Kareo Review (Jan 2023)

About Kareo

Kareo is a cloud-based medical practice management software designed specifically for small medical practices. The platform helps streamline and automate administrative tasks, allowing healthcare providers to focus on what they do best: caring for their patients.

Kareo was established in 2004 in Orange County, California. The company was founded with the goal of providing small medical practices with the same level of technology and support that larger practices have access to. Today, Kareo has a team of over 200 employees and serves thousands of medical practices across the United States.

One of the key features of Kareo is its appointment scheduling system. The platform allows patients to schedule appointments online, and sends automatic reminders to both the patient and the provider. This helps reduce no-shows and keeps the practice running smoothly.

Another feature is the electronic medical record (EMR) system. Kareo’s EMR allows providers to easily document patient encounters, create treatment plans, and share patient information with other providers. The platform is also fully integrated with the rest of the Kareo system, so patient information is easily accessible from any part of the platform.

Kareo also offers a billing and revenue cycle management system, which helps practices stay on top of their billing and collections. The system includes tools for claims management, patient statements, and reports on practice revenue.

Finally, Kareo offers a patient portal, which allows patients to access their health information, pay their bills, and communicate with their providers. This helps increase patient engagement and improves the patient experience.

Overall, Kareo is a comprehensive solution for small medical practices looking to streamline their operations and improve patient care. With its appointment scheduling, EMR, billing, and patient portal, Kareo helps practices save time and increase revenue, while also improving patient engagement and satisfaction.

Who Uses it?

Kareo is primarily designed for small medical practices, including solo practitioners, small clinics, and specialty practices. The platform serves a wide range of medical specialties, including primary care, pediatrics, mental health, and more. Kareo also serves a variety of healthcare industries, including physical therapy, chiropractic, and occupational therapy.

Some examples of Kareo’s customers include:

1. Dr. John Smith, a solo practitioner in the field of internal medicine.
2. The Pediatric Clinic, a small clinic with multiple providers that specializes in pediatric care.
3. Dr. Susan Kim, a chiropractor who runs her own practice.
4. The Physical Therapy Group, a practice that specializes in physical therapy and sports medicine.
5. Central Valley Behavioral Health, a mental health clinic that serves a diverse patient population.

In addition to small medical practices, Kareo also serves a number of other healthcare-related businesses, including billing companies, medical billing services, and medical billing consultants. Kareo’s platform is also used by healthcare technology companies, healthcare staffing companies, and healthcare consulting firms.

In summary, Kareo is a platform primarily designed for small medical practices and serves a wide range of medical specialties, healthcare industries, and other healthcare-related businesses.

How it can help your practice?

Kareo can help your business in a number of ways. Some of the key benefits include:

1. Streamlined Operations: Kareo can help streamline your practice’s operations by automating administrative tasks such as appointment scheduling, billing, and claims management. This can help save time and increase efficiency, allowing you and your staff to focus on providing the best possible care for your patients.
2. Improved Patient Care: Kareo’s electronic medical record (EMR) system allows you to easily document patient encounters, create treatment plans, and share patient information with other providers. This can improve the quality of patient care and help you make more informed treatment decisions.
3. Increased Revenue: Kareo’s billing and revenue cycle management system can help you increase revenue by streamlining your billing and collections processes. The system includes tools for claims management, patient statements, and reports on practice revenue, which can help you stay on top of your billing and increase your revenue.
4. Improved Patient Engagement: Kareo’s patient portal allows patients to access their health information, pay their bills, and communicate with their providers. This can help increase patient engagement and improve the patient experience.
5. Easy Access to Data: Kareo’s platform is fully integrated, which means that patient information is easily accessible from any part of the platform. This can help you save time and make better-informed decisions.
6. Support: Kareo offers customer support and training for their software. This can help you and your staff to effectively use the platform and make the most of its features.

In summary, Kareo can help your business by streamlining operations, improving patient care, increasing revenue, improving patient engagement, and providing easy access to data and support.

Kareo Vs Competitors

Kareo is a cloud-based medical practice management software designed for small medical practices. There are several other similar software options available on the market, each with its own set of features, prices, and target customer type. Here are five alternatives to Kareo and a comparison of their differences and similarities:

1. Practice Fusion: Practice Fusion is a cloud-based EHR and practice management software designed for small medical practices. Like Kareo, it offers appointment scheduling, billing, and e-prescribing functionality. However, Practice Fusion is primarily focused on EHR, while Kareo is a full practice management solution. Practice Fusion is free to use and is supported by its own advertising, while Kareo charges a monthly fee.
2. AdvancedMD: AdvancedMD is a cloud-based medical billing software that offers practice management and EHR functionality. It is designed for small to medium-sized medical practices. Like Kareo, it offers appointment scheduling, e-prescribing, and a patient portal. AdvancedMD is a bit more expensive than Kareo and has a steep learning curve.
3. AthenaHealth: AthenaHealth is a cloud-based medical billing software that offers practice management and EHR functionality. It is designed for small to medium-sized medical practices. Like Kareo, it offers appointment scheduling, e-prescribing, and a patient portal. AthenaHealth is more expensive than Kareo, also more complex, and has more functionalities.
4. MediTouch: MediTouch is a cloud-based EHR and practice management software designed for small medical practices. Like Kareo, it offers appointment scheduling, billing, and e-prescribing functionality. However, MediTouch is primarily focused on EHR, while Kareo is a full practice management solution. MediTouch is less expensive than Kareo but has fewer functionalities.
5. CureMD: CureMD is a cloud-based EHR and practice management software designed for small medical practices. Like Kareo, it offers appointment scheduling, billing, and e-prescribing functionality. However, CureMD is more expensive than Kareo, but it offers more functionalities, like patient engagement and analytics tools.

In summary, Kareo is a full practice management solution that offers appointment scheduling, EHR, billing, and patient portal functionalities. It is designed for small medical practices and has a relatively affordable pricing model. Other alternatives like Practice Fusion, AdvancedMD, AthenaHealth, MediTouch, and CureMD are also cloud-based software with similar functionalities, but they have different pricing models, target customer types, and some have more or less functionalities.

Kareo Pricing in 2023

Kareo offers its users 4 pricing plans: Clinical Essentials, Billing Essentials, Plus, and Pro. The costs of these 4 packages are further categorized under Standard and Low Volume.

• Clinical Essentials: This package is priced at $349 per provider per month under the Standard option. However, it is not available under the Low Volume option.
• Billing Essentials: This package is priced at $374 per provider per month under the Standard option and $199 per provider per month under the Low Volume option.
• Plus: This is priced at $599 per provider per month under the Standard option and $299 per provider per month under the Low Volume option.
• Pro: This ultimate package is priced at $624 per provider per month under the Standard option and $349 per provider per month under the Low Volume option.

Kareo – Cost of Implementation

The cost of implementing Kareo can vary depending on the size of your practice and the specific features you need. Kareo offers a subscription-based pricing model starting at $349 per month, and additional services such as training and customer support may also be required. It’s important to weigh the cost of Kareo against the benefits it provides to your practice to determine whether it’s a cost-effective solution for your business.

Kareo Pros

1. Comprehensive Solution: Kareo offers a comprehensive practice management solution that includes appointment scheduling, electronic medical record (EMR), billing, and patient portal functionality. This makes it a one-stop shop for small medical practices, while some competitors may only offer EHR or billing functionality.
2. Affordable Pricing: Kareo offers a subscription-based pricing model starting at $349 per month, which is relatively affordable compared to some of its competitors. This makes it an attractive option for small medical practices on a budget.
3. User-Friendly Interface: Kareo has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for small medical practices to navigate and use. This can save time and reduce the need for staff training, which can be an advantage over some competitors with more complex interfaces.

Kareo Cons

1. Limited scalability: Kareo is primarily designed for small medical practices, and may not have the scalability required to handle the volume of patients and data for larger practices. Some competitors may have more robust scalability options for large practices.
2. Limited integrations: Kareo has a limited number of integrations with other software platforms. This can be a disadvantage for practices that use multiple software platforms and need more integrations for better workflow.
3. Limited customization options: Kareo has a set of features and functionalities, which are standard across all plans, with limited customization options. Some competitors may offer more flexibility to tailor their software to the specific needs of the practice, which may be more suitable for larger or more specialized practices.

How To Use Kareo

1. Setting up your practice: After creating an account and logging in, you will need to set up your practice by entering your practice’s name, address, and other information. This will be the foundation of the software, and you will use it to create and manage your appointments, bills, and patient information.
2. Scheduling appointments: Kareo has a built-in appointment scheduler that allows you to create and manage appointments for your patients. To schedule an appointment, go to the “Appointments” tab on the top navigation menu and click on “New Appointment.” Here, you can enter the patient’s name, the date and time of the appointment, and any notes or special instructions. You can also view and manage existing appointments from this screen.
3. Billing and Claims: Kareo has an electronic billing feature that allows you to create and send claims to insurance companies and patients. To create a bill, go to the “Billing” tab on the top navigation menu and click on “New Bill.” Here, you can enter the patient’s information, the services provided, and the charges. You can also view and manage existing bills from this screen.
4. Patient Portal: Kareo has a patient portal feature that allows patients to view their appointments, bills, and other information online. To set up the patient portal, go to the “Patients” tab on the top navigation menu and click on “Patient Portal.” Here, you can customize the portal and invite patients to access it.
5. Clinical documentation: Kareo has a clinical documentation feature that allows you to document patient information, such as medical history, medications, and allergies. To access the clinical documentation feature, go to the “Patients” tab on the top navigation menu and click on the patient’s name. Here, you can view and edit the patient’s information and add notes or attachments.
6. Reporting and Analytics: Kareo provides various reports and analytics that allow you to track your practice’s financial and operational performance. To access the reporting and analytics feature, go to the “Reports” tab on the top navigation menu. Here, you can view and export reports on your practice’s financials, appointments, billing and claims, and more.

How it Integrates with Other Software

Kareo is a flexible and integrated platform that can be integrated with other healthcare technologies to provide a comprehensive solution for healthcare providers. Some of the integration capabilities of Kareo include:

1. EHR Integration: Kareo can integrate with electronic health record (EHR) systems to provide real-time patient data, such as medical history, medications, and allergies. This allows healthcare providers to access patient information easily and make more informed decisions.
2. Laboratory Integration: Kareo can integrate with laboratory systems to automatically receive and process test results, such as lab results, radiology reports, and pathology reports. This allows healthcare providers to access patient test results in real time and make more informed decisions.
3. Medical billing and coding software: Kareo can integrate with medical billing and coding software to automate the process of creating and sending claims, reducing the risk of errors, and increasing the speed of reimbursement.
4. Payment gateway integration: Kareo can integrate with payment gateways to enable patients to make payments online.
5. Telemedicine: Kareo can integrate with telemedicine platforms to allow patients to have virtual consultations and provide more flexible care options.
6. Practice management: Kareo can integrate with practice management systems to automate tasks such as appointment scheduling, patient registration, and medical billing.
7. Medical devices and wearables: Kareo can integrate with medical devices and wearables to track patient vitals and other data, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and sleep patterns.

Free Alternatives to Kareo

There are several free alternatives to Kareo that healthcare providers can use to manage their practice. Some of the most popular free alternatives include:

1. Practice Fusion: Practice Fusion is a free, web-based EHR system that includes features such as appointment scheduling, patient records, and e-prescribing. It also offers a patient portal for secure communication and access to health information.
2. MediCal: MediCal is a free, web-based practice management system that includes features such as appointment scheduling, medical billing, and claims management. It also includes a patient portal for secure communication and access to health information.
3. OpenEMR: OpenEMR is a free, open-source EHR and practice management system. It includes features such as appointment scheduling, electronic prescribing, and patient records. It also has a patient portal for secure communication and access to health information.
4. CareCloud: CareCloud is a free, web-based practice management system that includes features such as appointment scheduling, medical billing, and claims management. It also includes a patient portal for secure communication and access to health information.

Compared to Kareo, these free alternatives may not have as many features or may not be as user-friendly. However, they are still useful for small healthcare practices that are looking for a basic practice management solution at no cost. These free alternatives also may have a limited number of integrations, and may not have the same level of support and customer service as Kareo.

Alternative for Small Practice

1. Athenahealth: Athenahealth is a cloud-based practice management and EHR software that is designed for small businesses. It includes features such as appointment scheduling, medical billing, and claims management. It also has a patient portal for secure communication and access to health information. The main difference between Athenahealth and Kareo is that Athenahealth is more focused on EHR, while Kareo is more focused on practice management. Athenahealth is a great fit for small businesses because it is easy to use, has a lower cost of ownership and provides a comprehensive EHR solution.
2. AdvancedMD: AdvancedMD is another cloud-based practice management and EHR software that is designed for small businesses. It includes features such as appointment scheduling, medical billing, and claims management. It also has a patient portal for secure communication and access to health information. The main difference between AdvancedMD and Kareo is that AdvancedMD is a more complex software and may have a steeper learning curve than Kareo. However, it provides a more comprehensive solution for small businesses that require more advanced features such as inventory management and employee scheduling.

Alternative for Large Practice

1. Cerner: Cerner is a comprehensive EHR and practice management system that is designed for large businesses. It includes features such as appointment scheduling, medical billing, and claims management. It also has a patient portal for secure communication and access to health information. The main difference between Cerner and Kareo is that Cerner is more focused on large businesses and offers a more comprehensive solution. Cerner is a great fit for large businesses because it is highly customizable, offers scalability and can integrate with other systems and devices.
2. Epic: Epic is another comprehensive EHR and practice management system that is designed for large businesses. It includes features such as appointment scheduling, medical billing, and claims management. It also has a patient portal for secure communication and access to health information. The main difference between Epic and Kareo is that Epic has a more complex user interface and may have a steeper learning curve than Kareo. However, it provides a more advanced solution for large businesses that require more complex workflows and a larger patient population.
3. Meditech: Meditech is an EHR and practice management system that is designed for large businesses. It includes features such as appointment scheduling, medical billing, and claims management. It also has a patient portal for secure communication and access to health information. The main difference between Meditech and Kareo is that Meditech is more focused on large hospitals and clinics that require a more advanced solution. Meditech is a great fit for large businesses because it is highly customizable, offers scalability and can integrate with other systems and devices.

Some Surprising Facts About Kareo

1. Kareo was founded in 2004 by two brothers, Dan and Rory Kendzior, who were frustrated with the lack of affordable and user-friendly practice management software available to small medical practices.
2. In 2012, Kareo became the first and only company to receive the prestigious “Best in KLAS” award for medical billing software.
3. Kareo has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States by Inc. magazine and Deloitte.
4. Kareo has been a recipient of the “Orange County Best Places to Work” award for multiple years
5. Kareo’s platform is used by more than 50,000 healthcare providers in all 50 states, and the company has been recognized for its exceptional customer service and support.
6. Kareo has a patient portal feature that allow patients to access their health records, book appointments, and communicate with their healthcare provider securely.
7. Kareo’s platform has a built-in appointment scheduler that allows you to create and manage appointments for your patients, and also offers an option for online appointment booking.
8. Kareo’s platform also offers a telemedicine feature that allows healthcare providers to conduct virtual consultations, which is a great way to provide more flexible care options.
9. Kareo also offers a mobile app that allows providers to access their patient data, schedule appointments, and send bills and claims while on the go.
10. Kareo’s platform also offers a feature that allows healthcare providers to document patient information, such as medical history, medications, and allergies.