Things you might have missed in 2020 (the good bits)
It's time for our annual recap of the features and educational material we released over the past year. So come along with us as we take a look back at 2020. Who knows? You just might discover something you didn’t know about!
Doug Pohl·
2020 was quite a year. You could be forgiven if you didn’t quite keep up with all the improvements to Cliniko and the educational material we released. So, on that small chance you didn’t, we’ve put together this wrap-up of things you may have missed in hopes that it will help you manage and grow your business through the new year.
Cliniko got some nifty improvements to help you run your business, whether you could visit on-site or not.
Everyone using Cliniko can now offer Telehealth appointments to their patients, at no additional cost. It’s all built right into Cliniko and doesn’t require any downloads from your patients.
These are features we think you’ll be able to take advantage of, no matter how the world looks in 2021.
Likewise, we also released a ton of educational information last year. (Not literally. A ton is a lot, and it’s digital anyway.) We stuck to the topics we know best, like our software, working remotely, data security, and digital marketing. Oh, and coffee. Definitely coffee.
So, with one eye toward the future, we’d like to glance back at some of the features and resources we released in 2020. From tips on using Cliniko, to business advice, to securing patient data—there’s a little something for everyone. We hope you’ll find this helpful as you begin your plans for 2021.
Cliniko features that can make your life easier.
When the pandemic hit and many businesses were unable to operate as they normally would, we pivoted as fast as we could towards COVID-friendly features within Cliniko, and we worked hard to get them out quickly.
We try to make sure everything we add to Cliniko will be valuable long term and work as part of a bigger vision. So, while some of the features listed below may have been inspired by COVID-19, all of them were created as ‘general-purpose’ tools that can be used no matter the circumstances.
Telehealth appointments Offer your patients virtual appointments with a secure, high-quality video and audio connection.
Secure patient forms Allow your patients to submit completed digital forms long before their scheduled appointment.
Digital signatures Give your patients the convenience of signing their digital forms using any computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Multiple time zone support Online bookings now offer patients the chance to schedule appointments based on their time zone, not your clinic’s.
Record refunds in Cliniko Easily record refunds or create credit notes directly from any invoice that instantly sync with the rest of your Cliniko account.
Online payments Reduce your workload and save time by allowing your patients to pay in advance when they book their appointment online.
Transitioning to a remote practice.
Cliniko has been a fully remote company since our founding nearly 10 years ago, and we’ve learned some lessons along the way.
When the pandemic gave a not-so-gentle nudge for practitioners to start exploring how their practice could go remote, we hoped that sharing our learnings might help others make the adjustments they needed.
Below, you’ll find articles packed with information on running a remote healthcare business and what you can do to make the transition easier for you, your team, and your patients.
3 ways Cliniko has learned to make remote work…work Here we discuss how effective communication, flexible schedules, and personal support can create incredible results for a team that is working from home.
From physiotherapist to Telehealth pioneer Karen Finnin, a leader of the online healthcare movement, tells how she went from rural physiotherapist to Telehealth trailblazer. (Technically from 2019, but it still feels relevant.)
Adapting your business with Telehealth [Video] Joel caught up with Karen Finnin to talk about how practitioners can adjust their businesses to meet the changing demands of the pandemic.
Going digital: Allied healthcare edition Digitisation expert Diana Xhumari explains how 'going paperless' can transform your clinic (for the better, of course).
Keeping your digital info safe.
At Cliniko, we take data security seriously. It’s our top priority, and we hope it’s yours too. After all, your patients trust you with their private information, and the success of your practice depends on your ability to keep their info safe.
That’s why—in addition to reviewing the resources below—we encourage you to research the security measures in place for all of the software your business uses. Make sure everything meets the necessary standards to protect your practice and your patients.
How to evaluate the security of your Telehealth software John Colvin, one of the Cliniko developers who built our Telehealth feature, shares his insight on what makes a video call service secure and how to keep your virtual appointments private.
Why Zoom is not suitable for Telehealth Bill Heller—who works to keep all Cliniko accounts safe—shares his thoughts on Zoom security and what you can do to protect your patients and your business.
Keeping digital patient record secure [Video] In this webinar, Joel discusses the best practices for protecting your patients and business from malicious online threats and how to spot your biggest security vulnerabilities.
For many practitioners, 2020 was a chance to get creative—especially with digital marketing. The resources below are filled with simple steps you can take to grow your healthcare business online.
Marketing your clinic during COVID-19 [Video] Michelle Geslewitz (another Cliniko marketer), chatted with Joel about how digital marketing can keep your practice growing during the pandemic.
Video marketing Q&A [Video] Rachel Harkness, our very own in-house videographer, talked with our founder, Joel, about how to create video content to raise your practice’s profile and connect with patients online.
Social media marketing Q&A [Video] Dave James, podiatrist-turned-business-coach, had a chat with Joel to talk about how your practice can stand out with social media marketing.
A big positive from 2020 was the awareness and adoption of Telehealth for remote treatments. Over the past year, many people have learned just how effective Telehealth can be.
To help spread the word, we reached out to experts asking them to share their knowledge on our blog. We hope these guest posts give you a little extra inspiration if you’re looking to treat remotely in 2021.
Moving to 100% online therapy Experienced counsellor, Sarah Sacks, shares how her clinic took the plunge into Telehealth and created a fully online service offering.
Ergonomic assessments with Telehealth [Video] Osteopath Heath Williams and physiotherapist Wade Brennan discuss how they offer ergonomic assessments with Telehealth and train others to do the same.
6 things you need to know about Telehealth and the law in Australia Guest writer, Sarah Bartholomeusz of YouLegal, discusses some of the unique legal implications of holding Telehealth appointments and some considerations that can help practitioners protect their businesses.
Safety measures for your clinic.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Hand sanitiser. Social distancing. Masks. These precautions have become much more prevalent during the pandemic.
It’s quite likely clinics will need to continue taking extra steps to ensure their patients’ health and safety. We managed to talk with some practices that have changed their processes to keep everyone safe, and we hope the suggestions they’ve shared in these articles might help you too.
Many took 2020 as an opportunity to work on their business when they couldn’t necessarily work in it. So, we also released some articles to help inspire you on a variety of topics.
How to create patient form templates for your practice Technology consultant turned clinic director, Annastashia Cambridge, offers her top advice for creating patient form templates in Cliniko (including downloadable examples).
5,118 reasons why our hiring process matters Just before 2020 began, our unique hiring process was put to the test when we received 5,118 applications. Find out how and why we hire the way we do.
Cliniko & Coffee.
Webinars were a new thing for us this year. We dove in headfirst, learning as we went along. One of the things we quickly discovered was that a lot of you loved casual Q&A sessions with our founder, Joel.
We also knew that, at the time, most people were unaware that he loves coffee—like, seriously loves it. In fact, Joel loves coffee so much that we couldn’t even get him away from it while hosting the webinars—and that is how Cliniko & Coffee was born.
We hope to do more of these in the new year. But for now, take a look back at the inaugural episodes from 2020.
Cliniko & Coffee 2 Joel’s favourite beans & ‘What’s going on with patient forms?’
Cliniko & Coffee 3 Paper filters are better for pour-overs & ‘How can you automate SMS messages after an appointment?’
A final word.
We hope 2021 turns out to be a much smoother, healthier, and happier year for everyone. Please stay safe. Take care of yourselves, your families, and your neighbours.
We’ll keep doing what we can to help. Stay tuned for more resources coming your way in the new year—including more coffee content! (Joel’s bean collection is ever-growing, and it’s rumoured he’s getting into roasting.)
For UK practitioners, the start of 2021 could bring changes to how you comply with patient privacy laws. This article will give you an overview of what to expect and suggestions for finding more info.
There’s no downside to becoming a paperless practice! It could improve your clinic’s security and efficiency, as well as creating a smoother experience for your patients.
We've got an update on one of our favourite charities, Beyond the Orphanage. They're working hard to make sure vulnerable children in Nepal and Kenya are getting the support they need to stay healthy and safe during this pandemic.