TechRadar Verdict
Overall, PrognoCIS provides a wide range of features for managing a medical practice, but it is important for practices to carefully consider the lack of a free trial, opaque pricing, and limited support options before making a decision about whether this software is the right fit for their needs.
Pros
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Support via toll free number, and email
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Integrates with multiple billing clearinghouses
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Internal communications via Task Assignment feature
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Cloud based
Cons
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Mostly opaque pricing
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Poorly rated mobile apps
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Clunky mobile apps
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Bizmatics, Inc., the creator of the PrognoCIS medical software suite, has its headquarters in San Jose, California- commonly known as Silicon Valley - since 2001. From this location, they offer a complete range of software solutions, including Electronic Health Records (EHR), Telemedicine, and Medical Billing, available as either local hosted or cloud-based options. Over 15,000 medical professionals use the PrognoCIS application, facilitating more than 25 million patient interactions. Furthermore, Bizmatics is an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau, demonstrating their commitment to providing high-quality services.
PrognoCIS: Features
PrognoCIS offers Practice Management Software, a module that seamlessly integrates with its EHR and billing system. The scheduling component allows for effortless appointment setup and sends text reminders to patients. However, upon closer examination, it becomes apparent that the software's primary focus is on billing, rather than scheduling.
PrognoCIS' software solution provides numerous benefits. It can identify a patient's insurance provider, verify their eligibility for services, and calculate copay amounts. It also allows for easy integration with multiple clearinghouses, enabling efficient patient account reconciliation while considering insurance billing. The software's ability to generate customized statements enhances the professional appearance of medical documentation. Additionally, cash flow optimization is achieved through online patient payments and the efficient processing of EOBs and ERAs.
With PrognoCIS's Task Assignment feature, billers and clinical staff can communicate more efficiently and keep track of tasks. Gone are the days of endless pages and callbacks for coding and billing issues. Instead, billers can send documentable communication to clinicians, who can then address the issues at their convenience, thus improving communication between the two departments.
The persistent use of fax communications in healthcare poses a challenge to medical practices. While many other industries have abandoned the use of traditional fax machines and moved forward with more digital communications, healthcare continues to rely on them due to their compliance with HIPAA regulations. Unlike email and texting, faxes are considered to be HIPAA-compliant. PrognoCIS addresses this need with its PrognoFax feature, as instead of using a separate fax machine, PrognoFax is an in-cloud e-faxing service. It allows users to send and receive faxes securely from within the PrognoCIS software without the need for additional hardware or a separate fax service.
PrognoCIS: Drawbacks
PrognoCIS is a Software as a Service (SaaS) platform accessible via a web browser on any device. This compatibility allows users to utilize PrognoCIS on desktop or laptop computers with a web browser. Additionally, PrognoCIS provides mobile apps for iOS and Android platforms, but their ratings are relatively low. The iOS app, with only 20 reviews, has a score of 1.4 out of 5.
The most recent review is from 2022 suggesting that the app is not particularly developed. The user complains that they cannot read the items on their phone as they are so tiny, and have to take a screenshot and then zoom in to be able to see anything. Other reviews are not suggesting that the app performs better unfortunately.As per the latest review from 2022, the app's development seems inadequate. The user's main complaint centers around the unreadable, minuscule items on their phone screen. To view any content, they must resort to taking a screenshot and zooming in. Regrettably, other reviews do not indicate a more favorable performance of the app.
Regrettably, there is no free trial available, but a free demo is offered for users to at least see the service.
PrognoCIS: Support
The PrognoCIS website's ‘Contact Us’ section provides two contact options for support. One is a toll-free number which we appreciate since complex issues are easier to explain verbally. Unfortunatley, the operating hours for the phone support are not listed, though elsewhere on the site it is mentioned that it's available 24/7.
Alternatively, you can use a direct email address. Although we provide this option for general inquiries, please note that email communication is not considered HIPAA compliant. Therefore, we cannot send screenshots containing Protected Health Information (PHI) or address specific billing issues related to patient accounts through this communication channel.
We express our regret that alternative options, such as chat or an online portal, have not been made available. Additionally, some webinars are offered for training purposes. However, user reviews highlight instances where response times for trouble tickets can be lengthy, and some tickets are closed out without a satisfactory resolution.
PrognoCIS: Pricing
The pricing structure for PrognoCIS is not readily available on their website, which is unfortunately a common occurrence in the medical practice software market. The company adheres to the idea that a comprehensive demonstration is necessary to grasp the full potential and advantages of PrognoCIS. We can recognize that pricing sometimes needs to be tailored to the specific requirements of each specific practice.
Conversely, we seek insights into pricing without providing contact information and engaging in sales conversations without having some idea of the cost. Therefore, with enough searching we discovered in a FAQ that PrognoCIS pricing begins around $280 on up to $450 per month per provider.
PrognoCIS: Final verdict
PrognoCIS, a cloud-based medical practice management software, provides a comprehensive suite of features that caters to the needs of busy medical practices. While it boasts several advantages, there are also some drawbacks that practices should consider before committing to the service.
On the positive side, PrognoCIS offers integrated faxing and robust internal communication for tracking tasks, making it an efficient tool for practice management. Additionally, it is a cloud-based solution, allowing for seamless access from any location.
However, there are some areas where PrognoCIS falls short. One significant downside is the lack of a free trial, which can be a deterrent for practices looking to test the software before making a purchase. The pricing structure is also not transparent, leaving practices uncertain about the actual cost of the software without investing the time in contacting the company. Furthermore, the lack of certain support options, such as chat support, can be a hindrance to practices seeking immediate assistance.
PrognoCIS offers multiple features for managing medical practices, but the lack of a free trial, the opaque pricing, and limited support options give us pause. Practices should consider these factors before finalizing their decision.
