The Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) is unlocking exciting new opportunities in the dental and medical practice space. Many practitioners are capitalizing on the opportunity to upgrade legacy software to improve efficiency and enhance the patient experience.
However, there is a vast array of technology to choose from — and you may be wondering which can bring the most benefits to your practice. We’ve summarized three key areas where practice management software can make your practice more effective, some of the barriers you may encounter as you implement new technology, and how CDAP can help you overcome obstacles to achieving digital transformation.
How can technology make my practice more efficient?
Practice management software offers many benefits — and you may be wondering which features to prioritize as you consider introducing it into your practice. These three key areas will help increase efficiency:
Access your information from the cloud
Legacy practice management systems are often installed on-premises — requiring maintenance and updates to be handled onsite. However, newer versions leverage cloud-based technology to allow access to your data from anywhere at any time.
This enables users to schedule appointments and access patient information remotely, enhances communication and collaboration between team members, and eliminates the maintenance and infrastructure costs associated with on-premises systems.
Additionally, older practice management systems frequently lack user-friendly designs, making user interfaces difficult and time-consuming to navigate. Cloud-based practice management systems utilize intuitive interfaces to make them easier to use, saving time and increasing the efficiency of your practice.
Make data-driven decisions
Modern practice management systems provide a host of analytics and reporting capabilities to enable you to make data-driven decisions. Comprehensive reports on patient demographics, productivity metrics, and treatment outcome assessments can help your practice make informed decisions and identify areas for improvement.
The ability to analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) such as patient volume, referral patterns, revenue, and more can help your practice identify and capitalize on trends and patterns. Additionally, modern practice software stores data in a centralized location — providing a comprehensive overview of your operations and enabling you to make timely decisions.
Enhance security
As technology continues to grow and evolve, so do the risks of cyber attacks and breaches. Modern practice management software offers a robust variety of security measures to protect your patient information and data in compliance with privacy regulations.
Practice management software uses features such as user access controls, encrypted data transmission, and firewalls to protect sensitive data. Cloud-based storage also uses redundant systems to back up your information, reducing the risk of data loss. This comprehensive set of protective features helps to ensure you spend less time on security and more on the growth of your practice.
What are the barriers to implementing new technology?
While new technology can greatly increase the efficiency of your practice, you may encounter barriers along your journey toward digital transformation. These are some of the most common challenges practices face when implementing new software:
Time constraints
Integrating new technology requires time for implementation and training. Healthcare professionals have demanding schedules and often struggle to find enough time to dedicate to staff training and system integration. This results in delays in adopting new technology within your practice.
Resistance to change
Adopting new technologies often necessitates a shift in workflows or processes — which some staff members may find difficult or overwhelming. A lack of confidence in using new tools or a preference for previous processes may lead healthcare professionals to resist change when introducing new technology to your practice.
Financial costs
Introducing new technologies often requires a significant initial financial investment — which can pose a challenge for some practices. Purchasing equipment, software, and investing in staff training can result in considerable expenses. Smaller practices or those who operate on limited budgets may find it difficult to designate the funds needed for digital transformation.
Get started today
How the Canada Digital Adoption Program can help
The Canada Digital Adoption Program can help you overcome barriers such as time constraints, resistance to change, and the financial costs required to successfully introduce new technology to your practice. You could receive up to $15,000 in funding through the Boost Your Business Technology Grant (one of the funding opportunities under CDAP) to support your journey toward digital transformation.
This grant covers up to 90 percent of the cost to retain a digital advisor to guide you on your path toward digital transformation. It will also equip you with a step-by-step roadmap to get your new technology up and running. This plan can help your practice overcome common challenges such as time constraints by providing a clear timeline for digital transformation.
An advisor can help you review which digital investments would be the best fit for your practice. By connecting you with a digital advisor like MNP, the program also reduces the financial costs and risks associated with digital transformation without compromising the potential rewards to your practice — such as the opportunity to enhance efficiency.
Additionally, you can apply for an interest-free loan of up to $100,000 if you decide to embrace the digital transformation plan you created. This loan enables you to purchase software and hardware or invest in employee training, further reducing the financial barriers associated with digital transformation.
Contact us
Niche Leader, Professional Services. Our advisors can create a personalized plan for the digital transformation of your practice — helping you to overcome obstacles and increase efficiency.