DrMurdoch: FPdoctor: many AC practices don't use any paper charts. some AC practices don't use paper charts .... I'd like to see a survey of more recent users and determine how many are chartless. A year ago, the vast majority of AC users ... including Jon used paper charts. There were ways to be chartless with AC previously but they were more for show and wouldn't allow you to do it well. There are newer methods now, ie. Updox, etc. I was trying to demo Updox 18 months ago with AC but didnt have the time.
FPdoctor: many AC practices don't use any paper charts.
some AC practices don't use paper charts .... I'd like to see a survey of more recent users and determine how many are chartless.
A year ago, the vast majority of AC users ... including Jon used paper charts.
There were ways to be chartless with AC previously but they were more for show and wouldn't allow you to do it well.
There are newer methods now, ie. Updox, etc. I was trying to demo Updox 18 months ago with AC but didnt have the time.
Just FYI, Jon has been working on AC full-time for some time now.
At our User's Conference this weekend, we had a show of hands, and it looked to me like nearly 50/50 on chartless vs. paper + EMR, but better statistics do not exist, because we are a pretty informal bunch. I was surprised to find this.
I have only been using AC for less than a year, and have not reached paperless status, but what a difference in my practice! AC complements paper charts very well. My filing and chart-pulling have become almost non-existent, and my paper is much reduced. It has also improved my billing turnaround as well (non-electronic). Many people have consciously decided to use AC to complement a practice with paper charts, which I think is an entirely legitimate application of the product, and may be a superior approach for some practices.
We saw a very powerful demonstration of UpDox this weekend by a User who was using it in a paperless office which included AC. But, most AC users who are paperless are not using UpDox.
My friend, Bert Adams, has created a small application to help with document handling which complements AC as well, and some of us are beta testing that now.
Brian Cotner, M.D. - Family Practitioner First Amazing Charts Users' Conference Branson, Missouri - June 20-22, 2008
joseph: We are paperless for more than 4 yrs now since imported items feature became available in V2 of AC I believe.
We are paperless for more than 4 yrs now since imported items feature became available in V2 of AC I believe.
How do you review incoming reports ? On paper ?
Reports come in various forms:
-by paperless fax- on winfaxpro 10.03: Convert to pdf and import it to chart. If the file has multiple patients we split using pdf splitter and import to chart. We have asked all consultants to fax in their consult notes to save paper. And most do. Even nursing homes send most communication by fax, I review/sign and fax it back on our network fax. And import it to chart. (My med record person imports it). We store all nursing home files by date on pdf. So if for some reason the Nursing home says they did not get a particular day's fax for whatever reason we just fax that day's pdf file
-as paper - if so, we scan them and shredd or give it to patient (if they are labs or imaging study reports)
-we are working on interface with the lab- then it would be all electronic.
Hope this answers your question.
joseph: and import it to chart.
and import it to chart.
Do you automatically get a message that something has been imported ?
Yes. The message will be there till I sign off the document. I could batch sign all those with one click, because I have already reviewed them before it went to the filing clerk.
Filing clerk never imports anything before I see it on computer or read the paper from lab courier/US mail.
joseph: Yes. The message will be there till I sign off the document. I could batch sign all those with one click, because I have already reviewed them before it went to the filing clerk.
You review all your documents twice ?
On Paper and then in AC ?
Is anyone actually listening to FP Doc? He does not have an EMR, and see 10 patients a day.
StLuke: Is anyone actually listening to FP Doc? He does not have an EMR, and see 10 patients a day.
Yes, I listen to him, and please do not attack any other member. Ideas yes, people no.
Robert Gleeman, Medical Journalist for EMR Update.com Email: robert@emrupdate.com Tel: 1-650-968-6359 Skype and ooVoo user name: robertgleeman EMR progress is a matter of fact. EMR Update supports your right to know.
I was not attacking FP. I'm sure he is a nice man, loves his mom, etc.
The problem is, that people coming on to a forum like this might actually think that he has experience with an EMR and take his advice on selecting one. You see this on the internet all the time, of course, but on EMRUpdate doctors like FP acquire a patina of authority that could mislead other doctors with even less experience. I'm just pointing out that someone looking for information should consider the source.
Many members post the EMR they are using in their signature.
Perhaps more should do so ....
Graham http://www.synapsedirect.com/ Synapse - the EMR for smart users
No I don't have an EMR. I've researched many. Have even been the initiator of ideas implemented into a few like AC and eCW. Was even a Beta tester for Soapware. I do see 10-14 patients per day and spend 30-60 minutes with each patient. I do lots of musculoskeletal medicine from patients who have had personal injuries. A typical patient can have all of these: shoulder pain, neck pain, low back pain, knee pain, hip pain and headaches that I need to address with medical management, spinal manipulation and injections. So far its been easiest to document my findings on paper.
The state of current EMR's keep me using paper. Some who post here using an EMR may well have been better off sticking to paper too. Others seem to like their EMR. I do want to be one of those. I am currently waiting on Dr Winn's new EMR coming out in 2009 and will perhaps make a choice then. Will compare again to AC, eMedREc and Medtuity. I do not believe I come across in my posting as out to mislead anyone. Yes, consider the source of someone who has been researching EMRs for years and so far is persuaded to the benefits of paper.
FPdoctor,
You should start a new thread on Musculoskeletal EMRs. Musculoskeletal trauma is, in my opinion the hardest to chart, especially with personal injuries, for many reasons, the least of which is the multiple symptoms involved and the complexity of a necessary, comprehensive, often bilateral exam and varied treatment. Few EMR vendors address this perspective, other than what we consider superficial. I'm guessing that is a genuine reason as to why you have not jumped into the pool.
Chris Wilkerson, D.C. Carson Doctors Group TabletPCs in Medicine Editor-in-Chief www.MedicalTabletPC.com Home: www.Digital-Doc.com
Yes, its definately a topic that needs to get attention. An area of medicine that gets ignored even though its the largest of all systems. When I get more than a moment, I'll start a thread. In the meantime, all vendors should re-read Chris' last message.