Owl Practice

Pros

I can do everything through one piece of software: billing, records management, note-taking, client scheduling, and more.

Cons

For the most part, my experience with Owl has been positive. The only thing that I found difficult was setting my supervisor up to have access to my account. This process could maybe be a bit less complicated. It would also be great if there was a split-screen option so that I could have two sections open simultaneously. Otherwise, can't really think of anything I've needed or wanted from Owl that hasn't already been included.

Alternatives Considered

Reasons for Switching to Owl Practice

Pros

I started using OWL Practice to move my practice to electronic record keeping. This system allows for good note-taking options regarding client files.

I was concerned with privacy and information staying within Canada which is a key feature I considered when selecting OWL.

I appreciate this system was designed specifically for mental health practices as opposed to medicine-based options I have used in the past.

Cons

Forms - being able to send forms through Owl is a great feature. It has taken some time to get used to how to create forms.

Some of the features I would like to see added:
- option for classification of a session as tentatively booked for a client so it can be held in my calendar without.
- I have avoided using appointment reminders as I often use 'bookings' in the calendar to block off sections of time for client management/report writing. I wish there was a way to designate something that is linked to a client, but not a session that will send reminders/confirmations to clients.

Alternatives Considered

Reasons for Switching to Owl Practice

Pros

All of the features - that you can invoice clients, collect a payment, store notes, etc. all in one place. Customer service is phenomenal too!

Cons

I have a hard time with the video functions - that there is no option for group video, and when I try to do supervision where my supervisee is playing a video clip of a session on their computer, I can't hear it!!! At times the video glitches for no apparent reason - I had a session last week where for some reason, we could not hear each other for a few minutes. My supervisees are understanding, but it's a real bother to have to sort through video glitches like that.

And setting up a group call for individuals who aren't in a family is frustrating! So much behind the scenes work for me to register them all, link the accounts, make a separate event just for the video session and individual ones for each of their invoices.... oy.

It would be good to have more editing features for the forms too.

AND to send certain forms out automatically the morning of an appointment! Like the COVID screenings - I would love to have that go directly to the client on the morning of a scheduled appointment so that I don't have to think about it and remember to send it myself.

AND more options for note-taking that aren't just writing. I am an art therapist and working with children and youth. I also use play interventions a lot. It would be nice to have a case note that's more versatile with checkboxes and other features where you can include a photo right on the same page.

Pros

The functionality is good and has been improving over the last year.

Cons

Months after switching, they suddenly stopped supporting my device. It took them a month to fix the issue. I had to buy a new device for my business to function. When I asked for a one month credit on my user fee, they refused, saying that it was accessible during that time (but I don't consider suddenly requiring a desktop computer and a corded connection accessible in this decade). It was a cold response from a company that had initially been very welcoming (before they had me dependent on them).

Alternatives Considered

Reasons for Choosing Owl Practice

Switched From

Reasons for Switching to Owl Practice

Pros

As a mental health practitioner working with partners and groups, I appreciate that OWL automatically links clients and **copies notes made in one chart into the charts of the other members of the therapy group.

Cons

It isn't always intuitive to find the functions I want, or make changes to existing sessions. There is a strong "tree" organization to the major sections, without pathways to access different sections without "traveling back along each branch toward the trunk" so that you can "travel along another branch." I hope that metaphor makes sense! It feels very linear in this way and often interrupts flow.

I also find that certain functions along a theme will be located in different places, making it confusing. For example, not all scheduling or services changes are made in the same area. I find there are many sneaky buttons within windows!

The creation of forms feels a bit clunky and, for lack of a better descriptor, old. And viewing of forms that clients have filled out is often limited. I can't "view" client forms and see their entire answers - I have to download the form, which I would otherwise choose to not do.

****The self-guided help guide is TERRIBLE. Searching help articles by keyword yields MANY results, many of which seem to be totally unrelated.

Alternatives Considered

Reasons for Switching to Owl Practice