Technology in Optometry: Going Digital

This is part of a series of posts that reviews what to look for and how to choose a practice management software that's right for your practice. Subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook for more on how you can leverage technology to scale your practice.

In the last 15 years, technology has been wholeheartedly embraced in all aspects of Optometry practise, from comprehensive digital testing charts and binocular vision therapy softwares to advanced imaging systems such as OCT, becoming a norm.  We have moved leaps and bounds in digitising our clinical procedures and with the help of Clinic Management Systems, we are able to save time, resources and increase efficiency within the practice, resulting in a significant increase in revenue.

A good Practice Management Software will include:

1. Fast and easy appointment scheduling:  A universal calendar, which can be viewed and accessed independently with a single click, by all the appropriate members of the organisation will increase efficiency and avoid confusion, resulting in a seamless patient journey.
2. Management tools to organise patient records:  The ability to search the patient database across any field, whether it is to refer to a particular patient record or to search for all the patients having a particular eye condition.
3. Clear definition of roles within the practice:  Roles may include Front Office, Practitioner and Admin, giving restricted access, depending on the role.
4. Secure cloud based Electronic Medical Records (EMR):  EMR designed specifically for optometrists, including all the necessary tests for a comprehensive eye exam, that can be securely accessed and reviewed from anywhere.
5. Automatic generation of prescriptions and order forms:  A single click to download prescriptions or order forms, which can be printed or sent electronically to the patient or to the lab.
6. Analytics:  The ability to analyse demographic and clinical patient data to aid business development and enable clinical audits.
7. Patient follow-up and recall systems:  Automatic notifications sent to the patients when they are due for an eye exam or if they have upcoming appointments booked.
8. Seamless processes for billing and inventory management: Automated billing and account management as well as automated daily inventory updates.
9. Curated pricing, catering to different sized practices:  Affordable subscriptions based on number of users, catered for anything from small independent practices to large enterprises and optical chains.

The next few articles in the 'Technology in Optometry' series will address all of the above points in further detail, providing keen insights on how to run your practice more efficiently, resulting in a substantial growth in your business.

ASIRA is a simple and secure, cloud-based software tool, built BY optometrists FOR optometrists, that helps eye care professionals reduce the time and effort required to maintain clinical records, schedule appointments, generate bills, manage inventory and much more!

To find out more, visit www.asira.health and sign up for a 30-Day FREE TRIAL! If you're a new practice owner or a fresh graduate thinking of entrepreneurship, visit www.asira.health/optompreneur to learn how ASIRA can help reduce your costs and increase revenue.