Alborg's OpenSource EMR

[alborg]

Hi guys:

You should check out the free downloadable open-source Word-based EMR that I've developed. I may be slightly biased, but it's a masterpiece! Beats all of these mega-buck EMRs by a mile. It is discussed here (http://www.docsboard.com/forums/faq.php?faq=vendor_list#faq_alborg)
and downloadable from my Yahoo Briefcase:

http://f1.pg.briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/alborgmd

The only thing that I ask is for feedback...

Regards,
Al

[drlmcguinn]

Dr. Borg, thanks so much for sharing your program (and all the effort behind it). Was wondering what I'm doing wrong in trying to use it. When I try to unzip and install it, I get an error message the Zfile MDS scheduler is read only. You won't be able to save changes made to data or object definitions in this database. Once I click on okay, I get an error window that pops up saying runtime error '91' object variable or With block variable not set. Am I needing to program something in Access with your open code to have the program work on my computer? I'm sorry this is such a naive question, I am VERY new and significantly "underexposed" when it comes to using access. I also understand if you are not planning on supporting it on this forum. I am more than happy to provide your support fee if that would be easier for you. Thanks! :eek:

[alborg]

Hi Dr. McGuinn:

>>>> When I try to unzip and install it, I get an error message the Zfile MDS scheduler is read only.

In Windows Explorer, right click on the *.mdb icon, click on "properties" then uncheck the attribute that says "read only". That should take care of it...

What MS Access version are you using? YOu should have MS Access 2000, XP, or 2003. Oh- to avert running into other problems do the following under MS Access:

1) (Look in Toolbar) Tools -> Options -> Edit/Find -> deselect everything under "Confirm". This will get rid of a lot of popup messages!

2) References. Make sure that the following are checked (to get to them click on "Modules" then select any module to get into the "Design" mode then go to (Toolbar again) Tools -> References. Make sure that the following are selected:

* Visual Basic for Applications
* Microsoft Access 9.0 Object Library
* Microsoft DAO 3.6 Object Library
* OLE Automation
* Microsoft ActiveX Data Objects 2.1 Library
* Microsoft Virual Basic for Applications Extensibility 5.3
* Microsoft Office 9.0 Object Library
* Microsoft Word 9.0 Object Library

That should get rid of any other error messages. Let us know how it goes... Don't forget to press the shift key to access the forms and tables!

BTW, in the next 24-48 hours Version 2 is coming out- it'll incorporate some neat enhancements, inclduing an ActiveX Calendar control and some other suggestions from users.

Regards,
Al

[alborg]

Hi there!

Just a quick message that version 2 the MS Word EMR Project is now available.

The “version 2.0” of the MS Word EMR Project now has been changed in numerous ways to make it into a more powerful EMR. It now has the feel and look of being in a fully normalized database environment while still in MS Word:

1. I’ve fixed many bugs and have incorporated several suggestions to make both the Access backend and the Word frontend more workable. A sample is the capability that one has to filter the patient list and thus populate the initial form’s top combo button with less data.
2. There are now 7 underlying forms; the size of the template has also grown from about 150 Kb to 470 Kb.
3. The template now not only extracts patient data from the underlying MS Access tables, but has the capability of adding to and/or editing the data already stored in these tables.
4. The ActiveX Calendar control is used in selection of dates and in the scheduler.
5. The scheduler form brought up while in MS Word is now a MS Word form, not a MS Access form. Unfortunately, although it is almost finished, this form is still in development. It can populate the underlying table with schedule times (i.e. 10, 15, 20, 30 minute slots), but the right lower portion of this form needs completion.
Version 2.1

The download URL is noted below. Again, feedback is appreciated!

Regards,
Al

[sweaner]

Al, will your EMR work with Open Office?

Scott

[LGrant]

Al, will your EMR work with Open Office?
Scott
I ain't the expert, but I think it should.
L

[Kursk]

No, it is written in VBA and must be used in the MS Office environment.

[alborg]

No, it is written in VBA and must be used in the MS Office environment.

:cool: Actually, if OpenOffice can allow an ODBC connection, then it should be able to bind flawlessly. As I understand, though, OpenOffice is web-based... I'm not sure how difficult it would be to attach the MS Word Project to such an environment (maybe Word 2003 could do that better through an XML-based link?).

Regards,
Al

[Kursk]

since the user interface is written in VBA it would have to be rewritten. The database connection may work as Al noted. I have looked at the open office equivalent of Word and the "VBA" for the suite uses a different language. Therfore one could not import the VBA forms into the openoffice equivalent of Word. The idea/look and feel/functionality could be rewritten in the OpenOffice application language using the same concepts but in a different language. I started this but realized I have enough to do lately.

[alborg]

>>>since the user interface is written in VBA it would have to be rewritten.

If it is true that the backend is an SQL database, then an "upsizing" software could be used to help with the transition. But why go through the trouble? ODBC is there to help with any SQL database connection!

>>> Therfore one could not import the VBA forms into the openoffice equivalent of Word.

The language may be different, but usually, the differences are minute. I had to port my currently "in use" MS Access based database from its original setup in Paradox for DOS to the Access environment. This MS Word Project only took me about 20 days mainly because I already had written the database equivalent in MS Access. The VBA of Word is slightly different than that seen in Access. One big difference, though, is that I could not have Parent/Child relational form interactions (i.e. embedded forms). I worked around this limitation by using global variables... not unlike what I have to do when I program for the Palm environment.

Regards,
Al

[Kursk]

Al, download openoffice and check out the macro environment to get a flavor of the differences. Here is a macro to automate finding "*" in a document

sub FindStar
rem ----------------------------------------------------------------------
rem define variables
dim document as object
dim dispatcher as object
rem ----------------------------------------------------------------------
rem get access to the document
document = ThisComponent.CurrentController.Frame
dispatcher = createUnoService("com.sun.star.frame.DispatchHelper")

rem ----------------------------------------------------------------------
dim args1(18) as new com.sun.star.beans.PropertyValue
args1(0).Name = "SearchItem.StyleFamily"
args1(0).Value = 2
args1(1).Name = "SearchItem.CellType"
args1(1).Value = 0
args1(2).Name = "SearchItem.RowDirection"
args1(2).Value = true
args1(3).Name = "SearchItem.AllTables"
args1(3).Value = false
args1(4).Name = "SearchItem.Backward"
args1(4).Value = false
args1(5).Name = "SearchItem.Pattern"
args1(5).Value = false
args1(6).Name = "SearchItem.Content"
args1(6).Value = false
args1(7).Name = "SearchItem.AsianOptions"
args1(7).Value = false
args1(8).Name = "SearchItem.AlgorithmType"
args1(8).Value = 0
args1(9).Name = "SearchItem.SearchFlags"
args1(9).Value = 65536
args1(10).Name = "SearchItem.SearchString"
args1(10).Value = "*"
args1(11).Name = "SearchItem.ReplaceString"
args1(11).Value = ""
args1(12).Name = "SearchItem.Locale"
args1(12).Value = 255
args1(13).Name = "SearchItem.ChangedChars"
args1(13).Value = 2
args1(14).Name = "SearchItem.DeletedChars"
args1(14).Value = 2
args1(15).Name = "SearchItem.InsertedChars"
args1(15).Value = 2
args1(16).Name = "SearchItem.TransliterateFlags"
args1(16).Value = 1280
args1(17).Name = "SearchItem.Command"
args1(17).Value = 0
args1(18).Name = "Quiet"
args1(18).Value = true

dispatcher.executeDispatch(document, ".uno:ExecuteSearch", "", 0, args1())

I am not saying it can't be done. It just won't go easy. the database connection is probably the easiest part. Its building the user interface in the OpenOffice version of Basic that is challenging

[EMRhelp.org]

Migrating to Open Office would be a bonus for Al's EMR.
However, paying the $200 for Microsoft Word to get a bang up EMR should be considered free.

[digitaldoc]

Hi Al,
I see you have a Word based EMR. I am fairly computer savy, and know that with a little tweaking one could use Access, Word, and Excel to integrate the items needed for a basic EMR. The use of OLE, I think ,makes this possible. It is a matter of personal preference i.e. the computer user interface has to be emotionally enjoyable, i.e. fun, or a doctor won't use it. Most importantly the EMR has to save time. Are you familiar with Amazing Charts? It is a home-grown EMR by a family doctor. I'll download your EMR and give it a try. Any doctor who knows something about computers and programming realizes that the cost of the proprietary EMR's is OUTRAGEOUS

[mel]

Hi Al,
I see you have a Word based EMR. I am fairly computer savy, and know that with a little tweaking one could use Access, Word, and Excel to integrate the items needed for a basic EMR. The use of OLE, I think ,makes this possible. It is a matter of personal preference i.e. the computer user interface has to be emotionally enjoyable, i.e. fun, or a doctor won't use it. Most importantly the EMR has to save time. Are you familiar with Amazing Charts? It is a home-grown EMR by a family doctor. I'll download your EMR and give it a try. Any doctor who knows something about computers and programming realizes that the cost of the proprietary EMR's is OUTRAGEOUS
Welcome to Docsboard DigitalDoc
There is another thread on here about Amazing Charts, I agree, we pay way to much for EMR software :eek:
Mel

[digitaldoc]

Hi Mel,
I see you sent me a private message, but I couldn't figure out how to reply. I was a member of the Mass Med Technology committee in the past, but am not currently. I do know Tom Sullivan the head of the movement for a continuity of care record. Do you use an EMR and how do I reply to the message you sent me under private messages?!

[mel]

Hi Mel,
I see you sent me a private message, but I couldn't figure out how to reply. I was a member of the Mass Med Technology committee in the past, but am not currently. I do know Tom Sullivan the head of the movement for a continuity of care record. Do you use an EMR and how do I reply to the message you sent me under private messages?!

DigitalDoc, I sent you another Private Message,
we keenly await adoption of CCR, but it will be at great cost to some vendors (or physicians) whose databases are not designed to easily output this data
M

[digitaldoc]

Hi Mel,
Are you using an EMR yet? If so what do you use? Also, do you run this forum and where do you practice? My understanding is, don't by an EMR whose database does not use XML which is the Lingua Franca of the internet. Todd

[mel]

Hi Mel,
Are you using an EMR yet? If so what do you use? Also, do you run this forum and where do you practice? My understanding is, don't by an EMR whose database does not use XML which is the Lingua Franca of the internet. Todd

Another scramble on it's way, and guess who will pick up the cost :rolleyes:
I will research how many of the popular EMRs will have problems with XML for upcoming CCR.
See DrWinn's post (http://www.docsboard.com/forums/showpost.php?p=9025&postcount=10) :)
Mel

[digitaldoc]

Hi Mel,
My private messaging still doesn't work yet. Are you trying to write your own EMR. If so, I've heard good things about using FilemakerPro to do this. I've not done this myself because of the time involved. Check out this link http://mtdata.com/~drred/index.html

[mel]

Hi Mel,
My private messaging still doesn't work yet. Are you trying to write your own EMR. If so, I've heard good things about using FilemakerPro to do this. I've not done this myself because of the time involved. Check out this link http://mtdata.com/~drred/index.html
Digitaldoc, I have PMed you my email address.
I do not have my own homegrown EMR :o but Scroggie, Kursk, Alborg all do, and will happily share. They have done an impressive job.

Ozzie is behind FreeMedNY which is also OpenSource.

Thanks for the link to Cottage Med Open Source, forgive my ignorance, was Filemaker the best choice for this open source EMR?
Mel

[CountryDoc]

I'm sorry to repost, but I can't find our original post on your thread. Some had asked about open source EMR's and why to choose Filemaker as a development tool when there are so many ways to cut the apple or whichever metaphor one wishes to use.

There are many home-grown EMR's mentioned on your threads here which we haven't included yet in our OpenSource EMR WebRing of which I and CottageMed are a part. We would be very happy to add links to other open-source EMR's on our websites (Alexander Caldwell's tkfp and my CottageMed, at least). Please check out our open source EMR sites http://mtdata.com/~drred/webpage.html and encourage any EMR authors to contact me to help publicize their EMR's.

Filemaker, by the way, is a whole lot like Access from microsoft - the two compete head to head. Access has a true SQL backend while Filemaker can talk SQL to other databases on the backend. Filemaker's true claim to fame is its ease of use, and it has over 10,000 developers worldwide. Developing in Filemaker and designing interfaces in Filemaker is generally recognized among programmers as the cream of the crop. It has a very quick learning curve and very intuitive design, something microsoft products are not ever particuularly known for.

I've used both. I agree with the general wisdom of the programming community and I am very grateful that I found Filemaker for CottageMed. I take care of patients and our young children, I'm growing a small nonprofit and house-call-based medical practice in the woods of western Massachusetts, and I do not have the time to futz around with learning how to program.

So CottageMed is both very simple and very powerful because of the Filemaker technology. Programming or changing it is simple using cut and paste or basic drawing tools. It has HIPAA-level security with records being appropriately secured to their individual authors, each user logs in, and it really is a thrill to design with Filemaker. If anyone has any problems with the program or makes any improvements please let us know so that we can help you and share changes with all other users.

Sincerely,
Stefan Topolski MD
Shelburne Falls, MA

[alborg]

Filemaker, by the way, is a whole lot like Access from microsoft - the two compete head to head.

Hi Stefan:

I agree- Filemaker is a wonderful environment without the complexity that has bloated MS Office in recent years. A big plus is the lack of the dreaded MS "product activation" scheme. One downside is that the VBA is ubiquitous in the numerous MS environments- which is one reason why I started the MS Word EMR Project. I've wanted to see how far I could really go using VBA inside the MS Word environment... so far so good!

Kursk>>> How's the WORD vba coding going?

Hi Kursk (this is a copy of a private message):

I've been quiet because I've been hard at work coding. :cool: I think that I may have finished 99% of it last night! I"ll upload it in the next 72 hours. I'll leave up the current V3 manual, but I'll have to redo that too, since I've removed certain forms from the production template (I had a lot of duplicate function forms that I have since combined). I also have to add a chapter on how as an end-user one can change the templates (i.e. how to remove then re-add the bookmarks to your liking).

This month has been "challenging" so to speak. :( Two weeks ago I was just about finished, ending up with 1200KB sized template that turned out to be unstable. I mentioned in one post that I was ready to upload, but when I finished coding that night (including finishing the V3 manual which was uploaded), the template crashed and I lost all of the work that I had done that night. Any work done later also met the same fate. The thing seemed ruined. Twice I finished off a full night's coding (~4 hrs each time) only to lose everything that I though had been saved. Initially I separated out several of the components- s.a. the scheduler and the prescription applets, decreasing the overall size considerably, but the instability persisted on the main template. I eventually found that the instability was due to a single corrupted form. Once removed, everything seemed to work well. To be sure, though, I then made a new empty-shell template followed by an export/import maneuver of all the elements from the old template onto the new one. I then took out 5 of the 17 forms plus a lot of redundant code, decreasing the overall size to 888Kb. Now it hums like a new car. The same thing happens in the Access developmental environment, but usually it's not that catastrophic, and overall it's easier to recover. Microsoft software generally doesn't do well when one opens and closes forms numerous times getting code breaks (from bugs).

Other problems: Corporate tax time came which ate up one week. Then my 2 y.o. daughter reached that laptop-deadly stage where she has a lot of curiosity but no idea of what she is doing. :o One day I got home to find that my lone laptop USB port was dead after she chopped off a wire attached at the time. I got a PCI-MIA card which now gave me 2 USB ports. I got home another day and she had taken off all of the keys on my keyboard. I was able to put them back without a loss of a single click-key (miracle). Three days ago she chopped off the mouse chord which was attached, not only ruining the mouse port but killed the source of electricity to the PCI-MIA card, so I lost the USB ports too. My Dell laptop was now really "totalled". :eek: It's unfortunate, since this 850MHz laptop's motherboard and 15" screen are still in good working condition. It's funny now, but then I started to wonder if she was really a mini-Al Queda member out to ruin my life!

Fortunately, 1 month ago I had a premonition that this would happen and I won on eBay a $257 Dell 650MHz laptop "barebone". I simply ported all of the elements- RAM, battery, CDROM onto the new laptop, then downloaded the drivers, and now I'm back in business! Yesterday I was able to finish off fixing the last few problems with the EMR template. :D

I'm already thinking about version 4 of the Word EMR template-> one thing that I may add is a Medisoft/Lytec ODBC connection so when you see a patient with the template activated, you can send off an electronic bill to the billing software. One other large, usefull addition is a referral applet (to general referral form, Mamsi, Aetna). These additions would be cool and would really make this thing rock!

Regards,
Al

[Kursk]

Great news Al. Lots of work, but the VBA/office environment is very powerful and very few who use WORD realize the power at their fingertips.

When I run into the same corruption problem during coding I click the debug menu and "compile". This will usually find the corrupted area and fix the problem.

Funny how on some systems normal will never die and others normal regularly kills itself and any autotext. Since my EMR runs as an add-in this is not a problem. However, users love autotext, which is often stored in normal and dies with normal. I had to script a better autotext editor for users to manage the autotext themselves (and encourages them to keep autotext in the add-in template instead of normal).

Congrats on a tough coding accomplishment!

[buslick]

I downloaded your EMR Al B. I don't have Access 2000 or above so I can't run it. I did convert the Access database to MySQL format using this program:
http://www.convert-in.com/acc2sql.htm

It only converts the first 5 sets of data in each table in the demo version.
It seemed to work ok. I got 32 tables, is that the right number?
I will have to see if I have a version of Access that will run it. The last version I know I have is Access 97 which won't work. I may have a CD with Access 2000 at work.

[buslick]

Here is the output I got from your database Al after converting it to MySQL:



mysql> show databases;
+--------------------+
| Database |
+--------------------+
| clinic |
| mysql |
| test |
| zfilemds_scheduler |
+--------------------+
4 rows in set (0.00 sec)

mysql> use zfilemds_scheduler
Database changed
mysql> show tables;
+------------------------------+
| Tables_in_zfilemds_scheduler |
+------------------------------+
| consulttype |
| dxgrplu |
| employees |
| hospital |
| inscoadd |
| insurance |
| insurance3 |
| lectures |
| localinfo |
| medical |
| medications |
| medicationstemp |
| medlkup |
| medlkup2 |
| messages |
| patients |
| patientsdump |
| persmd |
| ptdxlu |
| reasonlu |
| refmd |
| refmdout |
| refmdoutlu |
| schelu |
| scheprim |
| schesec |
| schesecnew |
| schetres |
| sexlup |
| testlu |
| xray |
| ziplu |
+------------------------------+
32 rows in set (0.00 sec)

mysql> show xray;
ERROR 1064: You have an error in your SQL syntax. Check the manual that corresp
onds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near 'xray' at lin
e 1
mysql> select * from xray;
+--------+---------+-----------------------------------+------------+-----------
----+
| autono | ACCT | testname | ddate | result
|
+--------+---------+-----------------------------------+------------+-----------
----+
| 1 | NULL | MRI CERVICAL & LUMBOSACRAL AREAS | 2002-03-27 | MRI showsà
|
| 2 | 87000 | CT ABDOMEN & PELVIS (c CONTRAST) | 2002-03-28 | CT shows-
- - |
| 3 | 87001 | 1) CXR (PA&LAT) | 2002-04-05 | No Tb here
à |
| 4 | 2002173 | 1) CXR (PA&LAT) | 2002-04-09 | .
|
| 5 | 2001480 | . | 2002-04-16 | .
|
+--------+---------+-----------------------------------+------------+-----------
----+
5 rows in set (0.02 sec)

mysql> exit
Bye

[Scroggie]

Buslick: dont use that program, its not a great way to set up MySQL. If you want to change over to MySQL, start with creating your server: basic set up, location, no tables yet. Then using access EXPORT the table in the format ODBC (not access) into your newly created server (don't worry about the queries or SQL yet). Once you have all the tables exported, link them back to the orginal database front end via ODBC. MySQL has the ODBC on its website for all operating systems.
Trust me, the automated solution doesn't work.
Also you may have to adjust the queries: True/False is different in SQL versus JET, something like -1 in access and 1 in SQL.

Good luck

[buslick]

I just exported it to MySQL to see how many tables Al uses in his EMR. I don't plan on using it for anything. I had MySQL already set up on my machine to play around with PHP/APache/MySQL as I have several books that use this combo since it is all open source.

[alborg]

Scroggie>>> dont use that program, its not a great way to set up MySQL.

Oh- that's too bad... I thought that the day I switch over it would be just a click away (almost). Your workaround, though, seems OK.

What's the best way to get a MySQL software license?

Al

[ozzie]

http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/

http://www.mysql.com/company/legal/licensing/commercial-license.html

[buslick]

I played some more with the MySQL version of Al's Access database I made.

Using these programs:

http://www.citybusinesslogic.com/apwab.php

http://www.apachefriends.org/en/

I set up a WAMP (Windows Apache MySQL PHP) server using xammp from apachefriends. Time to set up less than 2 minutes after the download. Cost=free.

Then I used the ASP/PHP Web Application Builder to make a PHP front end for the MySQL database back end. Time = 2 minutes after you learn how to use the program which took me about 1 hour. Shareware.

Here are some sample pictures of the results. These can be modified with more time and effort to look better and to flow better.

http://home.nc.rr.com/uslick/AlBorgEMR.JPG insurance table
http://home.nc.rr.com/uslick/AlBorgEMR2.JPG xray table
http://home.nc.rr.com/uslick/AlBorgEMR3.JPG medication table
http://home.nc.rr.com/uslick/AlBorgEMR4.JPG me adding record to zip code table
http://home.nc.rr.com/uslick/AlBorgEMR5.JPG results of the added zip

You can also download a different file from apachefriends to set up a LAMP (linux Apache MySQL PHP) server if you want to use all open source software.

The nice thing about an Apache/MySQL/PHP version of Al's EMR is that it would be cross platform. It would take some work to make it user friendly but I am going to play around with it and see what comes of it.

[ankukreja]

Hi Alborg
I am a Surgeon from India and am not able to download your EMR from your briefcase incase u could send a new link on ankukreja@gmail.com
Thanks
Regards
Dr Kukreja

[alborg]

Hi Alborg
I am a Surgeon from India and am not able to download your EMR from your briefcase incase u could send a new link on EMAIL (ankukreja@gmail.com)
Thanks, Regards Dr Kukreja

You could try it again (the Briefcase occasionally goes down temporarily). My new website will soon be up and going with content: my site (http://www.alborgesmd.com/default.aspx)

[Hal333]

Any doctor who knows something about computers and programming realizes that the cost of the proprietary EMR's is OUTRAGEOUS

How much is your time worth?

Are free EMR's HIPPA certified?
Are your records un-editable for practical purposes?
Will your EMR hold up in court?
Does your free EMR's existence depend on the mood of one, dedicated, non-conformist?
Does your free EMR integrate with your practice management software?
Does your free EMR download lab from the major lab services providers directly into the patients chart?
Does your free EMR automatically take care of dozens of essential details like documenting phone calls to and from patients?
Does your free EMR print prescriptions and automatically document them in the patients chart?

This is just a partial list.

If your free EMR does not do these things, who is doing them?
You? A paid employee? No-one?

The devil is in the details and that is what you are paying for.

Not just todays details but tomorrows details as well.

IMHO

Hal

[BigDoc]

How much is your time worth?

Are free EMR's HIPPA certified?
Are your records un-editable for practical purposes?
Will your EMR hold up in court?
Does your free EMR's existence depend on the mood of one, dedicated, non-conformist?
Does your free EMR integrate with your practice management software?
Does your free EMR download lab from the major lab services providers directly into the patients chart?
Does your free EMR automatically take care of dozens of essential details like documenting phone calls to and from patients?
Does your free EMR print prescriptions and automatically document them in the patients chart?

This is just a partial list.

If your free EMR does not do these things, who is doing them?
You? A paid employee? No-one?

The devil is in the details and that is what you are paying for.

Not just todays details but tomorrows details as well.

IMHO

Hal

A lot of docs in employed positions need a "cheap" solution they can pay out of pocket which their employer will not reimburse, this is how I got interested in EMRs

[Hal333]

I see the problem.

That is one of the reasons that I resigned my employed position.

I was employed as medical school faculty. The state university could have afforded an EMR but it was impossible to get anyone to agree on anything.

Better than paper is still better.

Hal

[Graham]

How much is your time worth?

Are free EMR's HIPPA certified?


certified by whom? are there any criteria for setting yourself up as a certifying agency ?



Are your records un-editable for practical purposes?


Yep.



Will your EMR hold up in court?


Never been there.



Does your free EMR's existence depend on the mood of one, dedicated, non-conformist?


Yep! Tend to be euthymic though.



Does your free EMR integrate with your practice management software?


Yep!



Does your free EMR download lab from the major lab services providers directly into the patients chart?


Got HL7? Yes!



Does your free EMR automatically take care of dozens of essential details like documenting phone calls to and from patients?


Yes.



Does your free EMR print prescriptions and automatically document them in the patients chart?


Yes.



This is just a partial list.


Where's the rest of the list ??

[Hal333]

Congrats!

[alborg]

Hal just opened a can of worms!

Graham and I go back a long way... He's usually up in the wee hours of the night like me. I'm still trying to get him to come back from Linux to Microsoft, though. :rolleyes:

My EMR does all of these except HL7, and that I'm working on with Fairfax Medical Labs and Lab Corp. My EMR also integrates with the Palm via ODBC transfer (MS Access <---> Satellilte Forms). It does electronic prescribing, has its own PMS, and does patient scheduling... the only thing missing is the monthly pricetag that I would have to pay should I go with a high-priced-EMR solution.

In fact, a simple, effective solution can be found in the MS Word EMR Project, which I put together to show that one can have an effective EMR using even the MS Word platform. It's free and downloadable from http://briefcase.yahoo.com/alborgmd .

Now, there are occasional neat little ideas that I see in other EMRs- if I am really interested, I just reverse engineer the item and use it in my office system. Visual Basic is a language that once mastered can be used to do anything that is repetitive in the office environment.

I couldn't be more delighted with my EMR system that I've used since 1990. More docs should get into programming their own EMRs...

[Cindydock]

Is it possible for someone who doesn't have a clue what you guys and gals are talking about to check out the EMR. I am thinking of using SOAPWARE.

[DaffyDuck]

"I am thinking of using SOAPWARE"

I use soapware

[Cindydock]

Daffy can you tell me what you like and don't like about it.

[sweaner]

You can check these EMRs out, including Dr. Al Borges free EMR at www.emrupdate.com. There are also some other free or inexpensive EMRs discussed as well. As a Neuroligist, I still have not found one that would meet my needs.

One very interesting EMR is Medtuity. This one charges only by the new encounter, 75 cents. No software to buy, not updates except to hardware.

[Graham]

I've got mention this as it is something I'm quite happy with. I recently implemented automated OCR of any documents uploaded to my EMR.

Now with the OCR in place, I can now extract digital results from the OCR'd text so that I end up with discrete data .. just what I need for chronic mangement of patients. I do have HL7 for my local patients, but for out of towners, I only get faxed/paper results.

Because OCR is never perfect, I use various tools to determine the similarity a word has from the test sought. This way I can match Rilirubin with Bilirubin, and Alkali-ne Phosphatase with Alkaline Phosphatase.

Probably not something you wanted to know .. :D

[alborg]

The MS Office EMR Project 2008 has been uploaded and is the new upgrade to V4.

I improved the following:


I simplified/improved the installation setup,
I got rid of the splashscreen text mentioning purchasing and activation, and
I got rid of a last minute bug with text deployment that I added when I improved the main template's interface.


I now have a full forum to handle all of my free downloads and position papers here: http://msofficeemrproject.com

[alborg]

This whole web presence thing is really cool; I love now having a place to put together all of my politics and programming downloads in one site! It's kind of nostalgic, taking me back to the cool pre-CCHIT days where we talked about "home-grown" EMRs.

Two days ago I began posting publicly my eBook on programming your own EMR using MS Word (front-end) and MS Access (back-end). It's going well- I already have 4 chapters up (URL: http://msofficeemrproject.com/Page6.htm ):

Preamble (Introductory Remarks)
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Planning Your EMR
Chapter 3: Designing the Back-End Tables

In the next 48 hours (I'm off on Wednesdays), I'll probably add the following chapters:

Chapter 4: Designing MS Word Templates
Chapter 5: The VB Editor: Modules
Chapter 8: The VB Editor: Toolbars
Chapter 11: Complying With Regulations And Standards

Cheers,
Al

[Scuba01]

I would be interested to hear any updates over the past year about the MS Office EMR project, since the last post! :D

[sweaner]

Al did put out an updated version recently. Go to www.emrupdate.com to check things out.