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
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!

[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.

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.DispatchHelpe r")

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
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?!