| Medical practices are taking advantage of free | | | | requirements, it may be possible to upgrade them. |
| medical software applications that allow them to | | | | Adding memory or installing a faster processor |
| implement electronic medical records systems. | | | | may be all that is needed to bring them in line |
| EMR software improves office efficiency and | | | | with software requirements. |
| quality of patient care, but before installation it's | | | | However it may be impossible to upgrade older |
| important to make sure the office computer | | | | computers sufficiently to run the software so the |
| system is ready. | | | | office may be forced to buy new systems for |
| How Will Doctors Access the Software? | | | | everyone. When disposing of old computers, it is |
| Administrative personnel who access the free | | | | critical to clean the hard drives of any confidential |
| medical software application will do so from | | | | information. Deleting a file is not enough since |
| standard desktops. The big question is how | | | | deleted files can be recovered. There are utilities |
| doctors and nurses will work with the EMR while | | | | that will truly erase a hard drive of all information. |
| interacting with patients. Most examination rooms | | | | Bring In a Professional to Make Sure It's Done |
| don't have the space for a desktop computer. | | | | Right |
| Those that do may require the computer to be | | | | Free medical software is easy to use, but there |
| set up so the doctor has to face away from the | | | | will be a learning curve. Office routines will be |
| patient, thus interfering with the doctor-patient | | | | disrupted in the short-term as everyone gets |
| relationship. | | | | used to the EMR and new workflows designed |
| Laptops are a common solution. They are small | | | | around the software. The last thing the practice |
| and portable enough to fit in even a small | | | | needs is further complications from hardware |
| examination room and easier to use in such a | | | | problems. |
| way they don't get in the way of communicating | | | | Few medical practices have IT departments so |
| with the patients. Be careful because not all | | | | won't have the skill set needed to evaluate and |
| laptops will fit the system requirements of the | | | | set up the computers for the new software. An |
| free medical software. Netbooks in particular may | | | | outside consultant can help the office make |
| seem like a great option because of their size, but | | | | decisions about their computer systems, ensuring |
| in reality their small screens are a liability. | | | | the right hardware is purchased and all systems |
| Upgrade Equipment or Buy New Computers? | | | | are set up correctly. This ensures the new |
| Compare existing computer systems with the | | | | system works smoothly from day one. Practices |
| free medical software system requirements. | | | | that take the time to prepare their computers for |
| System requirements are minimums to allow the | | | | new free medical software experience fewer |
| software to run. It may be worth exceeding the | | | | problems during the startup period and quicker |
| requirements so the software won't just run but | | | | EMR adoption. |
| will run quickly. For systems that don't meet the | | | | |