If you’re embarking into mobile dentistry territory you’ll want to be prepared. Software for your mobile dental practice is somewhat like a “Swiss Army Knife” you’ll want in your “backpack.”
That user-based thought probably raises a few questions. And when making a software choice the answers are vital to your mobile dentistry success.
Why mobile dentistry?
Anywhere access sets the standard for choosing to take your services on-the-road, so to speak. A mobile dental practice enables you to provide care to underserved communities, school-based opportunities, rural or remote locations, and corporations.
Independent hygienists are getting in on the game as well. Collaborative agreements allowed by 42 states give hygienists the ability to provide direct access care with varying levels of supervision from a dentist (per state guidelines).
Either mobile dentistry model and the innovations yet to be deployed will rely on the smooth transition from a fixed to mobile office setting. And once again, software choice is key!
Questions to ask when choosing software for your mobile dental practice
Q: Can a traditional software platform be used in a mobile setting?
Many legacy software systems - while effective for a brick-and-mortar setting - cannot be untethered from a local server. Portability is the benchmark when selecting a mobile dentistry software platform.
Mobility noted, your software decision should also consider convenience, full remote access capability, and of course, security (more on that shortly). The mobile element naturally includes access and use from a smart device like a tablet or even a laptop.
Cloud-based software solutions are certainly robust enough to handle most of the load a mobile dental practice contains.
Q: How secure is mobile dentistry software?
Guarding patient trust is reason enough to be concerned about software security. And since the odds of a breach can be a bit higher for remote technology it’s essential to choose based on the highest level of protection.
Speed and connectivity features increase the security you should expect from the software. The slower the connection or responsiveness the more vulnerable you could be.
Security confidence (including HIPAA compliance) is high for software platforms that offer a secure, encrypted 2-factor login option. Data accessed on the other side of 2-factor authentication is generally found to be more secure and much less susceptible to being hacked. Choose wisely!
Q: Does mobile dentistry software update regularly and automatically?
Security follows keeping your software up to date. The mobile environment can easily distract you from essential updates.
Many (if not most) cloud-based systems that provide remote capabilities will also maintain a current status. Make sure you choose a platform that handles updates on the back end on a routine and automatic basis.
Security threats evolve and your software should keep pace or even stay ahead of them.
Q: What all-in-one capabilities should mobile dentistry software include?
The ability to integrate your workflows into one platform is common with remote capable systems. Confirm the following when selecting a software solution for your mobile dental practice:
- Patient data access that includes electronic health records (EHRs), images, referral history, consent forms, and more are essential.
- Patient communication capabilities that allow online access for providing health history, scheduling appointments, consent, tracking care and referrals, reviews, follow-up conversations, and specialist collaboration.
- Patient billing, insurance claims filing, and online payment portals.
- Ability to support hygiene workflows, treatment planning, and collaboration with yours or another fixed site dental office.
- Paperless flexibility and mobile accessibility as an option for patient follow-up information, financial data, and ongoing patient communication.
Evaluate your software selection based on these fundamental benefits. And confirm that authentication is built-in to assure secure and HIPAA compliant patient interaction for each feature.
Q: How cost effective is mobile dentistry software?
With mobile capable software you eliminate much of the heavy expenses common with a traditional server based system. Because mobile technology requires less hardware and updates are typically baked-in you can expect less of an upfront investment.
A monthly, quarterly, or annual subscription fee can also be applied to fit your revenue stream. Software costs can vary too based on your practice, group, or DSO size.
Packages could also be tailored to your specific mobile dentistry strategy. Some platform features might be more necessary than others. Thus, cost savings could apply according to the package you select.
Get informed about mobile dentistry…and the technology that supports it
If you’re considering the mobile or portable dentistry model you might find some additional useful insight in the following resources:
An Overview and Guide to Mobile Dentistry
Top Mobile Dental Equipment Solutions for 2021 (and Beyond)
Teledentistry and mobile service delivery on platform such as Teledentix improves overall care delivery. Plus many of the features covered here are built-into the Teledentix software.
Get a personalized demo of Teledentix!
