| Picking a hardware configuration
that will unlock the power of your software system will ensure
that it is used to its full potential while meeting your budget.
Most EMR & Medical
Billing Software are Client/Server applications. This means
that all your patients’ data is stored on a single computer
designated as the “Server” and is the accessed by
multiple workstations called “Clients”. This design
allows for easier management of your software, better performance,
less errors, and increased scalability. The end result is a
more reliable system that is able to grow with your office.
Servers:
Picking the right server is extremely important. The server
is the homebase for all the computers in your office. Reliability
and Performance are the two most important aspects when making
your decision. With a paperless office you will be able to
do more with less staff and greater organization. This in-turn
increases your dependency on your computers and increases
the importance of having a system that is always available
when you need it. You will want to ensure that your data is
properly protected from viruses, theft, fire and power surges.
An automatic nightly backup of your patient data is a minimum
requirement to ensure proper reliability. It is also highly
recommended that you keep a backup of your data off-site incase
of theft or fire. Secondly, choosing a server that will meet
the increase in demand while your office grows will ensure
that you will not have to purchase a new server for the next
3-5 years because of a decrease in performance. The following
chart should help you to decide which server is best for you.
Clients:
You essentially have two options when picking the client
computers for your office, again it is important that you
pick a style that will complement your practice while making
it fun to use and learn. Both of these client styles have
their benefits.
1. Wireless Tablet PC’s – Connected to your server
via a wireless network, these Tablet PC’s will allow
you to roam from room to room while documenting your patient’s
visits electronically. This is the most popular way to use
ChiroTouch because of its incredible functionality and cost-effectiveness.
Because you only need 1 Tablet PC per treating doctor/therapist
you will save on your hardware costs as opposed to outfitting
your office with multiple workstations throughout your office,
ie. option 2. The downside to the tablet is that there is
a steeper learning curve as you will be challenged to not
just learn ChiroTouch but also the Tablet PC features.
2. Workstations – Connected to your server via a wired
network, these workstations would be strategically positioned
throughout your office so that they are easily accessible
while treating patients. Where some offices will place a workstation
in each treatment room, others will place workstations between
rooms or just in their most commonly used rooms. The latter
would generally mean that you would treat 2-3 patients’
before going to a workstation to enter in their information
(Chart Notes, Dx Codes, CPT Codes). This method can get expensive
simply due to the large number of computers that can potentially
be required but is a bit more technically friendly and is
great for high volume, large staff and more hazardous offices
where Tablet PC’s are too cumbersome or where the steeper
learning curve involved with the tablet is not acceptable.
For more information on hardware and Tablet PC's for EMR visit
our EMR
Tablet PC FAQ |
