5 ERP Software Selection Tips for Healthcare Practitioners and Agencies

Recent changes in the healthcare industry have demanded healthcare providers and agencies to rise up to higher standards of regulation, compliance and reporting and many are starting the ERP software selection process to upgrade existing outdated systems. How do you select the best ERP system to fit the complex needs of your healthcare practice.  As ERP consultants, we help our healthcare clients are rise up to the pressure and ensure their internal IT and ERP systems are capable of keeping pace with the industry demands.

If you made a system change in the past, you know it is essential to choose the right ERP system to keep up with current and future requirements. Many of our smaller healthcare providers had previously invested in accounting “add-ons” to their healthcare management software package. Others invested in “home grown” solutions that were patched together by practice managers and front-office staff. In all cases, our clients who were upgrading to an ERP system decided the best way to rise up to industry standards is to make the switch to Microsoft Dynamics GP.

We interviewed our clients who are healthcare practitioners and agencies about their ERP software selection and decision-making process and identified a number important tips for other healthcare agencies should consider when upgrading their ERP system. We hope you find these to be helpful if you are thinking about upgrading your business management and financial accounting systems.  Here's to the future health of your business.

Here are 5 tips from our healthcare clients for those starting the ERP software selection and implementation process.

1. Avoid locked-in, proprietary or custom systems: It’s important to choose an ERP system that works well with other systems as the need to share data, both internally and with peer providers, will become more critical to business success in the coming years.
2. Keep it simple - ERP software solution must be user friendly: Whatever system you select must be simple. Small healthcare practices rarely have in-house IT resources to help coach office staff, so a familiar, easy-to-use interface is crucial.
3. Make sure your ERP system will accommodate growth: If you focus only on addressing current challenges you may overcome an existing problem, but you may not gain the process improvements necessary to stay competitive.
4. Start with the ERP software users: The best way to ensure that your investment in a new system will succeed is to get buy-in from the people who actually have to use it to accomplish their daily tasks. Allow junior staff a voice in the decision-making process, not just senior management.
5. Keep your priorities straight: Many vendors like to show off sophisticated, costly features when you may simply need a system that helps you meet your needs.

As ERP consultants, we have helped hundreds of healthcare providers get their business management in order so that they can get back to their core business: giving patients the best quality care! Talk to us at AccountNet about Microsoft Dynamics GP and learn how it can help you with your ERP software selection. We can help you with your business goals to lower operating costs, improve your business decision-making process, streamline payroll functions and enable compliance with regulations.