PatientNow (part of Nextech) is the leading plastic surgery practice management platform in North America. EMR, before/after photo management, patient communication, and marketing tools for aesthetic practices. It is an excellent platform for managing existing patients. What it is not is a live answering service for the new patient calling at 9pm wondering if they are a candidate for rhinoplasty.
By David Cyrus, Attainment·
How we decide whether the service fits
We look at plastic surgery call coverage, comparison criteria, and handoff design against PatientNow, then decide whether Aida is the right fix. The goal is a clear result, not another tool added before the problem is understood.
We first check plastic surgery call coverage, comparison criteria, and handoff design against PatientNow. Then we decide whether Aida solves the problem.
Aida fits when the clinic wants to compare workflow control, privacy review, tested booking paths, and staff-visible outcomes.
It does not fit when the decision is just a feature checklist without reviewing the clinic's real consult leak.
Your clinic keeps vendor criteria, clinical policy, schedule controls, staff review, and final selection authority.
Side-by-side comparison of Attainment and PatientNow across 10 categories.
Swipe sideways to compare every column.
| Category | Attainment (Aida) | PatientNow |
|---|---|---|
| Live inbound call answering | Covers configured inbound call windows, including after-hours, weekends, and holidays. Aida books only where schedule access is supported and tested. Otherwise it prepares a staff-ready consultation request. | Does not answer live inbound calls. PatientNow is a practice management EMR. Incoming calls after hours are not handled by the platform. |
| Consultation booking from cold inquiry | Managed after-hours and overflow consultation request handling. Captures the caller's reason and request, books only where schedule access is supported and tested, and otherwise prepares a staff-ready handoff. | Appointment scheduling is available for existing patients in the EMR. It does not serve first-contact inbound callers who are not yet in the system. |
| EMR and patient records | Focused on call answering and consultation booking. Patient records managed in your existing EMR, including PatientNow. | Full EMR for plastic surgery and aesthetic practices. Before/after photo management, procedure documentation, surgical scheduling, and patient records. |
| Patient outreach and retention | Inbound call handling focus. Patient retention and recall campaigns handled by your existing platform. | Strong automated recall, follow-up, and retention campaigns. Proven for keeping existing aesthetic patients engaged. |
| Canadian privacy compliance | Jurisdiction-specific privacy planning. Before launch, Attainment reviews applicable provincial and federal requirements, processing location, access, retention, and vendor terms with the practice. | US HIPAA-positioned. No PHIPA or PIPEDA-aware implementation documentation specifically for Canadian practices. US-based platform. |
| After-hours coverage | After-hours and overflow backup. Does not replace your front desk team. Handles the calls they cannot reach, including evenings, weekends, and busy daytime periods. | No after-hours inbound call coverage. Automated messages can be scheduled, but live answering is outside the product scope. |
| Procedure-specific knowledge | Handles approved non-clinical questions about procedure information, the consultation process, and pricing approach. It does not diagnose or assess candidacy. Urgent or clinical situations follow the practice's approved staff escalation path. | Extensive procedure documentation and EMR capabilities for plastic surgery. Call-time patient education is not a platform feature. |
| Pricing | Pricing is quoted after a consultation and scoped to the practice. It includes a one-time setup fee plus a monthly service fee. | Enterprise EMR pricing reflects the full platform: EMR, photo management, patient communication, and practice management. Not a standalone answering service price point. |
| New patient capture | Captures the caller's reason and consultation request during configured after-hours and overflow coverage, then prepares the next step for staff review. | Designed for existing patient management. New cold inbound calls are not part of the product scope. |
| Integration | Works alongside PatientNow. Aida captures the caller's reason and request, then books only where schedule access is supported and tested or prepares a staff-ready handoff. | Comprehensive integrations with surgical systems, labs, and financial platforms. The core of the practice management ecosystem for aesthetic practices. |
Honest assessment. Both products serve aesthetic practices. The right choice depends on your priorities and market.
PatientNow and Attainment serve entirely different functions. PatientNow manages your patient records, procedures, and existing patient communication. Attainment answers the new patient calling at 9pm who has not found you yet. A plastic surgery practice using PatientNow for patient management and Attainment for after-hours inquiry capture is covering both the practice operations and the new patient funnel.
Need to compare the full category before choosing? Review the plastic surgery CRM software decision guide.
No. PatientNow is a practice management EMR for plastic surgery and aesthetic practices. It manages records, photos, appointments, and patient communication for existing patients. Inbound calls from new prospects calling after hours are not handled by the platform.
Yes. Attainment handles after-hours inbound calls and books or prepares consultation requests. PatientNow manages the patient journey from the first appointment through procedure documentation and follow-up. The two tools serve different stages: call capture and patient management.
PatientNow documents HIPAA compliance for the US market. Specific PHIPA and PIPEDA-aware implementation documentation for Canadian healthcare providers is not published on their website. Canadian plastic surgery practices should confirm compliance posture directly with PatientNow before use.
PatientNow manages existing patients: EMR, photos, scheduling, and follow-ups. Attainment provides managed after-hours and overflow coverage, captures consultation requests, and books only where schedule access is supported and tested. Otherwise, staff receive a ready handoff.
Yes. Call the live demo line at (365) 360-4369 anytime. You will hear Aida handle a practice call in real time. No sales call required.
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Aida handles calls for dental, LASIK, and plastic surgery clinics across Canada.
Call (365) 360-4369 to hear Aida live. Or book a personalized demo for your practice.