Tomorrow’s Obstetrics-Gynocology
Practice Software TODAY

What is Obstetrics-Gynocology Software?

At a basic level, obstetrics-gynocology software electronically stores patient medical information. Ideally, the software not only takes into account the unique needs of OB/GYNs, it also helps them spend more time with patients. But no matter how modern or feature-filled an electronic medical record (EMR) is, unless it easily integrates with all other software used in the OB/GYN practice—everything from ultrasounds to billing software—it’s not a good choice.

Tomorrow’s Software Today

Today’s patients expect simple, fast, multi-channel communication with all their providers, along with virtual visits when appropriate. To keep up, OB/GYN practices must provide secure text and chat for appointment making, automated appointment reminders, electronic registration, mobile check-in, telehealth connected to EMR, and automated e-billing and statements.

How Can Modern EHRs Benefit OB/GYNs?

1. Simplify scheduling and patient-status tracking. A 2017 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists report noted that physician burnout rates are twice that of other working adults and that 40% to 75% of OB/GYNs experience some form of professional burnout. One reason is the high-touch nature of OB care, with frequent appointments and tests, a large amount of patient education, and the need to carefully track the health of the mother and fetus. EMRs that streamline appointment scheduling and make it easy to capture and access perintatal lab-test data and ultrasound data reduce the administrative burden and let OBs spend more face-to-face time with patients.
2. Simplify coding. EHRs that are difficult to learn, counterintuitive to use, and require multiple steps for simple tasks also lead to physician burnout. In a field like OB/GYN where patients range from girls entering puberty to post-menapausal women, coding is highly complex. OB/GYNs need software that improves efficiency by quickly leading them through the process to enter, for example, a fertility treatment type or pregnancy complication category.
3. Improve practice management. Features like patient-portal scheduling, note-taking templates, PQRI reporting functions, clinical decision support, and patient-progress dashboards all help OB/GYNs create practice-specific workflows that help them spend more time with patients and less on administrative tasks.
4. Improve revenue cycle management (RCM). You may think you need more staff or expertise to solve your A/R issues—the truth is today’s technology can identify and fix lost revene from patient balances and unpaid claims; benchmark your reimbursement rates; and help you understand how to increase patient satisfaction, increase revenue on routine appointments, and reduce no-shows.

What’s the Biggest Mistake OB/GYNs Make When Choosing an Office Solution?

No matter how modern or feature-filled a system is, unless it is integrated with all other office software used in the OB/GYN clinic, it will not be able to give you the granular data you need for RCM. Put simply, the OB/GYN office software you select should help providers:

• Provide in-office and remote patient care
• Quickly create superbills
• Easily track revenue to avoid leaks
• Create customized notetaking templates
• Create dashboards to track patient progress
• Easily gather data from devices ultrasounds

Lastly, the OB/GYN office system should be able to quickly integrate with patient-facing systems such as patient portals and personal electronic medical records.

Sources:

1. “Why Ob-Gyns Are Burning Out.” ACOG, 28 October, 2019. https://www.acog.org/news/news-articles/2019/10/why-ob-gyns-are-burning-out
2. “Tracking and Reminder Systems.” ACOG, December 2012. https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2012/12/tracking-and-reminder-systems
3. “What is OB/GYN Medical Software?” Software Advice, accessed 19 September 2021. https://www.softwareadvice.com/medical/obgyn-electronic-medical-records-comparison/#buyers-guide