Healthcare professionals exchange patient data, test results, and treatment plans among multidisciplinary teams to facilitate coordinated healthcare. Most still use manual methods to perform these tasks, increasing the possibility of errors. They need technology that enhances communication and information sharing across teams, regardless of departmental silos. This is where collaboration software can help.
Selecting the right tool entails evaluating factors such as security and compliance, integration capabilities, collaboration features, mobile compatibility, scalability and future growth, and more, which can be overwhelming.
To help healthcare professionals make the right decision, this article highlights, in alphabetical order, the five top-rated collaboration software based on user reviews. For each product, we include overall user ratings along with the highest-rated parameter, review excerpts from industry professionals, and product pricing. Read more.
1. Basecamp
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Highest-rated parameter
Commonly used by
Starting price
Device compatibility
Here are some review excerpts from healthcare professionals who have used Basecamp for collaboration:
"Basecamp is a great tool for managing work. The website is easy to use and works like magic. I have used it before and had no problems with it at all. I highly recommend using this product as an effective way of communicating with your team members, employees, or clients in order to create better relationships and build trust between you all so that you can get the most out of each other's talents, skills, and abilities."
"I love the ease of use that comes with Basecamp! It is a great way to connect and keep things organized within our large team. The software allows for scheduling, document uploading, and general communication platforms."
"I love the simplicity brought by this tool. It has helped me to quickly and easily add projects for my team to work on and I am able to see progress as each of the projects is moved along in the process. I also love the collaboration that is involved with this project and the ability to set up notifications that help you to stay on top of deadlines."
Read all Basecamp reviews here.
2. Box
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Highest-rated parameter
Commonly used by
Starting price
Device compatibility
Here are some review excerpts from healthcare professionals who have used Box for collaboration:
"Box is highly effective in sharing and storing large files, which is of tremendous help for biological research purposes. The ability to collaborate with teammates in a seamless fashion has bought up a paradigm shift in data storage. The unprecedented utility of rapidly uploading huge files are of incredible aid, for the denizens in the scientific research community."
"Box is a secure way to store, manage, and update documents in an organized fashion. Single users or multiple users can easily access the software and make updates that others can see in real time. The ability to organize folders/documents and find them is very good."
"I like how it gives you a lot of options to help you with sharing files and allows you to store your important data in a safe place so you don't lose it and help you with task management so you can track your task progress."
3. ClickUp
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Highest-rated parameter
Commonly used by
Starting price
Device compatibility
Here are some review excerpts from healthcare professionals who have used ClickUp for collaboration:
"I am highly appreciative of ClickUp's customizable and user-friendly qualities. Its intuitive and efficient task, project, and document organization capabilities, along with its customizable features, make it ideal for my needs. The added bonus of being available on desktop, iOS, and Android makes it accessible and convenient to use no matter where I am."
"It's made it easy to organize and track tasks, manage projects, and collaborate with my team. The interface is user-friendly, and I've found the support team to be very responsive and helpful."
"Superior user experience and interface design, with many helpful tools for managing various projects. It's the best tool out there for setting priorities and keeping track of the tasks your team needs to get done."
Read all ClickUp reviews here.
4. Dropbox Business
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Highest-rated parameter
Commonly used by
Starting price
Device compatibility
Here are some review excerpts from healthcare professionals who have used Dropbox Business for collaboration:
"It's easy to use, has a great user interface, and offers a variety of storage choices for our company. Logging in provides us with quick access to all of our data, which I value. I can also use it from any location where I have an internet connection, which is convenient—it helps our firm manage and expand. It is a must-have item for any professional. Dropbox Business enabled us to remain in touch while updating our work on the fly. Dropbox Business is simple to operate on."
"I liked that Dropbox Business made it easy to store, access, and share files securely across any device. The ability to control access to sensitive information and set user permissions was also very useful. The integration with other tools like Microsoft Office and G Suite was also helpful."
"Dropbox business has made it very easy for me and my team to work together on our projects and daily tasks. The fact that the admin of our group and see and control everything we are doing keeps us all on the right page!"
Read all Dropbox Business reviews here.
5. Google Workspace
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Highest-rated parameter
Commonly used by
Starting price
Device compatibility
Here are some review excerpts from healthcare professionals who have used Google Workspace for collaboration:
"The amount of features that comes along with Google Workspace is incredible. From cloud storage, remote desktop, instant file synchronization and much much more you just can't go wrong when using Google Workspace."
"The backup and recovery feature is my most convenient tool. It has been easy to integrate my daily business activities with the use of Google Workspace to store and retrieve documents."
"Google Workspace has helped alot in our day to day practice since so long. Its deployment is extremely great. We can use it anywhere from any device. UI is the best for all."
Read all Google Workspace reviews here.
What features do collaboration tools offer?
The core features collaboration tools offer for healthcare workers are:
Communication management: | Provides multiple communication channels to facilitate effective communication among team members. This may include features such as direct messaging, group chats, video conferencing, and audio calls. These tools ensure that team members can communicate, share ideas, discuss tasks, and resolve any issues or questions that may arise during collaboration. |
File sharing: | Enables users to share files and documents with their teammates. With this feature, team members can upload, store, and access files from a central location. This eliminates the need for exchanging files through email or other external platforms, making it easier to collaborate on shared documents. |
All products listed in this report include the features mentioned above. Besides these core features, collaboration tools also commonly tend to offer:
Brainstorming
Electronic health records (EHR)
Calendar management
Contact management
Content management
Document management
Mobile access
Real-time editing
Video conferencing
Task management
How to choose the right healthcare collaboration software
Here are some factors to consider while you look for the best healthcare collaboration software:
Outline your unique requirements: Begin by assessing your organization's specific collaboration needs. Consider the size of your healthcare facility, the number of users who will access the software, the types of healthcare professionals involved, and the specific collaboration tasks you aim to streamline. This will help you establish a list of features and functionalities you require in the software.
Evaluate data security features: Ensuring data protection and security is necessary for healthcare providers, especially when leveraging online technology for communication and collaboration. Look for data encryption and security features such as secure login credentials, multi-factor authentication, access controls, and activity tracking. These features can safeguard your sensitive information and shield your database from potential breaches.
Assess document search options: The right collaboration tool provides advanced search capabilities to assist you in finding files, data, and communication. It lets you find documents by their file name, metadata, creation date, editing date, or specific keywords. Some online collaboration tools also allow you to save your searches for later reference.
Common questions to ask software vendors before purchasing healthcare collaboration software
Consider asking your vendor the following questions so that you find the best collaboration software for healthcare professionals:
What are the available collaboration features?
Before making a choice, check which collaboration features the software supports. The ideal collaboration tool should provide multiple modes of clinical communication, including secure messaging, file sharing, task management, document collaboration, video conferencing, and calendar integration, to help you connect with your team members.
Can multiple users collaborate on patient notes in real time?
Most collaboration software designed for healthcare supports multiple users collaborating on patient notes with real-time editing. To maintain data integrity and ensure accuracy, collaboration tools include version control functionality, i.e., keeping track of different versions of patient notes as they are modified over time. It allows users to review and revert to previous versions if needed, ensuring a comprehensive audit trail.
Can multiple calendars be synced for staff scheduling purposes?
Your shortlisted tool should support the synchronization of multiple calendars, allowing users to view each other's availability, schedule appointments, and assign tasks accordingly. This helps users identify mutually available time slots and eliminate the need for manual back-and-forth communication to determine availability.