Everything You Always Wanted to Know About IO Practiceware**But Were Afraid to AskOr, Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
Is IO Practiceware an internet-based system or does it utilize a server on the practice site?Q:
Your big-button touch screen design is fast, but does it limit functionality?Q:
Why are there no dropdowns?Q:
Why doesn't IO use templates like other EMRs?Q:
In the event of an extremely anomalous patient or finding, does the doctor have the option of typing in notes?Q:
Will IO Practiceware let me e-prescribe and collect Medicare's incentive in the coming year?Q:
Does IO Practiceware supply its own practice management system?Q:
Should I buy IO Practiceware's practice management system or interface with my existing PMS?Q:
Does IO Practiceware use an external system to manage its images, or is this included in the system?Q:
Are there additional fees for updates, upgrades, customer service, hardware and network, or is this included in the pricing?Q:
I would like to get a price quote from IO Practiceware - what information should I send to you about my practice?Q:
If a doctor wants to order a medical work-up, how does he/she print out the specific tests to avoid actually writing it out by hand?Q:
Do you have a sample CD of your software that I can play around with before I purchase your product?
Q: Why do you need to "supervise" my playing with your software?Q:
How much does IO Practiceware cost?Q:
How do I submit an FAQ?Q:
Is IO Practiceware an internet-based system or does it utilize a server on the practice site?A: IO's software can run with or without a local server. In offices where patients are seen more than one day a week, IO recommends the use of a local server in order to achieve the maximum speed possible - particularly in the exam room - because using a local server optimizes some of our software's features (i.e. scanning, image management and interfacing with test equipment). If a practice prefers remote connection via the internet to either a server hosted at the main practice office or at IO's office, we recommend this only for locations where patients are seen less than one day a week or where patient volume is very light.
Back to FAQsQ:
Your big-button touch screen design is fast, but does it limit functionality? A: The IO screens are designed to present you with the all information you need to perform the task at hand. Each screen presents only the portion of the patient's record that is required for analysis and a method for entering your findings, impressions or billing information. IO believes that displaying all information on a single screen slows you down because it's harder to see the information you're looking for.
Back to FAQsQ: Why are there no dropdowns?There are no dropdown menus because they slow doctors down. Our big-button design offers the fastest possible interface -- a tried and true method of fast data input. (Ever been to a fast food restaurant? Orders are entered via touch screen.)
Perhaps it's helpful to think of IO's touch screen as a series of rooms, and each button as a doorway. When a doctor sees a new patient, he or she walks through a series of doorways, systematically and consistently arranged, and "maps" the patient's specific diagnoses and treatment plans. Each room has a theme or principle of arrangement that can be customized by the doctor, depending on what he or she frequently records, prescribes, or notes (see next question).
If it's hard to conceptualize through our description how exactly IO Practiceware's software works, we strongly encourage you
schedule an online demo. It's the best way to understand firsthand just how fast IO's data entry is.
Back to FAQsQ:
Why doesn't IO use templates like other EMRs?A: Asking doctors to create templates for their most common findings is an admission that the EMR company (because it wasn't designed exclusively for ophthalmology) doesn't understand enough about the specialty to create software that allows physicians to enter their findings. IO presents findings to doctors that are related to ophthalmic conditions and easily facilitates entry via a graphical interface (i.e. just touch the finding and touch the corresponding part of the eye). Of course, if the physician is interested in customizing IO's software to suit his or her needs, it is possible to adjust many of the IO screens and fine tune them to individual doctor's clinical and linguistic preferences. The key difference is: we don't ask you to perform the impossible task of inventing your own software, because, inevitably, you'll spend more time later trying to fix it.
Back to FAQsQ:
In the event of an extremely anomalous patient or finding, does the doctor have the option of typing in notes?A: Yes. All systems come with a keyboard and mouse. While our touch screen design discourages the use of typing (because typing is much slower), doctors may use the keyboard (or dictate) if the need arises -- but it's IO's job to make sure that rarely happens. And, believe us, our buttons cover pretty much everything -- including Marcus Gunn jaw-winking...and its reverse!
Back to FAQsQ:
Will IO Practiceware let me e-prescribe and collect Medicare's incentive in the coming year?A: Yes. We are currently in the process of becoming fully certified with our partner,
SureScripts-RxHub, at which point we will offer the service of e-prescribing to all practices that use IO's EMR system.
Back to FAQsQ:
Does IO Practiceware supply its own practice management system?A: Yes. IO Practiceware's software includes its own practice management system. We can, however, (in most cases) interface with your practice's existing PMS (see next question). Click
here for more information on IO Practiceware's integrated PMS.
Back to FAQsQ:
Should I buy IO Practiceware's practice management system or interface with my existing PMS?IO's system can interface with your existing PMS if the software is capable of interfacing with an HL-7 system -- which is, in short, a software standard by which transactions and information exchanges can exist between pieces of software (i.e. name, phone, address, etc.). We have found, however, that operating with two separate systems leads to more costs than benefits, primarily because after you install our EMR system you will have to pay two monthly fees (one to IO Practiceware for upkeep, service, and continuing development, and one to your PMS provider). In the end, however, it is entirely up to your practice to decide the best way to proceed.
Back to FAQsQ:
Does IO Practiceware use an external system to manage its images, or is this included in the system?A: IO Practiceware's software includes its own system of image management that is fully integrated with your practice's test equipment. We can, however, interface with your practice's existing image management software if this is a preferable. Click
here for more information on IO Practiceware's image management system.
Back to FAQsQ:
Are there additional fees for updates, upgrades, customer service, hardware and network?A: No. Your monthly fee includes all enhancements and upgrades.
Back to FAQsQ:
I would like to get a price quote from IO Practiceware - what information should I send to you about my practice?A: To estimate the cost of installing our IO software in your practice, we need to know the following:
- Approximate number of patient encounters in an average week
- Number of full time / full time equivalent doctors your practice has (MDs, DOs, and ODs)
- Number of practice locations
- Do you dispense glasses? If so, at how many locations?
Email us for a customized estimate.
Back to FAQsQ:
If a doctor wants to order a medical work-up, how does he/she print out the specific tests to avoid writing it by hand?
A: Our software allows you to print a test order with a single click. Simultaneously, the software notes the command on the patient's chart and posts a note in the "alert" section of our "highlights" screen. This means that our disposition sequence ensures 1) that the patient's work-up is accurate, 2) that the patient's chart records the request for this work-up, 3) that some sort of follow-up will occur, whether that's a notification to say the test has been done or to remind the doctor/practice that the test is still outstanding. Through easy notation in an area called "clinical follow-up" the chart maps the test results and monitors non-compliance. Back to FAQsQ:
Do you have a sample CD of your software that I can play around with before I purchase your product?A: IO welcomes you to use our software yourself, but, rather than hand you our EMR on a CD, we ask you to engage in what we call "supervised play." Supervised play means you set the pace and the exploratory path, but we get to tag along and help you if you get stuck. Supervised play is done remotely from the comfort of your home or office and an IO Practiceware staff member watches and concurrently answers your questions over the phone.
Back to FAQsQ:
Why do you need to "supervise" my playing with your software?A: Imagine you'd like to do something else unfamiliar -- like, fly a fighter Jet or bake an apple soufflé -- would you go at it alone, or would you seek the guidance of someone who knew the ropes? Without them, how would you know which buttons to push? How much powdered sugar to sprinkle? Of course, our EMR is much easier to master than fighter jets or soufflés, but the point is: during supervised play, our goal is to act as a resource for you as you experience our software for the first time. You would do a disservice to yourself if you randomly clicked around screens that had no meaning to you and led you to decide, because of misinformation, that IO Practiceware's EMR was simply a pain in the neck. So give supervised play a shot; you'll be glad you did.
Back to FAQsQ:
How much does IO Practiceware cost?A: There is great diversity among ophthalmology practices that use our software, so it's impossible for us to publish a cost estimate that accurately applies to every practice in the community. We are happy, however, to give you a customized estimate based on
these criteria.
Back to FAQsQ:
How do I submit an FAQ?A: Post your question in the "Comments" section below, or
request a call back from our IO Team.
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