RE: buying Amazing Charts vs. E-MD's

January 4, 2007

Okay, So what is it about Amazing Charts that makes it five times better than SOAPware, which I and others have happily been using for years? And which the urgent care MDs really like also because the excellent templates speed up documentation.... I really want to know, because I can't imagine anything in an EMR that I am missing, and I only spent $1000 (high package so I could get lots of search, interchangable partswith other EMRs, dragon compatability and communication stuff, etc...more than the $300 base price) What am I missing anyway? Between that and Lytec (another $1000) I am set up for life for EMR and billing, and the Quickbooks pro does all the tax stuff... For about $2200 in software I was finished, with no monthly or annual charge unless I wanted to get some ongoing support. So what is this

$4500 stuff with annual charges forever and this $30000 stuff all about? The curious MD in Drain, Oregon "Sharon McCoy , M.D." wrote: Hello, OK. Time to decide whether to buy Amazing Charts. I thought I had a little more time before I had to decide, having opened November 1, I was using the 3 month free trial, but because I didn't

delete my practice patients, I got over 10 patients, so today, with my first pap scheduled, I was locked out of Amazing Charts unless I paid. I was planning to look into E-MD's a little more before I decided. Today I used paper, which was actually fine once I got over the panic, but I want to make a decision soon. I only need the EMR part of the E-MD's (not practice management as far as I know). When I called them today, I was quoted $4500 license fee plus $800/year maintenance plus $500-$2500 for training. AC is $995 plus $500 year. I had thought E-MD's was much more expensive (I thought around $30K), so I didn't seriously look at it before. For my extremely low volume, it is still a significant difference, but doable. I read through some of the old posts, but searching through them was quite tedious, so I was hoping for a

little insight. Thanks, Sharon Sharon McCoy , M.D.Renaissance Family MedicineThe Rebirth of Personal Healthcarewww.SharonMD.com Phone Fax No virus found in this outgoing message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.0.409 / Virus Database: 268.16.4/615 - Release Date: 1/3/2007 __________________________________________________

January 4, 2007

Sharon,

I use e-MDs and have been very happy with

it. However, I think the beauty of the system is the integration of the

different components. If you are just looking at the chart portion, I’m

not certain it is worth it. If you are doing the chart program and the

integrated database and the rules engine, then it might be worth it (for the automatic

reminders and database analysis). Like every other aspect of being an IMP, you

need to decide what might work best in your system and go for that. If, for

instance, you plan on using DocSite, then the e-MDs database

is not worth the extra money. However, if you think it might simplify your work

flow, then go for it. As for the e-MDs chart program

itself, it works wonderfully well.

buying Amazing Charts vs. E-MD's

Hello,

OK. Time to decide

whether to buy Amazing Charts. I thought I had a little more time before

I had to decide, having opened November 1, I was using the 3 month free trial,

but because I didn't delete my practice patients, I got over 10 patients, so

today, with my first pap scheduled, I was locked out of Amazing Charts unless I

paid. I was planning to look into E-MD's a little more before I

decided. Today I used paper, which was actually fine once I got over the

panic, but I want to make a decision soon.

I only need the EMR part

of the E-MD's (not practice management as far as I know). When I called

them today, I was quoted $4500 license fee plus $800/year maintenance plus

$500-$2500 for training. AC is $995 plus $500 year. I had thought

E-MD's was much more expensive (I thought around $30K), so I didn't seriously

look at it before. For my extremely low volume, it is still a significant

difference, but doable.

I read through some of

the old posts, but searching through them was quite tedious, so I was hoping

for a little insight.

Thanks,

Sharon

Sharon McCoy , M.D.

Renaissance

Family Medicine

The Rebirth of Personal Healthcare

www.SharonMD.com

Phone Fax (949)

281-2197

January 4, 2007

If you only need the EMR go with amazing charts or soapware. If you

need a more complete solution then EMD or eclinical

Brent Hrabik, MD

>

> Hello,

> OK. Time to decide whether to buy Amazing Charts. I

> thought I had a little more time before I had to decide, having

> opened November 1, I was using the 3 month free trial, but because

I

> didn't delete my practice patients, I got over 10 patients, so

today,

> with my first pap scheduled, I was locked out of Amazing Charts

> unless I paid. I was planning to look into E-MD's a little more

> before I decided. Today I used paper, which was actually fine once

I

> got over the panic, but I want to make a decision soon.

> I only need the EMR part of the E-MD's (not practice

> management as far as I know). When I called them today, I was

quoted

> $4500 license fee plus $800/year maintenance plus $500-$2500 for

> training. AC is $995 plus $500 year. I had thought E-MD's was

much

> more expensive (I thought around $30K), so I didn't seriously look

at

> it before. For my extremely low volume, it is still a significant

> difference, but doable.

> I read through some of the old posts, but searching

through

> them was quite tedious, so I was hoping for a little insight.

> Thanks,

> Sharon

>

> Sharon McCoy , M.D.

> Renaissance Family Medicine

> The Rebirth of Personal Healthcare

> www.SharonMD.com

> Phone Fax

>

> No virus found in this outgoing message.

> Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> Version: 7.0.409 / Virus Database: 268.16.4/615 - Release Date:

1/3/2007

>

January 4, 2007

& Brent & all,

These are the components listed on e-MD website:

e-MDs

Chart e-MDs

Bill e-MDs

Schedule

e-MDs Tracking Board e-MDs

DocMan

e-MDs Companion Which of those are the integrated database and the rules

engine?

I don't know enough about DocSite. Looks like a patient registry,

but I don't know how much hassle it would be to use a separate system, or

the benefits of that over an Excel spreadsheet, like 's.

Billing is not an issue, but otherwise I don't know how complete a

solution I need.....

Sharon

At 06:42 AM 1/4/2007, you wrote:

Sharon,

I use e-MDs and have been very happy with

it. However, I think the beauty of the system is the integration of the

different components. If you are just looking at the chart portion, I’m

not certain it is worth it. If you are doing the chart program and the

integrated database and the rules engine, then it might be worth it (for

the automatic reminders and database analysis). Like every other aspect

of being an IMP, you need to decide what might work best in your system

and go for that. If, for instance, you plan on using DocSite, then the

e-MDs database is not worth the extra money. However, if you think it

might simplify your work flow, then go for it. As for the e-MDs chart

program itself, it works wonderfully well.

buying Amazing Charts vs.

E-MD's

Hello,

OK. Time to decide

whether to buy Amazing Charts. I thought I had a little more time

before I had to decide, having opened November 1, I was using the 3 month

free trial, but because I didn't delete my practice patients, I got over

10 patients, so today, with my first pap scheduled, I was locked out of

Amazing Charts unless I paid. I was planning to look into E-MD's a

little more before I decided. Today I used paper, which was

actually fine once I got over the panic, but I want to make a decision

soon.

I only need the EMR part of

the E-MD's (not practice management as far as I know). When I

called them today, I was quoted $4500 license fee plus $800/year

maintenance plus $500-$2500 for training. AC is $995 plus $500

year. I had thought E-MD's was much more expensive (I thought

around $30K), so I didn't seriously look at it before. For my

extremely low volume, it is still a significant difference, but

doable.

I read through some of the old

posts, but searching through them was quite tedious, so I was hoping for

a little insight.

Thanks,

Sharon

Sharon McCoy , M.D.

Renaissance Family Medicine

The

Rebirth of Personal Healthcare

www.SharonMD.com

Phone Fax (949)

281-2197

No virus found in this incoming message.

Checked by AVG Free Edition.

Version: 7.0.409 / Virus Database: 268.16.4/615 - Release Date:

1/3/2007

Sharon McCoy , M.D.

Renaissance Family Medicine

The

Rebirth of Personal Healthcare

www.SharonMD.com

Phone Fax (949)

281-2197

No virus found in this outgoing message.

Checked by AVG Free Edition.

Version: 7.0.410 / Virus Database: 268.16.5/616 - Release Date: 1/4/2007

January 4, 2007

I would

talk to the sales rep in your area and see if buying the chart program is only

the chart program or if it includes the database (which it should) and the

rules engine (which it should). You likely don’t need the schedule, bill,

or tracking board. The companion is for hospital rounds (and not incredibly

useful right now but will be much better with the next upgrade). DocMan is the

program that you scan all files into that links with the patient’s chart.

An excel program would work ok, but I frequently like to look at the scanned

documents while I have the patient’s chart open and it is nice to have

one button to click to access all the scanned data. Let me know if this is

helpful or if you have other questions! J

buying Amazing Charts vs. E-MD's

Hello,

OK. Time to decide whether to

buy Amazing Charts. I thought I had a little more time before I had to

decide, having opened November 1, I was using the 3 month free trial, but

because I didn't delete my practice patients, I got over 10 patients, so today,

with my first pap scheduled, I was locked out of Amazing Charts unless I

paid. I was planning to look into E-MD's a little more before I decided.

Today I used paper, which was actually fine once I got over the panic, but I

want to make a decision soon.

I only need the EMR part of the

E-MD's (not practice management as far as I know). When I called them

today, I was quoted $4500 license fee plus $800/year maintenance plus

$500-$2500 for training. AC is $995 plus $500 year. I had thought

E-MD's was much more expensive (I thought around $30K), so I didn't seriously

look at it before. For my extremely low volume, it is still a significant

difference, but doable.

I read through some of the old

posts, but searching through them was quite tedious, so I was hoping for a

little insight.

Thanks,

Sharon

Sharon McCoy , M.D.

Renaissance

Family Medicine

The Rebirth of Personal Healthcare

www.SharonMD.com

Phone Fax (949)

281-2197

No virus found in this incoming message.

Checked by AVG Free Edition.

Version: 7.0.409 / Virus Database: 268.16.4/615 - Release Date: 1/3/2007

Sharon McCoy , M.D.

Renaissance

Family Medicine

The Rebirth of Personal Healthcare

www.SharonMD.com

Phone Fax (949)

281-2197

January 5, 2007

I use eMDs and recommend it, but the biggest part of the value comes from integration with its billing. If you already have a billing program you intend to stick with, I think that makes eMDs and eCW less worth the expense. In that case I would look at Soapware, Amazing Charts, Medtuity, and others, as being 80% as good as eMDs and eCW for 20% of the money.brenthrabik wrote: If you only need the EMR go with amazing charts or soapware. If you need a more complete solution then EMD or

eclinical Brent Hrabik, MD >> Hello,> OK. Time to decide whether to buy Amazing Charts. I > thought I had a little more time before I had to decide, having > opened November 1, I was using the 3 month free trial, but because I > didn't delete my practice patients, I got over 10 patients, so today, > with my first pap scheduled, I was locked out of Amazing Charts > unless I paid. I was planning to look into E-MD's a little more > before I decided. Today I used paper, which was actually fine once I > got over the panic, but I want to make a decision soon.> I only need the EMR part of the E-MD's (not practice > management as far as I know). When I called them today, I was quoted >

$4500 license fee plus $800/year maintenance plus $500-$2500 for > training. AC is $995 plus $500 year. I had thought E-MD's was much > more expensive (I thought around $30K), so I didn't seriously look at > it before. For my extremely low volume, it is still a significant > difference, but doable.> I read through some of the old posts, but searching through > them was quite tedious, so I was hoping for a little insight.> Thanks,> Sharon> > > > > Sharon McCoy , M.D.> Renaissance Family Medicine> The Rebirth of Personal Healthcare> www.SharonMD.com> Phone Fax > > > > No virus found in this outgoing message.> Checked by AVG Free Edition.> Version: 7.0.409 / Virus Database: 268.16.4/615 - Release Date:

1/3/2007> __________________________________________________

January 5, 2007

Sharon, I believe what we are looking for is something that improves our bottom lines. When I researched EMRs I read lots of white papers, then looked at 20 or so EMRs. As I looked, I became familiar with aspects that would help me run a practice without staff. It wasn't perfect, but it could do it all. Now other systems NextGen and A4 and others were way more expensive, but marketed to those already in business with lots of overhead and cash flow. I could never justify the perfect system at $90,000 unless I could cut out salaries replaced by IT efficiency. However, I was starting from scratch and needed system that could schedule, document, bill etc. This was eMDs and eClinicalworks. Some of the lower priced EMRs could not do the billing or scan documents or other functions that I needed. The economics of each of our actions can be

quantified by time. Our compensation per unit time can be used as a measure. If it takes me 6 minutes to enter insurance information on one system, but only 4 minutes on the next then my savings and potential profit is 2 minutes at my reimbursement rate. To that end eMDs has enabled me to practice without staff. In the future, I would hope to be paid automatically so that I could eliminate all cost with billing and collection. Red tape and required referrals all cost a practice. Employees can pay for themselves if they optimally improve the physician's efficiency at the tasks of providing good health care. The risk of employed FTEs is that you are paying them to sit around if you do not have a high patient volume. The old saying TIME = MONEY still rings true. "Sharon McCoy , M.D."

wrote: Hello, OK. Time to decide whether to buy Amazing Charts. I thought I had a little more time before I had to decide, having opened November 1, I was using the 3 month free trial, but because I didn't delete my practice patients, I got over 10 patients, so today, with my first pap scheduled, I was locked out of Amazing Charts unless I paid. I was planning to look into E-MD's a little more before I decided. Today I used

paper, which was actually fine once I got over the panic, but I want to make a decision soon. I only need the EMR part of the E-MD's (not practice management as far as I know). When I called them today, I was quoted $4500 license fee plus $800/year maintenance plus $500-$2500 for training. AC is $995 plus $500 year. I had thought E-MD's was much more expensive (I thought around $30K), so I didn't seriously look at it before. For my extremely low volume, it is still a significant difference, but doable. I read through some of the old posts, but searching through them was quite tedious, so I was hoping for a little insight. Thanks, Sharon Sharon McCoy , M.D.Renaissance Family MedicineThe Rebirth of Personal Healthcarewww.SharonMD.com Phone Fax No virus found in this outgoing message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.0.409 / Virus Database: 268.16.4/615 - Release Date: 1/3/2007 __________________________________________________

January 5, 2007

,

Thanks for

your perspective. It is so hard for me to spend money when there is

more going out than coming in, but I know that an EMR investment is worth

it in the long haul. I guess in a way I'm perfect for an IMP

practice because I'm so darn frugal! I appreciate your reminder

that my time is valuable also and that an EMR that saves me time

(eventually, right now it is just taking my time) will save me money, or

at least give me more time to do something else.

I heard

part of an interview on NPR by the authors of

Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything (by Don

Tapscott and D. ). This group is the perfect

example of how pooling individual efforts and the new ways we can share

information really does change everything.

Gordon, do

you think there is an article there?

Thanks to everyone,

Sharon At 09:45 PM 1/4/2007, you wrote:

Sharon,

I believe what we are looking for is something that improves our bottom

lines. When I researched EMRs I read lots of white papers, then

looked at 20 or so EMRs. As I looked, I became familiar with

aspects that would help me run a practice without staff. It wasn't

perfect, but it could do it all. Now other systems NextGen and A4

and others were way more expensive, but marketed to those already in

business with lots of overhead and cash flow. I could never justify

the perfect system at $90,000 unless I could cut out salaries replaced by

IT efficiency.

However, I was starting from scratch and needed system that could

schedule, document, bill etc. This was eMDs and

eClinicalworks. Some of the lower priced EMRs could not do the

billing or scan documents or other functions that I needed.

The economics of each of our actions can be quantified by time. Our

compensation per unit time can be used as a measure. If it takes me

6 minutes to enter insurance information on one system, but only 4

minutes on the next then my savings and potential profit is 2 minutes at

my reimbursement rate.

To that end eMDs has enabled me to practice without staff. In the future,

I would hope to be paid automatically so that I could eliminate all cost

with billing and collection. Red tape and required referrals all

cost a practice. Employees can pay for themselves if they optimally

improve the physician's efficiency at the tasks of providing good health

care. The risk of employed FTEs is that you are paying them to sit

around if you do not have a high patient volume.

The old saying TIME = MONEY still rings true.

" Sharon McCoy , M.D. "

wrote:

Hello,

OK. Time to decide

whether to buy Amazing Charts. I thought I had a little more time

before I had to decide, having opened November 1, I was using the 3 month

free trial, but because I didn't delete my practice patients, I got over

10 patients, so today, with my first pap scheduled, I was locked out of

Amazing Charts unless I paid. I was planning to look into E-MD's a

little more before I decided. Today I used paper, which was

actually fine once I got over the panic, but I want to make a decision

soon.

I only need the EMR part

of the E-MD's (not practice management as far as I know). When I

called them today, I was quoted $4500 license fee plus $800/year

maintenance plus $500-$2500 for training. AC is $995 plus $500

year. I had thought E-MD's was much more expensive (I thought

around $30K), so I didn't seriously look at it before. For my

extremely low volume, it is still a significant difference, but

doable.

I read through some of the

old posts, but searching through them was quite tedious, so I was hoping

for a little insight.

Thanks,

Sharon

Sharon McCoy , M.D.

Renaissance Family Medicine

The

Rebirth of Personal Healthcare

www.SharonMD.com

Phone Fax (949)

281-2197

No virus found in this outgoing message.

Checked by AVG Free Edition.

Version: 7.0.409 / Virus Database: 268.16.4/615 - Release Date:

1/3/2007

__________________________________________________

January 5, 2007

I do think there is an article there.

Gordon

At 03:24 PM 1/5/2007, you wrote:

,

Thanks for your

perspective. It is so hard for me to spend money when there is more

going out than coming in, but I know that an EMR investment is worth it

in the long haul. I guess in a way I'm perfect for an IMP practice

because I'm so darn frugal! I appreciate your reminder that my time

is valuable also and that an EMR that saves me time (eventually, right

now it is just taking my time) will save me money, or at least give me

more time to do something else.

I heard part of an interview

on NPR by the authors of

Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything (by Don

Tapscott and D. ). This group is the perfect

example of how pooling individual efforts and the new ways we can share

information really does change everything.

Gordon, do you think there is

an article there?