The best thing you can do to deliver a project on time is getting partnership discussions rolling during the estimation phase. Contact the necessary third parties early on and have them provide API documentation outlining what you can and cannot do. Devise your plan with these documents in hand, and precision will naturally follow.

It pays to study these third parties and learn their requirements inside and out, too. This knowledge ensures your future SaaS solution can effectively exchange information with other healthcare systems, avoiding discrepancies, disruptions, and potential legal risks for your business.

Let me share quick tips regarding the main players you may integrate with.

If your software will touch patient data, it’s necessary to achieve interoperability with EHRs. We recently got certified to work with hospitals using Epic; AthenaHealth is another major industry name. Each health plan has its quirks, so adapt to them for smooth data exchange. Integrating with clearinghouses like Change Healthcare allows billing and claims processing, so don’t skip this step. And if you’re handling drug manufacturing, PBMs require a meticulous plan to avoid delays.

A precise estimate can’t happen if you don’t account for third parties. So, remind your team of this fact and keep it in mind for every solution you devise — it’ll make your life much easier. Schedule a consultation if you need additional advice on handling partnerships in healthcare software development.