Review of SuiteMed IMS Software
SuiteMed's little tag line on their website is Beyond EMR, and one can't help but wonder what that might mean. Unlike some of the more cutting-edge vendors, SuiteMed offers its system as either a client-server based or a web-based solution. It is, however, fully integrated and involves only one database.
Features
EHR features include the following:
The Patient Screen: Allows for viewing all patient information from a single screen.
Meaningful Use Dashboard: Shows you how to easily achieve this new criteria.
Prescriptions and e-Prescribing: Allows you to track medication and refill histories and auto-check prescriptions against patient's medications/allergies before electronic transmission to pharmacy.
Authorization and Referral Tracking: Allows for automatic front office staff reminders to verify authorizations prior to patient appointment.
Lab Orders and Tracking: Transfers diagnostic/lab orders electronically through HL7 interface that includes customizable templates, pre-printed forms or print/fax forms as well.
Health Maintenance Reminders: Helps assure timely completion of tests, exams, immunizations, education and screenings.
Drug Dispensary: Helps with safe and accurate in-house drug dispensing.
Patient Portal: Patients can access their records online 24/7, helping reduce time on the phone.
Specialty Specific Content: There are templates for more than 26 specialties.
Physician Dashboard: Single-screen with tasks and reminders to improve workflow.
E&M Coding Optimization: Helps reduce lost charges and achieve higher reimbursements.
Reporting: Generates detailed reports for patient outcomes and business analysis, including both pre-built and customizable reports.
Document and Image Management: Both documents and images can be captured and condensed into the patient's electronic chart.
Automatic Form Filler: Allow for pre-populating frequent-use forms with patient information.
Letter Writing & Form Management: Create needed documents for referrals, auto-check against patient data, treatment and provider information. It includes customizable fields for unique patient needs, and you can directly scan or fax inbound documents into a patient's electronic record.
Practice Management features include the following:
Auto Check-In Kiosk: Patients can handle their own check-in, update demographics, fill out electronic forms and more.
Scheduling: This module includes many features that save time and increase productivity while maintaining high levels of accountability.
Billing and Collections: Generates Super Bills, pre-checking of EM codes, strong validation, auto-reconciliation (ERA) and CMS-1500 or UB92.
Bar-coded ID Cards: Patient registration is more accurate and fast with automated bar-coded ID cards.
Authorization/Referral Tracking: Helps with check-in, charge posting and insurance reimbursements; customize authorization by both procedure and insurance. Authorization verification is provided for check-in and charge posting to ensure insurance reimbursements. Authorization requirements can be set by procedure and insurance.
Other features: Many of the EHR features apply here as well, including E&M Coding Optimization, robust reporting functionality, document/image management and patient portal.
SuiteMed is CCHIT-certified and ONC-ATCB-certified along with Meaningful Use.
It also guarantees that it will be stimulus-ready both in terms of Meaningful Use and ARRA Certification.
Although it touts itself as the most affordable EHR/EMR software available, they provide no information about pricing on the website that would allow for confirmation of the claim.
It also claims unmatched support and training, but this is offered through authorized partners who are certified health IT professionals that live in your neighborhood and understand your local practice needs.
Clearly that is just not possible, given that a "neighborhood" is generally taken to mean a subsection of a city or town. Are there really SuiteMed authorized partners located in the neighborhood of every medical practice in the country? That seems doubtful, at best.
SuiteMed also offers a complete revenue cycle management service that can take all billing functions outside the practice.
There are many positive reviews of SuiteMed on the Internet, but most of these seem to be from re-seller sites rather than actual users of the system. The few user reviews out there were positive, noting only a few technical glitches here and there in the system.
The more disturbing reviews had to do with lack of high-quality customer support, especially during the all-important "go-live" week for new clients. Training was also highlighted as being inadequate in those reviews.
GRADE: B
SuiteMed IMS Report Card
(click for an explanation of the grading scale)
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Ease of setup, learning curve, user-friendliness | B |
| HIPPA compliance and security measures | A |
| Up-to-date array of robust features | A |
| Can include integrated practice management | A |
| Can include integrated EHR/EMR | A |
| Allows for flexible and advanced reporting | B |
| Training, technical support and maintenance | D |
| Certifications, awards, recommendations and reviews | C |
| Pricing (ease of understanding, transparency, etc.) | D |
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