In a Windows World, MacPractice Brings a Legitimate Electronic Health Record to Apple and includes iPhone integration
This article is part of our HIMSS 2010 coverage. It includes an overview of the MacPractice EHR and its iPhone interface as well as a conversation with Mark Hollis, CEO of MacPractice.
One of the key’s to Apple’s success has been the reliable, simple, and fun UI it has designed for every one of its products. Part of the reason that this feature has stood out is because the Microsoft-based PC world has become known for essentially the opposite. The same is true for many electronic health record platforms built for Windows, where the same security vulnerabilities, networking complexity, and famed “blue screen of death” plague the slightly-less-than-tech-savvy average physician. For this reason, Mark Hollis – CEO of MacPractice – offers a system that runs entirely on the Mac. I had the opportunity to check out the iPhone platform tied to this EHR and also to chat with Mr. Hollis about his vision for this platform and some of the challenges it faces.
The iPhone Platform – From the start, the interface looks pretty slick. There are a number of different functions built in including a calendar of appointments, patient contact information (with a simple touch allowing you to call or email them), charge capture, patient prescription history, and referral management.
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Hello from HIMSS 2010! Electronic Health Record Incentives for Physicians and a chat with the CEO of MDcohort
We’re live here in Atlanta, Georgia, at the HIMSS conference. This week we’ll be bringing relevant posts and interviews related to the conference in breaking news fashion.
The 2010 HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society) conference is now underway in Atlanta in what promises to be a signal year in the world of health IT. The reasons seems to be the confluence of a year long public discussion on health care reform and, very important, the provision in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), also known as the stimulus bill, that rewards physicians for meaningful adoption of a qualified electronic health record (EHR).
The reward can equal as much as $44,000 over 5 years and is creating a frenzy of vendors asserting that their EHR is certified, meanwhile the community at large is breathlessly awaiting to hear what the government regards as “meaningful use”. The final rules on meaningful use are expected later this year. Partially, as a result this, HIMSS found in its annual survey of its leadership:
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AT&T’s Strained 3G Network, If not Improved, Will Limit the iPad’s Opportunities in the Medical Community – FCC voices concerns
When I was handed my first pager, I was stunned. It looked like the beeper that Will Smith used to flash on the Fresh Prince of Bel Air (and not even the later seasons, I’m talking about the early, crazy outfit seasons!). So I asked why I couldn’t simply use my phone or, for that matter, why we didn’t all use phones. The answer was simple – reliability. The paging system, of which this rather archaic looking item was part, was very reliable. But was that enough? No. The hospital also maintains it overhead paging system just in case. And if that goes down – yep, there’s a back up there too. In health information technology, reliability is everything. And for the iPad, that could prove to be a major barrier to adoption in the medical community as it faces off with other medical tablets, at least if the FCC’s recently voiced concerns prove to be true.
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Apple iPad and Electronic Medical Records – Could it Replace the Physician’s Clipboard?
Having had the opportunity to visit nearly a dozen academic medical centers in the past few weeks, I saw quite the spectrum of IT systems – from simple order entry to fully-integrated decision support systems. And for programs with the former, that revelation was quickly followed by the timeline for the coming upgrade. But what’s next for the most IT-savvy institutions? Well, Steve Jobs thinks he has an answer. Rumors abound that Apple is already pitching the iPad in LA-area hospitals as the replacement for the old physician clipboard. For outpatient practices already running a Mac-based EMR, MacPractice has already announced development plans for an iPad interface. According to their press release, they plan to develop apps that will allow patients to fill out registration, medical history, and other forms on the iPad. For physicians, it will integrate with the MacPractice EMR to manage schedules, view patient records, and even enter clinical notes. So could the iPad become the new best friend of healthcare providers? Well, there are a few challenges that need to be overcome first but the opportunities are exciting.
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Apple’s iPad Will Fall Short of Transforming Hospital Medical Care, But May Have Potential With Electronic Medical Records
Now that Apple’s bombshell has finally been dropped and the world has met the iPad, its finally time to begin separating fact from fiction. Will the iPad boast the same outstanding user interface as the iPhone and iPod Touch? Yes. Will the iPad solve world hunger? Probably not. Will the iPad be a useful tool in medicine, perhaps even transform the way healthcare is delivered or electronic medical records organized? The jury is still out on that one but, admittedly, I am skeptical. Here are a few of the reasons why.
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