text: 2 August 2021 | by John Andrew
  You need a system that starts by doing the basic things very well and then layering features and functionality from there. A strong foundation in Appointment, Patient and Financial management is the bedrock of a successful product, and additional layers of Analytics, Business Growth and Communication tools are the extras that turn a useful tool into an essential one that will pay for itself many times over, and add value throughout your practice.
  So let's take a look at what you need to know when selecting or reviewing your Practice Management Software.
  This is one of the easier decisions that you will have to make. The Clinical sector still has a long legacy of desktop based systems on the market. These systems are often built on a platform that is over twenty years old; require you to physically store and manage your data on a server that you pay for, maintain and is located within your practice; need a significant up front licence cost; and are not fully accessible to you or your team from outside the practice.
  Cloud based systems take all of the responsibility for secure data storage away from you; are based around a low cost monthly subscription which requires no new hardware or licence investment; are continually upgraded as part of your ongoing subscription; and are accessible from any time and any device - from a smartphone right up to your desktop machines.
  Some of the legacy software systems have developed cloud-based elements to allow remote access, but so far these are limited in their functionality and effectively add-ons to the old system rather than being natively integrated tools.
  Cloud really is the only way to go for any practice. It is cheaper, more efficient and grows with your business, keeping you fully up to date and secure at all times.
  Once you have made this decision, there are some key features that you should expect to find in any good quality software.
  Your day book is the engine of your business and a solution that is flexible, scaleable and easy to use is essential. Plans change and events happen, so your appointment system needs to be able to react and ensure that your daily plans can adapt to these changing needs.
  It also needs to be accessible online, not just allowing patients to book appointments from their phone or laptop, but also for your team to be able respond with ease & flexibility to cancellations, sickness and issues as they arise.