How Managed IT Services Keep Dental Practices Competitive
How does a dental practice stay relevant in the evolving world of dental services? The dental industry is constantly facing challenges beyond customer acquisition — which means effectively using technology is the key to competitiveness.
Dental equipment and technology require a high degree of symmetry to support the needs of dental professionals. Business continuity is a particular concern for dental practices, which must embrace electronic dental records to be efficient and get beyond survival mode to thrive truly.
What is an IT Managed Service Provider?
Typically aimed at small to mid-sized businesses, IT service providers deliver a range of technology support, including:
- Consulting for IT projects
- Help desk support
- Cloud storage and other cloud services
- Cybersecurity support, including antivirus, anti-malware, and patching
- Backup and business continuity
IT managed services providers can also act as a virtual CIO, offering strategic advice to help your company meet aggressive business goals. Working with an external IT services provider is a popular option for many dental practices that can’t afford a team of in-house IT experts.
Benefits of Outsourcing to IT Professionals
1. Saves Money
Investment in hardware and technology can be cost-prohibitive for many dental practices. An IT managed services company hosts the best technologies, allowing dental offices to enjoy the benefits of enterprise-grade solutions without investing in expensive hardware and paying the associated maintenance and support costs.
2. Reduces Labor Costs
According to PayScale.com, the national median salary for an in-house IT technician is $40,000, a more experienced technician is $65,000 and network administrators start at $92,316 — excluding health benefits. Outsourcing to a team of highly-qualified IT professionals means you only pay for what services you need when you need them.
3. Keeps You Compliant
Providing a secure environment to store private patient information is non-negotiable. All patient files stored and transmitted electronically are protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Outsourcing your IT function shifts the burden of compliance to your partner and ensures you are always staying within best-practice recommendations..
4. Provides Additional Security
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act, Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, and Sarbanes–Oxley Act all outline privacy, reporting, and security in the healthcare industry.
Consider the ramifications if a dental practice was subject to a cyberattack where patient data was compromised, including credit card details. An IT managed services provider reduces the risk of managing security in-house by providing additional cybersecurity levels throughout your IT infrastructure.
5. Reduces Downtime
A dental practice relies on technology to make patient appointments, take payments, process health care insurance claims, and capture X-rays. Imagine the impact on customer service if your systems went down due to a glitch in your IT systems. Not only is this a challenge for your patients, but IT downtime is also a major cause of employee frustration. If unexpected downtime occurs, your IT services provider will have your systems up and running again in no time — keeping employees productive and patients happy with your service levels.
6. Quick Implementation of New Technology
A savvy dental practice will keep in touch with new technologies that add value to their business. Not having to invest in costly IT infrastructure helps you stay nimble and competitive — quickly adapting to new technology as it comes to market. Your proactive technology partner takes care of the installation, licensing, training, and support of any new technology or software solutions, ensuring you hit the ground running.
7. Predictable Monthly Costs
One of the greatest burdens a dental practice has to bear are unknown and variable costs in their business. By outsourcing your IT function, you know exactly what your ongoing costs are each month. Fixed contracts and monthly payment plans allow a dental practice to budget accordingly without any unexpected upgrade fees or maintenance costs.
When you partner with Veltec Networks to provide technical support for your dental practice, you and your staff will have more time to focus on the all-important patient experience. Contact our team of friendly and knowledgeable professionals at 408-797-0756 or via email to info@veltecnetworks.com to schedule your complimentary initial consultation.
