It's important to do your due diligence before purchasing new optometry software. That's because the buying process for optometry software is a critical time that requires planning and organization in order for your practice to end up with a system that's going to meet your unique needs.
We've come up with 5 mistakes that your practice should avoid during the buying process so you can end up with a system that will streamline your practice from end to end.
5 Mistakes Your Practice Should Avoid When Buying Optometry Software
You don't research costs over time.
Costs associated with practice management and EHR software can vary across systems. And, oftentimes there are a lot of costs outside of an initial fee or monthly subscription. Hidden fees should be at the forefront of your mind when evaluating different systems. Will it cost additional money to purchase updates or the latest version of the software when it's available? What about training and support, will that be an extra cost? What hardware do you need in your practice to run the system? Will you need to outsource IT management? These are just some of the costs you need to be thinking about during the buying process.
You don't include your staff.
When it comes to making big purchases that are going to have a big impact on the processes in your practice, don't make the decision alone. Your staff should be included in the decision process for a couple of reasons. For starters, you want their buy-in. Managing a big change in your practice can be tricky, and you'll want your staff on your side or it will only make it harder. On top of that, your staff will be able to help you determine the right system that will fit the best in your practice. Everyone will be affected by the software so make sure that you're filling the needs of everyone on your team.
You misuse your demo time.
Take advantage of the time you have with your sales reps. Make sure you include the staff that you want to involve during the demo time. And make sure that you have the needs and wants of your future system listed out so you can compare the important pieces of each system. You're going to learn a lot about the systems during demos so it's important to make the most of this time.
You don't consider integrations or add-ons.
You'll want your new software to work well with the other things you currently have in your practice. So thinking about the equipment you use and other software that you might want to be integrated or embedded into the system is important. Can the system save you on other software costs by being equipped with additional tools like ePrescribing, code verification, patient education, patient recall, or frame catalogs? Additional software that you have to purchase on top of the practice management and EHR is going to add to your total cost.
You make a decision before you're ready.
A lot of ODs say they are frustrated with their current software and are looking to make a change. Sometimes these emotions of being frustrated can cause someone to rush into a decision. Don't let this happen to you. Be smart about your next purchase and give yourself the chance to explore all of your options and find the system that is truly right for you. The last thing you want is to quickly jump into a new system that could cause you more headaches than your current software.
Click the link below for additional tools like ePrescribing, code verification, patient education, patient recall, frame catalogs, and more:
