I had to visit my dentist for some dental work yesterday. After the treatment, my dentist entered the treatment details into her newly acquired dental software package. She obviously struggled with the application. Looking over her shoulders, it became clear that the system ran into a problem accessing the patient database. With confidence, she declared to have seen the problem before and that the remedy was to reboot. Before, I could usher some advice, she hit the reset switch.
We waited what seemed to be 10 minutes for the system to reboot, check the filesystem, bring up the application, etc. She logged back in and hit the same problem again. We then moved to the system in her reception. Here's when I noticed that she had four systems in total, one for each treatment room, and one in reception.
This is complete madness, silliness in the highest degree! For a relatively simple system, my dentist was sold an entry-level datacentre without the administrative capabilities that usually come with such a facility.
Here is what I hope how, in only a few years time, my dentist's IT needs will be satisfied...
After signing up for a dental software package subsription service, my dentist receiveds four SunRay systems. Installation is as easy as pluging them in to the Internet. Her service provider creates and enables network identities for her and her employees ahead of time and her patient records are uploaded into a central facility. She pays a monthly usage fee, based on the number of patient transactions she performs. The basic service includes guaranteed uptime, a 24x7 hotline, and regular data backups. Optionally, the service includes billing, patient appointment reminder, and a selection of other cool features that can be plugged in as she needs them.
However, right now, that is not her IT reality.
Pamela, hang in there. We'll get you there.
Posted by MikeTLive on August 29, 2006 at 07:30 PM PDT #