Overcoming the Tower of Babel Syndrome
Full Integration of Equipment and Systems May be Some Time Off
By Wes Strickling
The future of optometry looks sleek and paperless, a world where all the diagnostic data you need is at your fingertips and you can summon patient records in seconds.
We’re not there yet, though. For now, ODs who want to upgrade their practice software or hardware are still finding it tough to make everything work together. What’s the point of having patient data in digital form if you can’t access it and add to it with just a few keystrokes on a computer?
This is a nonstop issue for everyone, from ODs to the companies that make the software and hardware. Because there still isn’t a single standard for how devices will integrate, everyone has to figure it out as they go. At Codex Techworks we spend a lot of time talking to all the parties and figuring out how to weave together to EMR systems and equipment that they have.
There is an effort underway to create industry standards. The DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) Standards Committee is trying to develop standards that would apply to a wide range of healthcare areas. But that is still a few years away.
What ODs Can Do Now
In the meantime, there are software platforms on the market that can integrate many if not all of the pieces of equipment in a practice. A few examples: EyeRoute by Topcon Medical Systems, and FORUM by Zeiss. But for ODs, there are financial issues. These products are generally priced for the ophthalmic practice and not really priced for the OD market. The cost of these systems is $15,000 to $30,000, depending on how many pieces of diagnostic equipment you have and the number of providers.
So ODs have a few choices:
Go top of the line: Invest in one of the integration platforms. The benefits are better patient care and a more efficient practice.
Go part of the way: Integrate everything you can, scan the rest and attach those digital images to the patient’s electronic records. It still beats flipping through a chart.
Stay on the sidelines: And wait until industry standards are established. You avoid the cost and challenge of trying to make everything work together but might miss a chance to make your practice more efficient.
Buying EMR software or diagnostic equipment? Get latest Info…
The EMR packages on the market have a constantly changing list of devices that integrate with the software, so ask the vendor for the latest list. Then ask the vendor to provide you two or three practices that use their system, and call those ODs to see how well the technology works.
You should ask:
• Does the software truly integrates your equipment and let you easily access data and images?
• Is it easy to use?
• Easy to learn?
And most importantly, is the efficiency gained worth the money spent? Nine times out of 10, it will be.
Wes Strickling is founder and CEO of Codex Techworks in Columbus, Ohio (www.codextechworks.com). The firm specializes in the hardware and software used in optometric practices.
