"The prospect of onboarding a new electronic medical record (EMR) can spark concern in even the most tech-savvy healthcare practices due to the size and scope of these projects. However, there is a way to take some of the worry out of an EMR initiative. Whether an ophthalmology practice is adopting the technology for the first time or upgrading to a new system, having a defined implementation strategy is key to success. Without one, a practice can see a drop in productivity, increased staff and physician frustration and patchy adoption—factors that can prevent an organization from reaping the full benefits of the system."

"Most dermatology practice managers already have a full plate of daily tasks, such as overseeing scheduling, patient registration, billing and collections functions. While these responsibilities alone are enough to make for a hectic week, many practice managers are now being asked to assume the additional responsibility of logistics for their organizations’ marketing programs."

"As January nears, healthcare organizations should consider how they will comply with the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) for 2020. With the new year bringing increased performance thresholds and a renewed emphasis on interoperability and performance improvement, providers may be uncertain about how to approach compliance to ensure optimal outcomes.

"Relying on word-of-mouth to cultivate awareness is not enough to establish and build reputation among potential patients in today’s competitive healthcare marketplace. Patients are using various means to shop for and select their care providers, and it is helpful to have a marketing program that connects with people as they consider options. Since marketing traditionally has not been a priority for healthcare organizations, an ASC might not know where to begin as it looks to cost-effectively generate interest without overburdening staff." Learn what 3 tips Nextech Senior Professional Services Director, Robin Ntoh, thinks you should consider when creating a marketing program. Read the article here in ASC Focus!

While healthcare may not be an industry that is known for being at the forefront of digital transformation technologies, data analytics is an area in which these organizations especially tend to struggle. They often lack strategies to apply technology toward making better decisions. This article outlines a number of easily implemented strategies that can enable healthcare entities to begin leveraging their data.

"In-house or in the cloud—what’s the right move when it comes to choosing an EHR? As the share of value-based payments steadily increases, 30% of medical groups with more than 11 clinicians plan to replace their EHR, according to a Black Book survey. Ninety-three percent of these groups are seeking cloud-based functionality to support on-demand data access. But the transition from server to cloud can be daunting. First, there’s the cost of switching from server-based to cloud-based EHR software, including data transfer from one system to another, which can total thousands of dollars. Then there are the strains on operational efficiency that accompany any change in EHR software, such as the time required for staff to get up to speed on a new system. Further, simply understanding what is meant by cloud-based takes diligence. How can healthcare leaders most effectively weigh cloud-vs.-server options? Here are four questions leaders should consider."

Providers at specialty practices are increasingly becoming distressed as they are spending time completing data entries and desk work, thus spending less time with patients. So much so, 40 percent of all physicians say they experience burn out.

Giving your patients the attention they deserve while still regularly and reliably reporting performance measures can be difficult. Robin Ntoh, Nextech's Senior Professional Services Consultant, provides tips to achieve the perfect balance between value based-care and quality reporting in Physicians Practice.