How Fuse Cloud-based Software Improves Care

Multilocation practice viewpoint: How connection improves care

Cloud-based practice management software provides the freedom to access consolidated practice and patient data from any location, creating connections that make it easier to deliver exceptional care.

For any dental practice to operate at its best, it needs to function as a cohesive whole. But when dentists and their staff are spread across different locations, the struggles of staying connected grow exponentially. Fortunately, technology offers a way forward: with Fuse from Patterson Dental, a cloud-based dental practice management solution, teams can connect and collaborate from anywhere, enabling efficiencies and synergies that drive better patient care and practice success. And with the recent addition of integrated tools for patient engagement, such as two-way texting and electronic reminders, Fuse is better than ever at helping practices of all sizes deliver winning patient experiences.

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Create a seamless care experience

According to front office manager Barb Cline, who has worked with Fuse in both single- and multilocation settings, it’s a solution that offers major benefits for both types of dental practices. Referring to her experience with Fuse at Elevation Dental, a two-office practice with a separate location for orthodontics, Cline said that “the biggest advantage” of the cloud-based software is that it creates a “seamless” care experience for patients traveling between locations. “With Fuse, patients can go from one office to another without filling out new paperwork – it’s all right there,” Cline shared.

From dental records to billing info, Fuse centralizes data for every practice location in one place, presenting you with a patient’s entire story on a single, streamlined overview screen. And because you’re never starting the appointment from scratch, Cline said Fuse ends up being a major timesaver for both staff and patients: “What makes things so easy and efficient for us, and for the patients, is that we don’t have to spend time figuring out what happened at a previous appointment,” she explained. “We already know everything that’s been done or discussed at the other office.”

Do anything, anywhere

These days, Cline primarily works for Dr. Andrew Cromwell’s single-office practice in Anaconda, Montana, where she continues to take advantage of all Fuse has to offer. “We recently switched to Fuse because I was so pleased with my experience at my last office,” she reported. “The transition was so easy and the back office, which had never used Fuse before, picked it up very quickly – our trainer was excellent and the software itself is just very intuitive.”

Compared to Dr. Cromwell’s legacy practice management solution, Cline noted that Fuse delivers unique insights that improve productivity and remove roadblocks throughout her workday. “I can do so much more with Fuse,” she shared. “The accounting system is so solid. Being able to immediately pinpoint what patients owe is great. The reporting is also huge for me – from production to collections, you can track almost anything in Fuse.” Thanks to the convenience of the cloud, Cline is still able to lend a hand with billing and insurance over at Elevation Dental, all from the comfort of her home: “I can bring up my dashboard and immediately compare apples-to-apples reports for both locations,” she said.

“At first, we were scared of making the change – we were so used to the old system and concerned about our data. But we didn’t lose anything, and Fuse has been so easy to learn and use. Everyone loves it.”

Abby Petros-Issaian, General Manager

Abby Petros-Issaian, who manages SmilePlus Dentistry’s two Southern California offices, also described Fuse as being a game changer when it comes to improving practice productivity and patient care. In late 2022, she and practice owner Jack Harouni, DDS, decided to invest in Fuse to get the San Diego office’s mobile dentistry program off the ground: “We were going to a nursing home and needed to access our system from there,” Petros-Issaian shared. In just three days, the practice successfully transitioned from their previous on-site solution to Fuse. Since then, Petros-Issaian is happy to report the software has exceeded expectations. “At first, we were scared of making the change – we were so used to the old system and concerned about our data. But we didn’t lose anything, and Fuse has been so easy to learn and use. Everyone loves it.” Especially Dr. Harouni. As a semiretired dentist, he previously relied on front office staff to answer questions and deliver updates about practice operations. However, since making the switch to Fuse, which lets him log in and review practice data from his smartphone, all the information he needs is always right at his fingertips.

“I’ve had a great experience with Patterson’s sales team, trainers and support,” said Cline. “They answer quickly and give you several paths to reach them – if you don’t have the time for a phone call, you can send a text or email.”

Barb Cline, Office Manager

Elevate patient engagement

Fuse not only keeps practices connected between locations but also helps doctors and their teams stay in touch with patients. Because the platform affords 24/7 remote access to practice data, Cline said Fuse enables Dr. Cromwell to stay on top of emergent issues and support patients after regular working hours. “We live in a small town and the doctor knows a lot of patients personally, so they’ll often call him with a problem or question over the weekend,” she reported. “Now, he can log into Fuse from his phone or computer browser at home, look into what they need and call in prescriptions. It just makes everything so much more convenient for him.”

The latest updates to Fuse also add built-in tools for patient engagement, allowing you to send two-way text or email reminders, as well as electronic forms to patients via the platform. According to Petros-Issaian, these new features align with current patient preferences, while generating results for the business. “Everyone wants to communicate electronically now, and it can be hard to approach someone over the phone about a balance,” she explained. “Usually, when I make a call or leave a voicemail, I won’t even get an answer.” However, with Fuse, Petros-Issaian said, “I can just enter their phone number, shoot them a quick text, and right away, I’ll be in communication with our patients. It’s a blessing.”

Your partner in practice management

Whether you’re bringing a new office into the fold, branching out into mobile dentistry or just running a single location, managing a dental practice comes with a host of challenges. But as a comprehensive suite of tools that brings together all aspects of your practice, Fuse helps you overcome obstacles at every turn. Best of all, Fuse software is backed by Patterson’s unrivaled support – a partner who’s always there to help you find the perfect solution to any problem.

“I’ve had a great experience with Patterson’s sales team, trainers and support,” said Cline. “They answer quickly and give you several paths to reach them – if you don’t have the time for a phone call, you can send a text or email.” Given the success of this partnership and the many benefits Fuse has brought to her daily workflow, Cline doesn’t hesitate to suggest the software to any dental office seeking a streamlined, seamless practice management solution: “I would recommend anyone at least look into Fuse, if not outright purchase it as their software,” she said. “From beginning to end, it’s been fantastic.”

Originally published in Advantage by Patterson Dental in Spring 2024.

What’s included with Fuse

With cloud-based Fuse you get more than just practice management software. Learn more about all the features and add-ons included with a Fuse subscription.

Learn more

Practice management software including scheduling and charting

Cloud-based, unlimited backup for Fuse data and documents

Apteryx cloud-based imaging with unlimited storage

Unlimited eClaims and eAttachments, Real-time Eligibility and Electronic Remittance Advice

Two-way text, electronic reminders, confirmations and forms

Electronic subscriptions

WalkMe guide tutorials and Fuse Academy training resources

Automatic software upgrades and unlimited support