IPRO for audiology boosts practice efficiency

Private hearing aid sales growth of around seven per cent* per annum, and significant advances over NHS options, are ensuring that audiology is on a very healthy trajectory for businesses looking to diversify alongside optometry.

With nearly a quarter of devices now being sold privately, good marketing and referrals from existing patients are key – both aspects of business which are greatly enhanced by IPRO’s audiology practice management software.

Bringing together 25 years of experience, optimised by close co-operation with users, IPRO’s software is managing the business aspects of some of the UK’s most respected providers.

Fully integrated with industry standard NOAH 4.10, the modular software tracks the patient’s journey from the first consultation to after sales, repairs and check-ups. Video consultations are an increasingly popular feature of the software as they reduce direct contact and can be saved onto the patient record: a significant benefit in the Covid-19 era.

Businesses looking to promote the advantages of enhanced – and increasingly discreet audiology devices – to their local community can benefit from the patient loyalty programmes.

Keeping the business on track

Lynne Leeming’s Charnwood Hearing Aid Centre near Leicester is about to celebrate 10 years of using winIRPO. She says: “The software can track anything: as soon as a patient telephones, we can see at a glance what hearing aid they have, what batteries and which wax guard they use, and their status on payment.”

Lynne is a keen user of the recall and reminder functions, with the facility to email patient promotions wherever the team is working. She explains: “The fact that I have full ownership of the data is very important. Recently the internet was down at the practice for a fortnight – I was so pleased that I did not have a cloud-based PMS system.

“I am also using winIPRO2Go where I can dial in via a Virtual Private Network (VPN),” Lynne continues. “When I am out on visits I have the full database and functionality on my devices with all aspects updated seamlessly. I bought the system outright as I prefer to know that I own it, and the service that I get from IPRO is fantastic – there is always someone at the end of the phone.”

System for scaling up

Selma Becker who has a private audiology practice in Farnham Common, Help in Hearing, also likes the fact that the IPRO software enables her to maintain full control over patient data, and that the modular system can be scaled up.

Selma says: “It does just about everything and is very adaptable to the way we like to run our business. We use if for any kind of patient marketing, plus it runs the diary, patient orders and so on. NOAH data integrates very easily – as does the software from all of the major device manufacturers. We have never had any problems in accessing data.

“I have the Home Visit module on my laptop, and when I return to the practice it updates over the server. It is very well designed and organised, along with great support when we need it,” adds Selma.

Targeted recall and referral

Fergusons Hearing Clinic in Limerick, which has more than 4,000 patients, has been using the software for six years. “It is just great, particularly in liaising with the professionals and in keeping track of payments,” says Margaret Kennedy, support manager at the practice.

“Apart from appointment management and template referral letters to the ENT specialists, we are able to send very specific recall letters related to the age of the patient and the type of hearing aid that they have,” Margaret explains. “When we put in the patient’s name, everything comes up on the screen – we know when to post the batteries and if they have been paid for, as the system keeps track of this.”

Carlton Plaatjes, head of IPRO UK

Win-win hands down

Carlton Plaatjes, head of IPRO UK, comments: “The flexibility that the system provides, the fact that it is not cloud-based, and the full NOAH integration means the software wins hands down. It is fully optimised and fast to use, which is important in a busy practice and when you have someone on the end of a phone.

“We have tremendous experience in implementing IPRO software and ensuring the transition from an existing software provider is straightforward.  Our team training ensures that the greatest benefit is achieved for any business.”

* British Irish Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association, 2019

IPRO International is based in Stuttgart, Germany, with a UK subsidiary in northwest London. IPRO International is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Haag Streit.

Find out more about IPRO and its range of products and services by visiting the HS IPRO International website. Click here.

This article is sponsored by IPRO.