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Entries from September 2006

Computer Types and $

September 4th, 2006 · No Comments

Computers in the treatment rooms are not just simple data entry business machines. They are also multimedia patient education and communication stations. For example, in addition to practice management software a treatment room computer could have digital radiographs, patient education, digital image management, multiple monitors, sound and speakers, multiple inputs, computerized probes, shade matching, voice charting, video input, a DVD and even a blood pressure cuff. Most dental offices will need three different types of computers, a server, business workstations and clinical workstations. Each computer type will have different specifications depending on the job it must do. Server:  This is the main computer which stores all the data and distributes it to the other workstations. This machine should have a powerful processor, lots of memory and big dual hard drives for storage. It does not need any sound or multi-media capabilities. A server for most dental offices will cost from $3,000 to $3,500.Business Workstations: These are the front desk stations. These will be the least powerful machines in the office. They have modest processing requirements, need virtually no hard drive storage and do not need sound or multi-media. A business workstation will cost $1,000 or less.Clinical Workstations: These are the chairside computers and these will need to be much more powerful than the business machines. Chairside computers will be used for patient education, image management, digital radiography, cosmetic imaging, entertainment, intra-oral camera capture and much more. These machines need full multi media capability including sound, CD or DVD, powerful processors and lots of memory. A clinical workstation will cost from $1,800 to $2,200.Some offices may need a fourth type, a consultation workstation. This would be used in a consultation room for case presentations. This machine would be similar to a clinical workstation with full multi media capacity and ideally should include a large impressive monitor. However a consultation workstation would not be used to capture images, radiographs and other data.

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Tags: Hardware

Software Transitions

September 1st, 2006 · No Comments

The most difficult transition for most offices starting with a new computer system is simply learning the system (some people don’t even know how to use a mouse) and at the same time keeping the daily operations of the practice going. In other words, survival. Often this transition takes so much effort that the office is exhausted just getting by and they never make the effort to learn or use advanced features of the software.
Data transfer: There are two basic issues with data transfer, how much data do you need and how will you input it to the new system? You can transfer most critical data from one system to another electronically. Usually anything, which can be downloaded as an ASCII file, can be transferred. However it is unlikely you will be able to transfer all the information such as old notes, schedules or recall information. But that’s OK.
Keep it Going: This idea is really simple but people often miss it. There is no need to trash the old system once the new one is in place. Keep it up and running. That does not mean you do dual entry and try and use both systems simultaneously, that’s a sure recipe for disaster. Set a day to “go live” with the new system and just do it. Keep the old system available for looking up old information, like last year’s treatment or what the insurance paid six months ago. That’s why you don’t need to transfer every piece of old data, you can always access it from the old system. You will find the need to look up information in the old system will quickly pass and you will rarely access it after a few months. None the less it is there as an archive.
You will probably use the old system for continuing care recall for the first six to twelve months as people and information are added to the new system.

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Tags: Administrative · Just for Fun

Micro computer from Sony

September 1st, 2006 · No Comments

From the  – New York Times [1]

The UX Micro, which will be available online and in stores for $1,800 in about a month, uses Intel’s new Core Solo Ultra Low Voltage processor for standard PC performance in a 1.2-pound package.It runs Windows XP Professional and has a 4.5-inch touch screen as well as a small fold-out keyboard for text entry. The PC also has built-in Wi-Fi and can connect to Cingular’s cellular network. A built-in fingerprint scanner can lock up passwords and important data. There is a 1.3-megapixel camera on the back and another camera on the front, with a microphone, for video calls. Less futuristically, the UX Micro comes standard with a 30-gigabyte hard drive and has a battery life of about 2.5 hours.
This could be a great device to use to check in patients. Smaller (and cooler) than a tablet.

[1] http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/01/technology/01sony.html?ex=1306814400&en=1db65ad3644fcfb5&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

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Tags: Hardware