Home Forums Discussions General Discussion Are you using the scheduler?

I am starting a new practice and I'm debating whether to use the scheduler that comes with AC or the one with my practice management system. The PM scheduler seems to be a bit more robust but I like the idea of having the schedule in front of me, click on the patient I just saw, and do the note but the PM scheduler has so many more options. I just wish they would communicate somehow so if I updated one, the other would be updated also. There lies the advantage of the BIG EMR guys with integrated systems.

I use the scheduler with AC - it is great for reconciling how many pt. I saw, searching for did not keeps, etc. I realize the integrated systems sound nice, but I think AC will eventually make a good PM program

I don't know your PM system, but it is very convenient to use the AC scheduler.

I guess you need to specify how your PM system is more robust. Are these things important in daily use?

The scheduler system works well and seems to be designed to meet the needs of people who actually use it. It's nice to have bells and whistles but sometimes you don't need all the noise.

There is a lot to be said for the convenience of the AC scheduler. you can quickly see whos coming in, pull there chart, or quckly see a list of past and future appointments.

I have recently moved from the scheduler in my PM to AC in order to be able to see the schedule on all stations. There are a number of things I miss however. One, I no longer have a place to denote that a patient was confirmed the day before their appointment. If I go back and edit the appointment and put it in the comments section (which is the way we are having to do it), I lose all the information regarding when the original appointment was made and which staffer made it. Knowing that the appointment was made a year earlier might explain why the patient did not show. Also, seeing that one staffer consistently makes appointments that are not accurately triaged gives me notice that I need to spend some time with them discussing ways to correct it.
I also hope that, when the PM module is integrated, it will allow a column on the scheduler which shows the patient's copay and past balance due. We really did a great job collecting these monies up front when the patient checked in because the information was right there.

Leslie

I just wish the two schedules (PM and AC) would sync somehow. Sure, AC's scheduler is MUCH easier for me. I can just click on the appt and there's the note. But my office manager and staff won't be that happy. The current PM software has the schedule and then electronically checks the eligibility (copay, deductible) for the patients on the schedule with the click of a button. Now they have to search each patient individually and check them. Not a big deal but definitely another step for them. AC sends all the demographics and coding over to the PM software. So, as a coder/biller, it's easy to just click down through the PM scheduler and quickly bill. The PM software is also color coded which is nice.

I think I'm going to use the AC scheduler because, quite frankly, my office staff has much more time than I do so I'm going to make it as easy as possible on myself. The other thing will be migrating toward a full blown integrated AC with PM in the future.

Is there an interface for your PM so that you can initially book people there and then import the scheduled to AC? What PM do you use, I dont believe you mentioned its name?

We migrated from our (biased opinion) devil spawn PM program schedule to AC's for ease on pulling the doctors. We're currently suffering through using two programs to function, the chart side and a completely stand alone billing side.

The AC chart side works fairly well with the exception of the problem that Leslie pointed out. As a manager, there is no way for me to track down mistakes in scheduling to get it corrected at the source as well as when appointments are made.

Here's hoping the new PM program will have some fixes for that.