Is Your Practice Ready for the Cloud? Hint: You’re Already a Cloud User

Netflix, Gmail, Waze, Uber, Amazon, Instagram – do you know what these services we all use have in common? They’re all cloud-based.

The truth is, you’re probably already a “cloud” user, whether you realize it or not. Every day, you and the other members of your staff are likely using cloud-based software for banking, watching shows, sending emails, and more.

So why isn’t your practice part of the cloud movement yet?

“Cloud computing is arguably one of the most important tech developments…Click to learn more in a new window… of our time,” according to PwC. The world’s leading services understand that the cloud is the best option for cost savings, security, flexibility, and usability. It makes sense that we’d leverage the cloud’s power in the dental industry, as well.

As an office manager, you can help your doctors make the best long-term decisions for the practice that will create a better experience for both staff and patients.

Defining True Cloud-Based Software

Think back to the 1980s for a moment. You may be thinking of big hair and neon clothes. But businesses were saddled with something else that is outdated – server-based software.

Businesses in this model have to pay large upfront costs to buy software, hardware, and on-site servers. Then they pay a monthly software fee, along with keeping IT on staff to continually maintain all the equipment.

By the new millennium, cloud computing began to take off, thanks to innovations from companies like Amazon Web Services, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Suddenly, companies were freed from these huge technology hassles. Cloud-based software enabled them to ditch their on-site servers. Software providers install updates, back up customer data, and increase security measures remotely – no IT staff is needed. Users enjoy the most up-to-date, modern software available without all the additional on-site equipment and costs to maintain it.

Cloud-based software obviously became very popular. But there are imposters out there who claim to be “in the cloud” while missing key features.

A true cloud solution should have these elements:

• Tier 4 data center, comprising the most advanced levels of service and protection to keep your data secure.
• Proven record of high performance so the software is ready to work when you are.
• Cybersecurity protection, including ongoing updates and 3rd-party intrusion testing.
• Remote access, giving you the ability to log in to and use your platform from anywhere.
• No on-site servers to buy, manage or update!

Need help navigating what the true cloud looks like? Curve Dental’s guide, “Which Cloud Solution is Right for You?”…Click to read the article in a new window… gives you a checklist to evaluate any software you’re considering.

Making an Argument for the Cloud in Dental

This all sounds great for technology companies like Google and Apple – but what about dental practices? Do they really need to move to the cloud?

Dr. Jason Streeter can tell you that the answer is unequivocally yes. He bought an existing dental practice in 2017 and noticed how sluggish and unintuitive its server-based software was. He knew he needed to modernize his practice to give it the best chance of long-term success.

After doing his research on all the cloud-based options, he decided to transition the practice to Curve SuperHero and never looked back. While saving over 50%…Click to learn more in a new window… in monthly costs compared to his old solution, his practice got a major upgrade that streamlined processes for his team, secured his data, simplified HIPAA compliance, and allowed staff to provide services from home during the COVID-19 shutdown.

The cloud can help your practice save time and money from before your first patient walks in the door to after you close down for the day. By reducing IT headaches, your staff has more time to focus on what really matters – your patients and their health.

Knowing When You’re Ready to Switch

Which of these apply to your practice?

• We bought a physical server.
• Our IT team is constantly coming out to restore our crashed server or computers.
• I’m not sure if our data is secure from cyber-attacks.
• If we had a fire or flood, our patient records would be wiped out.
• We lose a lot of time when our staff has to stop to install updates.

For Office Manager Kelly Lynch, losing half a day to a server crash was the final straw to make her want to switch to Curve SuperHero’s cloud-based software.

In a webinar on technology’s benefits in dental practice staffing, Kelly said, “I couldn’t get my IT staff in quick enough. We were having software problems. We were having IT problems. I couldn’t get access to the computer, schedule, insurance, or information I needed to keep the practice going while we were closed. The final straw was the server kept dying…Click to read more in a new window.”

After joining the Curve cloud movement, she doesn’t have to rely on a physical server or on-site IT staff, because her Curve cloud-based solution has a 99.99% uptime and live phone customer service that can remotely help her with any issue that may arise.

In today’s competitive market, your practice can’t afford to miss a day (or more!) due to a crashed server, lost data, or a natural disaster. More importantly, your staff deserves technology that enhances their job experience and makes their lives easier.

Your practice can’t wait on the cloud. Let us show you how the cloud can transform your practice by clicking here…Click to see how the cloud can transform your practice in a new window.

Meet the Author

Mark Blount is responsible for Curve Dental’s marketing strategy and execution.

He has over 30 years of experience building dynamic B2B marketing teams focused on demand generation, branding, and sales enablement at emerging technology companies.

Before joining Curve Dental, Mark was VP of Marketing for Brightree, Verint, and other software technology companies.