Take your dental practice management systems to the next level with these 3 tips

When you think of dental practice management systems, your brain probably goes straight to your practice management software. You’re a dental professional – your software is what holds, organizes and reports most everything! 

But your dental practice management systems are any processes that affect the way your practice management and revenue management are handled. The way these systems work together define the financial health and success of your dental practice. 

Could your dental practice management systems use some improvement to better serve your practice?

DCS is a revenue cycle management company that has helped dental teams collect more payments since 2012. Our experts empower dental teams to focus on patients while we handle your practice revenue cycle services. 

Through the years, we’ve seen what dental teams can do to elevate their dental practice management systems. By helping dental teams streamline their processes to be more profitable, we can share tips with you on how to improve your management systems. 

In this article, we’re going over 3 tips that will help improve these 3 parts of your practice management systems: 

1. Your practice management software
2. Your patient billing system
3. Your revenue cycle management strategies

All three of these greatly affect your productivity and collections. So, let’s get into 3 tips that will help your dental team perfect its practice management systems.

1. Use up to date, efficient practice management software

Like we said, when we say the phrase “practice management systems,” many think we’re referring to your software. 

And while that’s not the entire puzzle, it is a piece! To have productive practice management systems, you need up to date, quick and reliable software. 

Does your practice management software constantly glitch or lag? This can slow your productivity when it comes to tasks like creating insurance claims. And it can lead to tons of frustration. 

You want a software that will work for you, not against you. 

Cloud-based practice management software has become increasingly popular among dentists. It’s easier to update and maintain than regular server-based or on-site software. 

Some examples of web-based practice management software include: 

• OpenDental
• Eaglesoft
• Dentrix Ascend 
• Curve Dental
• DentiMax

Having an up to date software will enable the other systems managing your practice to work efficiently. 

2. Automate systems such as patient billing

Automation is your friend when it comes to improving your practice management systems. 

There are so many moving parts to your dental practice that keeping up with each task can feel like an uphill battle. But when you automate certain tasks, such as patient billing, you feel less overwhelmed with busy work. 

When you automate patient billing, you let a software handle the following tasks: 

• Issue convenient patient notifications as soon as the balance is known (no manual processing)
• Send balance notifications faster for less, with email and text messages
• Follow up automatically with friendly reminders
• Accept payment from all major credit cards and wallet apps, from any device
• Minimize the time and cost of issuing paper statements
• Monitor direct deposits and outstanding balances instantly

With these tasks automated, you’ll collect more easily from patients. 

But you’ll also have more time to spend with patients in the office. With your patient billing system automated, these relationships don’t have to take a back seat. 

Automating your patient billing will improve patient experience as well

While automating your patient billing will improve your practice management systems as a whole, it will also give your patients a better experience. 

With virtual reminders (texts and emails), patients can pay their balances using modern methods like eCheck, credit card, or wallet app like Apple Pay. This is a far more efficient alternative to receiving postal statements. 

You will get paid faster if you offer a more convenient, modern billing method. And patients will appreciate that you’ve created a seamless process for them. A digital dental practice can go a long way with patient experience. 

Related: A digital dental practice: 3 reasons why you should embrace technology at the office

3. Use RCM services to collect more and access revenue expertise 

Revenue cycle management (RCM) is a huge piece of the practice management systems puzzle. The way your revenue cycle is managed will make or break the financial health of your dental practice. 

To elevate this part of your overall practice management system, we recommend using RCM services. 

RCM services will help you collect more revenue by streamlining your processes, and having experts handle revenue-related tasks, such as insurance billing. 

For example, a designated expert (or experts, depending on the size of your practice) will work to submit accurate insurance claims. The billing expert will also work to get your older claims appealed and paid. You will notice a considerable increase in your monthly revenue. 

You and your designated biller will have access to a pool of other experts (AKA their coworkers/other billers!)

A huge benefit to using RCM services at your dental practice is the access to revenue experts at your disposal. 

Dental billing is a niche topic, and it’s hard to find communities of experts to go to with questions. When you use RCM services, not only do you have your designated biller, but also the other experienced dental professionals that they work with. 

This means no matter what problem, question or challenge arises, your designated biller has plenty of other experts they can turn to if they are ever stumped. So you always have experts handling your revenue, working to get your practice paid. 

Ready to elevate your dental practice management systems with profitable RCM services?

Your dental practice management systems reflect the way the processes in your practice work together to keep your practice healthy and profitable. 

Upgrading your software, automating your patient billing system, and using RCM services are all great strategies to elevate your practice management systems, resulting in a more productive practice. 

DCS is a full-service RCM company that works to streamline your systems, and get you the income you deserve. 

To learn more about how our RCM services can take your practice to the next level, schedule a call with one of our experts.