How Mobile Technology Interacts with a Modern Practice

It’s clear that smartphones, tablets and laptops are everywhere in today’s society. We use them at home and for fun, but more and more, we are using them at work for business.

But can Mobile devices and apps benefit a dental practice? Who benefits? The patient? The doctor? Staff? The reality is everyone can benefit from the use of mobile apps that interoperate with desktop software (and by interoperate, I mean using a mobile device to add to or change a patient’s chart, and the change is also made in the practice management software – all in realtime). Below are some real-world examples.

As you read this, keep in mind that your practice-management software may or may not be able to do everything mentioned in this article. I suggest checking with your software provider to find out its abilities and limitations – or call MacPractice and they’ll show you how MacPractice and its family of apps for iPad and iPhone interoperates seamlessly with MacPractice DDS.

Like every business, dental offices rely upon computers and software for business-critical tasks like scheduling appointments, creating and maintaining patient records and billing. We all know you cannot run a business these days without computers and

Mobile Apps interoperate with Desktop Software to Save Practices Time and Money

] of U.S. doctors use an Apple device of some kind. 75%

60%

Plt

] Traditional PC shipments have declined 11%.

2013 2012

Apple computers and iPads and trusting MacPractice for their software. With 30,000 users worldwide, more and more dentists are running their practice on

Apple computers and iPads and trusting MacPractice for their software. With 30,000 users worldwide, more and more dentists are running their practice on

Apple computers and iPads and trusting MacPractice for their software.

] 94% of healthcare organizations adopt Apple devices when provider preference is the deciding factor.

ST. STEVEN’S MEMORIAL HOSPITAL ST. STEVEN’S MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

] Smart tablet shipments have increased 68%.

2013 2012

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Sources: A Manhattan Research study claims 75% of U.S. physicians own Apple products. Vitera Healthcare reported that 60% of healthcare professionals use an iPhone for work, and 45% use an iPad. A KLAS study found that 94% of healthcare organizations adopt Apple devices when user preference is a factor. Samsung was the second most frequently adopted technology in this study with just 26% of organizations having at least one device. Gartner detailed market forecast data - "Forecast: Devices by Operating System and User Type, Worldwide, 2010-2017, 2Q13 Update."

capable software. In addition to the business side, most dental practices today use computers and software to acquire X-rays and photos, for restorative and periodontal charting, and to record clinical notes. Dentists also use computers to present and discuss present conditions and proposed treatment with patients in examination rooms. Interoperable mobile technology has the potential to enhance every aspect of the business of dentistry.

Let’s start with how mobile technology can improve the patient experience when they first arrive in the office.

In a traditional “paper office,” when a patient arrives they may write their name on a sign-in sheet, especially in an orthodontic practice, before they are handed a clipboard with blank paper forms to fill out. Once the patient has completed their paperwork, they return the clipboard to the front desk and take a seat in the waiting room where they wait for staff to enter their data into the practice management software before they can be seen. This

process hasn’t changed much in 50 years and consumes lots of paper and requires redundant effort, not to mention office space dedicated to file storage and manpower dedicated to creating, maintaining, retrieving and returning files.

forms selected for them in a mobile app. Again, since this app interoperates with the practice management software, the patient’s name, phone and other information taken when the appointment was made is in their forms, ready for their review. The patient can register, provide their health history, sign their HIPAA release and insurance authorization, complete any custom forms required by the practice, and take their own photo using the iPad. They will review their information, and when they are satisfied they will tap an icon that enters all their patientgenerated data into its proper place in the practice management software. Besides scanning an insurance card and selecting the correct insurance plan, the front desk does need to enter any patient data. The patient has done it for them. And on subsequent visits, if using Clipboard, the patient can review their demographic information on an iPad and make changes to update their record in MacPractice DDS.

Alternatively, using mobile technology and a mobile app, the patient can not only check in upon arrival without any staff assistance, but also automatically notify the dentist, the hygienist and the front desk of their arrival. Since the app interoperates with the practice-management software, it exchanges data and changes the appointment status in the schedule on every computer, no matter where it is located. Not only is checking in more efficient, it satisfies HIPAA guidelines because the patient can only see their own information. There is no question, this is a better way.

Next, instead of preparing a clipboard with photocopied or laser-printed blank paper forms to hand to the patient, front desk staff hands the patient a mobile device (such as an iPad) with the appropriate

In the treatment rooms, more and more dental practices are adopting Electronic Dental Records (EDR/EHR) on computers and mobile devices to record visit notes and as a communication assistant for use with patients. Once again, clinical information the patient entered on an iPad is automatically present for use by the hygienist and the dentist as well as being present in an EHR program. Now, the clinical staff can review the patient’s health history with them on either a Mac or on an iPad, or both. For example, the dental assistant or hygienist could review on the iPad and the dentist could record visit notes on a Mac.

Dental offices that are using mobile technology believe this technology interaction fosters a closer relationship with their patients while promoting a stronger, more high-tech brand for the practice. Good rapport with a patient is especially important when discussing present dental conditions and proposing treatment plans. For example, if the office has acquired X-rays or photos during the visit, the dentist can show them to the patient on a mobile device such as an iPad. When a patient views their own dentition on the iPad that they hold in their hand, they tend to make a connection and take ownership of their condition and the treatment being proposed to them – leading to higher case acceptance. All this is made possible by the interoperability of mobile apps with practice management software.

But the use of mobile technology doesn’t end there. Once the examination is complete, the clinical staff can electronically prescribe if necessary and send the procedure code(s) for today’s visit to the front desk for their review and for posting so they can print a walkout statement and insurance form, or send an electronic claim. This further streamlines and enhances the patient visit, saving more staff time and fostering communication and productivity in the office.

All these benefits are realized by leveraging mobile technology that interoperates with dental practice management and clinical software.

The future is very bright for mobile technology in a dental office. In June, at its World Wide Developer Conference, Apple previewed Yosemite, a new desktop operating system, and iOS 8 for iPad and iPhone, both to be released in the fall. Among hundreds of new capabilities, three new iOS 8 technologies are the most likely to impact healthcare, including dentistry. Firstly, HealthKit is an iOS 8 Software Development Kit (SDK) already in the hands of thousands of Apple developers that is being used by several major hospitals and medical schools to collect data from medical devices and make it available to EHRs and to patients. The availability of HealthKit and a recently announced collaboration of Apple with IBM to deliver solutions to the healthcare market are likely to have a major impact. Secondly, new extensibility for IOS 8 developers that facilitates apps easily leveraging the key functionality of other apps has the potential to drive new and rapid innovation for the platform. Thirdly, Yosemite features tighter integration and “handoff” sharing with IOS 8, which could result in a higher level of mobile interoperability with desktop.

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Mobile technology is becoming more and more relevant for business every year, and those practices that understand and use it will be ahead of the curve in the coming years. And only software companies with a commitment and dedication to software development, and with software engineering resources, continuously innovate and offer the latest features and benefits.

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BTW, EHR Update – Using 2014 Edition certified dental software, such as MacPractice DDS MU, dentists who accept Medicaid may qualify for $63,750 in government incentives. Dentists who bill for Medicare procedures, also eligible for incentives, may avoid payment reductions in 20015 and later years by demonstrating Meaningful Use in 2014.