There was much to behold at Nextech EDGE 2025, our annual user conference. Care providers and administrators from specialty practices nationwide gathered in Orlando, Fla., to connect with each other and learn about industry trends, regulatory changes, and the latest innovations from savvy experts and peers. There also were plenty of exciting updates from Nextech about the company and its technology platform. Here are the highlights:
Progress on Responsible Integration of AI Enhancements
Artificial intelligence (AI) was a hot topic at Nextech EDGE. We’re investing heavily in modernizing our data architecture and collaborating with customers to tailor AI solutions for each specialty we serve. Nextech prioritizes ethical AI development, compliance, and privacy. Our focus isn’t on speed to market, but on delivering the most effective and impactful AI solutions to enhance practice efficiency and patient care.
For example, the pilot program for AI scribe enhancements to Nextech’s ophthalmology platform involved 10 practices and more than 30 technicians, scribes, and doctors with more than 1,000 chart sections generated so far. Insights from our research have informed goals for the next phase of development for the AI scribe, including:
- More seamless integration with the Nextech chart
- Near real-time streaming findings during scribing
- Intelligent merging of existing and new findings
- Configurable patient consent tracking
- Best-in-market accuracy, performance, and usability
Extensive user feedback has been key to the pilot program, helping us better understand how this technology can add more value to clients. There’s already been a lot of excitement from those involved in the program, including Dr. James Murphy of Scarsdale Ophthalmology Associates.
“AI scribe amplifies the value in Nextech because it is customized to my knowledge base of discrete findings and to my chart configuration. It just works! No extra steps on my part,” Murphy said.
Dr. Patrick Basile of Patrick L. Basile Plastic Surgery & Wellness in Jacksonville Beach, Fla., put it simply: “The use of AI will streamline that already well-oiled process” with Nextech.
An AI-assisted photo editing tool with facial recognition that is integrated with TouchMD Snap is also in the pilot phase. AI-powered automation enables users of all skill levels to confidently and effortlessly capture professional-grade facial photos with the convenience of an iPhone in treatment rooms. Aesthetic practices no longer have to commit resources to costly training for staff, dedicated lighting, expensive photography equipment, and specialized in-office studio space. The consistently aligned, high-quality before-and-after images help patents better visualize progress and results over time, leading to higher satisfaction, recurring treatment compliance, and revenue growth.
Optimizing the Revenue Cycle to Maximize Reimbursement
Insurance claim denials have increased in recent years, straining cash flow and adding administrative burdens for specialty providers. Several sessions at EDGE addressed ways practices can boost profits by eliminating inefficient processes and leveraging smart technology. For example, Nextech RCM helps streamline claim recovery and boost reimbursement by offering fully integrated, specialty-specific services. Customizable to each practice’s needs, Nextech RCM supports everything from sending unpaid balances to collections to managing patient payment plans.
“Managing a practice’s revenue cycle has never been more complex, with evolving payer requirements and increasing claim denials creating significant challenges for providers,” said David Metcalfe, Chief Technology Officer at Nextech. “With Nextech RCM, we’re providing specialty practices with integrated, intelligent solutions that streamline billing workflows, reduce administrative burden, and help maximize reimbursement — so providers can focus on delivering exceptional patient care.”
Nextech consultant Nio Queiro recently discussed how practices can manage rising costs and diminishing reimbursements with Tim Warner, senior vice president at Assembly Health, a Nextech partner. Learn why they say it’s important for physician practices to have revenue cycle experts on their side to maximize reimbursement in the on-demand webinar, “Future-Proofing Your Revenue Cycle Amid Change.”
Improve the Patient Experience with Payment Flexibility
Improving the patient experience is always a critical focus area in healthcare, and that was reflected in the Nextech EDGE agenda. Patients have come to expect the same speed and convenience of their consumer experiences from their care providers, including in how they pay for treatment. To compensate for the “Amazon effect,” practices now must consider a variety of payment options for their clients such as debit/credit, ACH/bank account, digital wallets such as ApplePay, installment and buy now, pay later plans, and more.
Nextech Payments increases payment flexibility for practices through a variety of built-in capabilities, such as online payments, automated card on file, pay by link, multiple financing options, and more. Nextech Payments enables practices to move toward an omnichannel approach to payments, seamlessly integrating multiple payment methods and channels. This ensures a cohesive, fluid experience where customers can switch between channels effortlessly while retaining their transaction history and preferences.
Nextech Payments also saves time for administrative staff by making processes such as financial reconciliation more efficient. Jennifer Rispo-Maguire, ophthalmic administrator at Burlington County Eye in New Jersey, said her team is excited about Nextech Payments for many reasons.
“Nextech Payments allows our patients to pay online, which has decreased the amount of statements we have to send out,” Rispo-Maguire said. “It also saves us approximately 10 hours a month reconciling our financials on the back end. And having integrated financing options is another way we see time-savings, reduced complexity, and far more enhanced efficiency.”
New Leadership, Investment, and Mission
Over the past year, Nextech has added significant executive talent with experience in operating complex software organizations at scale. Many of these new leaders were in attendance at Nextech EDGE and shared their perspective during keynote presentations, including Chief Executive Officer Rusty Frantz, Chief Technical Officer David Metcalfe, and Chief Customer Officer Naomi Wheeless.
With the guidance of our executive team and the strong backing of our new investors, TPG, we have increased our product development investment to create innovative solutions that deliver greater value to our clients. Part of this investment will go toward fortifying the core of the Nextech platform through expanded interoperability, improved performance and scalability, further development of the patient portal, increased automation for practice management workflows, and enhanced financial and operational reporting.
A new corporate vision, mission, and set of core values has brought greater alignment throughout the entire organization. These guiding principles ensure everything Nextech does is attuned to the needs of healthcare specialists. Our mission, in particular, makes Nextech’s purpose crystal clear: “To be the trusted adviser for specialty practices, by delivering an intuitive purpose-built technology platform that empowers meaningful provider and patient interactions to improve the health and well-being of our communities.”
Find Out More
Too much happened at Nextech EDGE to include everything here. So, if you’re curious to find out what other exciting news was revealed or if you’d like to learn more about the updates mentioned above, reach out now to request a demo and experience firsthand the latest Nextech has to offer.
