Active Forum Topics | Getting Started | Interviews | EMR Forum | Medical | Billings | Press & News | Voice Recognition | The Water Cooler
Many EMR companies have their own Standard Legal Contracts and Licensing agreements, but how willing are they to include some safeguards at your request, so that you may feel more comfortable, protecting your investment? What information do you think is important for you to "include" in your EMR Contract? What information do you think should be "excluded" from your EMR Contract? I would like to compile a list of items that you feel; should and should not be included in your EMR Contract. I'll start it off: 1) Transfer Rights; you should be allowed to transfer the EMR License to your "Successor," without having to purchase a New License. (A minimal Transfer Fee would be reasonable.)
Originally posted by agalvan Future Increases of Annual Support Fee should be spelled out in writing.
quote:Originally posted by NYFP I would like to compile a list of items that you feel; should and should not be included in your EMR Contract. Seems reasonable to me... Obviously anyone who has read recent posts knows what I am about to say. Why not negotiate for the GPL? Of course, you might find you vendor quite unwilling to consider this option. But instead of rediscussing this issue, I will point out things that you can do with the GPL, to illustrate why you should negotiate for it. There are four general freedoms that the GPL provides. * The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0). * The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this. * The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom 2). * The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits (freedom 3). Access to the source code is a precondition for this. So the list of things you might want to negotiate for... 1. The freedom to signifigantly change how your practice runs without permission from the vendor. This could include the number of users (freedom 0) 2. the place the software was used, (freedom 0) 3. whether the providers all had to belong to the same practice to use the same software. (Can you add billing entities without the vendors permission) (freedom 0) 4. Change the type of practice (freedom 0) 5. Change the software by modifying it yourself, or by hiring outside programmers (freedom 1) 6. Ability to transfer your EHR to the person who purchases your practice (freedom 2) 7. Ability to give your software to your friend to help them run their practice (freedom 2) 8. Ability to open a new location, including new software without permission from the vendor (freedom 2) 9. Ability to use the software to improve your patient care, and then offer the same benifit to your peers (freedom 3) 10. Ability to hire who you want to support your software, including firing your vendor without changing your software.(freedom 1,3) 11. Ability to have full access to the source code of the software, should the vendor go out of business, change ownership, or drastically raise prices (freedom 1,3) It would be simpler to demand the GPL. However, IF you decided to negoitiate a license, you might see what happens if you ask for these. Regards, Fred Trotter http://www.gplmedicine.org http://www.mirrormed.org | Post Points: 5
email:
quote:Originally posted by Brendon Money is just one small factor. I for one know that eMedRec will not take your support issues any higher or lower based on Financial Incentive. I am even more sure that this is of no issue with any large company. After all this more of a support issue, marketing and sales are a different group. Regards, Brendon Congratulations! Maybe that's why nobody that I work with ever heard of emedrec Are you suggesting that clinics should not financially penalize vendors for not delivering adequate support? | Post Points: 5
quote:Originally posted by azalea_runner Brendon, How much is your software for a single provider, and would you be willing to drop that price by $20,000 if you couldn't care less about that small amount of money? I am not so sure how the price of the software relates to the thread, but I will answer the question. Our software is only $8500 for what we call a starter system. This includes all of our server technology and enterprise content management, and 5 Concurrent Users of the product. Some offices can use this with two providers and others with just one, dependent on staff needs. Any vendor here can tell you $20,000 is not a lot of money and goes quick. My point here was that none of us can prioritize based on such a small amount of money. I will also repeat, after nearly 20 years in the business, $20,000 is not a lot of money. How can anybody think it is and seriously be considering development. My point was specific and well made, even a large practice with all of it's maintenance is not going to be able to use this as leverage when services are not to there desire, they will need to use more conventional means. Brendon Holt President http://www.holtsystems.com eMedRec Medical Records Made Friendly "If it wasn't for that last minute I would never get anything done." | Post Points: 5