Orbit Medical thinks outside software box

SALT LAKE CITY - Unable to find a software platform that fit its needs, Orbit Medical decided to develop its own. “When a company finds its niche and does something a certain way, out-of-the-box software (isn't always the best solution),” said Kelly Albiston, vice president and a partner in the three-year-old company. “One of the things I've found missing out of all the software—and there's a lot of good stuff out there—was accountability, whether for products and patients all the way down to employees' time. A lot of software doesn't really give you a great way to manage what the employees are doing and how much time it takes to complete tasks.” With 210 employees and 15 locations throughout the Midwest and West, tracking tasks will improve efficiency, said Albiston. Orbit is four to six months away from wrapping up the two-year project, which Albiston describes as a workflow engine that tracks each interaction with a patient, from initial contact to final sale. An inventory module that will integrate with the main system has already been developed. “We can see where in the process we are, how long it's taking and, if necessary, what's holding it up,” said Albiston. “The end result is to shorten the cycle time to where it is billed and paid, but on a side note, it helps with compliance and patient care as well.” Embracing technology is nothing new for Orbit Medical, which focuses on oxygen and power wheelchairs. The company uses mainly Invacare's HomeFill transfill concentrators for its oxygen patients. “CMS seems to be promoting new technology so we are continually trying to invest in that,” said Albiston. “In the last round of cuts, the newer technology wasn't cut as severely. The industry is being led that way whether it wants to or not.” HME