Medical Software
In response to requests from members for a critical comparison of the most popular medical practice software packages, Information Management and Information Technology Program Coordinator Pat Maugeri has drawn up a guide to the features of each product and how they link to other programs.
Medical software programs must be easy to use and maintain. The program must have a flow that is logical and follows the sequence of events in a medical practice. Preferably it will be integrated to include electronic clinical notes as part of its overall Practice Management package.
An integrated program is a better solution than one that relies on linking to another program. Some of these non integrated programs cause data corruptions, duplications of records, database rebuilding and the need to maintain 2 databases.
Most of all, it's an arduous task to back up those 2 data files. Most medical software programs have a suite of built-in tools that can help you run (backups, restoring, transaction logging, mirroring and recovery tools).
Another issue is the reliability of the after sales support. Most vendors use an 1800 number to run support, if you can get onto that number in the first place! Whilst most of the time they are very helpful, it can be a problem when you try to receive ground support from them. Either they don't have someone on the ground, their person lacks the relevant IT systems, or they simply lack manners.
I know of cases where some companies have taken 3 months to get back to you well after they sold you the product. There are vendors out there who also don't know what they are doing as they too can have a problem understanding the technology. The GP becomes dissatisfied with this and they will look toward using Division resources to fill in the gaps, something this division is not funded for.
Please understand this information has been collected from other Division's experiences and is based on the known industry standard for software developers.
Pat Maugeri
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Have a look at the table below to get an idea to see how they rate with the 4 integrated programs.
| Software Name |
Appointment Book |
Billing |
Banking |
MedClaims |
Clinical |
Database Engine |
System |
Origin |
Built-in Tools |
Score out of 10 |
| Clinical and Practice Management Programs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Medical Spectrum |
7/10 |
5/10 |
7/10 |
6/10 |
7/10 |
FoxPro/SQL |
Windows |
QLD |
7/10 |
6.5 |
| MedTech32 |
8.5/10 |
8/10 |
8/10 |
7/10 |
7/10 |
InterBase
SQL |
Windows |
NZ |
7/10 |
7.58 |
| Zedmed |
8/10 |
8/10 |
7/10 |
9/10 |
8/10 |
Borland/SQL |
Windows/Linux |
MELB |
8/10 |
8.00 |
| Intrahealth |
8.5/10 |
8/10 |
8/10 |
7/10 |
7/10 |
Interbase
SQL |
Windows |
NZ |
7/10 |
7.58 |
| Clinical Programs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Locum |
No |
No |
No |
No |
8/10 |
Access/SQL |
Windows |
MELB |
6/10 |
2.3 |
| Medical Director |
No |
No |
No |
No |
9/10 |
Fox Pro |
Windows |
QLD |
8/10 |
2.8 |
| Appointment and Bill Programs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| RX-Medical |
8/10 |
7/10 |
7/10 |
6/10 |
No |
SQ |
Windows |
NSW |
6/10 |
5.67 |
| Multi-View |
9/10 |
8/10 |
8/10 |
8/10 |
No |
Native C |
Windows |
NSW |
8/10 |
6.83 |
| Practice 2000 |
7/10 |
8/10 |
8/10 |
7.5/10 |
No |
Access |
Windows |
MELB |
7/10 |
6.25 |
| Pracsoft |
7/10 |
8/10 |
7/10 |
8/10 |
No |
Access/SQL |
Windows |
QLD |
6/10 |
6 |
| MediFlex |
8/10 |
8/10 |
8/10 |
8/10 |
No |
DataFlex |
Windows |
Geelong |
7/10 |
6.5 |
Note: all of the clinical programs can be linked to a Practice Management Program.
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