Kareo Overview
Kareo is a comprehensive technology platform designed to meet the diverse needs of independent medical practices, particularly those with smaller to medium-sized operations. Here’s a detailed look at what Kareo does and its key features:
What Kareo Does
Kareo is an all-in-one solution that integrates various essential functions of a medical practice, including Electronic Health Records (EHR), practice management, medical billing, and patient engagement. This integrated approach simplifies operations, enhances efficiency, and allows healthcare providers to focus more on patient care.
Key Features and Functionality
Electronic Health Records (EHR)
Kareo’s EHR system is cloud-based, eliminating the need for hardware installation. It allows healthcare providers to create, update, and access comprehensive patient records, including medical history, allergies, medications, and test results. The system also includes features like e-prescriptions, lab integrations, and customizable templates for common medical forms and documents.
Practice Management
The practice management module streamlines administrative tasks such as appointment scheduling, patient flow management, and sending appointment reminders. It also includes tools for insurance verification, financial reporting, and check-ins, making everyday tasks more manageable.
Medical Billing
Kareo offers two approaches to medical billing: in-house management and outsourced billing. For in-house management, the platform automates many billing tasks, such as claim submission and payment tracking, to help practices get paid faster and more accurately. The outsourced billing option allows Kareo to handle the entire billing process, including claims submissions, follow-up actions, and payment postings.
Automation and Efficiency
Kareo’s billing process is highly automated, using a system that “scrubs” every claim before submission to catch potential errors and ensure a high clean claims rate (95%). The platform also includes an Organized Worklist (OWL) that automatically assigns denied claims to appropriate staff members for quick resubmission.
Patient Engagement
The platform includes a patient portal where patients can view their medical billing information, lab results, medical history, and communicate with healthcare providers through instant messaging or video chatting. Additionally, Kareo offers reputation management and performance reporting tools to help practices improve patient satisfaction and overall performance.
Customization and Scalability
Kareo is highly customizable to fit the specific needs of different practice types and sizes. It provides flexibility in workflows and billing processes, making it adaptable to various specialties, including mental health, podiatry, and more.
Cloud-Based Accessibility
Being cloud-based, Kareo allows users to access the system from anywhere, enabling remote work and secure access to patient data. This ensures that healthcare providers can manage their practice efficiently, regardless of their location.
Reporting and Analytics
Kareo includes robust reporting and analytics tools that help practices track their financial performance, identify areas for improvement, and make data-driven decisions. These tools are integrated into the platform, providing a comprehensive dashboard for practice management.
Mobile App
Kareo offers a mobile app compatible with iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch devices, allowing practitioners to manage their EHR and other practice functions on the go.
Conclusion
In summary, Kareo is a powerful, integrated platform that streamlines the operations of independent medical practices by combining EHR, practice management, medical billing, and patient engagement into a single, intuitive system. Its automation, customization, and cloud-based accessibility make it an ideal solution for healthcare providers looking to enhance efficiency and focus on patient care.