No one likes getting “ghosted” – abruptly being cut off from contact – and that includes when patients don’t show up for appointments. Unfortunately, patient no-shows are common, especially for outpatient clinics, which have an average no-show rate of 27%.
A medical practice is a business, but it’s a business like no other. Managing a private medical clinic is a complex job that presents many challenges.
Nothing is more important to a healthcare provider than the safety of their patients — and in 2024, that includes the safety of patient data.
While many of the use cases for artificial intelligence in healthcare are still in their early stages, the technology is rapidly making inroads in specialty medical clinics.
Every medical clinic, no matter its size, needs an efficient way to organize patient data. If you have a small, private practice, you may think paper charting or a custom-built record-keeping system suits you just fine —– after all, you don’t have that many records to keep. The truth is, even a small practice can get huge benefits from switching to an EHR. Holding out on this technology is doing a disservice to your patients and leaving money on the table.
To encourage medical providers to use electronic health record (EHR) systems, the U.S. government has linked their use to Medicare reimbursement, with penalties taking effect in 2024 for providers not using the technology. But avoiding penalties is not the most compelling reason to use an EHR. The greatest benefits of EHR systems are an improved patient experience and a more profitable practice.
The technology behind electronic health records has come a long way since the systems became mainstream back in 2009. As your practice grows and changes, you might find your EHR struggling to keep up. Or maybe you’ve been dealing with an EHR that never really met your needs. If you settled years ago for a “good enough” EHR, it’s time to take a fresh look at migrating to a system that will grow with you as your practice evolves.
EHR mandates became law in 2016, with enforcement penalties starting in 2024. This may feel like a new requirement, but it’s been 15 years in the making.
