Six Features Every Physical Therapy Software Package Should Have

Whether you've just started your own PT practice or you're the manager for a major PT clinic with several locations, you know that the right physical therapy software can improve everything from your business' cash flow to the efficiency of your employees and the health outcomes for your patients. There are dozens of programs for a variety of medical and health care services, but only a few truly focus on the needs of PT practices. How do you know which one will perform well once it's installed in your office or clinic? Look for these six crucial features before investing.

Physical Therapy Software That Ties Everything Together

Some programs focus on one particular aspect of your business, such as scheduling, accounts payable and receivable, or documenting your patients' progress, but if you have to have more than one program in place to cover every aspect of your clinic, you should ditch any current billing programs or documentation software and look for one that fully integrates invoicing, progress charts and scheduling in one easy to use solution.

Easy Patient Monitoring Over Time

Your PT documentation should allow you to chart each patient's progress over any length of time. Summaries for review purposes, complete exercise plans, objective criteria to map improvement and the ability to clearly indicate any concerns should be included in any physical therapy documentation software program. Look for physical therapy software that's flexible enough to adapt to individual patient situations while using standard templates as a jumping off point for efficient, comprehensive patient documentation.

Electronic Health Insurance Claims Documentation and Submissions

Most therapists hate wading through and filling out the seemingly endless forms for health insurance claims. The right physical therapy software can automatically fill out the appropriate claims forms and submit them electronically so that your therapists can focus on their patients rather than their paperwork. Look for a system that includes batch reviews and other accuracy controls in order to minimize the number of rejected insurance claims.

Scalability

Not all solutions are created equal. You'll find some that work best for individual physical therapists who need a simple solution for billing while others are designed to fill the needs of clinics with multiple branches and dozens of employees. Some won't have the scalability that will give you just what you need now with optional features that will grow with your practice. You may be wearing many hats today, but if you're good at what you do, you'll soon need physical therapy billing software that will grow with your business.

HIPAA Compliance

Be sure you choose a PT tracking program that is fully HIPAA compliant and respects the privacy of each patient. Failing to safeguard the health information of any of your patients can lead to lengthy legal battles and a damaged reputation. A software package that's HIPAA compliant can put your mind -- and your patients' minds -- at ease.

Detailed PT Documentation

Every patient's condition is unique to him or her; the right tracking program will allow you to fully document their initial complaints, the progress, and the results they achieve along an appropriate timeline. Look for systems that feature illustrated treatment options and visual pain guides for the most effective treatment protocols.

You want to focus on the business of healing and bringing comfort to your patients. Investing in the right physical therapy software will let you do just that by organizing and streamlining the business side of PT for you.