If you’ve had the same practice management system for a while it might be time to think about upgrading, especially if you’re using on-premise software. The thought of changing your clinical software can be daunting but there are a number of ways that moving to the cloud could benefit your practice, patients and staff.
What is cloud practice management software?
While more traditional on-premise software is downloaded and installed onto your computer, cloud software is accessed online through your computer browser. With cloud software, you don’t need a server, which can save you money, and you can access your clinical software from any device that has an internet connection.
Here are five reasons why you should consider moving your practice management system to the cloud.
- More flexibility. If you’re finding your existing on-premise software limiting, a cloud solution might well be the answer. Because it’s accessible from any device, cloud software provides a level of flexibility that is hard to match with on-premise software. It allows you to work from anywhere at any time, so your practitioners and support staff won’t just be limited to working clinic hours. With more and more workplaces adopting flexible practices, moving to the cloud is one way to help your practice keep up with staff and patient expectations.
2. Stay up to date, effortlessly. With cloud software, unlike on-premise software, you don’t need to spend time manually installing updates. All updates are taken care of automatically in the background. This can save you time and effort, reduce your third party IT costs and means you’ll always have access to the latest features and functionality. It also has benefits from a compliance perspective as you’ll never have to worry about meeting new government regulations or medicare rules – your software will take care of that for you, assuming you’re using a reputable provider.
3. Reduced costs. Cloud software can help you save money on your third party IT costs and infrastructure. Without the need to buy and maintain your own server, you’re relieved of a lot of IT consultant expenses and infrastructure costs. Because the cloud is flexible, it’s easy to scale up and down so you reduce wastage and don’t pay for what you don’t need. In the event of a disaster like a fire or a flood at your premises, you can still access your software and all your clinical records so it’s easier to get back up and running with the minimum of losses.
4. Improved efficiency. Most cloud-based software is designed to be user friendly and fast. This can help your staff complete work in fewer clicks and less time, allowing them to be more productive. With less time spent on their administrative tasks, your practitioners have more time to spend taking care of patients. The improvements in efficiency have other benefits as well – you can potentially increase patient volumes and boost revenue.
5. Security. With on-premise software, you’re often responsible for keeping your data safe and managing backups. With cloud software, security and backups are all taken care of for you. You’ll have a team of experts working around the clock to monitor your system for potential threats and deal with any issues quickly and effectively.
More and more practices are moving to cloud software for all the reasons mentioned above. If you’re thinking about switching up your clinical practice management system, cloud software could be well worth considering.
