There are many products that are available free to send, receive and view email through an internet browser. You have most likely heard of many of these mail services; gmail, hotmail, yahoo mail, etc. We all know and love these services that offer tons of free space to facilitate email communication. Signing up for these accounts is very easy and in minutes a user is established with an online email service. This works great for most people and there aren’t many complaints about free email.
There are however pitfalls associated to these services and any email service for that matter. How often do you find yourself spending 80% of your dedicated email time sifting through garbage, marking messages as spam and searching for legitimate messages in your inbox? People new to email can easily become overwhelmed by this information overload and give up all together. Many users set up an email account then pass out the address to their friends and think nothing of the matter. Then, later when the same user signs up for something on the internet they provide the email address again without question. How many times have you given out your address to some random web page which offers site memberships and maybe even newsletters? This blatant carefree use of an email address is what leads an inbox to become a daunting and scary cluttered mess.
The easiest way to combat this overbearing email onslaught is not as difficult as one may think. Add to the confusion and create a second email account. Actually a second email account can serve as a valuable tool with regard to mail organization and traffic management. A user can easily sign up for an alternative email account from another provider. This second account will allow a user to filter personal mail from mail that may be generated as a result of signing up with various websites. Let’s get rid of the trash. Sounds like a no brainer, right? A user now has a legit account, that she checks daily, and a second account that serves as a virtual trash bin. Checking this second account is as easy as logging in and deleting any messages that arrive. You don’t read that stuff anyway and if you did you would have provided your legitimate mail address in the first place. Pay special attention when giving out your mail addresses. Give out your main address sparingly use the second account for most everything else.
What if you also have an email account associated with work? There are a few options to consider when you have two or more accounts that you want to actively check manage. Mail forwarding is a way to funnel all messages to a single account where they can be then organized. Forwarding options are usually easily managed within the web mail account. Check the settings of your web mail account and look for these options. Forwarding can be a great way to merge personal accounts but these should always remain separate from business mail accounts. Many places of business prefer that employees utilize work mail for all communication within the organization. It is wise to treat work mail as a completely separate entity. Forwarding work mail to a personal web mail account can potentially lead to disaster at work. Imagine working in the health care industry, as I do, and mistakenly sending an email containing patient information to someone in your contact list who is not within your organization. This creates a HIPPA violation. This applies to companies who often utilize non-disclosure agreements as well. Protected company information should never be given to the wrong individuals. Therefore, eliminate the chance of this happening and keep personal and company email communication separate.
It is still very possible to manage work mail communication in a web browser environment. Many organizations allow users to access work email outside the company network. If this is a company wide practice you most likely received the logon instructions during your orientation process, if not ask your system administrator if web mail access is available. Outlook is widely used within the business world and works well with Microsoft Exchange Server, which is also commonly used. Exchange Server coordinates all company users’ email and Outlook allows users to create, read, save and send their messages. Many times, if Microsoft Exchange Server is being used, the web mail portions are also available. To check this, a user needs to know the company web URL (ex. www.somecompany.com), their domain name (ex. somedomain) and their personal username/password information. The domain name may need to be obtained from the system administrator but you can check for domain information through the properties window of “My Computer”. Look on the “Computer Name” tab for workgroup or domain name information. After you have gathered these pieces of information, open internet explorer and type the URL to the mail server into the address bar (ex. https://mail.somecompany.com/exchange). Notice the address settings add “https://mail.” before the company URL and “/exchange” at the end. This address points to the company network and the logon page dedicated to web mail. If this feature is enabled and the settings are default, users will see a logon screen where they must provide network user information such as domain, username and password. If this info is entered correctly the user will next see their mail inbox which looks much like the layout of Microsoft Outlook. Exact logon information should be obtained from your network administrator; your company may have changed from default settings.
Now you potentially have three web mail accounts; personal, business and trash. It becomes a task in itself to keep track of the passwords and logon information associated with this many mail accounts. The best way to organize this is to attempt to make the settings similar for each account. I like to try and use similar names and passwords, if not the same, whenever possible. I realize this creates a security issue but I am diligent about changing these passwords frequently. And frankly, I could care less if someone got into my junk trash account, maybe they will do me a favor and delete all that junk for me.
Finally, the efficiency of using these accounts can be maximized easily with one simple task. Place your mail icons where you can see and best use them. Instead of making icons on my desktop for each mail account and creating clutter, I prefer to shift this clutter to my internet browser. Internet Explorer 8 allows you to add favorite websites to a sub folder labeled “Favorites bar”. This will display convenient button links to pages within your favorites list. Use this list to your advantage. Place the logon pages of each of your mail accounts within this folder for web mail with true ease of use. Create easily located buttons for hotmail, yahoo mail, gmail and even one dedicated to you companies web mail logon page. There are many ways to optimize your use of web mail this article provides one approach that works very well for me.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Speed up your sluggish PC
Anyone who has put in any time on a PC has at some point experienced slow or unreliable performance. Web pages that take forever to load, poor application performance and excruciatingly slow download rates top the list as common problems for typical PC users. One reason for these annoyances, common users sometimes think the installation and use of anti-virus software (Norton, AVG, etc.) should solve these problems. In fact, these products serve as tools to diagnose and improve your system.
Human behavior is why these machines do not perform as we expect. Our behavior allows us to surf the internet for a few hours each night and completely overlook the task of ridding the system of unneeded garbage that results from this web usage. It’s like using your office every day and never emptying the waste basket.
In internet explorer, simply click tools then internet options. Next you will see options to set a home page, clear browsing history, delete browsing cookies and various other pieces of web information. It is these saved web settings that consume resources and can decrease performance. If you enjoy the luxury of your commonly viewed websites automatically filling in your log-in information for you each time you visit then you may want to save the cookies for this web page. However, saving cookie information involving passwords and user names provides an opportunity for your security to be compromised. It is best to delete this information. Temporary internet files and browsing history can also be eliminated without worry. Users can perform these delete actions at the end of each session or, better yet, automate these tasks with task manager.
Performance problems also come from the mere act of using your computer. Registry keys become created during program installation and many times are removed incorrectly, or not at all, when the program is no longer needed and uninstalled. Unused hardware is often disconnected. Many times the user forgets to remove the driver information, which holds dedicated space in the registry. This is yet another example of wasted resources due to registry errors. Finally, many spyware applications will reside within the registry. This can serve as a means to restore the rogue application with each reboot. That long pause during reboot may just be some dirty application forcing its way into virtual existence. These registry issues are just one way a system can suffer from decreased performance and they just scratch the surface.
Start-up applications can cause major issues and consume vast amounts of resources. Many instillations also include their programs within the start-up menu. This is sometimes a decent thing but what about things you would rather start yourself? Many users unknowingly have programs running all the time that they aren’t aware of and don’t use. These unused start-up applications just sit around, twiddling their thumbs, consuming resources like precious RAM. End this nonsense by clicking start then in the run box type msconfig and press enter. The subsequent window is used to configure system settings. The startup tab lists all items in the start-up list and checks the ones that start each time the computer boots up. Most times, many of these are not needed. Recognizable ones can be turned off without fear of harming the program itself, it merely needs manually started. Unfamiliar entries can be identified using google. This is a great way to detect harmful applications that run all the time. Check a few google results of each questionable program and harmful applications, if present, will quickly become apparent. Though unchecked from the start-up list any rogue program still needs to be removed, this is where registry optimization and virus removal tools should take over.
Clean up that hard drive, in more ways than one. Many computers are littered with applications that have been installed, used a few times then forgotten about. Sometimes, these icons even sit on the desktop as a constant reminder to the user that they still exists. Do you really still waste your cash playing partypoker or still use that cool aquarium screensaver? These applications need to go. If you want your computer to perform at the tasks (email, internet, word processing) you request of it then eliminate the unnecessary tasks (Screensavers, toolbars, games). Take a thorough look at add/remove programs and see what your system actually holds. Find applications you remember installing and determine if you still use it, if not, remove it. It is easy to determine questionable applications that you may be scared to delete, just google it. If you are still unsure leave it alone and deal with the things you recognize and have determined unneeded. Some of these questionable applications that you may be unsure of just might become apparent once compared to your search information on those shady start-up applications you researched using msconfig and the start-up tab.
Now we have eliminated logical data on our hard drive but what about the physical aspects? Upgrade is many times an option but it usually comes in exchange with a monetary obligation. An upgrade can, however, significantly increase the performance of a PC in the form of the physical connection type. Many aged systems only support hard drives which are connected by IDE cables, those wide grey cables you may have seen inside a PC. These cables connect the hard drive in what is known as a parallel connection. A more recent hard drive technology allows a hard drive to be connected serially through a considerably thinner cable. This serial connection has increased speed which delivers data to the system and information to the user in a more efficient manner. The thinner cable also promotes better air flow within the system case, which may squeak out a little more performance. If it’s an option and the funds are available, serially connected hard drives can provide significant performance boosts. Users will have to check the manuals for their motherboards or systems to determine if the physical connector is available within their system. Once again, google it!
Logical data storage on the disk may also become cluttered and spread throughout many places. When files are created, saved or changed they are saved on the disk in available space. This space is sometimes spread causing the file data to become separated while stored on the drive. If the space on the disk was optimized and data was moved and stored together the system could retrieve the information faster for the user. There are a few tools available to help out your poor old, disorganized, disk.
Disk clean up is a great tool to remove junk and unused files. Click start then my computer, next right-click on your hard drive and select properties. Finally, click the disk clean up button. This application will scan your drive for temporary installers, junk files, etc. and give you the opportunity to take out the trash.
Now that storage space is freed by removing programs and unneeded junk, it’s a good time to organize the data that is there. Disk defragmenter offers the perfect solution to your mess. Click start then double-click my computer. Right click your hard drive and select the tools tab then analyze. This application will analyze your drive and display valid information like disk consumption, size and estimated size after defragmentation. One click of the defragment button and you will soon see the visual representation of your drive during the defragment process. This could take some time so bring a book or flip on the TV.
These topics touch on a few methods that can be easily implemented to increase PC performance. Many other methods exist such as applications designed to automate these processes for users, expensive security application suites and upgrade parts. It is the users’ responsibility to realize when their PC has outlived its usefulness and has become overwhelmed by the intensity of the simplest web pages. It is at this point that no amount of maintenance and tune-up will ever help. Move on and buy a new PC.
Human behavior is why these machines do not perform as we expect. Our behavior allows us to surf the internet for a few hours each night and completely overlook the task of ridding the system of unneeded garbage that results from this web usage. It’s like using your office every day and never emptying the waste basket.
In internet explorer, simply click tools then internet options. Next you will see options to set a home page, clear browsing history, delete browsing cookies and various other pieces of web information. It is these saved web settings that consume resources and can decrease performance. If you enjoy the luxury of your commonly viewed websites automatically filling in your log-in information for you each time you visit then you may want to save the cookies for this web page. However, saving cookie information involving passwords and user names provides an opportunity for your security to be compromised. It is best to delete this information. Temporary internet files and browsing history can also be eliminated without worry. Users can perform these delete actions at the end of each session or, better yet, automate these tasks with task manager.
Performance problems also come from the mere act of using your computer. Registry keys become created during program installation and many times are removed incorrectly, or not at all, when the program is no longer needed and uninstalled. Unused hardware is often disconnected. Many times the user forgets to remove the driver information, which holds dedicated space in the registry. This is yet another example of wasted resources due to registry errors. Finally, many spyware applications will reside within the registry. This can serve as a means to restore the rogue application with each reboot. That long pause during reboot may just be some dirty application forcing its way into virtual existence. These registry issues are just one way a system can suffer from decreased performance and they just scratch the surface.
Start-up applications can cause major issues and consume vast amounts of resources. Many instillations also include their programs within the start-up menu. This is sometimes a decent thing but what about things you would rather start yourself? Many users unknowingly have programs running all the time that they aren’t aware of and don’t use. These unused start-up applications just sit around, twiddling their thumbs, consuming resources like precious RAM. End this nonsense by clicking start then in the run box type msconfig and press enter. The subsequent window is used to configure system settings. The startup tab lists all items in the start-up list and checks the ones that start each time the computer boots up. Most times, many of these are not needed. Recognizable ones can be turned off without fear of harming the program itself, it merely needs manually started. Unfamiliar entries can be identified using google. This is a great way to detect harmful applications that run all the time. Check a few google results of each questionable program and harmful applications, if present, will quickly become apparent. Though unchecked from the start-up list any rogue program still needs to be removed, this is where registry optimization and virus removal tools should take over.
Clean up that hard drive, in more ways than one. Many computers are littered with applications that have been installed, used a few times then forgotten about. Sometimes, these icons even sit on the desktop as a constant reminder to the user that they still exists. Do you really still waste your cash playing partypoker or still use that cool aquarium screensaver? These applications need to go. If you want your computer to perform at the tasks (email, internet, word processing) you request of it then eliminate the unnecessary tasks (Screensavers, toolbars, games). Take a thorough look at add/remove programs and see what your system actually holds. Find applications you remember installing and determine if you still use it, if not, remove it. It is easy to determine questionable applications that you may be scared to delete, just google it. If you are still unsure leave it alone and deal with the things you recognize and have determined unneeded. Some of these questionable applications that you may be unsure of just might become apparent once compared to your search information on those shady start-up applications you researched using msconfig and the start-up tab.
Now we have eliminated logical data on our hard drive but what about the physical aspects? Upgrade is many times an option but it usually comes in exchange with a monetary obligation. An upgrade can, however, significantly increase the performance of a PC in the form of the physical connection type. Many aged systems only support hard drives which are connected by IDE cables, those wide grey cables you may have seen inside a PC. These cables connect the hard drive in what is known as a parallel connection. A more recent hard drive technology allows a hard drive to be connected serially through a considerably thinner cable. This serial connection has increased speed which delivers data to the system and information to the user in a more efficient manner. The thinner cable also promotes better air flow within the system case, which may squeak out a little more performance. If it’s an option and the funds are available, serially connected hard drives can provide significant performance boosts. Users will have to check the manuals for their motherboards or systems to determine if the physical connector is available within their system. Once again, google it!
Logical data storage on the disk may also become cluttered and spread throughout many places. When files are created, saved or changed they are saved on the disk in available space. This space is sometimes spread causing the file data to become separated while stored on the drive. If the space on the disk was optimized and data was moved and stored together the system could retrieve the information faster for the user. There are a few tools available to help out your poor old, disorganized, disk.
Disk clean up is a great tool to remove junk and unused files. Click start then my computer, next right-click on your hard drive and select properties. Finally, click the disk clean up button. This application will scan your drive for temporary installers, junk files, etc. and give you the opportunity to take out the trash.
Now that storage space is freed by removing programs and unneeded junk, it’s a good time to organize the data that is there. Disk defragmenter offers the perfect solution to your mess. Click start then double-click my computer. Right click your hard drive and select the tools tab then analyze. This application will analyze your drive and display valid information like disk consumption, size and estimated size after defragmentation. One click of the defragment button and you will soon see the visual representation of your drive during the defragment process. This could take some time so bring a book or flip on the TV.
These topics touch on a few methods that can be easily implemented to increase PC performance. Many other methods exist such as applications designed to automate these processes for users, expensive security application suites and upgrade parts. It is the users’ responsibility to realize when their PC has outlived its usefulness and has become overwhelmed by the intensity of the simplest web pages. It is at this point that no amount of maintenance and tune-up will ever help. Move on and buy a new PC.
A study in electronic medical records for a community health center Part 3
How will this change the day to day work of the health center?
The introduction of a new system will change the way many staff members function day-to-day. It will be necessary to perform task assessments of each job function within the organization. This data will be used to outline the requirements of each job role. Once this analysis is complete members of management must then determine the needed job process within the new system. Many functions may change greatly but others may not change at all.
Each person in contact with the new system must be trained and comfortable navigating within the application. Thorough training sessions will be required for each job type. This training should be conducted by trainers provided by the application vendor, members of management and power users within the system. It is also very important to consider all input and concerns given by the end-users (Baum, 2006). This real-time information may prove key to future system configuration and honing.
An initial result of a new system is expected to be increased examination time allotment for providers (Groves, 2006). The responsibility of data entry will shift from the medical assistants to the actual providers. Providers will enter this data during examinations. This extra responsibility in itself adds some time to the allotted appointment. Also, as providers learn to use the new system exam time will increase. As providers become more familiar and comfortable with the system this exam time will decrease.
Who will benefit from this change?
Members of RCHC staff and patients will benefit from this system upgrade. Noticeable increases in productivity will not immediately occur. After the system has been in place for a few months members of staff will begin to notice improvements in how they are able to perform their jobs and monetary benefits will follow (Gonzalez, 2008). Unnecessary record organization and filing will become a thing of the past. Providers will see improved efficiency in the form of easily shared and attainable medical records and more complete patient files. Patients will also benefit from this digital and highly portable form of medical record archiving. As patients visit their provider and are referred to specialists their medical documentation will follow with no effort by the patient. Vaccination records, physical information, test results and allergy information will be at the fingertips of any provider a patient might visit.
Paperwork needed to attain a high level of patient care will be greatly reduced. System validation will also give staff member’s confidence in that they can be assured that the data they are entering into the system is accurate and complete. An electronic system also offers staff the opportunity to utilize and even increase computer related skills that can be a valuable asset.
Many members of medical staff are fearful of electronic medical records (Baharozian, 2004). This fear is not related to the use of the new system but related to the misconception that this system will possibly eliminate staff jobs. Clinical staff can view the addition of electronic records as cumbersome, difficult to use and creating more work for them in the long run. Members of management must be aware of these fears toward an electronic system and assure the clinical and office staff that there will be changes but they should not be viewed as threatening or difficult. These new systems do create many procedural changes but they do not serve to eliminate jobs or even make things difficult for clinical staff. After all, why would a health center implement a system that makes routine work procedures more difficult, this defeats the purpose of adding a new system? The best approach to reduce these fears and obtain staff buy-in is through staff involvement (Baum, 2006). When members of staff feel that they are part of the implementation and selection process they are more receptive to the change. Allow staff members to express concerns and ask questions about the system and attempt to answer these questions and address these concerns as promptly as possible.
System summaries
AllScripts
Small and mid-sized businesses can benefit from a proven solution known as AllScripts. All systems offered by AllScripts are expertly implemented, completely supported and easy to use. As a result, the implementation of this solution will streamline workflow; enhance the quality of care and an increase in the bottom-line performance through increased productivity. AllScripts electronic medical record system offers a vast library of built in knowledge for primary and specialty care, features such as patient portal and ePrescribing and is well regarded within the medical community. This solution can stand alone as an electronic medical record system with an interface to an existing practice management system or it can be purchased as an entire solution for seamless implementation and use (Allscripts, 2009).
Benefits of AllScripts
1. Ease of use
2. Strong return on investment
3. Higher quality care
4. Easy transition and training process
5. 24-hour support 365 days/year
6. Smoother workflow
7. Comprehensive knowledge base
8. Anytime access to critical patient and practice information
9. Enhanced patient wellness and patient care quality standards
10. Industry-leading interface capabilities (Conn, 2004)
11. Works in conjunction with existing practice management systems
NextGen
This solution is completely capable of serving the needs of Riggs Community Health Center by also increasing staff productivity and increasing the level of patient care. The electronic medical record portion of NextGen offers standardized documentation which ensures the quality and accuracy of the health care providers (Nextgen, 2009). NextGen also partners with hospitals and large health systems across the nation to improve patient safety through the interoperability of health information systems. Multiple systems can connect using NextGen electronic health records to share data. This sharing created a real-time electronic chart for each patient that can be viewed, appended and reported on with great ease.
Benefits of NextGen
1. Pre-built templates for increased workflow for over 25 specialties
2. Disease management templates
3. Integration with other products in the NextGen application suite
4. Instant access to documentation
5. Specially suited for multi-specialty practices
6. Ongoing support
GE Centricity
Centricity offers an electronic medical record system that enables providers and staff to document clinical information, streamline workflow and securely exchange clinical data with other providers and information systems. Centricity was designed by physicians with a focus on clinical ease-of-use. Centricity also integrates well with other systems such as revenue cycle application and practice management systems. This system was built with the information needs of providers in mind. This architecture allows for fluid streamlined patient visits, increased accuracy and completeness of documentation and enhanced patient care. Embedded clinical content and flexibility in encounter form generation makes this system completely dynamic and compatible for most any medical practice.
Benefits of GE Centricity (GE Healthcare, 2009)
1. Advanced reporting features
2. Macro creation for commonly used functions
3. Improved quality of care
4. Improved workflow management
5. NCQA certified for the diabetic physician recognition program
6. Concurrent user model facilitates real-time info needs
7. Voice-recognition
8. Community health center software configuration
Alliance of Chicago
In attempts to ease the introduction of a new system it is often necessary to request help from others. The most effective implementation will consider the failure and success of other organizations system implementation. It is beneficial to seek a consulting firm that specializes in electronic medical record implementation and support. The alliance of Chicago community health services is an organization that specializes in shared resources and service integration for community health centers (Alliance of Chicago, 2009). The Alliance of Chicago is a group of four community health centers based in the Chicago area that serve under-insured and non-insured patients much like RCHC. Each member of the Alliance of Chicago has systematically implemented electronic medical records within their practice. This experience has created a dynamic resource that can be utilized by any other community health center that wishes to also implement electronic medical records. This alliance specializes in the implementation of a system created by General Electric, titled Centricity. For this reason, GE Centricity is one viable option for RCHC.
Conclusion
Each of the proposed systems will facilitate effective practice management and electronic medical records. The purpose of this study was to evaluate three options and determine the best fit for Riggs Community Health Center. After careful evaluation and demonstration of each system, GE Centricity has been determined as the best fit for this organization. Centricity’s architecture, which is geared toward not-for profit community health centers, completely facilitates the use of a sliding fee scale; this factor alone makes this product stand out from the others. It has been determined that every need of this organization can be met through implementation and use of this product. The amount of support offered by the vendor is assurance that this system and the medical practice will suffer very little down time due to system error. Also, complete and prompt training will occur before, during and long after system implementation. This training will be facilitated through instructors provided by GE and project champions within RCHC. GE Centricity is also completely compatible with the current infrastructure. There will be very few pieces of equipment needed, beyond what is already implemented, to get this system up and running.
The alliance of Chicago will play an important role in the adoption of this system. As experienced consultants, the knowledge of this organization will provide an invaluable tool during preparation, implementation and continued support. The hard work, dedication and even the mistakes of the alliance will benefit RCHC. The Alliance of Chicago has performed this implementation many times and the members of this team know that ins and outs of this system (Rachman, 2009). This knowledge is of great importance to a small organization that cannot afford to learn from mistakes that could possible cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The introduction of a new system will change the way many staff members function day-to-day. It will be necessary to perform task assessments of each job function within the organization. This data will be used to outline the requirements of each job role. Once this analysis is complete members of management must then determine the needed job process within the new system. Many functions may change greatly but others may not change at all.
Each person in contact with the new system must be trained and comfortable navigating within the application. Thorough training sessions will be required for each job type. This training should be conducted by trainers provided by the application vendor, members of management and power users within the system. It is also very important to consider all input and concerns given by the end-users (Baum, 2006). This real-time information may prove key to future system configuration and honing.
An initial result of a new system is expected to be increased examination time allotment for providers (Groves, 2006). The responsibility of data entry will shift from the medical assistants to the actual providers. Providers will enter this data during examinations. This extra responsibility in itself adds some time to the allotted appointment. Also, as providers learn to use the new system exam time will increase. As providers become more familiar and comfortable with the system this exam time will decrease.
Who will benefit from this change?
Members of RCHC staff and patients will benefit from this system upgrade. Noticeable increases in productivity will not immediately occur. After the system has been in place for a few months members of staff will begin to notice improvements in how they are able to perform their jobs and monetary benefits will follow (Gonzalez, 2008). Unnecessary record organization and filing will become a thing of the past. Providers will see improved efficiency in the form of easily shared and attainable medical records and more complete patient files. Patients will also benefit from this digital and highly portable form of medical record archiving. As patients visit their provider and are referred to specialists their medical documentation will follow with no effort by the patient. Vaccination records, physical information, test results and allergy information will be at the fingertips of any provider a patient might visit.
Paperwork needed to attain a high level of patient care will be greatly reduced. System validation will also give staff member’s confidence in that they can be assured that the data they are entering into the system is accurate and complete. An electronic system also offers staff the opportunity to utilize and even increase computer related skills that can be a valuable asset.
Many members of medical staff are fearful of electronic medical records (Baharozian, 2004). This fear is not related to the use of the new system but related to the misconception that this system will possibly eliminate staff jobs. Clinical staff can view the addition of electronic records as cumbersome, difficult to use and creating more work for them in the long run. Members of management must be aware of these fears toward an electronic system and assure the clinical and office staff that there will be changes but they should not be viewed as threatening or difficult. These new systems do create many procedural changes but they do not serve to eliminate jobs or even make things difficult for clinical staff. After all, why would a health center implement a system that makes routine work procedures more difficult, this defeats the purpose of adding a new system? The best approach to reduce these fears and obtain staff buy-in is through staff involvement (Baum, 2006). When members of staff feel that they are part of the implementation and selection process they are more receptive to the change. Allow staff members to express concerns and ask questions about the system and attempt to answer these questions and address these concerns as promptly as possible.
System summaries
AllScripts
Small and mid-sized businesses can benefit from a proven solution known as AllScripts. All systems offered by AllScripts are expertly implemented, completely supported and easy to use. As a result, the implementation of this solution will streamline workflow; enhance the quality of care and an increase in the bottom-line performance through increased productivity. AllScripts electronic medical record system offers a vast library of built in knowledge for primary and specialty care, features such as patient portal and ePrescribing and is well regarded within the medical community. This solution can stand alone as an electronic medical record system with an interface to an existing practice management system or it can be purchased as an entire solution for seamless implementation and use (Allscripts, 2009).
Benefits of AllScripts
1. Ease of use
2. Strong return on investment
3. Higher quality care
4. Easy transition and training process
5. 24-hour support 365 days/year
6. Smoother workflow
7. Comprehensive knowledge base
8. Anytime access to critical patient and practice information
9. Enhanced patient wellness and patient care quality standards
10. Industry-leading interface capabilities (Conn, 2004)
11. Works in conjunction with existing practice management systems
NextGen
This solution is completely capable of serving the needs of Riggs Community Health Center by also increasing staff productivity and increasing the level of patient care. The electronic medical record portion of NextGen offers standardized documentation which ensures the quality and accuracy of the health care providers (Nextgen, 2009). NextGen also partners with hospitals and large health systems across the nation to improve patient safety through the interoperability of health information systems. Multiple systems can connect using NextGen electronic health records to share data. This sharing created a real-time electronic chart for each patient that can be viewed, appended and reported on with great ease.
Benefits of NextGen
1. Pre-built templates for increased workflow for over 25 specialties
2. Disease management templates
3. Integration with other products in the NextGen application suite
4. Instant access to documentation
5. Specially suited for multi-specialty practices
6. Ongoing support
GE Centricity
Centricity offers an electronic medical record system that enables providers and staff to document clinical information, streamline workflow and securely exchange clinical data with other providers and information systems. Centricity was designed by physicians with a focus on clinical ease-of-use. Centricity also integrates well with other systems such as revenue cycle application and practice management systems. This system was built with the information needs of providers in mind. This architecture allows for fluid streamlined patient visits, increased accuracy and completeness of documentation and enhanced patient care. Embedded clinical content and flexibility in encounter form generation makes this system completely dynamic and compatible for most any medical practice.
Benefits of GE Centricity (GE Healthcare, 2009)
1. Advanced reporting features
2. Macro creation for commonly used functions
3. Improved quality of care
4. Improved workflow management
5. NCQA certified for the diabetic physician recognition program
6. Concurrent user model facilitates real-time info needs
7. Voice-recognition
8. Community health center software configuration
Alliance of Chicago
In attempts to ease the introduction of a new system it is often necessary to request help from others. The most effective implementation will consider the failure and success of other organizations system implementation. It is beneficial to seek a consulting firm that specializes in electronic medical record implementation and support. The alliance of Chicago community health services is an organization that specializes in shared resources and service integration for community health centers (Alliance of Chicago, 2009). The Alliance of Chicago is a group of four community health centers based in the Chicago area that serve under-insured and non-insured patients much like RCHC. Each member of the Alliance of Chicago has systematically implemented electronic medical records within their practice. This experience has created a dynamic resource that can be utilized by any other community health center that wishes to also implement electronic medical records. This alliance specializes in the implementation of a system created by General Electric, titled Centricity. For this reason, GE Centricity is one viable option for RCHC.
Conclusion
Each of the proposed systems will facilitate effective practice management and electronic medical records. The purpose of this study was to evaluate three options and determine the best fit for Riggs Community Health Center. After careful evaluation and demonstration of each system, GE Centricity has been determined as the best fit for this organization. Centricity’s architecture, which is geared toward not-for profit community health centers, completely facilitates the use of a sliding fee scale; this factor alone makes this product stand out from the others. It has been determined that every need of this organization can be met through implementation and use of this product. The amount of support offered by the vendor is assurance that this system and the medical practice will suffer very little down time due to system error. Also, complete and prompt training will occur before, during and long after system implementation. This training will be facilitated through instructors provided by GE and project champions within RCHC. GE Centricity is also completely compatible with the current infrastructure. There will be very few pieces of equipment needed, beyond what is already implemented, to get this system up and running.
The alliance of Chicago will play an important role in the adoption of this system. As experienced consultants, the knowledge of this organization will provide an invaluable tool during preparation, implementation and continued support. The hard work, dedication and even the mistakes of the alliance will benefit RCHC. The Alliance of Chicago has performed this implementation many times and the members of this team know that ins and outs of this system (Rachman, 2009). This knowledge is of great importance to a small organization that cannot afford to learn from mistakes that could possible cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
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