I try and press home to new Dr's just how important it is to get off on the right foot.. the problem is the costs.. The cheapest solution I use is Medisoft and that will set you back about $2000 plus hardware.
The real key and you have it nailed is front office training. I spent the last 6 months fixing an office that had a serious failure of both front and back office staff. I had to learn the system from the user standpoint in a few weeks and then find the issues... If I never see another HCFA form or coding book I will be happy... amazingly simple and complicated at the same time..
Running EDI is tough as you end up out 60 days on charges if the data is incorrect as it takes that long to get the rejection notices, repair the claims and get them back out.
It is bad enough you have to charge off 50% or more of your billable charges.. Then to have staff that can note bill all the necessary codes etc will break you. As of the first of the year, Medicaid is no longer sending EOB's with checks.. Every office I have now has dropped all MC patients.. Just not feasible to support the indigent when the gov't wants you to do it for free.
This appt reminder is looking like a hosted solution at this point for a 1 or 2 provider office at about $100 per month. Not too bad when you figure it takes about 1 hour a day for staff to do this. With the system, they generate a simple text file and upload it via the net to the call center. I just have to do the "1 click" thing so they can generate the file.
An in house system (software/hardware) so far is about 4G.. totally out of line for a small shop.
I think fixing cars and racing was easier... did not pay as well but sure was a lot more fun
