In her time management book Take Back Time – Bringing Time Management to Medicine, author Judy Capko dedicates a chapter to using technology in a medical practice.
Judy writes, “Healthcare leaders must seize every opportunity to improve practice performance, adapt to new technologies, and encourage their workers to take advantage of automation. It’s all about optimal productivity and giving people the tools to do their jobs better. And it enables you to make the best use of resources without compromising quality.”
Progress
Since cutting my teeth on a Texas Instrument Professional computer more than twenty years ago, I have enjoyed exploring the use of technology for my business as well as assisting medical and dental office staff take advantage of automation.
Today we hold in the palm of our hand cell phones, labeled “smart-phones,” that have more resources available than that first computer I used to print a set of financial statements.
Reminiscing of the way things “used to be” every now and then is good to gain a perspective of the future and the way we will conduct our business.
I’m not convinced that every technological change has been for the better, but I do agree with Judy that we need to embrace new technology for opportunities to improve outcomes, manage quality care and resources, and improve profitability.
Virtual tools for your practice
Much of the new technology that will be presented to us will be virtual. Let’s explore just a few uses of technology that may help you whether you work in a large group practice, small group practice, or as a solo practitioner.
This is a virtual checkbook program that we support. I have found this program to be a better solution than the old version that was installed on your local computer.
It is always current and allows for better support and management of your checkbook activities. You can view a demonstration of the software on our website by clicking on the “View a Demo” link found under the “Login Here” menu option.
GoToMyPC allows you to remotely access your computer from any other Internet-connected computer in the world with almost any operating system through a secure, private connection.
I have physician clients and office managers that use this tool to access their office computers from home or while they are attending meetings.
Here is another tool that allows you to remotely access your computer. The free version offers a great way to access your computer at the office if you don’t need all the “bells and whistles.” And if you prefer more options, the pricing of this product is reasonable.
Jott converts your voice into e-mails, text messages, reminders, lists, and appointments. Currently, this is a free service of which you can subscribe. This program is still in its infancy stage, but I find it works quite well.
Google is more than just a search engine. The use of the Google Calendar, Google Documents, and Google Reader are all very useful tools that can be integrated into the way you do your business.
Conclusion
Virtual technology and the ability to outsource some of your practice management duties offer you opportunities to keep your staff performing efficiently and adds profit to your bottom line.
Sure, some of this technology comes at a cost, but it is also an investment in you and your business.
I end this post with another quote from Judy’s book, “If you fail to keep up with technology, the competition will pass you by and the cost of doing business will continue to rise. There’s no slow lane on the information highway, so buckle your seat belt and enjoy the ride.”
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