Practice Better Review: A Lactation Consultant’s Perspective After Four Years
As a lactation consultant in private practice, having the right electronic health record (EHR) system is crucial for managing client care efficiently while staying organized. I’ve been using Practice Better for over four years, and it has become an essential tool in my business.
My mentor used this program, and I fell in love with it while I worked with her. While I dabbled in other EHRs as I started my own practice, it quickly became an easy choice to settle on Practice Better.
From its user-friendly design to its powerful integrations and insurance billing capabilities, Practice Better offers everything a lactation consultant needs to run a smooth and professional practice.
Here’s an in-depth look at my experience with Practice Better, highlighting the features that make it stand out and areas where it could improve.
What Makes Practice Better a Great Choice for Lactation Consultants?
1. Intuitive and User-Friendly Interface
One of the first things I appreciated about Practice Better was how easy it was to navigate. Unlike some other EHR platforms that feel clunky or outdated, Practice Better has a modern, clean interface that’s intuitive for both practitioners and clients. Whether I’m setting up an appointment, creating a chart note, or messaging a client, the platform is smooth and efficient—something that’s especially valuable when juggling multiple clients and administrative tasks.
2. Seamless Client Experience
A great EHR system doesn’t just work well for the provider—it also needs to be client-friendly, and Practice Better delivers on that. My clients frequently comment on how much they enjoy the client portal. Clients can easily:
- Schedule appointments (without back-and-forth emails)
- Complete intake forms and consents before our session
- Access resources and protocols I provide
- Communicate securely via the client portal
The fact that all of these features are housed in one system makes it incredibly convenient for my clients, reducing confusion and improving their overall experience.
3. Integrated Secure Messenger
One of the standout features for lactation consultants is Practice Better’s secure messaging system. Many clients have follow-up questions after a consultation, and rather than dealing with texts or emails (which can get lost or feel unprofessional), Practice Better allows me to keep all communications securely within the platform. This also ensures that I have a record of all conversations, which is helpful for client care and documentation.
The ability to set boundaries with message response times is another feature I appreciate, allowing me to maintain a healthy work-life balance while still offering excellent client support.
4. Powerful Integrations for a Comprehensive Practice
Practice Better integrates with several key platforms that enhance the way I run my practice:
- Claim.MD – This integration allows me to submit insurance claims directly through Practice Better, making it a great option for lactation consultants who accept insurance. Rather than navigating separate portals, I can streamline the billing process, which saves time and effort.
- Rupa Health – For clients who need lab testing, this integration is incredibly helpful. While not all lactation consultants utilize lab work, those who focus on complex cases like hormonal imbalances, thyroid function, or gut health may find this feature invaluable.
- That Clean Life – Nutrition plays a big role in lactation, and this integration provides custom meal planning support for clients. If I want to offer clients nutrition guidance for optimizing milk supply or managing postpartum recovery, I can easily create and share meal plans through this integration.
These integrations make Practice Better a comprehensive solution for lactation consultants who want to go beyond basic charting and truly enhance their client care.
5. Insurance Billing and Superbills
If you accept insurance, you know how complex billing can be. Practice Better allows you to generate superbills with ease, and for those who directly bill insurance, the Claim.MD integration is a game-changer.
For out-of-network providers, Practice Better makes it simple to create detailed, professional superbills that clients can submit for reimbursement. This is an important feature, especially since many lactation consultants are working toward increasing accessibility through insurance coverage.
6. Customizable Forms and Charting
One of the things I love most is the ability to customize client intake forms and charting templates. I’ve tailored my setup to include:
- Detailed intake forms to gather essential client history
- Custom charting templates for consistent documentation
- Automated follow-up forms to check in with clients after a session
This level of customization allows me to streamline my workflow, ensuring that I have the necessary information without extra administrative burden.
7. All-in-One Platform
I am all about streamlining my business, and I don’t want to be switching back and forth between different platforms to accomplish all my tasks. I can run almost my entire business from Practice Better, including:
- Managing Consults and Client Interactionsto gather essential client history
- Providing Courses for consistent documentation
- Billing is a breeze – whether it’s for sending insurance claims, superbills, or charging clients, it takes seconds to accomplish
- Sending Faxes – I am always sending reports on clients to their healthcare providers, which is so easy because I have a fax number that came with my account, and I can send AND receive faxes right straight from Practice Better
7. Automations and Snippets
It’s taken me some time to figure out some of the handier features to make my life easier in Practice Better, but I don’t think I can turn back now!
- Snippets allow me to easily save text that I frequently share with clients to help me make charting a breeze
- Automatically send forms to clients depending on what type of service they signup for
- Request Google Reviews is a new feature that allows me to request Google Reviews from my clients in a non-intrusive way
- Reminders – You can setup reminders for visits, to book another consult, and much more easily!
A Few Areas for Improvement
While I love Practice Better, there are a few areas that could be improved:
- Learning Curve for Advanced Features – While the platform is user-friendly, some of the more advanced features (like automation, packages, or group programs) take time to fully understand. However, their support team and training resources are excellent.
- Mobile App Limitations – While the mobile app is useful for quick tasks, I find that some features (like scheduling and certain integrations) work best on a desktop.
- Scheduling – I wish there was a more sleek scheduler. I feel like it’s clunkier compared to some other options out there. I would love if I could have the first option to pick home visit, office visit, or virtual, and then get options from there.
These are relatively minor issues, and overall, the benefits far outweigh any drawbacks.
Final Thoughts: Is Practice Better Worth It for Lactation Consultants and Other Health Professionals?
After using Practice Better for over four years, I can confidently say that it’s one of the best investments I’ve made for my lactation practice. It streamlines everything—from scheduling and charting to messaging and billing—while also integrating with tools that enhance client care.
If you’re a lactation consultant looking for an EHR that is professional, user-friendly, and highly functional, I highly recommend Practice Better. Whether you take insurance, offer virtual consultations, or want to provide a seamless experience for your clients, this platform has you covered.
Would you like a behind-the-scenes walkthrough of how I use Practice Better in my practice? Let me know in the comments!
