Majority of the modern Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Software vendors provide their customers with a variety of features to make their work easier and automate most of the tasks. Same is the case with a Practice Management (PM) Software, which includes a number of functionalities to facilitate its users. But perhaps, one of the most valuable components of an Electronic Health Records (EHR) or PM Software is the Patient Scheduling EHR Software.
This article serves as a practical guide to a Patient Scheduling EMR Software – its essential features, implementation challenges, pros and cons of implementation, and other tiny bits you need to keep under consideration when it comes to making the purchase decision.
What is a Patient Scheduling EMR Software?
A Patient Scheduling Software is a specific type of software which automates the process of medical scheduling of patients for appointments and other miscellaneous visits. It provides medical practices tools to coordinate patient request for appointments and the calendars of the physicians.
Important Features to Consider Before Purchasing
When assessing a Patient Scheduling EMR System for purchase, healthcare providers should look for the following features in it.
Intuitive Interface
An intuitive and user-friendly interface would allow the staff, as well as the physicians, to easily navigate the software and explore the features. This would make the workflow smoother and greatly reduce the stress on the staff since they won’t have any trouble understanding the software.
Remote Access
For physicians operating on tight schedules, always accessing the software through the clinic can get really difficult. They need to have remote access to the software through their smartphones or other handheld devices. Look for a Mobile EMR Software to find your way through this.
Patient Portal
A Patient Portal acts as a self-service platform for patients to easily request appointments in available time-slots. They can also view their lab results, medical records, test imaging, and other medical information. Patients can also request Electronic Prescriptions from their healthcare providers through this portal.
Patient Tracking
The patient tracking technology allows the staff of the practice to track patients throughout their visit. They can record the patient activities right from the point of check-in to when they leave. This can also help in Medical Billing later on.
Automated Reminders
The Patient Scheduling EMR Software sends appointment reminders through calls, emails, and text to the patients whenever their appointments are due. Appointment Reminder tool saves the staff a lot of time from sending the reminders manually. It has also proven effective in reducing patient no-shows to a minimum level.
