Try, try again

Not all technology “improvements” succeed. Here are two that were tried and failed.

DOCUMENTATION AND COMMUNICATION

Practice: Ponte Vedra Chiropractic Medicine & Physical Therapy in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., (www.VotedBestDoctor.com), is a multi-doctor practice that sees about 250 patients a week. Owned by R. G. Packo, DC, it offers chiropractic adjustment, physical therapy, personal fitness training, massage therapy, and orthotic services.

Problem: Documenting daily SOAP notes.

Solution: Touch-screen computerized notes.

Payoff: Packo wanted to improve the efficiency of the doctors in the office and invested in a touch-screen SOAP notes software system. “The touch-screen computerized note system was a failure. It took too much time, and was truly inefficient,” he says.

Determined to find a system that works, Packo then invested in a Palm Pilot system. “Once we got over the initial challenge of the Palm Pilot system, it really has sped up my daily SOAP notes. I’m glad we switched.”

He also was experiencing another problem that was solved with low-tech equipment — walkie talkies. “In a larger office it is necessary for several doctors, front-desk and back-office assistants, as well as physical and massage therapists, to communicate without walking throughout the office to speak with each other. The cost of the walkie talkies was about $50 per set, and it has definitely been worth it,” Packo says.

TOO MUCH DATA

Practice: ADIO Health Systems (www.ADIOHS.meta-ehealth.com) of Jamesville, N.Y., operates as a solo practice. Owner Ralph B. Krutulis, DC, sees about 130 patients a week and provides chiropractic adjustment, massage therapy, nutritional guidance, orthotics, and other general services.

Problem: Too much data and not enough staff or time to deal with it.

Solution: Software/hardware combo on PDA handheld and laptop.

Payoff: Krutulis has not had much luck with technology. “The software package was $4,000, then we spent $2,000 on hardware. Both solutions failed, leaving me with corrupt backup files, and 4 1/2 years of patient data was gone,” Krutulis says.

“I am now on my third set of hardware and software upgrades, and have yet to find a working solution. I am about to go back to paper with my move to a new office.”