There are a lot of EMR software solutions for speech therapists out there. And they may appear to meet all of your needs on the surface, but how can you truly be sure that you’ve chosen the right one? In this article we’re going to provide you with some tips for how to choose the best speech therapy EMR software.

 

Is it compliant with the current healthcare privacy laws?

 

Information privacy laws are put in place to protect your patients’ personal information. These rules are embodied by government acts, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Safeguarding your patients’ information isn’t just a good idea; it’s a must. And your clinic can face severe penalties for failing to meet the rules outlined by the information privacy laws.

 

Can it be integrated with your clearinghouse?

 

We’re often asked about whether or not clinics can use Practice Perfect to submit claims to clearing houses for processing. Since all of our American clients are required to send their claims to clearing houses, we’ve created ways for them to do it from directly within Practice Perfect. Integrated claims submissions are the hallmark of an excellent speech therapy EMR software.

 

Is there electronic billing?

 

Electronic billing has shaped itself into a must-have feature for EMR users. Many insurance carriers now offer clinics ways to submit their claims online, effectively eliminating the need to print off invoices and send them via snail mail. The best speech therapy EMR solutions can work with these online portals and let you submit your claims without even having to open up another window.

 

Is there remote booking for your patients?

 

Life is fast-paced and everyone is always on the go. Say for instance that your clinic is only open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and your client happens to work the same hours. It might be difficult for them to get in touch with you and book an appointment during regular business hours, but it’s really easy for them to log on to your patient self-booking webpage from the comfort of their home. That said, remote booking is an extremely helpful too that will help fill your calendar.

 

Is it portable?

 

Which devices are you able to access the software from? Is access limited to the computer that it’s installed on? Or are you able to pull up your schedule and client records from another device? The best EMR software will grant users access from desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and even smartphones. Clinics with providers who work remotely, or treat patients in their homes, will need to be able to access their EMR software from wherever they are.

 

Are all of the features included in the core price?

 

What’s included in your speech therapy EMR software’s base package? Does it only offer basic things like scheduling and client records? Will the software vendors charge you an extra fee to make use of their electronic billing and reporting functions? Don’t be fooled by a fancy package and the salesman’s pitch—your EMR software needs to perform certain key functions. It’s on you to make sure that they’re included in the core price before you make any commitments. Otherwise, you can end up paying an arm and a leg just to use your speech therapy EMR software way you intended to.

 

Is there a support department that’s happy to help you?

 

When you’re working with a speech therapy EMR software as robust as Practice Perfect, you’ll probably need a little bit of help learning the ropes. Some software vendors actually charge their clients an additional fee for set-up and training. We happen to believe that this should be included in the base price. With Practice Perfect, what you see is what you get.

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