The main reason most podiatrists computerise their practice is to make the day-to-day running of their clinic easier so that their time can be better spent treating patients (and making money!).
They also want to avoid the laborious task of manually calculating fees taken and practice expenditure.

Benefits

• Increased speed and reduced costs
• Enhance your practice image with improved quality of work
• Easily manage all of your information
• Share resources and information
• Communicate more effectively with the wider world
•  It's a Challenge!

Increases Speed and Reduces Costs

• Reduced costs such as accountant’s fees.
• Templates can be created for all of your standard documents
• Saves re-writing the same information (eg a name and address). Type it only once and can then re-use it again and again. This helps you to manage your time better
• Improved cash flow created by prompt invoicing and good credit controls, including the management of debtors (accounts receivable).
• Improved productivity by releasing the podiatrist from repetitive tasks to perform much more interesting and challenging duties.
• Speed, accuracy and decision making is improved because an electronic record provides accurate data and consistency of information.
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Enhance your practice image with improved quality of work

• Produce documents that enhance your professional image
• Achieve accuracy eg spell checking and arithmetic can be done automatically
• Improves the practice’s image by presenting an upmarket, hi-tech approach and better response to queries.
• Good record keeping is essential in the successful management of any health care business. As computer prices continue to drop, many practices will achieve genuine and easily attained benefit from low cost, easy to use computer equipment and software. Also, the computer’s ability to perform many business functions over and above maintaining financial and clinical records has dramatically increased the usefulness of the computer by podiatrists and chiropodists.
  
  An alternative to purchasing and learning how to use a computer is to tap into one of the many bookkeeping services now available at a modest cost. This option will save you initially the capital outlay but, over time, it will not provide the flexibility, efficiency, or convenience of owning your own computer system.
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Manage all of your formation

• Documents can be circulated easily and easily revised.
• Accounting software can transform your business.
• Databases let you record, retrieve and analyse information easily.
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Share resources and information

• Everyone in the practice can share the main database, printers and disk storage space (even the appointments diary
• Information can be easily kept updated for everyone to see.
• Allows access to the business information at any time from any location, as long as there is connection to the computer.
• Enables connection to other computers via the telephone network for contacts and faxes>
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Communicate with the outside world

• Use e-mail to communicate instantly with people anywhere in the world at minimal cost
• Find useful information on the Internet e.g. the latest research and where to find resources that your patients want.
• Communicate a professional image through high quality presentations or an excellent website

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It's a Challenge!

Many podiatrists find that computerisation can be a challenge. To make sure that things go smoothly you need to do the following things:

• Involve the practice staff and gain their commitment.
• Get training for yourself and your staff
• Be aware of the effort and time involved to convert to a new system.
• Be confident of the ability of the supplier to give full support.
• Be satisfied with the quality of the equipment.
• Be satisfied with the quality and suitability of the software used.
• Ensure that you will receive good ongoing support and assistance from the computer firms where you purchased your hardware and software.

Because of the fast pace of technology, computers become outdated rapidly. The general expectancy for computer hardware is three to five years, although this is probably decreasing again to more like two to three years. In addition, software is constantly being upgraded and this will avoid the need for any major software changes.

Many practices cannot afford not to computerise their operations particularly in today’s very competitive environment. Most hardware and software houses know this; therefore some unscrupulous operators will try to profit from you by selling sophisticated systems that you will not need. As with anything, expert advice is recommended if you are in doubt.