ADVENT Expands Providers and Patient Care During Pandemic With the Help of ModMed® Otolaryngology

Learn how ADVENT benefited from implementing cloud-based ENT software during the pandemic

It’s one thing to add providers and staff during normal times. It’s a whole other feat to do so when a global pandemic substantially changes how healthcare is delivered.

For ADVENT, with 10 locations in Wisconsin and Illinois, their ENT software’s ease of use, specialty-specific features and the ability to access patient scheduling and records from virtually anywhere with an internet connection proved beneficial, even during these challenging times.

Before ADVENT chose a cloud-based ENT EHR, the business had been bogged down with an EHR system designed for multiple provider types. This left physicians and staff feeling like they were working for the EHR, not the other way around. Realizing their ENT practice management software needed modernizing as well, the group selected all-in-one ENT software to include  EMA^®, the award-winning* ENT EHR system, and Practice Management (PM) system from Modernizing Medicine^®.  

The seamless workflow now possible with their updated system saved staff time and frustration. It also set up ADVENT to succeed–even as many ENT providers struggled–during the pandemic. In fact, ADVENT was able to proceed with their growth plan for 2020 and added three new providers and two new ENT surgeons. ADVENT EHR Manager Bruce Apgar explains how ADVENT benefitted from implementing cloud-based ENT software during the pandemic. 

THE RIGHT ENT SOFTWARE AT THE RIGHT TIME

We were nearing the end of our contract with a ‘big box’ software system. We considered another vendor, only to experience so many workarounds in our day-to-day workflow that we had no choice but to look for other solutions.

That brought us to Modernizing Medicine, which offers a very specialty-specific software system for ENT. We discovered more customization capabilities and support compared to our previous vendor. We prefer to have a system work for us instead of us having to do internal process changes that make us work for the system. We’re relieved we made a better choice to go with Modernizing Medicine before we signed the other contract.

Providing clinical protocol availability and syncing directly with the clearinghouse were among the new capabilities for us. Our favorite feature may be modmed® synapSYS, the application programming interface (API) function, which allows automatic connections with other resources in the healthcare community.

We implemented EMA in two phases. In the Fall of 2019, one of our Illinois locations went live before our big box contract ran out. It was a challenging time—working on two very different systems for scheduling, authorization, billing and more, so we switched them to Modernizing Medicine first. Next, we went live with our second phase in March 2020 in the midst of the pandemic. We trained remotely for everything and our backend team appreciated having one integrated system. 

Without a user-friendly platform, we would not have been as successful with making this quick shift. There were definitely benefits in being able to reduce some steps to complete basic functions, and the cloud-based system allowed us to really control access into the system. That is not something we were able to do before.

EXPANDING PROVIDERS AND PATIENT CARE

The pandemic did not upend our growth plan for 2020 and we proceeded with opening new locations. We succeeded because patients with sinus and sleep challenges want to live their best lives and weren’t going to allow anything to get in the way.

From April to December 2020, we added three new providers and two new ENT surgeons. We slowed our hiring a bit during that time, but now our patient volumes have increased, so we added three new providers recently and started onboarding three more.

By the end of June 2021, we expect to have six surgeons and 30 providers at our 10 physical locations and to cover virtual consultations. We have also been able to add different locations much easier. For example, developing standard clinical protocols has allowed us to add a new location and new providers more seamlessly.

TRAINING FOR SUCCESS

Initial training with EMA was essential for our growing business. One of our providers championed the training process and helped us create job aides to accelerate adoption of the new technology. Onsite training from Modernizing Medicine and the user-friendly features of the ENT software helped facilitate faster preparation as well.

The straightforward functionality of the ENT software helped streamline basic practice functions like scheduling, patient check-in, clinical notes documentation with protocols and more. The big box system we used before performed those functions, but required additional steps.

MOVING AHEAD TOGETHER

In addition to being more user-friendly than past software systems I’ve used, Modernizing Medicine offers a more intimate experience. Our dedicated account manager has been one of the biggest wins and the ongoing support has definitely been much more responsive. We appreciate that personalized feeling at ADVENT and are eager to continue our collaborative relationship to continue fueling our exponential growth.

*2021 Black Book™

Disclaimer: The statements and conclusions contained herein reflect the opinions of Bruce Apgar and not those of Modernizing Medicine. Modernizing Medicine makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy of any such information.