A state of flux prevails in SA`s medical industry, with an estimated more than 40% of medical services claims still being submitted manually through paper-based systems and 30% of medical practices yet to computerise their operations.
"This, and the fact that other estimates from sample surveys reveal more than 70% of medical practices that have computerised still operate on DOS applications, means there are huge opportunities for more advanced software applications and technology services," said Terry Kier, managing director of medical practice management software house Mastermed.
Kier told a gathering of value-added resellers at a distribution channel presentation in Woodmead that the medical market, with at least 69 managed healthcare groups, 218 medical schemes, 606 major scheme options, 3 292 sub-options, all further complicated by hundreds of diagnostic codes, treatment codes, dispensing codes, rules, tariffs and capping levels on medicine prices, is ripe for a technology revolution.
"There are also major legislative changes pending which means that existing software packages, especially those on the DOS platform used by the majority of medical practices that are computerised, will not be able to cope without having to make significant changes to legacy code within their software.
"For medical practices, the key issue is to turn the payment process around as quickly as possible. The entire cycle needs tightening up and the key to this is modern, Windows-based medical practice management software capable of handling the market changes and fluctuations while fully integrating with proven accounting software."
There are some 8 000 general practitioners and 4 000 specialists operating in the market and thousands more related service practitioners such as physiotherapists, optometrists, pathologists and radiologists.
Kier added that an independent survey of the market revealed high levels of dissatisfaction with service and support levels provided for software and hardware systems.
"The survey asked practitioners to rate the issues most important to them as far as technology, software and hardware services were concerned. Backup and support services topped the list, followed by information, advice and training.
"The product rated third, contact and communication fourth, people/relationships fifth and knowledge and expertise sixth. Price is not really an issue, as it was ranked eleventh. So the market wants a cutting-edge product with high levels of service and support, and is prepared to pay for it."
Mastermed has just launched practice management software for the medical industry that runs Windows on a Microsoft SQL database, and integrates fully and seamlessly into Pastel Accounting software - a unique feature.
"The partnership with Pastel has brought together two best-of-breed products that will be of mutual benefit to both companies and to the two sets of professionals who will use the software - medical practitioners on the one hand and accountants on the other," said Kier.
"Mastermed is a fully featured product -- not a third-party application. Users will hardly know they are running on Pastel because the integration is seamless. Our investment in R&D, call centre technology and other dedicated support services infrastructure has also been very well received by the medical industry."
The partnership has also brought together two well-established channels of value-added resellers and dealers. Through the Mastermed channel, Pastel gains entry into a narrow vertical market that was difficult for them to access. Mastermed, in turn, benefits from opportunities created by the Pastel channel.
"There are also new opportunities for VARs and dealers in both channels," said Kier. "We welcome new channel partners provided they meet our selection criteria, and it makes no difference whether their speciality is accounting or medical practice management software. It`s win-win across the board."
Kier added that for the first time, accountants providing services to the practices or service businesses of medical professionals will be able to obtain a seamless transfer of data into Pastel, a well-established, proven accounting software package designed for South African needs that they are very comfortable with.
To enter the market Mastermed acquired HAS Software (Pty) Ltd, developer of Medad 2000, the dominant Windows-based medical practice software application with a 14-year track record in SA, and a loyal and well-established user base. The new release of Mastermed software was developed over three years.
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