Whether it is the introduction of new equipment, new technology, or new clinical materials, practicing dentistry has always been dynamic. The same holds true for the functionality dentists need to run their offices. The features delivered in Practice Management Software (PMS) continue to evolve in areas like patient charting and imaging and in business-centric features, including patient engagement, business intelligence, and reporting.
The challenge for PMS providers is ensuring their customers have all the functionality they need in one platform. But, that is easier said than done. In some cases, practices have used a particular platform only to discover later that they are unable to employ features that can make their practice more efficient or productive because of the inability to connect. Or, integration is so burdensome that the benefits are not worth the pain.
Curve, the leading cloud-based PMS provider, constantly adds new features to the Curve Hero platform to meet these changing demands. We also realize that if a dentist really loves an existing solution that they’ve had for several years, they should be able to use it with Curve. That’s why we integrate with leading companies that provide payment processing and financing solutions, patient engagement, online reputation management, and more. We also ensure that integration is streamlined to optimize the user experience.
From a technical standpoint, we offer simple integration with leading software solutions because our platform offers a strong Application Programming Interface (API) to connect with other technologies. 15-years working in the cloud have taught us that making it relatively easy for other software to integrate with Curve is important. This is the advantage of a mature cloud platform with a rich ecosystem of integration partners.
To see the Curve ecosystem of partners, click here.
The Importance of Interoperability
Exchanging and making use of information from other platforms is the basic definition of interoperability. In the field of medicine, interoperability has to do with being part of the continuum of care. This means exchanging patient data with hospitals, physicians, and other medical providers to improve workflow efficiency, data accuracy, and patient experience. As the connection between oral health and overall wellness becomes more tightly aligned, this will become increasingly important. The PMS will be a critical component of interoperability for any dentist. It must be nimble enough to develop new features and easily integrate with other software to deliver the functionality a practice requires to remain competitive and profitable.
A true cloud-based, open architecture like Curve can evolve quickly and seamlessly as the dental market evolves. Practices cannot afford to wait for slow and disruptive updates from server-based systems that work at a glacial pace if they are to stay current or one step ahead of their competition.
Practice Management Software is the Hub of Any Dental Office
Despite the challenges private practices are facing, dentistry’s future is bright. Technology helps dentists automate payment processing, secure patient financing, fill open chair time, and provide levels of care via teledentistry. It also automates data backups, delivers cybersecurity protection, and ensures HIPAA compliance. PMS is the enabler for these tasks, and it should help them be realized, not hinder them.
While integration with other software is valuable to ensure a practice has the tools needed to excel, it is essential to start with a robust platform. Curve has committed to invest $40 million over the next five years to enhance our solution. This commitment will enable us to continually revolutionize the ways dentists leverage technology, serve patients better, improve operations, and increase profitability.
