The Best Accounting Software for Doctors

August 28, 2024
5
minutes to read
by
Justin Bohlmann
Table of Contents

Running a medical practice is a demanding job. Aside from tending to patients, doctors need to attend to a host of administrative tasks, including managing finances and staying compliant with accounting regulations. In today's constantly-evolving business landscape, it can be challenging to stay on top of it all. Enter specialised accounting software designed to cater to the unique needs of medical professionals. In this article, we'll explore the best accounting software solutions tailored for doctors in Australia.

Why Doctors Need Accounting Software

Doctors play a crucial role in society by providing medical care to patients. However, running a medical practice is not an easy task. Apart from providing quality healthcare to patients, doctors also need to manage their finances efficiently. Accurate financial records are essential for any business, and medical practices are no exception. In this regard, doctors need specialised accounting software to help them streamline their financial management processes.

Managing Finances for Medical Practices

Medical practices have unique financial management needs that require accounting software. For instance, medical practices need to keep track of insurance and government reimbursements accurately. They also have to manage numerous expenses that come with managing a healthcare centre. Accounting software solutions designed for doctors offer features that cater to medical professionals. These features include customisable invoicing and billing capabilities, payroll management, and tracking payments, expenses, and much more.

Streamlining Tax and Compliance Requirements

Doctors need to stay compliant with tax regulations to avoid legal issues. However, with so many things to juggle, it can be challenging to stay compliant. Accounting software solutions like QuickBooks Online and Xero integrate tax and compliance requirements into their platforms. This integration makes it easy for doctors to submit tax returns on time and provide accurate financial statements for their practice.

Time-saving Features for Busy Professionals

Doctors are busy professionals who need to spend more time with their patients. Administrative tasks like financial management can take up a lot of their time. However, specific accounting software like Zoho Books and FreeAgent come with time-saving features. These features include automation of data entry and scheduled invoicing. By automating repetitive tasks like creating financial reports, doctors can free up their time to focus on growing their practice.

Accounting software is essential for doctors to manage their finances efficiently. With the right accounting software, doctors can streamline their financial management processes, stay compliant with tax regulations, and save time on administrative tasks. This way, doctors can focus on providing quality healthcare to their patients and growing their practice.

Top Accounting Software Options for Doctors

Managing finances can be a daunting task for doctors who are busy with their medical practice. Fortunately, there are several accounting software solutions available that are tailored to meet the unique needs of medical professionals. Here are five of the best options:

1. Thriday

Thriday accounting software is an ideal choice for doctors, offering numerous advantages specifically designed to meet their needs. Firstly, Thriday simplifies financial management by automating tasks such as invoicing, billing, and accounts payable processing. This saves valuable time and reduces the chance of errors, allowing doctors to focus more on patient care. Thriday also provides a centralised platform to track and manage patient payments, making it easier to monitor outstanding invoice balances and streamline revenue collection.

Thriday's robust reporting and analytics capabilities provide valuable insights into practice finances, helping doctors make informed business decisions and identify opportunities for growth. Moreover, Thriday ensures compliance with tax regulations, reducing the risk of non-compliance and associated penalties. Overall, Thriday accounting software empowers doctors with efficient financial management tools, allowing them to optimise their practice's financial health while delivering high-quality patient care.

2. Xero

Xero is another cloud-based accounting software solution that is popular among medical professionals. It offers users all the features necessary to manage finances in one place, including invoicing, billing, and expense tracking. The platform also integrates seamlessly with medical practice management systems, making it super easy to track payments, expenses, and more.

One of the standout features of Xero is its user-friendly interface, which makes it easy to navigate and use. It also offers robust reporting capabilities that allow medical professionals to generate custom reports and analysis based on their needs.

3. MYOB

MYOB is another accounting software solution for doctors in Australia. It boasts comprehensive payroll capabilities and specialist finance functionality for medical practices. The platform comes with full financial analysis capabilities, making it easy to keep track of all expenses, from medical supplies to insurance and loan payments.

One of the key benefits of Sage Business Cloud Accounting is its user-friendly interface, which is designed to be intuitive and easy to use. It also offers powerful reporting capabilities that allow medical professionals to generate custom reports and analysis based on their needs.

Key Features to Look for in Accounting Software for Doctors

All accounting software solutions are not created equal, and specific features will be more critical to medical professionals than to other business owners. Here are some key accounting software features that should be present in any solution tailored for doctors:

Integration with Medical Practice Management Systems

Some accounting software solutions come with built-in integrations for medical practice management software like Cerner and Epic. These integrations make it easier to manage financials and reconcile patient accounts.

For instance, if you are a doctor running a clinic, you can integrate your accounting software with your practice management system to streamline your billing process. This will enable you to manage your financials and reconcile patient accounts more efficiently, reducing the risk of errors and saving you time.

Customisable Invoicing and Billing

Customisable invoicing and billing features are must-haves for medical practitioners. A good accounting software solution should offer customised billing and invoicing capabilities, with the option to send invoices online and track payments in real-time.

With customisable invoicing and billing features, you can create professional-looking invoices that reflect your medical practice's brand and image. You can also tailor your invoices to include specific details, such as patient names, services rendered, and payment terms.

Bill Management

In addition to invoicing and payments, accounting software for doctors should come with billing management capabilities. Paying bills is an essential feature for medical practices that have suppliers. With bill management capabilities, you can automate your accounts payable process, calculate taxes and deductions, and generate reports for your employees. This will save you time and reduce the risk of errors.

Financial Reporting and Analysis

Doctors need to regularly generate financial reports for confirmatory purposes or analysis. Therefore, look for accounting software solutions that offer robust financial reporting features that can be customised to your specific practice needs.

With financial reporting and analysis features, you can generate reports that provide insights into your medical practice's financial performance. You can analyse your revenue, expenses, and profitability and make informed decisions based on the data.

Data Security and Compliance

Finally, because medical practices often handle large amounts of personal and sensitive information, look for accounting software solutions that guarantee data security and compliance. That way, you are assured your patient data remains safe and secure.

Data security and compliance are critical features for any accounting software solution for doctors. With data security and compliance features, you can ensure that your patient data is protected from unauthorised access, theft, or loss. You can also comply with regulations such as HIPAA, GDPR, and CCPA, which are designed to protect patient privacy and data security.

Final Thoughts

Running a medical practice requires the use of accounting software customised to meet the unique needs of the healthcare industry. By adopting software solutions tailored to their needs, medical practices can streamline financial management, improve compliance, and save considerable time to focus on patient care. By incorporating the criteria mentioned above when choosing an accounting software solution, medical professionals can select the best solution that meets their specific requirements. Ultimately, this leads to a more efficient, effective, and thriving practice.

DISCLAIMER: Team Thrive Pty Ltd ABN 15 637 676 496 (Thriday) is an authorised representative (No.1297601) of Regional Australia Bank ABN 21 087 650 360 AFSL 241167 (Regional Australia Bank). Regional Australia Bank is the issuer of the transaction account and debit card available through Thriday. Any information provided by Thriday is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether Thriday is appropriate for you. Team Thrive No 2 Pty Ltd ABN 26 677 263 606 (Thriday Accounting) is a Registered Tax Agent (No.26262416).

Why waste time on financial admin when Thriday can do it for you?

Thriday Debit Card
Is your tax return stressing you out?

Book a free call with our resident tax expert Laura, to make tax time, relax time.

Book now
Need help streamlining your accounting? Book a free call
Tax got you stressed? Book a Q&A session with our expert tax agent Laura
BOOK A CALL