An innovative in-office practice management platform saves time and increases revenue

With the Affordable Care Act now in its seventh year, our schedules are stretched more than ever before. Physicians are expected to provide high-quality care under tight time constraints. What’s worse, the hectic lives of our patients make it difficult to schedule a thorough pre-operative visit. And, with little time to fully educate patients about their procedures, they can be left with fear, anxiety, and the high cost of a necessary, yet unfamiliar, surgical procedure.

So, how can we help ease the time burden on ourselves and reduce anxiety in our patients while also ensuring our patients are properly educated about a costly procedure? A new practice management platform aims to do just that. CheckedUp is an innovative ophthalmology platform that provides critical education prior to surgery. Patients can watch and learn at their own pace, so they can better understand and be involved in the management of their health.

Educate While You Work

In a competitive market, efficiency is critical to success. We all struggle to find enough hours in a day to help guide patients through the choices they must make about procedures and services. To this end, our practice utilizes CheckedUp in two ways. First, a T.V. in our waiting room provides general educational information and tips, such as which foods help keep eyes healthy, or displays sponsored promotions for procedures we offer, such as LipiFlow (TearScience). Second, and most importantly, we utilize the CheckedUp iPads on a more personal level. While the tech is entering demographic information into our pre-surgical equipment, the patient is given the iPad to learn more about IOL choices and out-of-pocket services related to cataract surgery. Another great feature of this system is that the content is customizable. For example, we offer ORA (Alcon), so we include the ORA section within CheckedUp for our patients to watch. I enter the exam room shortly after the patient has completed the 6-minute interactive module; I offer the patient only two implant choices, taking into account their ocular and personal history. This way, we aren't overwhelming the patients with too many options. The system helps patients understand how implant types impact their lifestyle.

CheckedUp uses interactive technology, which enhances the patient's understanding of different implant features. The patient is given options to go back and re-read a segment if unclear. This ensures that most questions are answered. It saves time, and provides patients with a solid foundation on the procedure, so they are better prepared for discussion when the surgeon steps into the exam room.

Increase Revenue and Patient Satisfaction

By presenting difficult-to-understand terms and concepts, such as astigmatism, in a way that’s easy to grasp, CheckedUp is both a time-saver and a revenue booster. No one is willing to pay thousands of dollars on an implant or astigmatism management procedure if they do not fully understand the value it brings them directly. For example, I had a patient who plays piano come to me for cataract surgery. She wanted to see near, far, and everything in between. After completing the CheckedUp module, she understood that she needed an advanced IOL technology to see all three distances. Therefore, the conversion to an EDOF Symfony lens (Johnson & Johnson) was very easy, creating a win-win for both the patient and the practice.

Information Is Key

CheckedUp provides my patients with the education they need to make informed decisions about their health — right at their fingertips. ■