Front Desk to PracSuite Migration FAQs
Updated over a week ago

This article aims to answer many frequently asked questions regarding the Front Desk to PracSuite migration process including:


What data is transferred from Front Desk?


What needs to be completed prior to your data migration date?

Setup and training must be completed prior to your data migration date. Further information about the PracSuite setup process can be found here.


Can I access Front Desk after the data migration?

While you maintain a PracSuite subscription, Smartsoft is happy to provide the benefits of the Front Desk Extended Care Plan at no cost for an archival copy of your Front Desk installation.


Can I still use my HICAPS terminal with PracSuite?

Yes. HICAPS users can use their terminal manually alongside PracSuite without issue.

Note that the HICAPS terminal cannot integrate with any cloud-based products like PracSuite. Until HICAPS can provide Smartsoft with the development tools to achieve this, you will need to manually enter in payments and claims into the terminal. If you're happy to use the HICAPS terminal in this way, then there is no need to consider other options.

If an integrated terminal experience is a must for your practice, your only option is to look at setting up a Tyro terminal, which can be integrated with PracSuite.


What is Tyro Health Online?

Tyro Health Online is the backbone of the following online claiming and digital payment features in PracSuite:

To use any of the above features, you will need to set up your Tyro Health Online account and integrate it with PracSuite. If you're

If you want to use the Medicare/DVA claiming features, note that you must submit provider registration paperwork to Services Australia. You will be guided through this process while setting up your Tyro Health Online account. Note that Services Australia can take several business days to process your registration for online claiming via Tyro Health Online.

If you're migrating from other software with integrated Medicare/DVA claiming, DO NOT submit the paperwork to Service Australia until 5 days before your data migration. Submitting the paperwork for online claiming via Tyro Health Online will DEACTIVATE any existing Medicare & DVA Online claiming functionality you have in place in other software.

If you choose not to use the Tyro Health Online integration, the only other integrated method of Medicare claiming is via the Tyro Health EFTPOS terminal.


Does Tyro Health Online replace my HICAPS or Tyro terminal?

Tyro Health Online is a completely virtual solution (i.e it is not a physical terminal) and for the majority of practices, Tyro Health Online will not replace your physical HICAPS or Tyro terminal.

The majority of PracSuite users only require Tyro Health Online for Medicare & DVA online claiming. They will continue using their HICAPS or Tyro terminal for card payments and health fund claims.

As mentioned above, the Tyro Health Online integration also supports additional, optional features including:

  • Medicare Bulk Bill and Patient claiming

  • Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) claiming

  • Cardless health fund claiming

  • WorkCover QLD, icare NSW, WorkSafe VIC & Comcare claiming

  • Saving patient payment card info

  • Online booking payments

  • Appointment Prepayment Links.


What happens on your data migration date?

Please find a general overview of the final data migration date and process below:

  • We will obtain a backup of your existing Front Desk data. The size of your Front Desk backup will determine whether we obtain a backup the evening before or morning of your final migration date so that we have enough time to complete the process.

  • Any data entered into Front Desk after the backup process commences will not be transferred to PracSuite and will need to be manually re-entered once your PracSuite data migration is complete.

  • Our aim is to minimise your downtime. For most practices, the data migration process will reach a point when where you can start using the system by late afternoon on your migration date. We will call you to confirm when the process is at this point and give you the all-clear to start using PracSuite. Some historical data such as clinical notes great than two years old will continue to be uploaded into the evening.

  • Note that you will need to re-enter into PracSuite any data you’ve added to Front Desk since we have taken the initial backup for the migration process.


What happens after the data migration?

By mid-late afternoon on your data migration date, our team will call to confirm that your data migration is complete. After this time, you will need to start using PracSuite. Once you've received this call, we highly recommend reviewing the following within PracSuite:

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