All SOAPware Issues/Questions

[mwarddoc]

I'd like to start a thread devoted to Soapware users and questions. Since POL rolled into Medscape everyone seems to have disappeared. I've gotten quite a bit of useful information from discussion boards in the past.

[Kursk]

Mwarddoc - I assume you are a soapware user. It would be useful to know how many users you have on Soapware, type of devices, network, modules you are using and whether you are in Access or MSDE. Can you also tell us why you chose this product and how long you have been using it? Are you paperless? Scanning, lab interfaces?

[mwarddoc]

Yes, I use SOAPware, and have since I started my practice in late 2001. Single doctor practice with up to 5 simultaneous users (rarely more than three of us).

Paperless office, all incoming paper is scanned into the system and shredded.

MS SQL Standard 2000 for the database.

8 workstations and a small server.

Medisoft Advanced Single User for the office is linked with X-link by Easy Business Software. This manages all demographics and billing, and is set up only as a one way linkage for my office. We outsource the billing.

HL7 Lab interface just installed, but I have not actually initiated it and am only finishing up installation and testing this month due to vacation.

CA Brightstore ARCserver on the server backs everything up to removable tapes, from the server, as well as any specifica workstation data, each day.

Remote access via gotomypc.com is used by myself at the hospital as well as my transcriptionist.

I tried Dragon three times, on three different PC's, prior to the interfaces, and something just wouldn't click. My voice recognition was terrible.

I dictate to a digital file and my transcriptionist downloads to her PC then transcribes into the system remotely and sends me a bill. She absolutely loves this.

Winfax Pro 10.02 or .03 on the workstations is used to fax out all prescriptions, orders, etc. This product has lots of problems though and has caused us a lot of wasted time periodically, although we seem to have found all the bugs and fixed most of them.

Incoming faxes are now handled the old-fashioned way.

Customized codes are used to write all prescriptions...toprolxl2511 converts automatically to "Toprol XL (Metoprolol Extended Release) 25 mg 1 tablet by mouth daily Disp - 1 mo Refill - 1 yr"

Customized codes also give phone and fax number for all local institutions and pharmacies we deal with. I intend to customize all the physician's names and addresses later this year as well.

Lots of my time used to customize, but the software is very flexible and this has long term benefits.

[mwarddoc]

I chose SOAPware after looking at everything I could get good information on, then looked at what I could afford, listing out my requirements at minimum, and eliminating any EMR that didn't seem to meet them.

It was not an easy decision. I am an FP, in an area where FP's don't earn much in relation to the cost of living, and the EMR market is much more friendly to those with much more money to spend.

[Kursk]

Thanks for the comprehensive explanation.
As for faxing prescriptions - I am weak on this - are you using a fax server or do you have phone lines in each room for faxing? Do you embed a bitmap signature or a "Signed electronically by Dr X on 12/24/2004 at 3:30pm" stamp?

Did you start out with SQL server or upsize from Access?

[MHDoc]

Is there a new version of SOAPWARE coming out soon? A user told me the new one will compete with some of the bigger players
M

[mwarddoc]

I have one PC set up as a fax server with Winfax Pro, all the other PC's are clients to this one. This is outgoing faxes only. I used Winfax Pro for incoming faxes, but found it so unreliable that I abandoned it after several months of frustration, recurrent lockups, no explanation that fixed anything from anyone, and several modems being tried. This never happens on sending.

My signature is scanned into my desktop PC, under winfax, to sign prescriptions with. Essentially this is the same as a stamped signature. None of my staff know this exists, for obvious reasons, and none of my staff can generate a prescription from Soapware, also for obvious reasons.

I started with MS Access as the database. Upsized to SQL after my database grew to 700 or so MB. This was approximately 1.5 years after the start of the practice, even with scanning. Now they start with MSDE, I believe. However, in retrospect I would have started with SQL, it took several hours to upsize my 700 MB of data to SQL, the upsizer program ran flawlessly, but the cost of tech time was considerable.

[ozzie]

Winfax pro is sooo broken its a joke and when upgrading to office 2000 is used to break word really good..

I have one PC set up as a fax server with Winfax Pro, all the other PC's are clients to this one. This is outgoing faxes only. I used Winfax Pro for incoming faxes, but found it so unreliable that I abandoned it after several months of frustration, recurrent lockups, no explanation that fixed anything from anyone, and several modems being tried. This never happens on sending..

[Kursk]

Thanks for the info mwarddoc

Oz/Alborg/all: I am trying to automate Fax Sr. (fax server) from MS word so I can fax prescriptions. I want to be able to use a drop down on a Word UserForm to select the fax number and a command button to send the generated RXs without using the Fax Sr. dialog boxes. Any suggestions for automating Fax Sr. with VBA? The fax Sr. client appears as a local printer.

[mel]

I'd like to start a thread devoted to Soapware users and questions. Since POL rolled into Medscape everyone seems to have disappeared. I've gotten quite a bit of useful information from discussion boards in the past.
Is SOAPWARE still using Access? :confused:

[alborg]

Kursk:

Why make your prescriptions wholly in MS Word? It's better done via MS Access... You can set up tables in Word, but it's much easier to do it in Access, both the forms and reports.

Mel:

I think so... at least their front end.

Regards,
Al

[Kursk]

Al - in either application the sticking point for me is to automate using the fax server with VBA once the report/document is created (which is the easy part in either application). It is a small point and manually using the printer dialog isn't that hard but I was looking for a bit more control prior to commiting the transaction to the database.

For the record I am using Access on the back end with Word/vba userforms as the front end. I plan to move to MSDE as more users are now coming on line. I like the word front end - familiar to users, nicer formating, custom autotext, spellcheck etc. Basically - select patient from UserForm (hits DB on the back end that preloads locked template with user selected patient details from the DB - any previously entered note field can be reused) and type away. Tool bar buttons allow other functions - RX writing etc in the same manner. I used to use Dragon to enter the data, but find it faster to type as the patient is talking (patient sits facing me next to chart desk).