2025 Trends in O&P Practice Management: Article III

Why 71% of O&P Practices Are Dissatisfied with Their Systems — And What Smart Leaders Are Investing In Next The world of orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) is evolving rapidly. Yet while 90% of O&P practices have adopted some form of practice management software, a surprising 71% report being less than fully satisfied with their current systems. As challenges around profitability, staffing, and operational efficiency intensify, leaders are realizing that outdated technology may be holding them back. A new, independent research study commissioned by Nymbl Systems highlights exactly where nearly 100 O&P practice leaders are struggling, and more importantly, where they are investing to future-proof their businesses. If you're relying on aging software or piecemeal solutions, it's time to rethink your technology strategy — or risk getting left behind. Let's explore the trends reshaping O&P practice management and what investments are critical for 2025 and beyond. The Big Challenges Facing O&P Practices in 2025 According to a survey, Trends in Practice Management Technology [hyperlink this report], the top challenges keeping executives up at night include: Shrinking Profit Margins (37%) Workforce Shortages (28%) Managing a Growing Patient and Referral Base (19%) These aren't temporary hurdles. Leaders expect these challenges to persist over the next 3–5 years, putting added pressure on practices to work smarter, faster, and more profitably. Yet despite adopting practice management systems, most practices aren't seeing the full benefits. Rigid workflows, poor customer support, and lack of innovation were cited as top reasons for dissatisfaction. Many O&P software systems simply haven't kept up with the realities of running a modern practice. If your current O&P software isn't actively helping you boost margins, automate workflows, and retain staff, it's not just a minor inconvenience — it's a competitive disadvantage. Where Smart Leaders Are Investing Next Faced with persistent operational challenges, O&P leaders are directing their investments into three core areas: 1. Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) Transformation Managing the revenue cycle is getting harder, not easier. Despite this, 70% of O&P practices are still handling all RCM functions in-house. Meanwhile, other healthcare sectors have embraced outsourcing to specialized RCM partners, leading to faster payments, fewer denials, and reduced overhead costs. Forward-thinking O&P leaders are now: Seeking RCM technologies that integrates pre-submission scrubbing, real-time eligibility checks, and denial management. Exploring partial or full outsourcing models to lighten the administrative burden. Prioritizing systems that provide transparency into claims status and cash flow. Takeaway: Practices that modernize their RCM processes will get paid faster, reduce audit risks, and free up staff to focus on patient care. 2. Smarter Compliance and Documentation Compliance is a moving target. CMS and private insurers constantly update regulations, making manual documentation risky and inefficient. New AI-powered documentation tools are changing the game by: Capturing and formatting clinical notes automatically. Reducing human error. Helping practices create clean claims faster. Takeaway: Practices that embrace AI tools will protect revenue streams, speed up billing cycles, and minimize compliance risks. 3. Inventory and Purchasing Efficiency Managing inventory used to be a back-office task. Today, poor inventory management can cost practices valuable time and money. Practices are now investing in O&P software that: Automates purchasing. Integrates vendor ordering directly into their practice management systems. Provides real-time inventory visibility. Takeaway: Streamlining inventory means less waste, fewer shortages, and better financial control. Technology Expectations Are Higher Than Ever When asked what they expect from their O&P software partners, practice leaders made it clear: they want more. Top expectations for practice management systems in 2025: Better visibility into business performance (28%) Improved staff productivity (24%) More process automation (20%) Improved clinical resource productivity (15%) And it's not just about features — leaders are demanding cost-effective solutions, responsive customer support, and continuous innovation from their vendors. Takeaway: If your current system isn't delivering on these fronts, you're at risk of falling behind competitors who are already modernizing. The Rise of AI in O&P Practice Management One of the most promising shifts in O&P software is the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). In the survey, a remarkable 80% of O&P leaders expressed interest in using AI to: Automate claims processes. Improve clinical documentation. Streamline patient intake workflows. Modern O&P software platforms are rapidly integrating AI to help practices work smarter, not harder. From ambient clinical documentation to predictive revenue cycle analytics, AI will soon be a "must-have" — not a "nice-to-have." Takeaway: Practices that embrace AI will have a significant edge in operational efficiency, profitability, and patient satisfaction. Are You Ready for the Second Half of 2025? The O&P landscape is shifting. Practices that continue relying on outdated, rigid systems will struggle with growing administrative costs, staff burnout, compliance risks, and slower growth. But those who invest now in modern O&P software — with integrated RCM services, AI-driven documentation, automated inventory management, and better business intelligence — will be ready to thrive. The message from the research is clear: expect more from your technology partners. Want to see the full insights from nearly 100 of your peers? Download the full 2025 Trends in O&P Practice Management Technology Report here [link to report]

What O&P Practice Leaders Should Look for in a Modern Practice Management System In the evolving landscape of Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P), practice leaders are increasingly relying on practice management systems (PMS) to streamline operations. However, recent research indicates that 71% of practice leaders are less than fully satisfied with their current systems, with 32% considering a switch in the near future. Given that 90% of practices currently use a PMS, it’s critical to understand what features drive satisfaction and where current solutions are falling short. Key Characteristics of an Effective O&P Practice Management System 1. Ease of Use & Efficiency Gains 46% of respondents hold financial leadership roles, and 24% are in business leadership—indicating that administrative efficiency is a top concern. Practices that reported satisfaction with their current PMS cited ease of use and efficiency as the top benefits. Nymbl’s intuitive interface and mobile-friendly design streamline daily operations, minimizing training time and enhancing productivity. 2. Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) Capabilities 70% of O&P practices still manage revenue cycle functions in-house, whereas other healthcare sectors increasingly outsource these functions. Among the biggest areas for improvement in 2025, revenue cycle management topped the list at 39%. Nymbl offers end-to-end RCM solutions , improving reimbursement rates and reducing administrative workload. 3. Automation & AI Integration 80% of O&P leaders are interested in using AI and machine learning to create efficiencies in claims automation, documentation, and patient intake workflows. AI-driven features like Nymbl’s AI Notes streamline clinical documentation, automatically capturing and formatting notes for review. 4. Reliable Customer Support & Innovation Lack of customer support and outdated workflows were cited as primary reasons for dissatisfaction with current systems. Practices considering a PMS switch prioritize cost-effectiveness, responsive customer support, and ongoing innovation. Nymbl delivers continuous innovation with 10+ product releases annually. The Importance of Choosing the Right Practice Management System Selecting the right PMS is not just a technology decision—it is a strategic business decision that impacts every aspect of an O&P practice. Given that 71% of practice leaders report being less than fully satisfied with their current system, the research makes it clear that many PMS solutions are falling short of industry needs. Practices must consider their long-term growth objectives, operational challenges, and evolving patient expectations when evaluating PMS options. A modern PMS should not only address immediate workflow inefficiencies but also position practices for future success. Leaders who participated in the research study emphasized three core expectations from their PMS: Better insights into business performance (28%) – A robust PMS should provide real-time data visibility and reporting tools to help practice leaders make informed decisions. Improved productivity of administrative staff (24%) – Automating manual tasks and reducing the administrative burden should be a top priority. More automation of business processes (20%) – AI-driven automation can optimize billing, documentation, and patient management workflows. With the O&P industry evolving rapidly, practices must ensure that their PMS can keep pace with technological advancements and regulatory changes. The right PMS should not only solve today’s problems but also equip practices with the tools to thrive in the years ahead. Why Nymbl Stands Out With industry-leading AI features, a customer-first approach, and robust revenue cycle management capabilities, Nymbl addresses the top challenges facing today’s O&P practices. By aligning with an innovative and responsive technology partner, practices can improve efficiency, enhance compliance, and drive profitability. As practices look to the future, the need for a modern, intelligent, and scalable PMS has never been greater. The key to success lies in selecting a system that not only meets current needs but also evolves with the industry—one that enhances productivity, ensures financial stability, and supports superior patient care. See why hundreds of O&P practice leaders have made the switch to Nymbl Systems. Schedule a demo. Want to see the full insights from nearly 100 of your peers? Download the full 2025 Trends in O&P Practice Management Technology Report

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10-Practice O&P business turns to Nymbl Systems to support its growth and need for greater efficienciess DUBLIN, Ohio, November 11, 2024 – Nymbl Systems announced today that Mary Free Bed Orthotics &Prosthetics + Bionics has selected Nymbl’s innovative, cloud-based practice management platform. Mary Free Bed O&P+B, a highly respected nonprofit known for its commitment to exceptional care, aims to meet the needs of an expanding network of clinics and mobile units across the Midwest. “We are experiencing tremendous growth in our business and our previous practice management system was slowing us down,” said Scott Riddle, Vice President of Mary Free Bed Orthotics & Prosthetics + Bionics.. “Speed and accessibility become very important to us. We knew we needed a system that could keep pace with our growth and help us find new efficiencies across every part of our business, so we switched to Nymbl.” In contrast to their former self-hosted system, Nymbl’s fully web-based platform provides Mary Free Bed O&P+B with the flexibility to access data and manage workflows from any location with internet connectivity. This capability is especially valuable to the Mary Free Bed O&P+B team, which operates four mobile units and often works with patients in diverse settings outside the clinic. “As a nonprofit O&P provider, we work closely with physical therapy and other specialties within our interdisciplinary care model,” explained Riddle. “One of the things we love about Nymbl is that the entire system is web-based and accessible from anywhere, on any device, at any time, which has been a game-changer, especially with our clinicians conducting home visits and our mobile units out in the field. Nymbl’s accessibility and seamless integration make it possible to grow with confidence in our EMR, knowing it supports both our in-clinic and on-the-road needs.” Ease of Use: A Critical Differentiator According to Riddle, one of the standout advantages of Nymbl is its intuitive design. Unlike the previous practice management system, which required navigating multiple modules for different tasks, Nymbl places all necessary tools — from billing to patient management — within a single, user-friendly interface. This shift has significantly streamlined onboarding and training for new employees. According to Riddle, “With Nymbl, everything is in one easy-to-navigate space, from prescription and purchasing information to billing data, making it incredibly intuitive. This simplicity has made the onboarding process for our new employees much smoother, allowing us to focus on providing the best care possible.” The ease of use is particularly important as Mary Free Bed O&P+B continues to grow. With each new location and team member, the organization needs a system that facilitates rapid onboarding, allowing new staff to integrate quickly and focus on patient care. Riddle added, “Training employees in Nymbl has been remarkably easier than with previous systems. As we expand, having an EMR that doesn’t require lengthy training means new hires can become productive much faster. It’s just a lot more intuitive, which positively impacts our overall efficiency.” Improving Efficiency with Task Management and Real-Time Transparency In addition to accessibility and ease of use, Nymbl’s task management system has proven invaluable for improving communication between clinical and administrative teams. “The tasking system has really streamlined our processes,” explained Riddle. “It’s improved our pipeline and handoff process, giving both clinicians and admin teams real-time transparency without the need for constant messaging.” With Nymbl, clinicians can easily track a patient’s progress, ensuring nothing gets missed and that every team member is aware of their responsibilities. This transparency has contributed to faster, more efficient workflows, which are critical to the organization’s goal of expanding and enhancing patient care across multiple locations. A Culture of Partnership and Innovation Mary Free Bed O&P+B’s transition to Nymbl aligns with the company’s commitment to continuous improvement and innovation. Nymbl’s customer-focused culture has created a strong partnership, fostering a sense of collaboration that resonates with Mary Free Bed O&P+B’s values. Riddle praised Nymbl’s customer service and responsiveness, highlighting the company’s dedication to improving and refining its product based on client feedback. “It feels like a partnership, and that’s what we’re looking for in our relationship with an EMR system. We intend to be with Nymbl for a long time and expect to grow together in the years to come.” Nymbl’s forward-thinking development pipeline, which includes upcoming AI-driven features, reflects its commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions for the O&P industry. Riddle expressed excitement about the future possibilities, noting that innovations like AI-enhanced documentation could further streamline workflows and improve documentation accuracy. “Nymbl seems to be ahead of the curve on AI, and if they can implement this feature, it could be a real game-changer for us in practice.” A Wave of Change in the O&P Industry Mary Free Bed O&P+B’s decision to switch to Nymbl Systems reflects a larger trend in the orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) industry as more organizations seek modern, user-friendly, and adaptable EMR solutions. Nymbl’s growth and success demonstrate the value of its innovative approach, which prioritizes accessibility, ease of use, and responsive customer service. As Nymbl continues to expand, it’s clear that the platform offers significant advantages that resonate with O&P practices nationwide. To learn more about how your practice can benefit from switching to Nymbl’s practice management system, visit nymblsystems.com/OP . About the Mary Free Bed Orthotics & Prosthetics + Bionics Program Mary Free Bed O&P+B’s team of certified orthotists and prosthetists help patients safely achieve the most function, mobility, and independence. They coordinate and integrate every aspect of the patient’s care, including physical, psychological, and social needs. Together, they will create a plan that blends expertise with the latest technology to find the best solution for the patient. Their clinics across Michigan specialize in products and services to empower independence. Services are available for adults and children. The team works closely with the patient to create solutions customized to the patient’s needs, goals, and financial considerations. To learn more about Mary Free Bed O&P+B, visit https://www.maryfreebed.com/services/orthotics-prosthetics-bionics/ or follow them on Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn About Nymbl Systems Nymbl Systems' software solutions deliver better business outcomes for those who enable better health and mobility through an agile, purpose-built software platform that automates workflows and accelerates time to revenue. Based in Columbus, Ohio, the Nymbl team works with hundreds of O&P, CRT, and HME providers. To learn more about Nymbl, visit www.nymblsystems.com or follow Nymbl on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Read the full announcement here .

Managing a growing Complex Rehabilitation Technology (CRT) practice today demands a modern platform and practical features that streamline your team's workflows, ensure compliance, enable proactive financial management, and enhance patient experiences. As CRT providers face growing operational pressures and rising patient expectations, many find that Nymbl's all-in-one CRT solution offers the capabilities they need to thrive and grow. This blog examines Nymbl’s product approach, next-generation platform, and practical features that lead CRT providers to switch from legacy platforms to Nymbl. Benefits of Switching to Nymbl First, let's explore a few of the key benefits that CRT providers achieve when they run their business with Nymbl: • Streamlined Workflows. Nymbl simplifies and automates many crucial processes for CRT teams. The solution reduces manual tasks, from intake and scheduling to claims management and financial reporting. This allows staff to focus less on paperwork and more on their highest-value efforts, such as improving claims management or delivering exceptional patient care. • Faster Payments. Nymbl's efficient claims management reduces billing errors and speeds up reimbursements, helping CRT providers get paid faster and improve cash flow. Nymbl also offers outsourced revenue cycle management services, handling everything from accuracy checks and claim submissions to accounts receivable management and payment posting. • Data-Driven Decisions. With comprehensive, intuitive reporting, Nymbl empowers CRT providers to make more informed decisions based on data. This insight and control help CRT providers optimize every aspect of operations, from patient care to financial management. • Improved Patient Experience. Nymbl is designed to enhance every aspect of the patient journey, from intake to assessments and payments. By smoothing every patient interaction, Nymbl allows CRT teams to focus on delivering exceptional patient care. Top Nymbl Capabilities for CRT Providers Let’s explore Nymbl’s practices, platform, and product features that deliver an elevated experience and improved performance for CRT providers. The Nymbl Approach to Supporting CRT Providers Any discussion about the value Nymbl delivers starts with our partnership with CRT teams and their experience with our company and product, from implementation and training to ongoing collaboration on product enhancements. Nymbl takes an integrated approach to data migration, implementation, and training to ensure your practice is up and running rapidly with Nymbl. Once your data is migrated, you always have access — your data is yours, and it's always easy to export it for any reason. Our team has a relentless focus on exceptional customer support with dedicated contacts on our team, real-time availability through online chat, and a robust help center, all of which power our Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 85+. Finally, our customer-driven approach to development means our team hears your voice. With ten or more new releases yearly, Nymbl ensures continuous innovation, keeping your business equipped with the latest enhancements and capabilities. Don't just take our word for it, hear from our satisfied customers here. Nymbl's Cloud-Native Technology Next, let’s explore how our technology platform differs from rigid legacy solutions that may be web-enabled but are not built on a modern platform. Nymbl's cloud-native SaaS platform offers seamless scalability, robust security, and an optimized user experience. With a modern, user-friendly interface, Nymbl provides a clean, intuitive experience that simplifies onboarding and daily tasks. Nymbl’s mobile-friendly design allows users to access the platform anywhere on any device to manage tasks, complete home assessments, and check reports. In addition, Nymbl centralizes documents and notes to eliminate the need to switch between different product sections or modules to search for relevant documents. Nymbl’s Practical Features That Optimize CRT Team Performance Let’s take a closer look at the features that enable efficiency in patient interactions and internal workflows that are essential for any CRT provider: • Streamlined Patient Intake, Scheduling, and Payments—Nymbl simplifies intake with a single-page patient intake that efficiently captures all necessary details without navigating around multiple areas of the product. It also integrates calendar management with Outlook and Google for easier scheduling, automatic appointment confirmations to reduce no-shows, and seamless credit card processing for simplified patient transactions. • Mobility for ATPs and Clinicians—Not only is Nymbl built for any user to access the product from anywhere, any device, but Nymbl also helps mobile staff gain efficiencies during visits to patients’ homes or to multiple locations. Features such as quick access to maps for navigating to a patient’s address, mobile assessments that automatically update the patient chart, and instant media capture to easily upload images directly to Nymbl (not to your phone) take a little work out of each step that adds up to significant efficiency gains. • Optimized Billing and Business Management— Nymbl equips CRT providers with powerful operational features that enhance efficiency, ensure accuracy, and provide valuable data insights. Reduce manual entry with the ability to digitize and autofill any form with information from a patient chart. Achieve more efficient claims management with a single-page hub and automate billing for Medicare-capped equipment rentals. Simplify financial workflows by automating ERAs, EOBs, and remittance postings through Nymbl’s integration with Waystar. A robust and intuitive AR tracking module and flexible financial reporting tools make it easier to manage outstanding balances and close the books effectively. Finally, Nymbl's business intelligence dashboards and drill-down reporting enable more informed, data-driven decisions.

Innovative AI-powered solution helps O&P clinicians save up to a day a week spent on capturing, summarizing, and editing clinical notes DUBLIN, Ohio, September 12, 2024 – Nymbl Systems, a software company dedicated to delivering better business outcomes for those who enable better health and mobility, today announced the launch of the industry’s first artificial intelligence-powered clinical notes solution specialized for orthotics and prosthetic (O&P) practices. Nymbl’s AI Notes helps O&P clinicians balance engaging in quality patient interactions with completing detailed clinical notes that meet compliance standards. Typically, O&P clinicians spend up to 40 percent of their time completing clinical notes. By automating capturing, summarizing, and editing their notes with AI Notes, clinicians can now save up to a day per week of their time. "With AI Notes, we're tackling one of the most time-consuming aspects of O&P practice management," said Josh Lau, CEO of Nymbl Systems. "Our solution allows clinicians to focus on what they do best – providing exceptional patient care – while ensuring accurate and compliant documentation. This launch demonstrates our continued dedication to creating new efficiencies for practices through modern technology applied specifically for the practices we serve, significantly improving how they run their businesses.” How Does AI Notes Work? Within the Nymbl platform, clinicians can use AI Notes to record patient interactions in real time, or they can upload pre-recorded audio. This eliminates the need to write or type notes while interacting with the patient, which creates a more efficient visit with improved focus on the patient. AI Notes transcribes these interactions into editable text leveraging healthcare-specific language recognition through AWS HealthScribe. The solution creates structured summaries within minutes and allows further editing and integration with existing note templates in the system. With increased efficiencies, O&P clinicians can see more patients each day while ensuring high standards of accuracy and compliance with clinical notes. AI Notes will be available as an add-on subscription for current customers of Nymbl’s core practice management solution. See AI Notes and the Nymbl Practice Management Platform at AOPA 2024 To learn more about AI Notes and how it can transform your workflow, talk to our team and see AI Notes live at the AOPA 2024 National Assembly at the Charlotte Convention Center, booth #816, from September 12-15, 2024. Or visit the Nymbl website to learn more and schedule a personalized demonstration . Read the full announcement here .

Innovative artificial intelligence-powered solution helps O&P clinicians save up to a day a week spent on capturing, summarizing, and editing clinical notes Your orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) practice revolves around providing excellent patient care. Yet, O&P clinicians can struggle to balance quality patient interactions with completing the detailed documentation that is necessary for compliance and reimbursement requirements. Manually typing notes can consume a significant portion of a clinician's day—sometimes up to 40%—with complex interactions requiring as much as 45 minutes to document fully. Many clinicians may resort to jotting down brief notes on paper during visits and then completing the full documentation afterward in their practice management system at the end of the day. This introduces the risk of inaccuracies, incomplete visit notes, and an extended workday. Additionally, clinical notes must not only be accurate but also formatted in a structured, compliant way to withstand audits, which adds time to the task. Editing, updating patient information, and applying templates further complicate the process. While this is the status quo, the fact remains that there are significant opportunities to streamline clinical workflows and increase the number of patients clinicians can see in a day. Whether clinicians manage high-volume interactions, such as diabetic shoe fittings, for example, or complex prosthetic cases, the challenge remains: creating accurate, compliant clinical notes without sacrificing valuable patient interaction time or extending the workday. At Nymbl, we are constantly focused on creating efficiencies for our customers. We believe the area of clinicians' patient visit notes can be dramatically improved with modern technology, including artificial intelligence (AI). Our new solution, AI Notes, optimizes clinical note workflows and improves the accuracy of clinical note-taking for O&P clinicians. What Is Nymbl AI Notes? AI Notes is an advanced artificial intelligence-powered documentation feature designed to streamline the clinical notes process for O&P clinicians. AI Notes automates the recording, transcription and summarization of notes, significantly reducing the time clinicians spend on this critical task. How Can AI Notes Help Your Practice? There are substantial benefits of leveraging AI Notes within your practice: Save Time and Increase Productivity Clinicians can save an estimated one day per week of their time on clinical notes. With less paperwork, clinicians can see more patients and improve overall productivity. Enhance Accuracy AI Notes ensures more accurate notes of a patient visit. With a patient interaction recording, an intelligent transcript, and an automatically generated summary, clinicians can quickly double-check for errors. Improve Patient Care With more time for patient interaction and more focus on the patient during the interaction, clinicians can focus on quality interactions and make better-informed clinical decisions. Security and Compliance Administrators can manage access, ensuring notes are only viewed and edited by the appropriate team members. Clinicians use structured note summaries that can easily be converted into standard templates for audit compliance. How Does AI Notes work? AI Notes dramatically reduces the time it takes to accurately capture, summarize, edit and complete a clinical note. Let’s explore the details of AI Notes features: Automated Transcription AI Notes records patient interactions within the application and converts these audio recordings into structured text in minutes, saving clinicians hours of manual documentation a day. Recordings can also be uploaded if the interaction was recorded with another device. Complete Transcripts Users can review the transcript to spot errors or omissions before finalizing the summaries. This adds an extra layer of accuracy. Structured Summaries AI Notes automatically generates structured note summaries from the transcript. These summaries can then be further edited and integrated with existing note templates to complete the documentation of an interaction. Healthcare-Specific Language By leveraging AWS HealthScribe, AI Notes can accurately transcribe and summarize complex medical information. Typical errors created by simple voice-to-text apps are minimized through specialized transcriptions that recognize medical terminology. As a HIPAA-eligible technology, AWS HealthScribe meets the stringent privacy and security requirements necessary for handling sensitive healthcare data. User Permissions Once the solution is licensed, your company’s administrators control access, ensuring only authorized staff can use AI Notes and view clinical notes. Seamless Integration AI Notes is embedded in Nymbl, eliminating disruptions to current workflows and the need to work in multiple applications. At Nymbl, we are always focused on user feedback. Since we release enhancements on a regular schedule 10 or more times a year, we will incorporate feedback and explore additional capabilities, such as expanded template options and more advanced AI capabilities, to further streamline your workflow. Ready to streamline clinical documentation at your O&P practice? By significantly reducing documentation time, improving accuracy, and seamlessly integrating with existing workflows, AI Notes empowers you to focus on what you do best—providing exceptional care to your patients. Whether you are a current customer or considering making the switch to Nymbl, discover how AI Notes can give you back valuable time, enhance your patient interactions, and take your practice to the next level. Learn more and set up a time to see a demo and talk to the Nymbl team about getting started today.