Re: practice management software/OS, update

May 26, 2006

RE more than one computer- I'm solo solo also but like having the second

computer- added about 6 months ago- to have the receive to PC option on 24

hours a day (I usually take my laptop home at the end of the day) . Also

if (when) my laptop dies, I'll have a backup to use at the office for those

few days until I can get a new one. Also, I'm moving to a different office

space and may decide to set the second (or even 3rd) computer to a spot

where patients can use it to enter instant medical history? or at least do

the online HowsYourHealth Survey. Also Amazing Charts is not completely

perfect yet and sometimes I need to look in two places at once (eg when you

are doing an insurance referral and you have the referral window open, but

you can't get back into the chart to get the insurance number...very useful

to have the second computer to sneak in around the back).

I love 'golden vaporware FM'!

Lynn Ho

>

>Reply-To:

>To:

>Subject: practice management software/OS, update

>Date: Thu, 25 May 2006 20:54:35 -0000

>

>I am planning furiously for projected launch date of Sept 1 or sooner if

>amazingly everything

>goes really smoothly. So far it's still mostly in the phase the software

>development people call

> " Golden Vaporware " ie all in my head, and therefore perfect. :-)

>

>I have filed for my LLC, and am *still* working on getting an address.

>

>More questions: anyone have experience with MacPractice? (?) Amazing

>Charts, with

>QuickBooks and EZ CLAim --AC/EZ/QB as some have labeled it-- looks

>attractive, but I'm a

>little worried about changing from Mac to Windows ( have a Windows machine

>at current job,

>don't use it for much because it always seems to have a problem--mostly

>connectivity related

>to hospital firewall though)

>

>If no employees, why have more than one machine? Just a laptop and backup

>external hard

>drive ought to do. Am I missing anything there?

>

>Thanks!

>

> Leitzel

>Golden Vaporware Family Medicine

>Crown Point/Winfield, IN

>

May 26, 2006

,Congratulations on making it this far! It's been a little over 2 years for my solo practice and I still feel like it is a work in progress. I do use MacPractice and have been (mostly) pleased with it. When I initially began, I did not have any practice management software and used an online practice management service called Medrium for my electronic billing. It was very low cost until Medrium hiked their fees. It was around this time (Oct 2005) that MacPractice was rolling out their product, which claimed data exchange capabilities with my EMR, SpringCharts, so it seemed like a good time to switch. In retrospect, it was still a beta program when it first came out and the data exchange function with SpringCharts took several months to get working. However, the MacPractice team seems to be continually issuing upgrades to their program to fix bugs and improve functionality, sometimes as often as daily. Plus their support team has been extremely helpful and amazingly responsive to questions/problems about electronic billing and troubleshooting claims.Not being a professional biller, I don't know how to use the full functionality of MacPractice yet, but I find it quite easy to submit claims with. I think they are planning an EMR/charting function but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it. I would recommend MacPractice now since it is a stable, maturing program that has an excellent support team. Unfortunately, it doesn't really link up with any EMRs, except maybe SpringCharts. Fortunately, with a low volume practice, it isn't that onerous to type the same demographic info twice. If you have no employees, then you only need one computer, ideally a laptop with redundant backup schemes. I mirror my laptop to an external firewire drive with SuperDuper about once a month (I intended to do it more often, but you know how it is). My main backup is through an online service called BackJack, which backs up my vital files once a day. I also use the Mac's Backup program to backup these same files to my .Mac account once a day. I believe in backup systems that don't require you to do anything. I considered getting a PC-based EMR when I first opened, too, since there were more EMR choices. If I had gone that route, I probably would've gone with Amazing Charts mainly because of its low cost. I would have gotten a PC laptop or tablet, because I think Virtual PC would've been too slow. However, these days, you have the option of getting one of the new Intel Mac laptops that can also run Windows natively. There is even a virtualization program called Parallels (http://www.parallels.com/) which allows you to switch between Mac OS X and Windows without having to reboot. How cool is that? I think Windows, as a platform, requires much more work keeping it problem-free, along with greater maintanance costs. In trying to keep things as low cost and hassle-free as possible, therefore, I chose to remain completely on the Mac platform. Anemaria Lutas is another Mac user on this listserve.If you have any other questions about my setup, feel free to ask. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress! SetoSouth Pasadena, CA I am planning furiously for projected launch date of Sept 1 or sooner if amazingly everything goes really smoothly. So far it's still mostly in the phase the software development people call "Golden Vaporware" ie all in my head, and therefore perfect. :-) I have filed for my LLC, and am *still* working on getting an address. More questions: anyone have experience with MacPractice? (?) Amazing Charts, with QuickBooks and EZ CLAim --AC/EZ/QB as some have labeled it-- looks attractive, but I'm a little worried about changing from Mac to Windows ( have a Windows machine at current job, don't use it for much because it always seems to have a problem--mostly connectivity related to hospital firewall though) If no employees, why have more than one machine? Just a laptop and backup external hard drive ought to do. Am I missing anything there? Thanks! Leitzel Golden Vaporware Family Medicine Crown Point/Winfield, IN

June 1, 2006

,Can you comment on your experience with Springcharts?Don ,Congratulations on making it this far! It's been a little over 2 years for my solo practice and I still feel like it is a work in progress. I do use MacPractice and have been (mostly) pleased with it. When I initially began, I did not have any practice management software and used an online practice management service called Medrium for my electronic billing. It was very low cost until Medrium hiked their fees. It was around this time (Oct 2005) that MacPractice was rolling out their product, which claimed data exchange capabilities with my EMR, SpringCharts, so it seemed like a good time to switch. In retrospect, it was still a beta program when it first came out and the data exchange function with SpringCharts took several months to get working. However, the MacPractice team seems to be continually issuing upgrades to their program to fix bugs and improve functionality, sometimes as often as daily. Plus their support team has been extremely helpful and amazingly responsive to questions/problems about electronic billing and troubleshooting claims.Not being a professional biller, I don't know how to use the full functionality of MacPractice yet, but I find it quite easy to submit claims with. I think they are planning an EMR/charting function but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it. I would recommend MacPractice now since it is a stable, maturing program that has an excellent support team. Unfortunately, it doesn't really link up with any EMRs, except maybe SpringCharts. Fortunately, with a low volume practice, it isn't that onerous to type the same demographic info twice. If you have no employees, then you only need one computer, ideally a laptop with redundant backup schemes. I mirror my laptop to an external firewire drive with SuperDuper about once a month (I intended to do it more often, but you know how it is). My main backup is through an online service called BackJack, which backs up my vital files once a day. I also use the Mac's Backup program to backup these same files to my .Mac account once a day. I believe in backup systems that don't require you to do anything. I considered getting a PC-based EMR when I first opened, too, since there were more EMR choices. If I had gone that route, I probably would've gone with Amazing Charts mainly because of its low cost. I would have gotten a PC laptop or tablet, because I think Virtual PC would've been too slow. However, these days, you have the option of getting one of the new Intel Mac laptops that can also run Windows natively. There is even a virtualization program called Parallels (http://www.parallels.com/) which allows you to switch between Mac OS X and Windows without having to reboot. How cool is that? I think Windows, as a platform, requires much more work keeping it problem-free, along with greater maintanance costs. In trying to keep things as low cost and hassle-free as possible, therefore, I chose to remain completely on the Mac platform. Anemaria Lutas is another Mac user on this listserve.If you have any other questions about my setup, feel free to ask. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress! SetoSouth Pasadena, CA I am planning furiously for projected launch date of Sept 1 or sooner if amazingly everything goes really smoothly. So far it's still mostly in the phase the software development people call "Golden Vaporware" ie all in my head, and therefore perfect. :-) I have filed for my LLC, and am *still* working on getting an address. More questions: anyone have experience with MacPractice? (?) Amazing Charts, with QuickBooks and EZ CLAim --AC/EZ/QB as some have labeled it-- looks attractive, but I'm a little worried about changing from Mac to Windows ( have a Windows machine at current job, don't use it for much because it always seems to have a problem--mostly connectivity related to hospital firewall though) If no employees, why have more than one machine? Just a laptop and backup external hard drive ought to do. Am I missing anything there? Thanks! Leitzel Golden Vaporware Family Medicine Crown Point/Winfield, IN

October 7, 2006

,Have you noted that MacPractice will shortly link to Comchart? Are you still pleased with MacPractice and SpringCharts?Don Ives ,Congratulations on making it this far! It's been a little over 2 years for my solo practice and I still feel like it is a work in progress. I do use MacPractice and have been (mostly) pleased with it. When I initially began, I did not have any practice management software and used an online practice management service called Medrium for my electronic billing. It was very low cost until Medrium hiked their fees. It was around this time (Oct 2005) that MacPractice was rolling out their product, which claimed data exchange capabilities with my EMR, SpringCharts, so it seemed like a good time to switch. In retrospect, it was still a beta program when it first came out and the data exchange function with SpringCharts took several months to get working. However, the MacPractice team seems to be continually issuing upgrades to their program to fix bugs and improve functionality, sometimes as often as daily. Plus their support team has been extremely helpful and amazingly responsive to questions/problems about electronic billing and troubleshooting claims.Not being a professional biller, I don't know how to use the full functionality of MacPractice yet, but I find it quite easy to submit claims with. I think they are planning an EMR/charting function but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it. I would recommend MacPractice now since it is a stable, maturing program that has an excellent support team. Unfortunately, it doesn't really link up with any EMRs, except maybe SpringCharts. Fortunately, with a low volume practice, it isn't that onerous to type the same demographic info twice. If you have no employees, then you only need one computer, ideally a laptop with redundant backup schemes. I mirror my laptop to an external firewire drive with SuperDuper about once a month (I intended to do it more often, but you know how it is). My main backup is through an online service called BackJack, which backs up my vital files once a day. I also use the Mac's Backup program to backup these same files to my .Mac account once a day. I believe in backup systems that don't require you to do anything. I considered getting a PC-based EMR when I first opened, too, since there were more EMR choices. If I had gone that route, I probably would've gone with Amazing Charts mainly because of its low cost. I would have gotten a PC laptop or tablet, because I think Virtual PC would've been too slow. However, these days, you have the option of getting one of the new Intel Mac laptops that can also run Windows natively. There is even a virtualization program called Parallels (http://www.parallels.com/) which allows you to switch between Mac OS X and Windows without having to reboot. How cool is that? I think Windows, as a platform, requires much more work keeping it problem-free, along with greater maintanance costs. In trying to keep things as low cost and hassle-free as possible, therefore, I chose to remain completely on the Mac platform. Anemaria Lutas is another Mac user on this listserve.If you have any other questions about my setup, feel free to ask. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress! SetoSouth Pasadena, CA I am planning furiously for projected launch date of Sept 1 or sooner if amazingly everything goes really smoothly. So far it's still mostly in the phase the software development people call "Golden Vaporware" ie all in my head, and therefore perfect. :-) I have filed for my LLC, and am *still* working on getting an address. More questions: anyone have experience with MacPractice? (?) Amazing Charts, with QuickBooks and EZ CLAim --AC/EZ/QB as some have labeled it-- looks attractive, but I'm a little worried about changing from Mac to Windows ( have a Windows machine at current job, don't use it for much because it always seems to have a problem--mostly connectivity related to hospital firewall though) If no employees, why have more than one machine? Just a laptop and backup external hard drive ought to do. Am I missing anything there? Thanks! Leitzel Golden Vaporware Family Medicine Crown Point/Winfield, IN

October 9, 2006

Don,Sorry I've put off commenting on SpringCharts. Now is as good a time as any.In answer to your question, I did see that MacPractice will be offering a data bridge between it and Comchart. I purchased the SpringCharts Exchange for MacPractice module (it was extra) and was not very impressed. It basically transfers over newly entered patient demographic data from SpringCharts over to MacPractice, with some limitations. It will only send over data for NEW patients, not pre-existing patients (who still have to be transferred manually). Also, it does not allow you to choose which patient/family account in MacPractice to put the new patient into, instead simply creating a new patient account, even though he/she may belong under a relative's financial account. It does, however, allow you to transfer data from MacPractice to SpringCharts if you happened to enter data in MacPractice first.So I spent $1200 for a module that would copy over Patient Name, Birthdate, Gender, Address, Phone Numbers, Marital Status and Chart Number. Something that takes about a minute to do manually. If I saw 30 patients a day, I could see that it could save me some time. But for a low volume practice, it didn't really save me a lot of work. That wasn't the worst part. There were a lot of delays and hassles involved in getting it to work. Sometimes, I feel like I am a unwitting beta tester for them. For example, they announced the ability of MacPractice to link data with SpringCharts in August 2005, which prompted me to purchase MacPractice, but only found out later that this functionality was only in beta testing. However, in anticipation of its release, I purchased it in November, 2005 and proceeded to wait. It wasn't actually released until Feb. 2006. After using it for 3 months, I moved my MacPractice database to a server so that a future employee could do billing while I continued to use my laptop for clinical data entry. At that time, I discovered that the Exchange function broke, since the MacPractice database must reside on the same computer as the SpringCharts database. In order to restore this, I needed to either move MacPractice back to my single laptop (no way), or pony up for the Networked version of SpringCharts, even though no one would ever use it on the server. That was when I decided to cut my losses, and go back to typing in demographic data manually. So it ended up being a wasted $1200 for a broken module. Well, it wasn't entirely wasted. I re-learned the valuable lesson of never buying the first version of any kind of software program.I think the MacPractice link will be just as useful (or unuseful) in transferring data to ComChart, too, so definitely not a reason to choose an EHR. ComChart used to post its price on its website, which I recall was about $500 for the simplest/cheapest version. I'm sure it's more now. But I have to say that its graphics interface just looks plain ugly to me. It must be the spoiled Mac user in me, but the appearance of a program is almost as important as its functionality to me.PowerMed is another Mac-compatible EHR program that Larry Lindeman uses. Altapoint is a new EHR with a "cleaner" looking interface that claims to be Mac-compatible but its website is skimpy on details. And MacPractice, which I like as a practice management program (but which I also feel like a beta tester for), seems to be aiming to add some EHR functionality in the future. SpringCharts is basically a glorified word processor for me, which separates the SOAP note into sections (Chief Complaint, History, ROS, Vitals, Exam, Dx, Plan, Follow up) and puts it all together in one note. It allows you to cut and paste from previous notes and has an ICD9 Lookup feature which is mostly accurate. It has scheduling, messaging and to-do functions, which I don't use because they aren't as good as iCal and regular e-mail. I don't trust its E & M Coder and its E-mail implementation is horrible. It does allow you to save text which is frequently entered, such as physical exam findings or templates for back pain/URI/physicals. The part I find the most annoying is that I cannot let my laptop go to sleep while the program is open, because when it wakes up, SpringCharts automatically closes every window (even if you haven't saved what you are working on!). At the stroke of midnight, it also rudely shuts itself down without offering to save any unsaved data, although it tries to give you a 3 minute warning before it does so. The best part about SpringCharts is its low cost and that it keeps all patient data on your computer.I would give SpringCharts a 6 on a scale of 10. It is the date you take to the dance because you don't want to go alone, but you're not in love. You hope you meet someone better, but for now this is the best choice you've got. But I feel SpringCharts has potential, as long as the developers keep working at it. For more info, Apple has some profiles of physicians' practices that use SpringCharts:http://www.apple.com/business/profiles/cleveland/http://www.apple.com/business/profiles/marlow/I hope this was helpful. SetoSouth Pasadena, CA,Have you noted that MacPractice will shortly link to Comchart? Are you still pleased with MacPractice and SpringCharts?Don Ives

October 9, 2006

Don,Sorry I've put off commenting on SpringCharts. Now is as good a time as any.In answer to your question, I did see that MacPractice will be offering a data bridge between it and Comchart. I purchased the SpringCharts Exchange for MacPractice module (it was extra) and was not very impressed. It basically transfers over newly entered patient demographic data from SpringCharts over to MacPractice, with some limitations. It will only send over data for NEW patients, not pre-existing patients (who still have to be transferred manually). Also, it does not allow you to choose which patient/family account in MacPractice to put the new patient into, instead simply creating a new patient account, even though he/she may belong under a relative's financial account. It does, however, allow you to transfer data from MacPractice to SpringCharts if you happened to enter data in MacPractice first.So I spent $1200 for a module that would copy over Patient Name, Birthdate, Gender, Address, Phone Numbers, Marital Status and Chart Number. Something that takes about a minute to do manually. If I saw 30 patients a day, I could see that it could save me some time. But for a low volume practice, it didn't really save me a lot of work. That wasn't the worst part. There were a lot of delays and hassles involved in getting it to work. Sometimes, I feel like I am a unwitting beta tester for them. For example, they announced the ability of MacPractice to link data with SpringCharts in August 2005, which prompted me to purchase MacPractice, but only found out later that this functionality was only in beta testing. However, in anticipation of its release, I purchased it in November, 2005 and proceeded to wait. It wasn't actually released until Feb. 2006. After using it for 3 months, I moved my MacPractice database to a server so that a future employee could do billing while I continued to use my laptop for clinical data entry. At that time, I discovered that the Exchange function broke, since the MacPractice database must reside on the same computer as the SpringCharts database. In order to restore this, I needed to either move MacPractice back to my single laptop (no way), or pony up for the Networked version of SpringCharts, even though no one would ever use it on the server. That was when I decided to cut my losses, and go back to typing in demographic data manually. So it ended up being a wasted $1200 for a broken module. Well, it wasn't entirely wasted. I re-learned the valuable lesson of never buying the first version of any kind of software program.I think the MacPractice link will be just as useful (or unuseful) in transferring data to ComChart, too, so definitely not a reason to choose an EHR. ComChart used to post its price on its website, which I recall was about $500 for the simplest/cheapest version. I'm sure it's more now. But I have to say that its graphics interface just looks plain ugly to me. It must be the spoiled Mac user in me, but the appearance of a program is almost as important as its functionality to me.PowerMed is another Mac-compatible EHR program that Larry Lindeman uses. Altapoint is a new EHR with a "cleaner" looking interface that claims to be Mac-compatible but its website is skimpy on details. And MacPractice, which I like as a practice management program (but which I also feel like a beta tester for), seems to be aiming to add some EHR functionality in the future. SpringCharts is basically a glorified word processor for me, which separates the SOAP note into sections (Chief Complaint, History, ROS, Vitals, Exam, Dx, Plan, Follow up) and puts it all together in one note. It allows you to cut and paste from previous notes and has an ICD9 Lookup feature which is mostly accurate. It has scheduling, messaging and to-do functions, which I don't use because they aren't as good as iCal and regular e-mail. I don't trust its E & M Coder and its E-mail implementation is horrible. It does allow you to save text which is frequently entered, such as physical exam findings or templates for back pain/URI/physicals. The part I find the most annoying is that I cannot let my laptop go to sleep while the program is open, because when it wakes up, SpringCharts automatically closes every window (even if you haven't saved what you are working on!). At the stroke of midnight, it also rudely shuts itself down without offering to save any unsaved data, although it tries to give you a 3 minute warning before it does so. The best part about SpringCharts is its low cost and that it keeps all patient data on your computer.I would give SpringCharts a 6 on a scale of 10. It is the date you take to the dance because you don't want to go alone, but you're not in love. You hope you meet someone better, but for now this is the best choice you've got. But I feel SpringCharts has potential, as long as the developers keep working at it. For more info, Apple has some profiles of physicians' practices that use SpringCharts:http://www.apple.com/business/profiles/cleveland/http://www.apple.com/business/profiles/marlow/I hope this was helpful. SetoSouth Pasadena, CA,Have you noted that MacPractice will shortly link to Comchart? Are you still pleased with MacPractice and SpringCharts?Don Ives

October 9, 2006

Thanks for the thoughtful commentary. I agree, Comchart is ugly, but is packed with features. They have a $100 non-networked single user version, that I'm going to purchase to learn. Better than spending several thousand for the full-fledged version, I think. Then I can test it out thoroughly. Wonder what Larry thinks of PowerMed? I used that for several years as a note generator, but its been up-graded several times since then.Don Don,Sorry I've put off commenting on SpringCharts. Now is as good a time as any.In answer to your question, I did see that MacPractice will be offering a data bridge between it and Comchart. I purchased the SpringCharts Exchange for MacPractice module (it was extra) and was not very impressed. It basically transfers over newly entered patient demographic data from SpringCharts over to MacPractice, with some limitations. It will only send over data for NEW patients, not pre-existing patients (who still have to be transferred manually). Also, it does not allow you to choose which patient/family account in MacPractice to put the new patient into, instead simply creating a new patient account, even though he/she may belong under a relative's financial account. It does, however, allow you to transfer data from MacPractice to SpringCharts if you happened to enter data in MacPractice first.So I spent $1200 for a module that would copy over Patient Name, Birthdate, Gender, Address, Phone Numbers, Marital Status and Chart Number. Something that takes about a minute to do manually. If I saw 30 patients a day, I could see that it could save me some time. But for a low volume practice, it didn't really save me a lot of work. That wasn't the worst part. There were a lot of delays and hassles involved in getting it to work. Sometimes, I feel like I am a unwitting beta tester for them. For example, they announced the ability of MacPractice to link data with SpringCharts in August 2005, which prompted me to purchase MacPractice, but only found out later that this functionality was only in beta testing. However, in anticipation of its release, I purchased it in November, 2005 and proceeded to wait. It wasn't actually released until Feb. 2006. After using it for 3 months, I moved my MacPractice database to a server so that a future employee could do billing while I continued to use my laptop for clinical data entry. At that time, I discovered that the Exchange function broke, since the MacPractice database must reside on the same computer as the SpringCharts database. In order to restore this, I needed to either move MacPractice back to my single laptop (no way), or pony up for the Networked version of SpringCharts, even though no one would ever use it on the server. That was when I decided to cut my losses, and go back to typing in demographic data manually. So it ended up being a wasted $1200 for a broken module. Well, it wasn't entirely wasted. I re-learned the valuable lesson of never buying the first version of any kind of software program.I think the MacPractice link will be just as useful (or unuseful) in transferring data to ComChart, too, so definitely not a reason to choose an EHR. ComChart used to post its price on its website, which I recall was about $500 for the simplest/cheapest version. I'm sure it's more now. But I have to say that its graphics interface just looks plain ugly to me. It must be the spoiled Mac user in me, but the appearance of a program is almost as important as its functionality to me.PowerMed is another Mac-compatible EHR program that Larry Lindeman uses. Altapoint is a new EHR with a "cleaner" looking interface that claims to be Mac-compatible but its website is skimpy on details. And MacPractice, which I like as a practice management program (but which I also feel like a beta tester for), seems to be aiming to add some EHR functionality in the future. SpringCharts is basically a glorified word processor for me, which separates the SOAP note into sections (Chief Complaint, History, ROS, Vitals, Exam, Dx, Plan, Follow up) and puts it all together in one note. It allows you to cut and paste from previous notes and has an ICD9 Lookup feature which is mostly accurate. It has scheduling, messaging and to-do functions, which I don't use because they aren't as good as iCal and regular e-mail. I don't trust its E & M Coder and its E-mail implementation is horrible. It does allow you to save text which is frequently entered, such as physical exam findings or templates for back pain/URI/physicals. The part I find the most annoying is that I cannot let my laptop go to sleep while the program is open, because when it wakes up, SpringCharts automatically closes every window (even if you haven't saved what you are working on!). At the stroke of midnight, it also rudely shuts itself down without offering to save any unsaved data, although it tries to give you a 3 minute warning before it does so. The best part about SpringCharts is its low cost and that it keeps all patient data on your computer.I would give SpringCharts a 6 on a scale of 10. It is the date you take to the dance because you don't want to go alone, but you're not in love. You hope you meet someone better, but for now this is the best choice you've got. But I feel SpringCharts has potential, as long as the developers keep working at it. For more info, Apple has some profiles of physicians' practices that use SpringCharts:http://www.apple.com/business/profiles/cleveland/http://www.apple.com/business/profiles/marlow/I hope this was helpful. SetoSouth Pasadena, CA,Have you noted that MacPractice will shortly link to Comchart? Are you still pleased with MacPractice and SpringCharts?Don Ives

October 9, 2006

I use PowerMed as well.

> Don,

> Sorry I've put off commenting on SpringCharts. Now is as good a time

> as any.

>

> In answer to your question, I did see that MacPractice will be

> offering a data bridge between it and Comchart. I purchased the

> SpringCharts Exchange for MacPractice module (it was extra) and was

> not very impressed. It basically transfers over newly entered patient

> demographic data from SpringCharts over to MacPractice, with some

> limitations. It will only send over data for NEW patients, not

> pre-existing patients (who still have to be transferred manually).

> Also, it does not allow you to choose which patient/family account in

> MacPractice to put the new patient into, instead simply creating a new

> patient account, even though he/she may belong under a relative's

> financial account. It does, however, allow you to transfer data from

> MacPractice to SpringCharts if you happened to enter data in

> MacPractice first.

>

> So I spent $1200 for a module that would copy over Patient Name,

> Birthdate, Gender, Address, Phone Numbers, Marital Status and Chart

> Number. Something that takes about a minute to do manually. If I saw

> 30 patients a day, I could see that it could save me some time. But

> for a low volume practice, it didn't really save me a lot of work.Â

>

> That wasn't the worst part. There were a lot of delays and hassles

> involved in getting it to work. Sometimes, I feel like I am a

> unwitting beta tester for them. For example, they announced the

> ability of MacPractice to link data with SpringCharts in August 2005,

> which prompted me to purchase MacPractice, but only found out later

> that this functionality was only in beta testing. However, in

> anticipation of its release, I purchased it in November, 2005 and

> proceeded to wait. It wasn't actually released until Feb. 2006. After

> using it for 3 months, I moved my MacPractice database to a server so

> that a future employee could do billing while I continued to use my

> laptop for clinical data entry. At that time, I discovered that the

> Exchange function broke, since the MacPractice database must reside on

> the same computer as the SpringCharts database. In order to restore

> this, I needed to either move MacPractice back to my single laptop (no

> way), or pony up for the Networked version of SpringCharts, even

> though no one would ever use it on the server. That was when I decided

> to cut my losses, and go back to typing in demographic data manually.

> So it ended up being a wasted $1200 for a broken module. Well, it

> wasn't entirely wasted. I re-learned the valuable lesson of never

> buying the first version of any kind of software program.

>

> I think the MacPractice link will be just as useful (or unuseful) in

> transferring data to ComChart, too, so definitely not a reason to

> choose an EHR. ComChart used to post its price on its website, which I

> recall was about $500 for the simplest/cheapest version. I'm sure it's

> more now. But I have to say that its graphics interface just looks

> plain ugly to me. It must be the spoiled Mac user in me, but the

> appearance of a program is almost as important as its functionality to

> me.

>

> PowerMed is another Mac-compatible EHR program that Larry Lindeman

> uses. Altapoint is a new EHR with a " cleaner " looking interface that

> claims to be Mac-compatible but its website is skimpy on details. And

> MacPractice, which I like as a practice management program (but which

> I also feel like a beta tester for), seems to be aiming to add some

> EHR functionality in the future.Â

>

> SpringCharts is basically a glorified word processor for me, which

> separates the SOAP note into sections (Chief Complaint, History, ROS,

> Vitals, Exam, Dx, Plan, Follow up) and puts it all together in one

> note. It allows you to cut and paste from previous notes and has an

> ICD9 Lookup feature which is mostly accurate. It has scheduling,

> messaging and to-do functions, which I don't use because they aren't

> as good as iCal and regular e-mail. I don't trust its E & M Coder and

> its E-mail implementation is horrible. It does allow you to save text

> which is frequently entered, such as physical exam findings or

> templates for back pain/URI/physicals. The part I find the most

> annoying is that I cannot let my laptop go to sleep while the program

> is open, because when it wakes up, SpringCharts automatically closes

> every window (even if you haven't saved what you are working on!). At

> the stroke of midnight, it also rudely shuts itself down without

> offering to save any unsaved data, although it tries to give you a 3

> minute warning before it does so. The best part about SpringCharts is

> its low cost and that it keeps all patient data on your computer.

>

> I would give SpringCharts a 6 on a scale of 10. It is the date you

> take to the dance because you don't want to go alone, but you're not

> in love. You hope you meet someone better, but for now this is the

> best choice you've got. But I feel SpringCharts has potential, as long

> as the developers keep working at it.Â

>

> For more info, Apple has some profiles of physicians' practices that

> use SpringCharts:

> http://www.apple.com/business/profiles/cleveland/

> http://www.apple.com/business/profiles/marlow/

>

> I hope this was helpful.

>

> Seto

> South Pasadena, CA

>

>> ,

>>

>> Have you noted that MacPractice will shortly link to Comchart?Â Are

>> you still pleased with MacPractice and SpringCharts?

>>

>> Don Ives

>

October 9, 2006

Can you comment on your experience with PowerMed on or off listserve?Thanks,DonI use PowerMed as well.Â Don,Sorry I've put off commenting on SpringCharts. Now is as good a time as any.In answer to your question, I did see that MacPractice will be offering a data bridge between it and Comchart. I purchased the SpringCharts Exchange for MacPractice module (it was extra) and was not very impressed. It basically transfers over newly entered patient demographic data from SpringCharts over to MacPractice, with some limitations. It will only send over data for NEW patients, not pre-existing patients (who still have to be transferred manually). Also, it does not allow you to choose which patient/family account in MacPractice to put the new patient into, instead simply creating a new patient account, even though he/she may belong under a relative's financial account. It does, however, allow you to transfer data from MacPractice to SpringCharts if you happened to enter data in MacPractice first.So I spent $1200 for a module that would copy over Patient Name, Birthdate, Gender, Address, Phone Numbers, Marital Status and Chart Number. Something that takes about a minute to do manually. If I saw 30 patients a day, I could see that it could save me some time. But for a low volume practice, it didn't really save me a lot of work.Â That wasn't the worst part. There were a lot of delays and hassles involved in getting it to work. Sometimes, I feel like I am a unwitting beta tester for them. For example, they announced the ability of MacPractice to link data with SpringCharts in August 2005, which prompted me to purchase MacPractice, but only found out later that this functionality was only in beta testing. However, in anticipation of its release, I purchased it in November, 2005 and proceeded to wait. It wasn't actually released until Feb. 2006. After using it for 3 months, I moved my MacPractice database to a server so that a future employee could do billing while I continued to use my laptop for clinical data entry. At that time, I discovered that the Exchange function broke, since the MacPractice database must reside on the same computer as the SpringCharts database. In order to restore this, I needed to either move MacPractice back to my single laptop (no way), or pony up for the Networked version of SpringCharts, even though no one would ever use it on the server. That was when I decided to cut my losses, and go back to typing in demographic data manually. So it ended up being a wasted $1200 for a broken module. Well, it wasn't entirely wasted. I re-learned the valuable lesson of never buying the first version of any kind of software program.I think the MacPractice link will be just as useful (or unuseful) in transferring data to ComChart, too, so definitely not a reason to choose an EHR. ComChart used to post its price on its website, which I recall was about $500 for the simplest/cheapest version. I'm sure it's more now. But I have to say that its graphics interface just looks plain ugly to me. It must be the spoiled Mac user in me, but the appearance of a program is almost as important as its functionality to me.PowerMed is another Mac-compatible EHR program that Larry Lindeman uses. Altapoint is a new EHR with a "cleaner" looking interface that claims to be Mac-compatible but its website is skimpy on details. And MacPractice, which I like as a practice management program (but which I also feel like a beta tester for), seems to be aiming to add some EHR functionality in the future.Â SpringCharts is basically a glorified word processor for me, which separates the SOAP note into sections (Chief Complaint, History, ROS, Vitals, Exam, Dx, Plan, Follow up) and puts it all together in one note. It allows you to cut and paste from previous notes and has an ICD9 Lookup feature which is mostly accurate. It has scheduling, messaging and to-do functions, which I don't use because they aren't as good as iCal and regular e-mail. I don't trust its E & M Coder and its E-mail implementation is horrible. It does allow you to save text which is frequently entered, such as physical exam findings or templates for back pain/URI/physicals. The part I find the most annoying is that I cannot let my laptop go to sleep while the program is open, because when it wakes up, SpringCharts automatically closes every window (even if you haven't saved what you are working on!). At the stroke of midnight, it also rudely shuts itself down without offering to save any unsaved data, although it tries to give you a 3 minute warning before it does so. The best part about SpringCharts is its low cost and that it keeps all patient data on your computer.I would give SpringCharts a 6 on a scale of 10. It is the date you take to the dance because you don't want to go alone, but you're not in love. You hope you meet someone better, but for now this is the best choice you've got. But I feel SpringCharts has potential, as long as the developers keep working at it.Â For more info, Apple has some profiles of physicians' practices that use SpringCharts:http://www.apple.com/business/profiles/cleveland/http://www.apple.com/business/profiles/marlow/I hope this was helpful. SetoSouth Pasadena, CA ,Have you noted that MacPractice will shortly link to Comchart?Â Are you still pleased with MacPractice and SpringCharts?Don Ives Â Â

October 9, 2006

Can you comment on your experience with PowerMed on or off listserve?Thanks,DonI use PowerMed as well.Â Don,Sorry I've put off commenting on SpringCharts. Now is as good a time as any.In answer to your question, I did see that MacPractice will be offering a data bridge between it and Comchart. I purchased the SpringCharts Exchange for MacPractice module (it was extra) and was not very impressed. It basically transfers over newly entered patient demographic data from SpringCharts over to MacPractice, with some limitations. It will only send over data for NEW patients, not pre-existing patients (who still have to be transferred manually). Also, it does not allow you to choose which patient/family account in MacPractice to put the new patient into, instead simply creating a new patient account, even though he/she may belong under a relative's financial account. It does, however, allow you to transfer data from MacPractice to SpringCharts if you happened to enter data in MacPractice first.So I spent $1200 for a module that would copy over Patient Name, Birthdate, Gender, Address, Phone Numbers, Marital Status and Chart Number. Something that takes about a minute to do manually. If I saw 30 patients a day, I could see that it could save me some time. But for a low volume practice, it didn't really save me a lot of work.Â That wasn't the worst part. There were a lot of delays and hassles involved in getting it to work. Sometimes, I feel like I am a unwitting beta tester for them. For example, they announced the ability of MacPractice to link data with SpringCharts in August 2005, which prompted me to purchase MacPractice, but only found out later that this functionality was only in beta testing. However, in anticipation of its release, I purchased it in November, 2005 and proceeded to wait. It wasn't actually released until Feb. 2006. After using it for 3 months, I moved my MacPractice database to a server so that a future employee could do billing while I continued to use my laptop for clinical data entry. At that time, I discovered that the Exchange function broke, since the MacPractice database must reside on the same computer as the SpringCharts database. In order to restore this, I needed to either move MacPractice back to my single laptop (no way), or pony up for the Networked version of SpringCharts, even though no one would ever use it on the server. That was when I decided to cut my losses, and go back to typing in demographic data manually. So it ended up being a wasted $1200 for a broken module. Well, it wasn't entirely wasted. I re-learned the valuable lesson of never buying the first version of any kind of software program.I think the MacPractice link will be just as useful (or unuseful) in transferring data to ComChart, too, so definitely not a reason to choose an EHR. ComChart used to post its price on its website, which I recall was about $500 for the simplest/cheapest version. I'm sure it's more now. But I have to say that its graphics interface just looks plain ugly to me. It must be the spoiled Mac user in me, but the appearance of a program is almost as important as its functionality to me.PowerMed is another Mac-compatible EHR program that Larry Lindeman uses. Altapoint is a new EHR with a "cleaner" looking interface that claims to be Mac-compatible but its website is skimpy on details. And MacPractice, which I like as a practice management program (but which I also feel like a beta tester for), seems to be aiming to add some EHR functionality in the future.Â SpringCharts is basically a glorified word processor for me, which separates the SOAP note into sections (Chief Complaint, History, ROS, Vitals, Exam, Dx, Plan, Follow up) and puts it all together in one note. It allows you to cut and paste from previous notes and has an ICD9 Lookup feature which is mostly accurate. It has scheduling, messaging and to-do functions, which I don't use because they aren't as good as iCal and regular e-mail. I don't trust its E & M Coder and its E-mail implementation is horrible. It does allow you to save text which is frequently entered, such as physical exam findings or templates for back pain/URI/physicals. The part I find the most annoying is that I cannot let my laptop go to sleep while the program is open, because when it wakes up, SpringCharts automatically closes every window (even if you haven't saved what you are working on!). At the stroke of midnight, it also rudely shuts itself down without offering to save any unsaved data, although it tries to give you a 3 minute warning before it does so. The best part about SpringCharts is its low cost and that it keeps all patient data on your computer.I would give SpringCharts a 6 on a scale of 10. It is the date you take to the dance because you don't want to go alone, but you're not in love. You hope you meet someone better, but for now this is the best choice you've got. But I feel SpringCharts has potential, as long as the developers keep working at it.Â For more info, Apple has some profiles of physicians' practices that use SpringCharts:http://www.apple.com/business/profiles/cleveland/http://www.apple.com/business/profiles/marlow/I hope this was helpful. SetoSouth Pasadena, CA ,Have you noted that MacPractice will shortly link to Comchart?Â Are you still pleased with MacPractice and SpringCharts?Don Ives Â Â

October 9, 2006

It is not a bad program but sometimes I have to go through too many

screens to get the information and you have to customize templates a

lot (the ones that come with the program are lousy). It takes a few

months to get used to it and has lots of features that I don't use

(maybe in the future). I made separate patient folders and I store

scanned material as PDF but I do not have a way to integrate them with

PowerMed. I do not use the labs feature in the EMR, because I work with

a lab that has everything on line, flagged as new labs until I open

them and import them directly in the patient folder ( I don't need to

scan them and I told them not to fax the labs to my office). Plus my

practice is still new and I did not run into the routine screening

headache yet. But PowerMed will flag the routine screening tests for

you, all you have to do is to set an interval as default.

> Can you comment on your experience with PowerMed on or off listserve?

>

> Thanks,

>

> Don

>

>> I use PowerMed as well.Â

>>

>>> Don,

>>> Sorry I've put off commenting on SpringCharts. Now is as good a time

>>> as any.

>>>

>>> In answer to your question, I did see that MacPractice will be

>>> offering a data bridge between it and Comchart. I purchased the

>>> SpringCharts Exchange for MacPractice module (it was extra) and was

>>> not very impressed. It basically transfers over newly entered

>>> patient demographic data from SpringCharts over to MacPractice, with

>>> some limitations. It will only send over data for NEW patients, not

>>> pre-existing patients (who still have to be transferred manually).

>>> Also, it does not allow you to choose which patient/family account

>>> in MacPractice to put the new patient into, instead simply creating

>>> a new patient account, even though he/she may belong under a

>>> relative's financial account. It does, however, allow you to

>>> transfer data from MacPractice to SpringCharts if you happened to

>>> enter data in MacPractice first.

>>>

>>> So I spent $1200 for a module that would copy over Patient Name,

>>> Birthdate, Gender, Address, Phone Numbers, Marital Status and Chart

>>> Number. Something that takes about a minute to do manually. If I saw

>>> 30 patients a day, I could see that it could save me some time. But

>>> for a low volume practice, it didn't really save me a lot of work.Â

>>>

>>> That wasn't the worst part. There were a lot of delays and hassles

>>> involved in getting it to work. Sometimes, I feel like I am a

>>> unwitting beta tester for them. For example, they announced the

>>> ability of MacPractice to link data with SpringCharts in August

>>> 2005, which prompted me to purchase MacPractice, but only found out

>>> later that this functionality was only in beta testing. However, in

>>> anticipation of its release, I purchased it in November, 2005 and

>>> proceeded to wait. It wasn't actually released until Feb. 2006.

>>> After using it for 3 months, I moved my MacPractice database to a

>>> server so that a future employee could do billing while I continued

>>> to use my laptop for clinical data entry. At that time, I discovered

>>> that the Exchange function broke, since the MacPractice database

>>> must reside on the same computer as the SpringCharts database. In

>>> order to restore this, I needed to either move MacPractice back to

>>> my single laptop (no way), or pony up for the Networked version of

>>> SpringCharts, even though no one would ever use it on the server.

>>> That was when I decided to cut my losses, and go back to typing in

>>> demographic data manually. So it ended up being a wasted $1200 for a

>>> broken module. Well, it wasn't entirely wasted. I re-learned the

>>> valuable lesson of never buying the first version of any kind of

>>> software program.

>>>

>>> I think the MacPractice link will be just as useful (or unuseful) in

>>> transferring data to ComChart, too, so definitely not a reason to

>>> choose an EHR. ComChart used to post its price on its website, which

>>> I recall was about $500 for the simplest/cheapest version. I'm sure

>>> it's more now. But I have to say that its graphics interface just

>>> looks plain ugly to me. It must be the spoiled Mac user in me, but

>>> the appearance of a program is almost as important as its

>>> functionality to me.

>>>

>>> PowerMed is another Mac-compatible EHR program that Larry Lindeman

>>> uses. Altapoint is a new EHR with a " cleaner " looking interface that

>>> claims to be Mac-compatible but its website is skimpy on details.

>>> And MacPractice, which I like as a practice management program (but

>>> which I also feel like a beta tester for), seems to be aiming to add

>>> some EHR functionality in the future.Â

>>>

>>> SpringCharts is basically a glorified word processor for me, which

>>> separates the SOAP note into sections (Chief Complaint, History,

>>> ROS, Vitals, Exam, Dx, Plan, Follow up) and puts it all together in

>>> one note. It allows you to cut and paste from previous notes and has

>>> an ICD9 Lookup feature which is mostly accurate. It has scheduling,

>>> messaging and to-do functions, which I don't use because they aren't

>>> as good as iCal and regular e-mail. I don't trust its E & M Coder and

>>> its E-mail implementation is horrible. It does allow you to save

>>> text which is frequently entered, such as physical exam findings or

>>> templates for back pain/URI/physicals. The part I find the most

>>> annoying is that I cannot let my laptop go to sleep while the

>>> program is open, because when it wakes up, SpringCharts

>>> automatically closes every window (even if you haven't saved what

>>> you are working on!). At the stroke of midnight, it also rudely

>>> shuts itself down without offering to save any unsaved data,

>>> although it tries to give you a 3 minute warning before it does so.

>>> The best part about SpringCharts is its low cost and that it keeps

>>> all patient data on your computer.

>>>

>>> I would give SpringCharts a 6 on a scale of 10. It is the date you

>>> take to the dance because you don't want to go alone, but you're not

>>> in love. You hope you meet someone better, but for now this is the

>>> best choice you've got. But I feel SpringCharts has potential, as

>>> long as the developers keep working at it.Â

>>>

>>> For more info, Apple has some profiles of physicians' practices that

>>> use SpringCharts:

>>> http://www.apple.com/business/profiles/cleveland/

>>> http://www.apple.com/business/profiles/marlow/

>>>

>>> I hope this was helpful.

>>>

>>> Seto

>>> South Pasadena, CA

>>>

>>>> ,

>>>>

>>>> Have you noted that MacPractice will shortly link to Comchart?Â Are

>>>> you still pleased with MacPractice and SpringCharts?

>>>>

>>>> Don Ives

>>> Â Â

>

October 9, 2006