An important part of a successful practice is up-to-date practice-management technology. Here is a selection of financing plans, inventory-flow systems, and patient-scheduling and practice-management software that can help you save time and make the most out of your practice.

Atlas Business Solutions

Customer Appointment Manager® by Atlas Business Solutions is an efficient way to book and manage appointments. It enables staff to spend less time scheduling appointments and more time focusing on patients. Users can quickly find available appointment times and schedule a one-time or a repeating appointment with a few mouse clicks. Users can also view appointments by day, week, or month; set appointment reminders; prevent double-bookings; fill cancellations; and avoid no-shows.

For additional information, contact Atlas Business Solutions, PO Box 9013, Fargo, ND 58106-9013; (800) 874-8801; www.appointmentsoft.com.

 
Health Finance Options

Health Finance Options (HFO), in association with PFS Patient Financing, offers patient-financing programs for plastic surgeons nationwide. In addition, HFO provides practice-management tools for plastic surgeons. For example, HFO has negotiated arrangements for professional practice financing, equipment financing, and debt-consolidation loans. Competitive credit card-processing services and business credit cards are also available to enrolled providers.

For additional information, contact Health Finance Options, 4833 Spicewood Springs Rd, Suite 102, Austin, TX 78759; (866) 600-0336; www.healthfinanceoptions.com.

 
Brickell Research Inc

Brickell Research Inc offers Medical Office Version 8.0, a comprehensive practice-management and scheduling suite that boasts more than 600 reports, enhanced cost-accounting features, UB-92 claim support, a new monthly multi-resource schedule view, support for the latest generation of high-speed prescription printers, and an electronic superbill for enhanced physician charge capture and review.

Brickell Research also offers Brickell Scheduler 8.0, a medical resource scheduling solution that combines scheduling, electronic medical records, superbill, and mail-merge features with interfaces to third-party software products for patient imaging, elecronic medical records, and customer-relationship management.

For additional information, contact Brickell Research Inc, 1800 SW 27th Ave, Suite 505, Miami, FL 33145; (888) 877-8176; www.brickellresearch.com.

 
ResultSet Inc

For a medical software system that offers a complete suite of products to keep all patient information in one convenient location, turn to ResultSet Inc. The easy-to-use system combines digital-image archiving, aesthetic simulation, electronic medical records, billing, practice management, scheduling, automated dictation, and electronic patient records; and features robust search capabilities. Its flexible design allows data to be transferred from an existing software system. Each function can be purchased separately or grouped to fit your practice’s needs.

For additional information, contact ResultSet Inc, 1609 Sherman Ave, Suite 322, Evanston, IL 60201; (866) 269-3519; www.resultset.com.

 
Canfield Imaging Systems

Canfield Imaging Systems introduces Mirror Version 7.0 modular software, which manages medical images in a familiar patient chart structure. The Enhance tool offers simulated UV photography using a standard-light photo, and ImageSync™ Loupe, which displays magnifications from two images simultaneously. The Mirror advanced imaging tools include tethered capture for select cameras, live overlay for closely matched preoperative and postoperative images, “quick-click” color correction, measurements, annotation, and seamless integration with the VECTRA™ 3-D Imaging System. Mirror aesthetic simulation tools quickly simulate the results of laser resurfacing, liposuction, rhinoplasty, and other procedures.

For additional information, contact Canfield Imaging Systems, 253 Passaic Ave, Fairfield, NJ 07004-2524; (800) 815-4330; www.canfieldsci.com.

 
Lynx CosmetiSoft Inc

CosmetiSoft by Lynx CosmetiSoft Inc is a Microsoft Windows®–based practice-management system that features integrated patient-management and marketing tools, complete patient and insurance billing (including contract fee schedules and electronic file submission), product sales and supplies inventory, photo management, and a handheld link for patient schedules and on-call inquiries. Lynx Cosmetisoft also offers a patient document-management system that links and saves any document into a patient’s records.

For additional information, contact Lynx CosmetiSoft Inc, 131 Lassen Place, Woodland, CA 95695-2635; (530) 852-0306, ext 2; www.cosmetisoft.com.

 
CareCredit

CareCredit Patient Payment Plans introduces a 9.9% patient interest rate on all extended payment plans as an alternative to a bank loan or a consumer credit card. CareCredit’s 18-month, no-interest plan is ideal for patients who need additional time to pay and who prefer a no-interest option. CareCredit helps make your service accessible to a wider range of patients by removing cost as an obstacle. The CareCredit revolving line of credit is ideal for secondary or multiple procedures.

For additional information, contact CareCredit, PO Box 1710, Costa Mesa, CA 92628-1710; (866) 247-3049; www.carecredit.com.

 
AAAASF Inc

The American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities Inc introduces an Internet-based program that allows a new facility to initiate the accreditation and peer-review process in minutes. Surgeons designed this cost-efficient and user-friendly program specifically for office-based surgery.

For additional information, contact AAAASF Inc, 5101 Washington St, Suite 2F, Gurnee, IL 60031; (888) 545-5222; www.aaaasf.org.

 
MBNA

MBNA offers Express Appli­cation to help plastic surgeons increase production by acquiring new equipment. No application or administrative fees, and no advance payment, is required. Financing is also available on installation, training, warranties, supplies, and equipment costs. MBNA Practice Solutions offers competitive options, including fixed or variable rates, flexible terms from 3 to 15 years, and other financial products to fit a practice’s needs.

For more information, contact MBNA, 2740 Airport Dr, Suite 300, Columbus, OH 43219; (800) 491-3634; www.mbnaps.com.

 
Unicorn Financial Services Inc

Unicorn Financial Services Inc offers 12-month and 18-month no-interest financing plans to widen choices for plastic surgery patients. Unicorn’s no-interest financing plans provide a significant competitive marketing advantage to enable plastic surgery practices to attract new patients and dramatically increase conversion rates. Unicorn also offers lines of credit from $5,000 to $12,000, instant online credit decisions, and cutting-edge technology matched to the practice’s patient-management software.

For additional information, contact Unicorn Financial Services, 1701 Hermitage Blvd, Suite 201, Tallahassee, FL 32308; (888) 388-7633; www.unicornfinancial.com.

 
Mentor Solutions

Mentor Solutions (formerly Inform Solutions) delivers proven revenue strategies and business solutions to plastic and cosmetic surgery practices through Inform&Enhance software. Inform&Enhance software optimizes surgical bookings, manages revenue, and identifies income opportunities while tracking staff productivity, referral sources, and marketing effectiveness.

For additional information, contact Mentor Solutions, 4747 Morena Blvd, Suite 101, San Diego, CA 92117; (800) 994-6367; www.mentorsolutions.com.

 
HC Credit

The HELPcard, by HC Credit, is a health care financing plan that allows patients to make affordable monthly payments—as little as 3.25% of the total owed. Patients do not need an excellent credit score to be approved. The approval process takes only 5 minutes by phone, and the payment reaches the physician in as little as 2 days.

For additional information, contact HC Processing Center, PO Box 829, Springdale, AR 72765; (800) 935-3368, ext 475; www.hccredit.com.

 
Medical Justice

Medical Justice offers countersuit protection, malpractice-claim deterrence, and a patented pre-emptive practice strategy to protect physicians from frivolous malpractice lawsuits. Services are offered in most states and include plans for prospective and retroactive open lawsuits. Medical Justice works as a supplement to conventional medical malpractice policies or as stand-alone protection for the self-insured. It executes strategies and pays countersue expenses.

For additional information, call Medical Justice, PO Box 49669, Greensboro, NC 27419; (877) 633-5878; www.medicaljustice.com.

 
MediCredit

MediCredit offers competitive financing options and provides 100% physician payout that can be sent by Priority Mail or ACH with no cost to the physician. Patients can apply via the Internet, fax, or phone. They can receive A-grade to C-grade approvals, as well as 12-month interest-free financing. Once approved, MediCredit requires just one authorized signature on each deal and 3 to 5 business days in which to verify complete paperwork. Payment is then forwarded to the physician’s office.

For additional information, contact MediCredit, 5150 E Pacific Coast Hwy, Suite 770, Long Beach, CA 90804; (800) 963-6334; www.medicredit.com.