EMR backup

[Scroggie]

How are people here saving/backing up copies of notes/data?

My current system is 1. copy to another computer in same building, but far away. 2. Snapshot file of notes (like a PDF) saved in another computer not involved with my recordkeeping 3. Compact and repair patient data nightly, interface weekly. Both Monthly (on three month rotation). 4. Copy data to Keydrive/USB whenever I remember, 5. Burn to CD (once a month). 6. Email zipped copy to myself (no HIPAA comments, I don't do it anymore, at least until I get PGP or something like it).

Any other strategies? What about RAID?

VPN/Terminal services links?

[Kursk]

I save the note as a doc file, parse the note into a database at the same time, print a copy for the chart. Doc files and DB are on the corporate server which is backed up. Occasionally (I know, I know) I put a copy of the DB on a local machine. Like the Scrogman I used to put the DB (too many doc files to fit) on usb keydrive but the damn thing is so small and easy to lose I quit doing that, especially after I just barely saved it from going into the wash.

As for RAID (redundant array of independent (or inexpensive) disks) I got half way through this explanation and woke up drooling on the keyboard: http://www.acnc.com/04_01_00.html. My take is that it can offer redundancy and fail over advantages but doesn't save you from data corruption (ie no roll back function). I didn't do well on these MCSE questions, I freely admit it here in front of my admired peers.

Scrogster it looks to me like you're covered pretty well given the limitations of your current environment and budget. Or (maniacal cackle) are you using the security argument to get more hardware? Why yes then you DO need MORE disks, MORE drives, security software and by god you need it NOW! The fools, DONT THEY SEE THE RISK? The whole operation could be exposed!

[ozzie]

MCSE Must Consult Someone Else LOL

Serial Raid5 is the way to go $80 odd per hard drive 80 gig serial raid5 adapter $120 give you 150 gig of hardware redundant data Add about $120 for 80 gig external removable hard drive for weekly offsite storage..
Having data splattered all over the place is really a bad practice as you need to have a system where the updated data is syncronised.
http://www.acnc.com/04_01_05.html

Data rollback is a really a software function unless you get into serious high end hardware realms.. dealing with bytes aka data. Hourly snapshots of the data that can be rolled back later if needed and or ported to offsite locations.
The problem here is many systems have this type of backup as an after thought // Like Access based systems. Corrupt Access good and you can lose everything..
Most database sytems corrupted data is localised to the field and worstcase the table..
Before all the Access crew start slamming me Access is a great application but has it's limitations and data security and it's file locking functions have much to be desired. It was and still is a front end that has limited internal database period. Because of all of the above backing up is a problem in a live enviroment.



Raid is a hardware solution dealing with bits.. ones and zero's
Covers bad hard drives ec and data corruption from a hardware perspective.

A good solution has both..
In the end it comes down to how much data can you afford to lose and how long can you wait to recover it..
Most of my clients the answers to the above are none and zero.

So all have raid5 solutions mirrored to offsite servers with hourly/ daily data snapshots..

In the big picture a good backup scenario is very cost effective..
After all everyone promotes good health via prevention ...right ???
so why should your IT stuff be any different..

Oz
Take 2 tylenol reboot and call me in the morning..

[Scroggie]

At my new job, I'm gonna be able to specify my desktop requirements. I think I'll add RAID5 to the list. I read through some info on the different RAIDs and sounds like 5's the way to go.
Oz, what's you opine on Dell vs IBM vs build yourself (never done RAID) vs others?

I have essentially decided to go with mySQL as the backend and AccessXP as front end. No other software issues otherwise.

[ozzie]

Building yourself is for the birds ..
Get a Dell optiplex or better you will be fine ..
I prefer Dell over IBM when it come to desktops laptops I prefer IBM servers Dell low end compaq high end. All based on many years of use LOL
If you want to have just the beast you can spec out a dual xeon dell for about 2400 then add some ram and hard drives cost you about 800 more and have 150 odd gig raid 5 with a hot swapable spare..
or you can just get SC600 server and add some stuff and and be in the 1600 range. what you get would depend on how many records etc you will store..
both boxes come with 3 year Dell comes to you and fix it next day warranty and people that speak english on the phone for support. I consider 3 years long enough and then just donate the machine to charity. take the tax break and buy a faster cheaper replacement
If you go the dell way let me know as I deal with one guy who gives an extra 5% to all my customers.. Note I don't get any kickback , you get the kickback lol
When your ready let me know and I will give you scoop on the latest and greatest

oz

[Scroggie]

Cool, I'll let you know (should be soon). I'll talk to the new office manager and see when I can order.

[Scroggie]

Oz, what do you think about refurbished Dell's?

[ozzie]

generally pretty good but I will post more later I am kinda busy right now

Oz

[ozzie]

I can only speak of Dell and IBM..
Both have a tough testing program for refurbs IBM I know about first hand. Dell I read about and got a refurb with test dcrom that was left in it.
its a brutal testing cycle ..
And I have purchased many refurbs over the years 100's
Another angle is the PC has been hand checked twice now..
From a hardware view once a pc boots up and runs for the first hour then its good to go ..
Most of the insides are solid state. Read no moving parts ions iddy biddy + _ impluses and all that good stuff. Only the cdrom floppy and hard drives have moving parts and lets not forget the buttons.
Hint Hint notice that above parts are the most problematic ..

How do refurbs come about..
returned orders , lost orders via shipping companies , over production, Store returns people returns..
Returns outside cancelled orders etc are usually the if you dont like it 30 days send to back deal. Contrary to what many folks think, the refurbs ae not the " bad pc 's "that came back for service. So far I have never had Dell or IBM Hp etc replace a complete machine .. always just the parts that went bad..
So staying with that thought the idea of the refurbs being broken machines thats have been repaired is highly unlikely..

What to watch with refurbs..

1. Check for all the cables etc
2. Check for all the cdroms books etc
3. Be sure that you get the right warranty before you buy it make sure you have an email form Dell IBm or whoever with the stated warranty..
I have had couple of situations where I bought a few Optiplex desktops which come with 3 year parts and labor standard. but the Optiplex's I got that one time only had a one year parts and labor..

Oz
.

[Scroggie]

Why the Xenon vs a P4? How much speed advantage do you get?

[Kursk]

Why the Xenon vs a P4? How much speed advantage do you get?
Scrogman - Why the big iron? What kinda place you moving to? Multidocs?

[ozzie]

Xeon is really a server CPU and has bigger onboard cache and its trully onboard..
For average desktop it's overkill, but if you are doing much mutlitasking type stuff and be compling etc then xeon ..
Also if you want dual cpu Xeon is the only way to go..

Given the same cache and a single CPU P4 and Xeon is the same ..

Speed kills LOL
Dont get lost on speed ..
f1 racecar is very fast but would not make it around the block in NYC..
It really speed and load..
In reality for the average user P4 2.1 ghz and P4 3.1 ghz is the same .Kinda like once you get over 150 mph everything is a blur ..
.
My preference for Xeon is based on long shelf life as its server CPU which mean the motherboards will have long shelf life..Over all the motherboards will be more features rich and well tested..

Cache is king..
think about this..
You have to move 1024 tons of dirt from A to B
if you have a 256 ton dump truck that can go 200 mph
it will take much longer than a 256 ton dump truck that can go 400 mph
tons being cache mph being bus speed so max speed is maybe 800 mph

Now lets look at the xeon
you have a 256 ton dump truck that can go 2000 mph
xeons the cashe speed is the same as the CPU speed

But also you can get higher cache
so you can have a if you have a 1024 ton dump truck that can go 2000 mph

so which way moves the dirt the quickest and also as icing the higher onboard cache also means quicker data tranfer as no overhead is lost managing the loads..
Go back to original problem 4 loads @ 256 tons still needs time to load and unload and to push all the dirt into one pile whilst being sure to keep the original loads separate etc..

the math use above is general but it paints the right picture

the last word on why a high end dual cpu system..
When you donate out at the end on the 3 year hardware life cycle it it a powerfull server for your local charity

[Bob Gleeman]

You've got it pretty well covered. There is one other way, but it isn't free: offsite storage facilities such as Axcient. This protects against fires and other destructive forces, and if automatically done, protects you against forgetting to do the backup in the first place.


How are people here saving/backing up copies of notes/data?

My current system is 1. copy to another computer in same building, but far away. 2. Snapshot file of notes (like a PDF) saved in another computer not involved with my recordkeeping 3. Compact and repair patient data nightly, interface weekly. Both Monthly (on three month rotation). 4. Copy data to Keydrive/USB whenever I remember, 5. Burn to CD (once a month). 6. Email zipped copy to myself (no HIPAA comments, I don't do it anymore, at least until I get PGP or something like it).

Any other strategies? What about RAID?

VPN/Terminal services links?