The healthcare industry is always changing and practices are required to keep up with new legislation or risk compliance issues. If you have a cloud-based practice management platform, it’s easier to stay up to date and avoid many of the headaches that can come with constantly having to upgrade your clinical software.
Why is it so important to stay up to date?
It may seem like a hassle to be constantly upgrading your software, but there are a number of reasons why you should always use the latest version.
- To stay compliant. There are a number of new changes being brought in by Medicare and these changes need to be integrated into your software as soon as possible so that you can remain compliant. Examples of these changes include ePrescribing, Telehealth, Active Ingredient Prescribing and Medicare Web Services. Keeping up to date with these changes will also help you meet your patients’ expectations and evolving needs.
- To take advantage of new features. Most clinical software providers are regularly improving their software and this means bringing in regular new features that will help you improve the quality of service you can give your patients. By updating regularly you can take advantage of these new features as they happen.
- To stay secure. Security is an important consideration for healthcare providers. You’re handling sensitive patient information so it’s crucial that you protect it. A data breach could be damaging for your patients and your own reputation. It could also lead to significant fines and penalties. Updating your software on a regular basis means you’ll have access to the latest security updates and features so you can stay protected.
- To work as efficiently as possible. Many software updates contain fixes to glitches or bugs that might be slowing your systems down. By updating regularly, you can make sure your staff are able to work as fast and efficiently as possible and minimise downtime and delays.
How can cloud-based practice management help?
On-premise software can be a hassle to update, but with cloud-based practice management software, most of the stress is avoided. With on-premise software, you are responsible for downloading and installing upgrades yourself and this often means paying a third-party IT provider. While you’re in the process of installing the latest upgrade, your computer will be out of action, which can cause issues if you’re trying to work at the same time.
On the other hand, with a cloud-based solution, all your upgrades are taken care of for you. There’s no need for any external IT support – everything will be managed by the software provider without any disruption to your day to day operations.
Easier compliance
It’s easier to stay compliant with cloud-based software as new features and functionality are automatically added when they need to be, so you don’t have to worry about whether or not you are meeting the latest government regulations. This means you can get on with thinking about your practice and patients instead.
State of the art security
With a cloud-based solution, your data is backed up in premium data centres with far more sophisticated security than most on-premise servers. Because most cloud providers employ dedicated security specialists, you’re getting access to a higher level of expertise than you could access by yourself. Systems are monitored around the clock and any threats are immediately identified and the software updated to eradicate them, with no extra effort on your part.
If you’re tired of spending time and money upgrading and maintaining your on-premise software, it might be time to think about moving to a cloud-based practice management platform.
