Issue 10 - August 2003

Control-Alt-Delete:
Don’t let your computer software shut you down!
Selecting the right software doesn’t have to be hard
By Toni McQuilken

Purchasing software can be a daunting task. Feature sets, operating-system compatibility and a host of other factors make choosing the right program confusing at best.

According to a study conducted by Monica Smith, DC, PhD; Lynne Carber, BD; and Mark Doerrfield, DC and published by Palmer Research Institute, a large percentage of doctors of chiropractic use software for the business aspects of the practice, such as billing and patient scheduling, but very few have automated clinical functions.

So how do you make the leap into the technological age? Once you have made the decision to upgrade, the Palmer Research Institute recommends that you visit the various software companies online and don’t be afraid to call and ask questions. Ask for an on-site demonstration with you and your staff. Note how user-friendly both the software and support are.

If you are a new doctor just getting started, the Institute recommends considering software that has:

• An appointment book,

• SOAP/documentation capabilities,

• Word processing,

• Electronic claims,

• Insurance claims,

• Patient tracking and

• Automated notes.

If you are an established doctor who has been in practice for a while, in addition to the above criteria, look for software that will:

• Allow you to transfer files from your old system to the new,

• Integrate with other software programs that you are not upgrading,

• Speed up your workflow and

• Comply with all HIPAA regulations.

Make a list of all the things you would like your software to do before you make any phone calls or visit any Websites. Prioritize the list to know what features and functions are most important to you and your staff.

Ranking the features ahead of time will allow you to narrow the list of possible solutions up front, rather than waste your time researching solutions that will not perform the basic functions of your office.

Chiropractic Economics has gathered information on a number of the most popular software programs that are designed for chiropractic practices, and provided you with a brief synopsis of each. For an extended list, visit the Software Directory on page 59. It is our hope that you will use this article and the accompanying directory as a resource to begin your search.

Toni McQuilken is associate editor of Chiropractic Economics.

Click Here for: More results from the Palmer study

Tgi Software
Autumn8 from Tgi Software features multi-doctor, multi-clinic capabilities; paper and electronic claims; front-desk assistant (appointment book with multiple appointment setting, single-click charges entering, notification of late or no-show appointments); line item or entire claim posting of insurance payments; and dynamic statement periods. It also provides inventory reports and automatic notification of low quantity, as well as password security, and hidden audit trails, to tell who made a change (or deleted) a payment or a charge. Call 800-645-4309 or visit www.tgisolutions.com for more information.

Versatile Software
Versatile Software’s For Chiropractors Only is a Windows-based program designed specifically for chiropractic clinics. It runs on Windows 95/98/ME/2000/NT/XP and includes general information for each individual patient. The software allows all rendered services, payments and other accounting procedures to be applied in the patients’ general ledgers. Additionally, patients can be defined in separate billing groups and custom-user fields can be defined to retain special information.

The software produces a clinic report that includes a summary of all services rendered to patients, payments received and other transactions defined for a certain period of time. It can create monthly birthday lists, which can be sorted by the patient’s birthday, name or account number. For Chiropractors Only can be used on a single computer or on a network of computers. Visit www.vssinc.com or call 800-367-8774 for more information.

E-Z BIS
E-Z BIS Office Version 5 is chiropractic practice-management software that is comprehensive and easy-to-use. It is modular in design, which means that you can choose the combination of features that best fits your office. The complete E-Z BIS Office unites the billing system with the front desk for appointment scheduling and treatment notes for SOAP note reports. Call 800-445-7816 or visit www.ezbis.com for more information.

AccountMaster
AccountMaster Chiropractic software automatically prepares HCFA-1500 forms, auto-fills patient information and allows procedures to be entered by CPT codes or Procedure bias. It also features an accounts receivable section that allows doctors to bill patients, see overdue payments and automatically assign late charges. For more information, visit www.accountmaster.com or call 800-658-3899.

Document Plus
The Document Plus process begins with the patient completing a health questionnaire. Various other new-patient intake forms, such as automobile accident questionnaires, accident/injury questionnaires, or outcome measure forms are added as necessary. The forms, when read by an optical scanner, are combined to generate complete patient records. Daily note forms are completed on a visit-by-visit basis for daily record keeping and all completed forms can be scanned into the system in a few seconds. When needed, the system can generate letters and narratives in lay person’s terms for the patient, in legal terms for attorneys or in a format to send to referring physicians and insurance companies. Visit www.docplus.net or call 800-642-0600 for more information.

Quick Notes
Quick Notes provides both the front-end dictation solutions and a back-end document database for documentation. It has a variety of data input solutions, including voice dictation, touch screen and bar code scanning.

The Q-Notes product is a customizable solution for SOAP notes and patient charting. It allows doctors to search for patients, add/delete records, edit documents and print notes. Features like spell check, cut and paste, and randomized notes are also available. For more information, visit www.qnotes.com or call 800-899-2468.

DB Consultants
AS/PC from DB Consultants is a practice-management software optimized for Windows 98/2000/NT4. Features include: unlimited patient note files; simple data entry form; graphic, sound or other types of data collection on patients; easy to use, complete query by example (QBE) and SQL support; user-defined queries; custom reports; and speech recognition. Call 610-847-5065 or visit www.dbconsultants.com for more information.

InPhase Technologies
InPhase Technologies Group’s practice management software includes single, multiple or recurring appointments; family appointment options; blackout time for office or doctor’s hours; fast checkout options; flexible billing options; and tracking of missed appointments and patients without future appointments. It also offers digital sign-in options, various communications options and, with additional technology, it can process credit and debit cards. Call 800-490-3780 or visit www.inphasetech.com for more information.

Life Systems
CairoPad from Life Systems provides chiropractic SOAP note documentation management, designed for the Windows Powered Pocket PC.

Features include: SOAP note generation with a random text-generation engine designed with 47 randomized grammatical depths; context sensitive menu bars; graphical anatomy views for easy visual selection with over 190 discrete anatomy regions; orthopedic, muscle and sensory tests, as well as neurological signs and neurological reflexes; and a rich text note window. Visit www.cairo.cc or call 800-543-3001 for more information.

Pulse Software
ChiroPulse from Pulse Software offers: integrated scheduling, records and recall; patient tracking; insurance tracking; electronic claims submission; voice enablement for voice dictation of notes with additional third-party software; multi-doctor capability; and a care plan database integrated with the appointment scheduler. ChiroPulse is clinically oriented, and features both clinical and clerical office data. Visit www.chiropulse.com or call 908-289-9613 for more information.

Microfour
Microfour Inc.’s PracticeStudio suite of software includes both ChartPower and PracticeWizard. ChartPower encapsulates all components of PracticeStudio’s electronic medical records, using touch screens for input for patient chart notes.

The software allows all pertinent information to be segregated by patient incident, yet the critical information (for example, allergies) is shared across all incidents for the patient’s chart notes.

PracticeWizard has a Windows98/NT accounts-receivable billing system that captures information from the initial patient enrollment through insurance claim and patient statement processing. Call 800-235-1856 or visit www.micro4.com for more information.

Paperless Medical Solutions
PSChiro from Paperless Medical Solutions was designed by practicing chiropractors, and built around how chiropractic offices operate.

Features include fast patient searches; touch screen data entry; quick information flow from the doctor to the front desk staff; and a built-in treatment planner. The option to include a voice dictation system or fingerprint scanning for additional security is available. For more information, call 800-852-1771 or visit www.psmedical.com.

Forté Systems
Forté Systems version 9.5 of its 7000 series practice automation software incorporates many enhancements, including full Windows XP compatibility and many HIPAA compliance changes.

In addition, additional performance and reliability enhancements have been included. The company also offers 24/7 live-technician support. Call 800-456-2622 or visit www.fortesystemsinc.com for more information.

ClaKen Software
ClaKen Software’s DC-PowerNotes is a fully customizable practice management program that can be used in a cash or insurance-based practice. Features include customizable randomized text; detailed or general daily SOAP notes; narrative reports which can be based on past notes or created independently; visit counters for monitoring managed-care treatment programs and reevaluations; and templates for quick entry of information regarding common problems such as acute lower back pain, sinusitis, or allergies. Call 800-835-3217 or visit www.claken.com for more information.

EON Systems
TPS 2000 from EON Systems has a flow-sensitive design that allows natural progression of entries and actions from the first visit to the patient’s end of treatment.

The program automatically advances to the next step in any transaction.Windows-based system with an insurance billing center that mails or e-mails the proper forms to the corresponding carrier, completely filled out. Doctors can directly input their own notes or have an assistant do it from the patient fee slip/SOAP report and a query custom report generator allows for the creation of any report necessary. Any piece of data stored in TPS 2000 can be sorted, arranged, totaled and printed. Visit www.eonsystems.net or call 800-955-6448 for more information.

Lytec
Lytec Practice Management Software’s Chiropractic 2001 is a Windows-based program designed to meet the specific needs of chiropractors. It includes features such as: a robust security system; a streamlined payment entry system; cross-scheduling and color-coding; and accounts receivable. Both single- and multi-user licenses are available. Call 800-735-1991 or visit www.lytec.com for more information.

Anywhere MD
Auto-DOC by Anywhere MD utilizes a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence engine that surpasses randomized text generation. It determines if you are creating an initial or subsequent visit for a patient.

Auto-DOC produces comprehensive statistical narrative reports containing complex causation, condition and prognosis wording. Auto-DOC can automatically calculate and insert AMA spinal range of motion impairment ratings into the body of reports. The standard Auto-DOC program includes over 30 narrative templates and allows customization of personal narrative reports. For more information, call 800-381-3001 or visit www.auto-doc.com.

Addison Health
The basic WritePad module from Addison Health features a 5-15 seconds SOAP notes documentation system and includes a complete subjective complaint section, spinal exam, full extremities, dermatomes, postural analysis, vital signs, ROM, over 300 ortho/neuro tests, complete ICD9 — diagnoses, complete adjustment/therapy procedures, body areas including skeletal, musculature and nerves.

The chiropractic/rehab module, which is an addition to the basic structure, includes patient, family, social, occupational, treatment and diagnostic histories; Oswestry revised, NDI and Roland-Morris low back outcomes; ROS, subluxations, muscle testing, posture analysis, rehab evaluation (gait analysis, dynamic evaluations, etc.) and exercises, therapeutic exercises and trigger points examination fields; and chiropractic adjustment/therapy procedures, medical necessity, work restriction and consultation referral treatment fields. Visit www.writepad.com or call 800-496-2001 for more information.

MPN Software
ECLIPSE from MPN Software Systems is a HIPAA-compliant software system that provides functionality for everything from submitting claims to PDA connectivity and security. It can be used on a single computer or across multiple locations or workstations and includes scheduling, billing and SOAP notes among other features. Visit www.galactek.com or call 800-966-1462 for more information.