10 Aug How an All-in-One Optometry EHR Elevates Our Practice
Managing an environmentally friendly optometry office where hundreds of patients move seamlessly from check-in to check-out each month is much easier when you invest in your business and use an optometry EHR that works as you do. Efficiently managing patient flow impacts staff performance, patient experiences, and revenue growth.
For Brad Bodkin, OD, founder of The Vision Center at Seaside Farms, upgrading to MaximEyes.com’s newly redesigned all-in-one eye care EHR, practice management, patient engagement, and optical point-of-sale system was critical to continually improving office efficiencies.
Below we share why Dr. Bodkin has been using MaximEyes optometry EHR and practice management software since 2009 and how MaximEyes.com lets him spend more time communicating with patients and less time clicking buttons and entering data.
Why did you decide to upgrade to MaximEyes.com’s all-in-one optometry EHR software?
When I started using MaximEyes in 2009, it was the best optometry EHR and practice management system–and it still is.
Before I opened my practice, I worked at various jobs and internships that used other eye care systems that didn’t provide the flexibility MaximEyes could. MaximEyes always impressed me with how easy it was to customize encounter forms and workflows.
Because I am always searching for ways to bring eye care technology and patient care to the next level, it was time to move to the new cloud-based MaximEyes.com system.
First Insight always puts the customer first and provides a feedback loop so we can be part of making the product even better. They place a significant emphasis on a positive customer experience and long-term success.
For instance, I am working with two key team members at First Insight to test new features; both have been with the company for nearly 16 and 19 years, respectively–that’s impressive staff commitment!
How easy was it to learn MaximEyes.com?
Learning MaximEyes.com was relatively easy for me—the system’s computing logic matches my own really well. MaximEyes.com is written in HTML5 with a clean, modern, and intuitive user interface, and it runs in our web browser.
Initially, moving to a new system after many years was challenging, especially since this upgrade took MaximEyes up several notches. However, after the first couple of weeks of in-depth group training with our MaximEyes trainer, we could take advantage of the many advanced features that now make us more efficient so that we can focus more on the patient.
What did you like most about the optometry EHR and practice management data conversion, implementation, and training process?
I was impressed that I didn’t lose any patient data and that the data conversion from the old system to the new system was all done behind the scenes. We did have to check some key points along the way, which is common for any software upgrade.
Also, I liked that we had a testing version (sandbox) that we could train on and work with before going live. The sandbox is a huge benefit to setting our staff up for success, not failure.
How critical is secure access to patient data?
As the practice owner, I am never truly away from the practice, even at a conference or on vacation. MaximEyes.com makes it extremely easy to access patient data from anywhere and anytime. This secure access has proved invaluable, especially during COVID when things were being run differently with remote work, and people had to stay home to reduce exposure.
Protecting our patient data is critical due to potential cyberattacks and ransomware. MaximEyes.com always emphasizes secure data protection and disaster recovery and pays close attention to staying on top of security and privacy issues.
For example, two-factor authentication adds a second layer of security to verify your identity when accessing MaximEyes.com.
What one feature in MaximEyes.com optometry EHR patient encounters saves you the most time?
Copying forward the previous patient diagnosis, plan, and procedures is a huge benefit of using MaximEyes.com. With just one click on the last page of the encounter form, I transfer data to other parts of the system—allowing staff to finish working with the patient, even if I still need to make notes in the EHR.
What do you like best about being able to customize optometry EHR exam templates for different workflows?
Personalizing my workflow with templates puts the focus where it needs to be and speeds up the exam. I no longer have to wade through every element in a regular encounter workflow when doing something simple like an IOP check exam.
The MaximEyes.com team has been instrumental in helping us customize our exam forms to accommodate different appointment types, such as new patients, existing patients, specialty appointments, dry eye, pre-op, and more.
Customizing the exam templates also helps me dive deeper with more elements for encounters like a dry eye visit, so I don’t have to add unnecessary elements to the routine encounter form.
How do automated coding and code triggers based on patient exam findings save you time?
Anytime you don’t have to type in a diagnosis code into a search bar to find a code is a good thing. Based on my exam findings, the built-in coding rules (Code Complete) trigger and suggest diagnostic codes, procedures codes, and outbound documents. I spend less time searching for codes and more time with the patient.
How do optometry patient intake and consent forms help you engage patients?
Our practice strives to be as paperless as possible and focuses on a “green initiative.” Besides using a cloud-based EHR and practice management system, the built-in patient intake and consent forms within MaximEyes.com creates a positive, time-saving experience for staff and our patients.
Patients can complete the form, upload their insurance cards, and sign consent forms at home or on mobile devices. Our patient coordinator is ecstatic that she no longer has to enter data manually. Once the patient submits the data, it is imported into the MaximEyes.com patient exam record and custom elements within the EHR.
Related: 8 Ways Digital Patient Intake Forms Automate Check-in
How does the CLX System integration with MaximEyes.com simplify contact lens orders with distributors?
While our practice provides full-scope eye care needs, we have a clinical focus on contact lenses. The biggest advantage of the CLX System and MaximEyes.com integration is once the contact lens prescription and order information are entered into MaximEyes.com, it’s one click away from submitting the order to contact lens distributors.
I also love that when I am in the encounter, I don’t have to search for a contact lens option in a certain power because MaximEyes.com and CLX keep the contact lens Rx configuration options updated. We only see what options are available.
Best of all, after you place a contact lens order, we can set up patient recalls. Because all of the patient information is in CLX and MaximEyes.com, CLX automatically sends emails and text messages (that are branded for our practice) to remind patients to reorder their contact lenses or schedule their next exam.
Related: Simplify Contact Lens Ordering with CLX and MaximEyes.com
How would you rate your MaximEyes.com customer support experience?
No EHR and practice management system is perfect, and there will always be times when you need help getting back on track. We are extremely satisfied with the MaximEyes customer support, and if the team needs to escalate an issue, they strive to find solutions as quickly as possible. First Insight has always placed a significant focus on customer satisfaction.
Do you have pro tips for other eye care professionals considering purchasing optometry EHR and practice management software?
When you are looking for optometry software, ensure your vendor can handle the data migration correctly. Don’t solely rely on your EHR vendor telling you that they can; ask them to show it to you. After that, you should make sure the software can handle everything you are already doing and be a robust enough system to customize important areas and easily upgrade and enhance continually.
Experience the Many Advantages with MaximEyes.com Eye Care Software
Ready to elevate your optometry practice to an intuitive, all-in-one cloud-based eye care software system that does it all? Watch a short video or request more information on the many advantages your practice will experience with MaximEyes.com.
For Current MaximEyes Customers Only: If you are currently using an older version of MaximEyes, complete our upgrade form to request more information on how you can get started with transitioning to MaximEyes.com.
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The featured photo in this blog was provided by The Vision Center at Seaside Farms.
About Brad Bodkin, OD, MS, FAAO: Since 2009, Dr. Bodkin has been the founder and president of The Vision Center at Seaside Farms in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. His practice has been voted the “Best Eye Doctor” since 2013. Dr. Bodkin practices full-scope eye care with a clinical focus on contact lenses, including specialty fits such as bifocal/multifocal, gas permeable, keratoconus, and scleral lenses. He is a fellow in the American Academy of Optometry, a member of the American Optometric Association and South Carolina Optometric Physicians Association, and an Administrator for Vision Source.