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Navigating Change: Five Business Challenges O&P Practitioners Face in 2024
December 11, 2023
Navigating Change: Five Business Challenges O&P Practitioners Face in 2024
Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) practitioners play a vital role in increasing the quality of life for individuals with limb disabilities or loss. However, the business landscape for O&P professionals is constantly evolving, presenting a new set of challenges in 2024. From technological advancements to changing regulations, O&P practitioners are facing several business challenges that present an opportunity to grow. But survival in times of change will require adaptability and innovation.
Challenge #1 – Technological Advancements
One of the primary challenges O&P practitioners face in 2024 is keeping up with the rapid pace of technological advancements. As 3D printing, artificial intelligence, and advanced materials become more integrated into the field, O&P practitioners must invest in ongoing training and education to remain competitive. Additionally, integrating these technologies into their practices requires substantial initial investments, which can be a financial burden for smaller O&P clinics.
Solution: To overcome this challenge, practitioners can explore partnerships with technology providers, attend relevant conferences and workshops, and consider seeking financial support through
grants or subsidies to facilitate the adoption of these technologies.
Challenge #2 – Evolving Regulatory Environment
The regulatory landscape for healthcare providers, including O&P practitioners,
is continually changing. Compliance with regulations, such as
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and Medicare/Medicaid guidelines, is crucial. Non-compliance can lead to significant legal and financial consequences. Keeping up with these evolving regulations and ensuring the highest standards of patient care can be daunting.
Solution: To navigate the complex regulatory environment, O&P practitioners should establish robust compliance programs, invest in staff training, and stay updated on changes through professional associations, legal counsel, and government resources.
Challenge # 3 – Reimbursement Challenges
In 2024, reimbursement challenges continue to plague O&P practitioners. Insurance companies are increasingly scrutinizing claims, leading to more denials and delays in payments. This can put a financial strain on O&P practices, especially smaller ones with limited resources to manage these billing complexities.
Solution: O&P practitioners can address this challenge by investing in billing and coding expertise, streamlining their billing processes, and ensuring accurate documentation. They should also diversify their revenue streams by offering cash-pay services and exploring partnerships with insurance companies.
Challenge #4 – Market Competition
The O&P industry is becoming more competitive, with larger corporate chains expanding their reach and local practitioners vying for the same pool of patients. This increased competition can make it challenging for smaller O&P practices to thrive and grow.
Solution: To remain competitive, O&P practitioners should focus on their unique strengths, provide exceptional patient care, and build strong relationships with referral sources, such as physicians and physical therapists. Differentiating themselves through specialized services and personalized care can help them stand out in a crowded market.
Challenge #5 – Patient Expectations
In 2024, patient expectations are higher than ever. Patients expect faster turnaround times, custom solutions, and a seamless experience throughout their treatment journey. Meeting these expectations while maintaining high-quality care can be demanding.
Solution: O&P practitioners should invest in efficient workflow processes, improve communication with patients, and leverage technology to streamline administrative tasks. Providing personalized care plans and actively seeking patient feedback can also help meet and exceed patient expectations.
While O&P practitioners face several business challenges in 2024, they also have opportunities for growth and innovation. By staying adaptable, investing in education and technology, and focusing on patient-centered care, O&P practitioners can overcome these challenges and continue to make a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals with limb disabilities. The O&P industry may be evolving, but with the right strategies and dedication, practitioners can thrive in this changing landscape.
Which of these challenges are you feeling most deeply impacted by?
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10-Practice O&P business turns to Nymbl Systems to support its growth and need for greater efficienciess DUBLIN, Ohio, November 11, 2024 – Nymbl Systems announced today that Mary Free Bed Orthotics &Prosthetics + Bionics has selected Nymbl’s innovative, cloud-based practice management platform. Mary Free Bed O&P+B, a highly respected nonprofit known for its commitment to exceptional care, aims to meet the needs of an expanding network of clinics and mobile units across the Midwest. “We are experiencing tremendous growth in our business and our previous practice management system was slowing us down,” said Scott Riddle, Vice President of Mary Free Bed Orthotics & Prosthetics + Bionics.. “Speed and accessibility become very important to us. We knew we needed a system that could keep pace with our growth and help us find new efficiencies across every part of our business, so we switched to Nymbl.” In contrast to their former self-hosted system, Nymbl’s fully web-based platform provides Mary Free Bed O&P+B with the flexibility to access data and manage workflows from any location with internet connectivity. This capability is especially valuable to the Mary Free Bed O&P+B team, which operates four mobile units and often works with patients in diverse settings outside the clinic. “As a nonprofit O&P provider, we work closely with physical therapy and other specialties within our interdisciplinary care model,” explained Riddle. “One of the things we love about Nymbl is that the entire system is web-based and accessible from anywhere, on any device, at any time, which has been a game-changer, especially with our clinicians conducting home visits and our mobile units out in the field. Nymbl’s accessibility and seamless integration make it possible to grow with confidence in our EMR, knowing it supports both our in-clinic and on-the-road needs.” Ease of Use: A Critical Differentiator According to Riddle, one of the standout advantages of Nymbl is its intuitive design. Unlike the previous practice management system, which required navigating multiple modules for different tasks, Nymbl places all necessary tools — from billing to patient management — within a single, user-friendly interface. This shift has significantly streamlined onboarding and training for new employees. According to Riddle, “With Nymbl, everything is in one easy-to-navigate space, from prescription and purchasing information to billing data, making it incredibly intuitive. This simplicity has made the onboarding process for our new employees much smoother, allowing us to focus on providing the best care possible.” The ease of use is particularly important as Mary Free Bed O&P+B continues to grow. With each new location and team member, the organization needs a system that facilitates rapid onboarding, allowing new staff to integrate quickly and focus on patient care. Riddle added, “Training employees in Nymbl has been remarkably easier than with previous systems. As we expand, having an EMR that doesn’t require lengthy training means new hires can become productive much faster. It’s just a lot more intuitive, which positively impacts our overall efficiency.” Improving Efficiency with Task Management and Real-Time Transparency In addition to accessibility and ease of use, Nymbl’s task management system has proven invaluable for improving communication between clinical and administrative teams. “The tasking system has really streamlined our processes,” explained Riddle. “It’s improved our pipeline and handoff process, giving both clinicians and admin teams real-time transparency without the need for constant messaging.” With Nymbl, clinicians can easily track a patient’s progress, ensuring nothing gets missed and that every team member is aware of their responsibilities. This transparency has contributed to faster, more efficient workflows, which are critical to the organization’s goal of expanding and enhancing patient care across multiple locations. A Culture of Partnership and Innovation Mary Free Bed O&P+B’s transition to Nymbl aligns with the company’s commitment to continuous improvement and innovation. Nymbl’s customer-focused culture has created a strong partnership, fostering a sense of collaboration that resonates with Mary Free Bed O&P+B’s values. Riddle praised Nymbl’s customer service and responsiveness, highlighting the company’s dedication to improving and refining its product based on client feedback. “It feels like a partnership, and that’s what we’re looking for in our relationship with an EMR system. We intend to be with Nymbl for a long time and expect to grow together in the years to come.” Nymbl’s forward-thinking development pipeline, which includes upcoming AI-driven features, reflects its commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions for the O&P industry. Riddle expressed excitement about the future possibilities, noting that innovations like AI-enhanced documentation could further streamline workflows and improve documentation accuracy. “Nymbl seems to be ahead of the curve on AI, and if they can implement this feature, it could be a real game-changer for us in practice.” A Wave of Change in the O&P Industry Mary Free Bed O&P+B’s decision to switch to Nymbl Systems reflects a larger trend in the orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) industry as more organizations seek modern, user-friendly, and adaptable EMR solutions. Nymbl’s growth and success demonstrate the value of its innovative approach, which prioritizes accessibility, ease of use, and responsive customer service. As Nymbl continues to expand, it’s clear that the platform offers significant advantages that resonate with O&P practices nationwide. To learn more about how your practice can benefit from switching to Nymbl’s practice management system, visit nymblsystems.com/OP . About the Mary Free Bed Orthotics & Prosthetics + Bionics Program Mary Free Bed O&P+B’s team of certified orthotists and prosthetists help patients safely achieve the most function, mobility, and independence. They coordinate and integrate every aspect of the patient’s care, including physical, psychological, and social needs. Together, they will create a plan that blends expertise with the latest technology to find the best solution for the patient. Their clinics across Michigan specialize in products and services to empower independence. Services are available for adults and children. The team works closely with the patient to create solutions customized to the patient’s needs, goals, and financial considerations. To learn more about Mary Free Bed O&P+B, visit https://www.maryfreebed.com/services/orthotics-prosthetics-bionics/ or follow them on Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn About Nymbl Systems Nymbl Systems' software solutions deliver better business outcomes for those who enable better health and mobility through an agile, purpose-built software platform that automates workflows and accelerates time to revenue. Based in Columbus, Ohio, the Nymbl team works with hundreds of O&P, CRT, and HME providers. To learn more about Nymbl, visit www.nymblsystems.com or follow Nymbl on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Read the full announcement here .
Managing a growing Complex Rehabilitation Technology (CRT) practice today demands a modern platform and practical features that streamline your team's workflows, ensure compliance, enable proactive financial management, and enhance patient experiences. As CRT providers face growing operational pressures and rising patient expectations, many find that Nymbl's all-in-one CRT solution offers the capabilities they need to thrive and grow. This blog examines Nymbl’s product approach, next-generation platform, and practical features that lead CRT providers to switch from legacy platforms to Nymbl. Benefits of Switching to Nymbl First, let's explore a few of the key benefits that CRT providers achieve when they run their business with Nymbl: • Streamlined Workflows. Nymbl simplifies and automates many crucial processes for CRT teams. The solution reduces manual tasks, from intake and scheduling to claims management and financial reporting. This allows staff to focus less on paperwork and more on their highest-value efforts, such as improving claims management or delivering exceptional patient care. • Faster Payments. Nymbl's efficient claims management reduces billing errors and speeds up reimbursements, helping CRT providers get paid faster and improve cash flow. Nymbl also offers outsourced revenue cycle management services, handling everything from accuracy checks and claim submissions to accounts receivable management and payment posting. • Data-Driven Decisions. With comprehensive, intuitive reporting, Nymbl empowers CRT providers to make more informed decisions based on data. This insight and control help CRT providers optimize every aspect of operations, from patient care to financial management. • Improved Patient Experience. Nymbl is designed to enhance every aspect of the patient journey, from intake to assessments and payments. By smoothing every patient interaction, Nymbl allows CRT teams to focus on delivering exceptional patient care. Top Nymbl Capabilities for CRT Providers Let’s explore Nymbl’s practices, platform, and product features that deliver an elevated experience and improved performance for CRT providers. The Nymbl Approach to Supporting CRT Providers Any discussion about the value Nymbl delivers starts with our partnership with CRT teams and their experience with our company and product, from implementation and training to ongoing collaboration on product enhancements. Nymbl takes an integrated approach to data migration, implementation, and training to ensure your practice is up and running rapidly with Nymbl. Once your data is migrated, you always have access — your data is yours, and it's always easy to export it for any reason. Our team has a relentless focus on exceptional customer support with dedicated contacts on our team, real-time availability through online chat, and a robust help center, all of which power our Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 85+. Finally, our customer-driven approach to development means our team hears your voice. With ten or more new releases yearly, Nymbl ensures continuous innovation, keeping your business equipped with the latest enhancements and capabilities. Don't just take our word for it, hear from our satisfied customers here. Nymbl's Cloud-Native Technology Next, let’s explore how our technology platform differs from rigid legacy solutions that may be web-enabled but are not built on a modern platform. Nymbl's cloud-native SaaS platform offers seamless scalability, robust security, and an optimized user experience. With a modern, user-friendly interface, Nymbl provides a clean, intuitive experience that simplifies onboarding and daily tasks. Nymbl’s mobile-friendly design allows users to access the platform anywhere on any device to manage tasks, complete home assessments, and check reports. In addition, Nymbl centralizes documents and notes to eliminate the need to switch between different product sections or modules to search for relevant documents. Nymbl’s Practical Features That Optimize CRT Team Performance Let’s take a closer look at the features that enable efficiency in patient interactions and internal workflows that are essential for any CRT provider: • Streamlined Patient Intake, Scheduling, and Payments—Nymbl simplifies intake with a single-page patient intake that efficiently captures all necessary details without navigating around multiple areas of the product. It also integrates calendar management with Outlook and Google for easier scheduling, automatic appointment confirmations to reduce no-shows, and seamless credit card processing for simplified patient transactions. • Mobility for ATPs and Clinicians—Not only is Nymbl built for any user to access the product from anywhere, any device, but Nymbl also helps mobile staff gain efficiencies during visits to patients’ homes or to multiple locations. Features such as quick access to maps for navigating to a patient’s address, mobile assessments that automatically update the patient chart, and instant media capture to easily upload images directly to Nymbl (not to your phone) take a little work out of each step that adds up to significant efficiency gains. • Optimized Billing and Business Management— Nymbl equips CRT providers with powerful operational features that enhance efficiency, ensure accuracy, and provide valuable data insights. Reduce manual entry with the ability to digitize and autofill any form with information from a patient chart. Achieve more efficient claims management with a single-page hub and automate billing for Medicare-capped equipment rentals. Simplify financial workflows by automating ERAs, EOBs, and remittance postings through Nymbl’s integration with Waystar. A robust and intuitive AR tracking module and flexible financial reporting tools make it easier to manage outstanding balances and close the books effectively. Finally, Nymbl's business intelligence dashboards and drill-down reporting enable more informed, data-driven decisions.
Innovative AI-powered solution helps O&P clinicians save up to a day a week spent on capturing, summarizing, and editing clinical notes DUBLIN, Ohio, September 12, 2024 – Nymbl Systems, a software company dedicated to delivering better business outcomes for those who enable better health and mobility, today announced the launch of the industry’s first artificial intelligence-powered clinical notes solution specialized for orthotics and prosthetic (O&P) practices. Nymbl’s AI Notes helps O&P clinicians balance engaging in quality patient interactions with completing detailed clinical notes that meet compliance standards. Typically, O&P clinicians spend up to 40 percent of their time completing clinical notes. By automating capturing, summarizing, and editing their notes with AI Notes, clinicians can now save up to a day per week of their time. "With AI Notes, we're tackling one of the most time-consuming aspects of O&P practice management," said Josh Lau, CEO of Nymbl Systems. "Our solution allows clinicians to focus on what they do best – providing exceptional patient care – while ensuring accurate and compliant documentation. This launch demonstrates our continued dedication to creating new efficiencies for practices through modern technology applied specifically for the practices we serve, significantly improving how they run their businesses.” How Does AI Notes Work? Within the Nymbl platform, clinicians can use AI Notes to record patient interactions in real time, or they can upload pre-recorded audio. This eliminates the need to write or type notes while interacting with the patient, which creates a more efficient visit with improved focus on the patient. AI Notes transcribes these interactions into editable text leveraging healthcare-specific language recognition through AWS HealthScribe. The solution creates structured summaries within minutes and allows further editing and integration with existing note templates in the system. With increased efficiencies, O&P clinicians can see more patients each day while ensuring high standards of accuracy and compliance with clinical notes. AI Notes will be available as an add-on subscription for current customers of Nymbl’s core practice management solution. See AI Notes and the Nymbl Practice Management Platform at AOPA 2024 To learn more about AI Notes and how it can transform your workflow, talk to our team and see AI Notes live at the AOPA 2024 National Assembly at the Charlotte Convention Center, booth #816, from September 12-15, 2024. Or visit the Nymbl website to learn more and schedule a personalized demonstration . Read the full announcement here .
Innovative artificial intelligence-powered solution helps O&P clinicians save up to a day a week spent on capturing, summarizing, and editing clinical notes Your orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) practice revolves around providing excellent patient care. Yet, O&P clinicians can struggle to balance quality patient interactions with completing the detailed documentation that is necessary for compliance and reimbursement requirements. Manually typing notes can consume a significant portion of a clinician's day—sometimes up to 40%—with complex interactions requiring as much as 45 minutes to document fully. Many clinicians may resort to jotting down brief notes on paper during visits and then completing the full documentation afterward in their practice management system at the end of the day. This introduces the risk of inaccuracies, incomplete visit notes, and an extended workday. Additionally, clinical notes must not only be accurate but also formatted in a structured, compliant way to withstand audits, which adds time to the task. Editing, updating patient information, and applying templates further complicate the process. While this is the status quo, the fact remains that there are significant opportunities to streamline clinical workflows and increase the number of patients clinicians can see in a day. Whether clinicians manage high-volume interactions, such as diabetic shoe fittings, for example, or complex prosthetic cases, the challenge remains: creating accurate, compliant clinical notes without sacrificing valuable patient interaction time or extending the workday. At Nymbl, we are constantly focused on creating efficiencies for our customers. We believe the area of clinicians' patient visit notes can be dramatically improved with modern technology, including artificial intelligence (AI). Our new solution, AI Notes, optimizes clinical note workflows and improves the accuracy of clinical note-taking for O&P clinicians. What Is Nymbl AI Notes? AI Notes is an advanced artificial intelligence-powered documentation feature designed to streamline the clinical notes process for O&P clinicians. AI Notes automates the recording, transcription and summarization of notes, significantly reducing the time clinicians spend on this critical task. How Can AI Notes Help Your Practice? There are substantial benefits of leveraging AI Notes within your practice: Save Time and Increase Productivity Clinicians can save an estimated one day per week of their time on clinical notes. With less paperwork, clinicians can see more patients and improve overall productivity. Enhance Accuracy AI Notes ensures more accurate notes of a patient visit. With a patient interaction recording, an intelligent transcript, and an automatically generated summary, clinicians can quickly double-check for errors. Improve Patient Care With more time for patient interaction and more focus on the patient during the interaction, clinicians can focus on quality interactions and make better-informed clinical decisions. Security and Compliance Administrators can manage access, ensuring notes are only viewed and edited by the appropriate team members. Clinicians use structured note summaries that can easily be converted into standard templates for audit compliance. How Does AI Notes work? AI Notes dramatically reduces the time it takes to accurately capture, summarize, edit and complete a clinical note. Let’s explore the details of AI Notes features: Automated Transcription AI Notes records patient interactions within the application and converts these audio recordings into structured text in minutes, saving clinicians hours of manual documentation a day. Recordings can also be uploaded if the interaction was recorded with another device. Complete Transcripts Users can review the transcript to spot errors or omissions before finalizing the summaries. This adds an extra layer of accuracy. Structured Summaries AI Notes automatically generates structured note summaries from the transcript. These summaries can then be further edited and integrated with existing note templates to complete the documentation of an interaction. Healthcare-Specific Language By leveraging AWS HealthScribe, AI Notes can accurately transcribe and summarize complex medical information. Typical errors created by simple voice-to-text apps are minimized through specialized transcriptions that recognize medical terminology. As a HIPAA-eligible technology, AWS HealthScribe meets the stringent privacy and security requirements necessary for handling sensitive healthcare data. User Permissions Once the solution is licensed, your company’s administrators control access, ensuring only authorized staff can use AI Notes and view clinical notes. Seamless Integration AI Notes is embedded in Nymbl, eliminating disruptions to current workflows and the need to work in multiple applications. At Nymbl, we are always focused on user feedback. Since we release enhancements on a regular schedule 10 or more times a year, we will incorporate feedback and explore additional capabilities, such as expanded template options and more advanced AI capabilities, to further streamline your workflow. Ready to streamline clinical documentation at your O&P practice? By significantly reducing documentation time, improving accuracy, and seamlessly integrating with existing workflows, AI Notes empowers you to focus on what you do best—providing exceptional care to your patients. Whether you are a current customer or considering making the switch to Nymbl, discover how AI Notes can give you back valuable time, enhance your patient interactions, and take your practice to the next level. Learn more and set up a time to see a demo and talk to the Nymbl team about getting started today.
As an O&P practice, your primary focus is always patient care and achieving the best possible outcomes. However, balancing the demands of patient care with the need to manage administration, billing, and the financial health of your practice can be challenging. The complexity of healthcare billing and ongoing regulatory changes can often feel like it takes away from your focus on the people you serve. Managing claims, dealing with denials, ensuring timely reimbursements, and maintaining compliance require specialized knowledge and significant administrative effort. This dual focus can strain resources and threaten a practice's growth. Nymbl understands these challenges. We are here to help, and we believe our approach and commitment to responsive customer care will make a difference for your business. Nymbl's O&P Revenue Cycle Management Services At Nymbl, our focus on streamlining O&P operations extends beyond the capabilities of our software: Nymbl offers specialized O&P Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) services for our customers using the Nymbl practice management platform. This service helps your practice get paid faster, reduce denials, and lessen administrative burdens so you can focus on your core strength: delivering exceptional patient care. Here is an overview of the RCM services Nymbl offers its customers: End-to-End Billing Services. Nymbl’s comprehensive O&P RCM services manage the entire billing process, including reviewing claims for accuracy and compliance prior to submission, submitting claims after validations, managing accounts receivables and denials, and posting payments upon receipt. Seamless Software & Services. Our O&P billing experts work within your instance of the Nymbl software platform. This ensures real-time data, eliminates the need for third-party integration, and, since the platform always has the latest payer rules, we can submit clean claims for faster payment. Real-Time Financial Transparency. Once a month, the team guides you through a comprehensive review for total visibility into the revenue cycle process and results. And with the Nymbl platform’s dashboards and reporting, you always have real-time visibility. Flexible Service Options. Practices can choose from comprehensive services or “a la carte” supplemental services that complement your existing billing processes if you are growing too fast, understaffed, or looking to improve in a specific area. What Makes Nymbl RCM Services Right for Your Business? Nymbl offers a unique combination of expertise, advanced technology, and responsive customer service, making our team an ideal partner for your practice: O&P-Specific Expertise. Nymbl's billing experts have extensive knowledge of O&P-specific payer rules and regulations and specific knowledge of how best to use the Nymbl platform. Specialized Tools. At Nymbl, we are all about streamlining and improving processes. For example, we use AI-assisted claims scrubbing and a Stripe integration for instant payment adjudication. And we continuously pursue new ways to optimize workflows. In-House Team. Nymbl maintains an in-house team of experts with deep knowledge of our customers to ensure consistent quality and the highest standards in execution. We don’t outsource your business. Responsive Service. Our commitment to responsive customer service and a collaborative approach ensures honest and transparent communication, with a dedicated team ready to promptly address any questions or concerns. Creating Value for O&P Practices Nymbl’s RCM services create significant value for O&P practices by addressing key challenges and optimizing financial operations. Get Paid Faster. Streamlined processes and fewer denials lead to quicker reimbursement, improving cash flow. Lower Costs . By partnering with our team, practices can avoid the high costs of hiring, training, and managing an in-house billing team. Predictable Cash Flow. Faster claim submissions and reduced denials lead to more predictable and consistent revenue streams that keep your practice healthy. Focus on Patient Care . By handling the complexities of billing, Nymbl helps you stay focused on changing patients' lives and improving their outcomes and satisfaction. Compliance and Risk Management . Nymbl's platform and team stay up-to-date with regulations and payer requirements to reduce the risk of audits and penalties. Scalability and Flexibility. You can tailor and right-size RCM services to fit your business, and as you grow, we can scale our team with you. Ensuring Financial Health and Growth For O&P practices like yours, partnering with Nymbl for RCM services means more than just outsourcing billing tasks. It represents a strategic decision to enhance operational efficiency, reduce administrative burdens, and focus on delivering exceptional patient care. Ready to transform your practice's revenue cycle management? We would love to talk with you about it. Schedule a meeting with one of our RCM experts today to discover how our tailored RCM services can streamline your billing processes, improve cash flow, and allow you to focus on what truly matters—your patients.
Many O&P practices run lean operations and have limited budgets to support the hiring of technical resources that are necessary to maintain today’s complex technology environments. To combat this challenge, many practices turn to “cloud” or “hosted” solutions that have the promise of alleviating these burdens. However, it is important for leaders to understand the differences in all of these terms that sound alike but can be deceiving to buyers. Native-cloud SaaS solutions, like Nymbl, bring a unique advantage to O&P practices who want to access the latest features and capabilities quickly but don’t have the IT resources or budgets necessary to do so. Continuous innovation and frequent delivery of new functionality are key advantages of SaaS applications that are natively built for the cloud from the outset. This approach allows for regular updates, maintenance, and feature releases without causing disruptions to the user experience, ensuring that the application remains secure, up-to-date, and responsive to user needs. Key Points to Know: Automatic Updates: SaaS applications are typically updated automatically, meaning that users always have access to the latest features, performance improvements, and security patches without needing to take any action. These updates are usually deployed in the background, minimizing or eliminating downtime. Minimal Disruption: Because the application is cloud-based, updates and maintenance can be carried out with minimal disruption to users. The architecture of a cloud-native SaaS application is designed to support rolling updates, where different parts of the system are updated incrementally without taking the entire application offline. Continuous Improvement: SaaS providers often operate on a continuous delivery model, where new features and improvements are released on a regular basis. This means that the application is constantly evolving based on user feedback, market demands, and technological advancements, keeping it competitive and relevant. Lower Maintenance Burden for Users: In a SaaS model, the provider handles all the maintenance tasks, including software updates, security monitoring, and infrastructure management. This significantly reduces the burden on the user’s IT team, freeing them to focus on other strategic initiatives. Contrast with Converted Applications: Complex Update Processes: Converted applications may not support seamless updates due to their legacy architecture. Updates might require significant downtime, manual intervention, or even temporary service interruptions, leading to a more disruptive experience for users. Infrequent Updates: Because of the challenges associated with updating converted applications, these updates might be less frequent or more time-consuming. This can lead to longer periods between updates, during which the application might become outdated or vulnerable to security risks. Higher Maintenance Costs: Maintaining a converted application can be more expensive and resource-intensive than maintaining a cloud-native SaaS application. This is because the provider may need to address compatibility issues, legacy code, or infrastructure challenges that aren’t present in a SaaS application designed for the cloud. User Downtime: With converted applications, users might experience more downtime during updates or maintenance windows, which can disrupt business operations and reduce productivity. Let’s talk ! With 12 releases each year, Nymbl’s native-SaaS solutions give O&P practices the ability to keep up with industry trends and access the latest capabilities without requiring heavy IT investments and resources.
When a software application is developed as a native SaaS solution from the beginning, cost efficiency is a core consideration throughout the design and implementation phases. This focus on cost efficiency manifests in several ways, primarily through optimized resource utilization, multi-tenancy, and operational cost savings. Key Points to Know: Optimized Resource Utilization: SaaS applications are built to leverage cloud infrastructure effectively, meaning they can scale resources up or down based on demand. This dynamic scaling ensures that the application only uses the resources it needs at any given time, reducing waste and lowering costs. For instance, during periods of low activity, the application can automatically reduce its resource consumption, thereby cutting costs. Multi-Tenancy: A major cost-saving feature of many SaaS applications is multi-tenancy. In a multi-tenant architecture, a single instance of the software serves multiple customers (tenants). This shared infrastructure allows for more efficient use of computing resources, as the same hardware, storage, and processing power are distributed among several users. Multi-tenancy reduces the overhead costs associated with maintaining separate instances for each customer, leading to lower operational costs for the SaaS provider, which can translate into lower prices for customers. Operational Cost Savings: SaaS applications built for the cloud inherently avoid many of the costs associated with on-premise solutions, such as maintaining physical servers, managing software installations, and performing manual updates. By automating many of these processes in the cloud, SaaS providers can pass these savings on to customers. Additionally, SaaS customers typically pay a subscription fee, which covers ongoing maintenance, updates, and support, providing predictable costs without the need for large upfront investments. Reduced Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): The total cost of ownership for a SaaS solution is often lower than for on-premise applications, particularly when considering the full lifecycle of the software. SaaS applications eliminate the need for expensive hardware, reduce the burden on IT staff, and lower the costs of upgrades and security management. This makes SaaS solutions an attractive option for organizations looking to manage their budgets more effectively. Contrast with On-Premise Applications Converted to the Cloud Legacy Cost Structures: Applications that were originally designed for on-premise environments may carry over cost inefficiencies when converted to the cloud. For example, they might require dedicated resources or maintain separate instances for each customer, which can lead to higher operational costs compared to a native multi-tenant SaaS application. Inefficient Resource Use: Converted applications may not be able to take full advantage of the cloud’s dynamic resource allocation capabilities, leading to resource inefficiencies. For instance, a converted application might need to be provisioned with more resources than necessary to handle peak loads, resulting in higher costs during periods of low demand. Higher Maintenance Costs: Converted applications might require ongoing maintenance and support to address compatibility issues, security concerns, or performance bottlenecks. These additional maintenance needs can drive up the total cost of ownership, negating some of the cost benefits of moving to the cloud. In summary, SaaS applications built from the ground up for the cloud are inherently more cost-efficient, benefiting from optimized resource utilization, multi-tenancy, and lower operational costs. As a cloud-native SaaS application, Nymbl is able to take advantage of these efficiencies and deliver more enhancements and features to its customers rapidly. In fact, Nymbl deploys new product releases 12 times a year. This ensures users always have access to the latest features, improvements, and security enhancements. Releasing innovation frequently allows Nymbl to respond to user feedback and continuously improve the platform. Additionally, since the platform is a cloud-native SaaS platform, customers are not required to take action when new releases occur. To learn how Nymbl’s cloud-native SaaS solution can help your practice be nimbler and more cost efficient, schedule a call with one of our Nymbl experts today.
When a software application is natively built as a SaaS (Software as a Service) solution from inception, security is embedded into its architecture and development processes from the ground up. This foundational approach to security ensures that the application can meet modern security standards and adapt to evolving threats effectively. Key Points to Know: Security by Design: A SaaS application developed with cloud-first principles incorporates security measures into every layer of its architecture. This includes data encryption, access controls, identity management, and secure coding practices. The security design is not an afterthought but a core component of the application’s infrastructure. Data Encryption : SaaS solutions designed for the cloud typically include robust encryption protocols for data both at rest (stored data) and in transit (data being transferred). This ensures that sensitive information is protected from unauthorized access or breaches. Encryption methods are usually compliant with industry standards, such as AES-256 for data encryption and TLS for data transmission. With cyber threats becoming more sophisticated, it’s crucial to shift the focus from merely preventing breaches to minimizing the damage they can cause. This means implementing robust security measures that limit the exposure of sensitive data, ensuring that when an attack does happen, the footprint hackers leave behind is as small as possible. By constantly evolving security strategies and using advanced technologies, companies can stay resilient, protecting both their assets and their reputation in an increasingly hostile environment. Identity and Access Management (IAM): From the outset, SaaS applications often integrate with modern identity and access management systems, allowing for fine-grained control over who has access to specific data and functionalities. This includes features like multi-factor authentication (MFA), single sign-on (SSO), and role-based access control (RBAC), which are crucial for maintaining security in a multi-tenant environment. Compliance with Regulatory Standards: SaaS applications are often designed with compliance in mind, adhering to regulatory requirements such as HIPAA, GDPR, or SOC 2 from the beginning. This proactive approach ensures that the application can serve industries with strict compliance needs, like healthcare or finance, without needing extensive modifications. Continuous Monitoring and Threat Detection: A native SaaS application built for the cloud is usually equipped with continuous monitoring and automated threat detection capabilities. These features are integrated into the cloud infrastructure, providing real-time visibility into potential security threats and vulnerabilities. Cloud-native SaaS solutions often leverage advanced tools like AI and machine learning for threat detection, anomaly detection, and automated responses. Resilience to Attacks: Because security is a fundamental part of the design, SaaS applications are generally more resilient to attacks. This includes distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, where the application can leverage cloud-native defenses such as traffic filtering, load balancing, and autoscaling to mitigate the impact. Incident Response and Recovery: Cloud-native SaaS applications are designed with robust incident response and recovery mechanisms. This includes automated backups, disaster recovery plans, and failover systems that ensure minimal downtime and data loss in the event of a security breach or failure. Contrast with Converted Applications Retrofitted Security: When an on-premise application is converted to a cloud-based model, its security features are often retrofitted. This means that the original application may not have been designed with cloud-specific security threats in mind, leading to potential vulnerabilities. Adding security features after the fact can be complex and may not fully integrate with the application’s existing architecture. Legacy Vulnerabilities: Converted applications may carry over vulnerabilities from their on-premise versions. These vulnerabilities can be more challenging to address in a cloud environment, where the application is exposed to different kinds of threats. For example, an on-premise application might have relied on perimeter security (e.g., firewalls) that doesn’t translate well to the cloud, where the security model is more distributed. Compliance Gaps: Applications that were not originally designed for the cloud may struggle to meet modern compliance requirements. Retrofitting compliance features can be difficult and might require significant re-engineering, leading to delays and increased costs. Additionally, ensuring ongoing compliance might be more challenging in a cloud environment if the application was not designed with these requirements in mind. Limited Monitoring and Detection: On-premise applications that have been moved to the cloud may not have the same level of monitoring and threat detection as cloud-native SaaS applications. Implementing continuous monitoring, automated threat detection, and response systems can be more difficult and may not integrate as seamlessly with the converted application. Increased Attack Surface: When an on-premise application is moved to the cloud, its attack surface can increase due to the broader accessibility of cloud environments. Without cloud-native security measures in place, the application may be more susceptible to attacks, such as data breaches, unauthorized access, or DDoS attacks. In summary, a native SaaS application built from the beginning with cloud security in mind is designed to protect data, ensure compliance, and adapt to evolving threats. This proactive approach results in a more secure, resilient, and compliant solution compared to applications that have been converted from on-premise systems, where security might need to be retrofitted, leading to potential vulnerabilities and challenges. Nymbl is committed to elevating its security standards by pursuing HITRUST certification, with the goal of achieving this significant milestone within the next two years. HITRUST is recognized as one of the most stringent security frameworks, ensuring that organizations meet the highest levels of information protection. Achieving HITRUST certification places Nymbl in the company of industry leaders like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Epic Systems, all of whom have earned this prestigious certification. This initiative underscores our dedication to safeguarding our clients’ data and maintaining the trust they place in us. For more information about Nymbl’s powerful approach to keeping your practice and your patients’ data secure, visit www.nymblsystems.com or schedule a call with one of our Nymbl experts today.
