Software Rx

It's been a bit tough to be a home medical equipment provider the last few years. Medicare reimbursement cuts have hit hard, competitive bidding is on the way and gasoline prices have increased delivery costs. But the reality is that the industry has faced these types of hurdles since the 1980s, when an insurance industry overhaul began to force early discharge of patients from the hospital to the home, accompanied by the need for home medical equipment.

Yes, we have to fight the good fight on a legislative level but, as always, the industry also will need to adapt.

Labor is the largest continuing cost for most HME providers. The business is paperwork-heavy and process-laden. Small providers can be overwhelmed with too few people to get the job done; medium-sized providers face the challenge of adjusting processes for growth; and large providers must be able to scale processes for handling massive amounts of data. No matter the size of the company, all share a common need to operate as efficiently as possible and maximize the productivity of the work force.

Fortunately, advances in software technology can assist providers in improving both areas. Simply put, in a game of survival of the fittest, HME systems software can make the difference between thriving during the challenges ahead — or becoming a casualty of them.

Making Careful Choices

There is a wide variety of software available to providers with an even wider variety of features. Some are available in component form so that you can add features as the business grows and more sophisticated productivity tools are required.

But choosing HME systems software is one of the single most important decisions an HME provider will make in the lifetime of the business, so it's not a decision that should be made in a hasty manner. The wise business owner will involve the company's employees to create a list of both “must-have” features and those that would be “nice to have.”

Of course, those “nice-to-have” features are generally where the productivity comes in, and they can quickly morph into “must-have” features as the company grows. Thinking ahead as you choose HME systems software will pay off in the long run.

It is also important to ask for input from employees in various areas of your business operation during the software evaluation process. They can help you spot potential problems with software, like features that may look good during a demo but aren't very practical when it comes to getting the day-to-day job done.