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Business Challenge
Medical practitioners today are forced to spend a great deal of time filling out
medical forms while seeing a patient. During this time, they must also make records
of each patient’s treatment, and later enter this information into a computer. This
process forces doctors to spend an enormous amount of time doing office and administrative
work, rather than treating patients.
Software Solution
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In deciding to develop a specialized PDA program for medical practitioners addressing
these problems, VeriCare chose Axmor Software for this project. Axmor is recognized
as a company with extensive experience in developing both wireless applications
and solutions for the healthcare industry.
Cap Pelletier, MIS Manager of VeriCare Management, describes working with Axmor:
"We have had nothing but immediate response, often by the beginning of the
next business day, to all of our requests and are extremely happy with the results."
The PDA-based software implemented for VeriCare by
Axmor Software utilizes the Palm.net wireless service to e-mail patient data to
VeriCare’s corporate office via necessary forms and reports once a doctor records
data on his/her PDA device.
Once the documentation is received in the central office, it is automatically processed
using Microsoft Access based software and the results are electronically stored
in patient files, where they can be retrieved and printed when needed. The results
are also automatically faxed to clients. Originally VeriCare used the Internet fax
service FaxMe to carry out this function, but during the project they decided to
migrate to an in-house software, called RightFax. Completed by Axmor at minimum
expense, this initiative led to decreasing faxing costs.
The application's user-friendly interface is worthy of note. For example, doctors
don't need to write or type all of the patient information into the PDA device when
seeing a patient. The PDA software application is supplied
with standard checklists for possible diagnosis, treatment goals, medical interventions,
etc. A doctor simply needs to put a check mark in the appropriate checkbox.
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Additionally, when inserting patient information, doctors can put their signatures
right on a PDA device to ensure that the recorded information is correct. This signature
is then automatically printed on a fax copy with patient information.
The final users are those who benefit most from the solution implementation. The
total expenses including cost of postage, cost of printing forms, and handling expenses
are estimated to have decreased by as much as $50 per month per user, according
to Cap Pelletier.
The major benefit for doctors is that this new software allows them to substantially
decrease data entry and reporting time, thereby allowing physicians to dedicate
more of their valuable time to medical activities.
Last but not least, all patient documentation is transferred and processed immediately,
and the probability of error drops to zero.
Currently, VeriCare management plans to continue working with Axmor in adding more
functionality to the application.
Back >>
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BRIEF:
A Palm application developed especially for medical
doctors allows them to save a great deal of time by tracking patient’s data on PDA
devices.
BENEFITS:
- Axmor’s price-tag was 83% less than VeriCare’s original quote by their local provider;
- Doctors now have much more time to treat patients;
- Doctors spend much less time with paperwork.
TECHNOLOGIES:
- C++
- Windows CE
- MS eMbedded Visual Tools
- Platforms: MacOS, Unix, PalmOS
- Encryption: RC4, MD5
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