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Entries from May 2006

PatientTracker

May 17th, 2006 · No Comments

Look here:  PatientTracker [1] for the rest of the web page
I just saw this. It looks like a complicated system. I haven’t tried it but there are several computerized communication systems like Blue Note and Smoke Signals already available. This product adds the ability to actually follow a patient through the office and even see how much time they spend in each area.   (Like the waiting room!!)

PatientTracker: It?s Everywhere You Need To Be With PatientTracker your entire staff can visually track patients throughout any operatory in your office or clinic, page any required health care professional, and much more.
The Main ScreenThe Main Screen is the nerve center of PatientTracker ? the screen you see in every operatory that guides you through your busy day. It can be broken down into four sections:
Waiting RoomThe moment a patient registers at reception, the clock starts ticking in your virtual Waiting Room.
Each patient is represented by a progress bar. What?s more, an unlimited number of patients are sorted by longest wait (at the top) to shortest (on the bottom). This makes it convenient to see who most urgently needs assistance.
As a helpful option, each patient can be associated with a specific health care professional, under First Assistant. Should a patient require the attention of multiple individuals, this area allows each health care professional to see who is currently attending to that patient.
This system looks like it would be most useful in a high volume office like a pedodontist or an insurance clinic with multiple doctors.

[1] http://www.patient-tracker.com/product.aspx

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Tags: Administrative · Just for Fun

Cell Phone Virus

May 17th, 2006 · No Comments

Read the whole article here:  from PC Magazine: A Moving Target [1]

A Moving Target
Today, cell-phone viruses are not a big deal. But if you think your phone will always be safe, think again.
By Robert Lemos Security companies have warned of the risks of mobile-phone viruses for the past five years, ever since the mass-mailing computer virus Timofonica grabbed headlines as the first cell-phone virus (a misnomer, since it was a PC-based virus that sent text messages to phones as a side effect). Although there is real danger, few viruses have spread successfully on any mobile device—even fewer on popular cell phones—because infecting phones is not easy. Malicious programs cannot install themselves automatically on cell phones; users must allow them. For example, to be installed, Cabir requires a user to allow three different actions. Also, people rarely open attachments on cell phones, offering some protection against these early threats.

[1] http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1961558,00.asp

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Tags: Security

New Paging & Message Software

May 10th, 2006 · No Comments

Replace outdated light paging systems Monitor patients in the office and where they are communicate between Team members Check this new system out looks pretty neat. We downloaded trial version and are playing with it. I have no vested interest in this just think it looks neat. www.Patient-Tracker.com

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Tags: Administrative · Case Presentation · Dental Diamonds · Dental Lab · Events · Insurance · Just for Fun · Marketing · New Patients · News · Office Design · Patient Service · Practice Management · Resources · Uncategorized

The CEM luting agents

May 9th, 2006 · No Comments

  A luting agent may be more than a cement       Until the beginning of the 1970’s all the profession had was zinc phosphate cement (Mizzy and DeTrey), polycarboxylate cement (Durelon) and zinc oxide and eugenol (Fynal). The use of these materials has fallen way off the charts in terms of popularity. Polycarboxylate represents about […]

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Tags: Dental Restorations · Uncategorized

Digital Capture of a Video Image

May 8th, 2006 · No Comments

Video Capture: Video capture converts an analog video image to a computerized digital image. There are many ways to do this but most dental offices will use a video capture card installed in the treatment room computer. Any existing intraoral camera can be used with a video capture card. It is not the camera, which makes it a digital system it is what you plug it into. In old analog systems you plugged the camera into the printer in the new digital systems you plug the camera into a card in the back of the computer.
Once the video image is captured the computer electronics can be used to freeze, store, enhance, or print the image. In other words the computer takes the place of the video printer or mavograph, which was at the heart of old analog video camera systems.
Using a video capture card makes the intraoral camera much more effective and saves thousands of dollars over hard-wired video (TV) systems. An analog video mavograph  costs at least $1500 plus the cost of wiring docking stations and TVs. A video capture card costs less than $200 and plugs into an exiting computer.
A new and possible better approach is a direct USB connected camera. These cameras eliminate the need for an expensive docking station, light source, power source, fiber optics and a capture card. They plug directly into the USB port of any computer. The USB port provides the power and captures the images. The cameras have tiny LED lights built in, which are powered by the USB connection. Images are frozen with a button on the camera. The cameras are light, extremely portable and inexpensive, some sell for less than $3,000. The only problem has been limited focus and image quality.

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Tags: Cameras

When x-rays go Bad!!!

May 8th, 2006 · No Comments

Some tips on image quality from Dale Miles. Look for more information here Dale Miles [1] at Dales web site.
When the sales person shows you a new sensor system, the images look great! They used a good x-ray generator, displayed on a high-quality monitor and the images looked as good or better than most of your film images, right? You get your system installed, take your first image and it too looks great (or maybe not). However, once the salesperson leaves, image quality starts to vary and periodically you get images that look awful. Logically, the first thing you blame is your new sensor. In a perfect world it would be that simple. Your old x-ray generator could be the prime “culprit” in the production of an non-diagnostic x-ray image.
Consequently, the first thing to look at in our “imaging chain” is your x-ray. Is it old? Have you had it since you opened your office? When was it last inspected?
Very few of the x-ray generators currently used in dental offices have characteristics that are ideally suited for a solid-state detector device.
Ideally, an x-ray generator to be used with a solid-state detector should have the following characteristics:
o low kV (70 kV or less) o low mA (5 mA or even less may be ideal) o an extremely accurate timer o a timer capable of producing very short exposure times accurately o the smallest focal spot feasible o a DC (direct current) circuit o rectangular collimation
 

[1] http://learndigital.net/

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Tags: Radiography

National Technology Leasing

May 8th, 2006 · No Comments

Look Here: National Technology Leasing [1]
For financing options when purchasing high tech equipment.

[1] http://www.nationaltlc.com/

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Tags: Administrative · Just for Fun

CADI Software

May 8th, 2006 · No Comments

Look here: CADI [1] for the whole story on another image management software. I like what they say in the headline, When it comes to digital x-ray, Think Software First.

Welcome to CADI – the leading digital x-ray and multimedia imaging software for dentistry. We believe that software selection is your first and most important decision when integrating a digital x-ray or camera system into your practice. The benefits of CADI are outlined in this web site.
CADI offers you a solution to:• Routinely capture, organize and present images for all your case presentations;• Help you and your staff know when to take images; • Build trust and comfort quickly with new or skeptical patients;• Explain more treatment alternatives in less time;• Educate patients; • Explain the limitations of insurance company compensation.

[1] http://www.cadi.net/index.htm

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Tags: Cameras · Just for Fun · Radiography

Choose the Right Notebook Screen

May 4th, 2006 · No Comments

Analyst’s Tip from PC Magazine: [1]

 Choose the Right Notebook Screen 
By Cisco Cheng I’m buying a new notebook. I’m told I have two options for screen types, anti-glare and transflective. What’s the difference?Choosing the right screen type when you pick a notebook is tricky. Anti-glare screens are made by laminating a matte surface layer to the LCD panel, and are ideal for working with documents. A transflective LCD has a smooth glossy finish, where the image appears brighter, with better contrast. Choose this type if you’re an avid video or photo editor, or plan on watching a lot of DVD movies on your laptop.

[1] http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1933286,00.asp

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Tags: Hardware

Split the Difference

May 3rd, 2006 · No Comments

From:Random thoughts by Thomas Sowell – [1]

Compromising by splitting the difference may solve many immediate problems by creating bigger long-run problems. Splitting the difference rewards the side with the most extreme and most intransigent position, guaranteeing continuing unreasonable demands and the continuing strife this generates

[1] http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/thomassowell/2006/05/02/196035.html

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Tags: Just for Fun