements, and more frequent tech support issues. These operational inefficiencies typically lead to future replacements of EHR systems or costly upgrades and switching costs when the burden of your low-cost software becomes unsustainable for your growing practice.

The Symplast Solution – How you can avoid common pitfalls with lowballing

Symplast is designed to offer a robust solution that counters each of these pitfalls effectively:

Full-Spectrum Functionality

Symplast provides a comprehensive suite of tools that cover all aspects of practice management, including EHR, patient engagement, and billing, all integrated into a single platform, ensuring that all parts of your practice communicate effectively without the need for costly workarounds. As a practice, you can perform everything in one place, increasing ease and speed in day-to-day operations.

• With our robust online scheduling and calendar block capabilities, patients can book appointments directly and you don’t ever have to worry about being double-booked or forgetting about patient appointments.
• With Symplast’s automatic appointment reminders, you can rest easy knowing patient’s receive timely alerts to help reduce no-show or late appointments.
• With Symplast Payments, you can process and manage your transactions and track financial data in one integrated system.
• With Secure Messaging, you can communicate directly before or after appointments with your patients in a HIPAA secure manner, ensuring they receive the best care.

As noted by Dr. Savalia from Newport Beach Center for Plastic Surgery, “In the past we had to cobble together various software’s from various vendors to try and create a ‘Frankenstein system’ system that never truly met all our needs – and cost an arm and leg. Since switching to Symplast, I finally feel that my practice has entered the modern, mobile era.”

Enhanced User and Patient Experience

With a mobile-first design, Symplast ensures that both practitioners and patients have a seamless, intuitive experience with both our Practice App and Patient App. This design philosophy extends to all touchpoints, enhancing overall satisfaction and streamlining practice operations. We offer HIPAA compliant communication through Secure Messaging, which allows patients and your practice to communicate easily and quickly, without the worry of data or security breaches. Practices can prep patients before appointments by sending instructions, educational pamphlets, or even legal consent forms, to reduce the amount of time spent on paperwork in the office, allowing all attention and focus towards the patient and their needs.

Terri Ross, CEO of APX by Terri Ross, stated Symplast offers “robust functionality, reporting and simplicity of use to improve the patient experience.”

Consistent Customer Support

Our team is knowledgeable about the industry and your aesthetic demands for running a practice. They know what you need, and they are passionate about your success. And better yet, they can be reached by phone! You can rest easy always knowing you’re talking to real people to solve your questions and concerns.

Dr. Jennifer Walden, from Walden Cosmetic Surgery & Laser Center, says it best, “Symplast has provided my team and me with personalized support. They are responsive to an ever-changing market, and are committed to my practice’s success on the platform.”

Grow Together

Unlike low-cost options, Symplast listens to what you want, and offers regular updates to ensure that practices can adapt to changing landscapes and take advantage of the latest technological advancements. Symplast is built on a cloud-based platform that easily scales as a practice grows. This scalability ensures that practices do not have to switch systems as they expand, avoiding the significant switching costs and operational disruptions associated with system transitions.

Conclusion

Choosing an EHR system is a significant decision that impacts every aspect of your medical practice. While the appeal of saving money upfront is understandable, the true cost of opting for a cheaper, less effective system can be far greater in the long run.

By choosing Symplast, practices avoid the hidden costs of lowballing an EHR system. Instead, they choose a solution that enhances efficiency, supports growth, and improves patient care, all while keeping long-term operational costs in check. As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, investing in a reliable, secure, and scalable EHR like Symplast is not just a cost—it’s an investment in your practice’s future.