We use a separate billing software but do not schedule in AC. When asked, my staff prefer features of the billing software scheduler, such as color coding for different types of appointments and the ability to attach a note "pt owes $ and need to discuss payment" or "did not keep last two appointments".
I would prefer them to schedule in AC because that is the schedule that I look at, (I don't even know how to log into the PM software) and they sometimes forget to book the appointment ( or cancel it in AC. This makes me crazy but the billing person works off the PM schedule and can access AC and double check the note for the encounter before submitting the charges. so, they are happy with scheduling in the PM software, it is just the doctor who is cranky.
We submit the bill within a day or two of the encounter, I do not try to have the charts complete by the time the patient reaches the checkout counter ( although they often are complete).
I think accuracy is more important than speed and pressure to create/ complete the entire encounter by the time the patient reaches the check out counter might lead to documentation that is incomplete or has overly inclusive "template-generic" faults you see from many EMRs these days.
We use the X-link software but I am not really sure that it is worth the cost. There is some needed information that does not "flow over" such as email addresses and appointments. The information also flows at intervals (I think 5 minutes) such that some times I am ready to write an electronic prescription but the demographic info has not yet populated...( ?? my staff or the software???)and the electronic prescription will not transmit because the demographic is incomplete.
Oh well, in general I am very satisfied with AC and am looking for improvement in the PM sector of my practice but have NO intention of changing my EMR for another one.
