I need Help!

[jazmd]

I am an oncologist searching for EMR, last week I got in touch with two companys (Impac, and varain), and there quote was very high, I am talking about 150K and up, so is this the price in the market for oncology EMR. I need to find out is this possible, and any other products in the market for oncologist.
Thanks

[BigDoc]

JazMd, welcome to Docsboard,
have you had a chance to read our Articles & FAQs?
You need to have a list of features you want in the EMR for starters, an RFP.
Is there anything unique to your oncology practice that made you think of these 2 vendors?

[buslick]

I remember when PoL still had their site up there was a thread about someone who had spent 300K on an oncology EMR that did not work out well and they had to abandon it. I am not sure why the oncology EMRs are so expensive. Maybe you have special medication and tracking needs that regular doctors don't have? I know Al uses a homemade EMR using Microsoft Access/Word that he is offering for free here (http://www.docsboard.com/forums/faq.php?faq=vendor_list#faq_alborg). He is an oncologist.

[BigDoc]

Buslick, I think he is looking more for something more commercial

[jazmd]

These EMR includes MD. notes, RN'S notes, chemo charting and documentation and treatment protocols, also patient, chemo schedules, patient visits for labs and nureses check notes. But even though it's alot of $$

[Tim2]

I am surprised you guys haven't discussed the back bone yet. If the cost includes H&Sware, and a technician for a group practice, the price may be appropriate.

[jazmd]

It's only the software,no hard wear included.
The quoted me 300 hours of training,( 200$ per hour),( my office includes 8 employes),
I don't know about the back bone.

[buslick]

Here is a link to what Impac offers the oncologist:

http://www.impac.com/products/mo/emr.html

and here is link to niche market:

http://www.healthcare-informatics.com/issues/2004/11_04/specialty.htm

[Tim2]

Back bone is the hardware including network and input devices.

[buslick]

Looks like the Varian solution is not an integrated solution but rather several different products. Seems like they use Centricity for the practice management end. They use "VARiS MedOncology™ Patient Manager software suite, powered by OpTx, is a fully integrated, easy to use, Windows®-based patient management system featuring clinical care guidelines, research protocols, decision support rules, outcomes analysis and much more" for the EMR end.

[Tim2]

The quoted me 300 hours of training.

My kids (7 & 3 ) zip around my computer and have only been taught touch typing, I make them figure everything out for themselves.

Ya know, if something is not intuitive enough to be self-explanatory, it is bad. 300 hours sounds like typical software written from a programmers point of view; not a clinicians.

If they say you need training, keep shoping. It is crappy sofware. If it were awesome software, the max they should have is a free tutorial.

[pprescot]

Higher price due to limited market?

[buslick]

Sure, when you have a niche product only a select few people are interested in your product. To make a profit you have to increase the price due to the limited volume you can sell. I know the endoscopy specific database programs are very expensive compared to many of the mid level EMRs.