Henrik Nielsen, President of Blueprint Solutions, was featured in The Hearing Review’s latest Practice Management Software Roundtable: AI, Automation, and Analysis.

He highlights the latest trends shaping hearing healthcare—including artificial intelligence—and shares how Blueprint OMS is helping transform patient care through smarter technology.

The Hearing Review: What is the most important trend in practice management software for hearing care right now?

Henrik Nielsen (Blueprint): The most significant trend in practice management software for hearing care today is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to automate and assist with daily clinic tasks. By leveraging AI, clinics can enhance the patient experience while simultaneously freeing up staff for more impactful work. We have introduced intelligence-driven tools such as AI-assisted chart noting with voice dictation, language translation, and chart note summarization. Additionally, Blueprint-AI can generate text replies to patient inquiries, saving valuable staff time.

HR: What are the newest or most helpful features available, and how do they help HCPs and staff?

Nielsen: In response to the changes in patient communication preferences, we’ve introduced interactive texting (SMS) in Blueprint OMS, managed in a dedicated messaging center. Clinics can text patients from their landline to communicate on a number that patients trust and recognize. This new feature comes equipped with Blueprint AI Assist and pre-defined messages and responses.

Blueprint OMS also offers text-to-pay, as well as online appointment reminders and telehealth invitations via SMS. These SMS features enable practices to manage patient conversations using a familiar text message interface within Blueprint OMS.

The interactive texting feature enables faster and more effective communication with patients by providing a fully embedded solution, rather than separating services across different platforms.

To improve practice operations, you can conveniently assign conversations to staff members or book future appointments directly from your text conversations. It provides a more convenient and efficient way for your staff to communicate with patients, improving both workflow and the patient experience.

Interactive texting provides greater flexibility, accessibility, and an alternative to phone calls. By providing a single, trusted number for both voice and text, patients have an easy and convenient solution for communicating with the clinic.

Blueprint OMS user Diana Vercellino, chief operating officer at Gold Country Hearing & Balance, shares her experience with interactive texting: “We’ve been really impressed with how easy the new texting feature is to use. What’s stood out the most is how effective it’s been with patients who haven’t answered phone calls or have full voicemail boxes. By sending a quick text, we’ve had patients call back almost immediately. It’s been a game-changer for staying

connected and improving communication.”

Our broad range of texting, marketing automation, and relationship management solutions, along with AI capabilities, improves staff efficiency, lowers costs, and allows for greater focus on patient care.

HR: Are there software trends or features that have fallen by the wayside as technology has advanced that show how much this space has changed in recent years?

Nielsen: In the past, practice management solutions were primarily local server-based systems rather than cloud-based. These systems were usually not integrated with other software, such as Noah, QuickBooks, or EMRs. They offered no automated options for recalls, marketing, or reminders. Systems relied heavily on paper and phone calls for patient communication.

HR: What features do you think we can expect to see in practice management software in the future, and how could they change how HCPs approach their jobs?

Nielsen: With the ongoing shortage of hearing healthcare professionals, we need to support patient-centric approaches with systems that manage and integrate key tasks, such as documentation, patient engagement, billing, and analytics. AI and automation are key to less admin work and more patient-facing time.

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An abbreviated version of this article titled Roundtable: Practice Management Software Improvements appears in the July/August 2025 issue of The Hearing Review.

Source: Hearing Review Staff. Roundtable: Practice Management Software Improvements. Hearing Review. 2025;32(4):20-21.