Welcome to EMR and HIPAA

I’ve always been intrigued by the idea of software like Lo Jack that helps you find your laptop should it ever get stolen. The biggest problem of course is the cost associated with the software. Today I found an interesting Open Source system for tracking and recovering stolen laptops. I haven’t had time to try the software yet, but this is definitely going on my to do list of software to try out.

How many times have we seen reports of a laptop stolen that had an entire database of personal or health information being stolen. Way too much. This could be an interesting and free solution. Even the best coded EMR software usually leaves at least some traces of PHI in Windows temp files for example. A free way to recover the laptop would be very beneficial.

NaturallySpeaking (Medical) Version 10 is now available. Have any of the EMR and HIPAA readers used DNS 10? I’d be interested to know people’s reviews of DNS 10 as compared to 9. Luckily the upgrade is relatively inexpensive to go from one version to the next, but I’d be interested to hear people’s experience with DNS 10.

One of my blog readers already did their KnowBrainer 7 page pictorial preliminary review of DNS 10. Too bad the pictorial review is a pdf file. Also, that review is pretty technical, so if you’ve never used DNS before, then I wouldn’t suggest reading that review.

I’ve recently been rather critical of Practice Fusion’s free EMR offering. I honestly don’t think that any of my feelings have changed about their offering. However, here’s a part of their press release that at least shows they’re getting some traction

Practice Fusion, the leader in free, web-based physician practice applications, announced today the addition of 1,300 medical professionals since its launch in November of 2007 and is currently serving more than a quarter million patients.

That should be a large enough sample size to get some interesting feedback about the product. The question is whether the product is really that good or whether the people at Practice Fusion are just great at marketing. Granted, marketing a free product is easier than getting people to pony up money. It will be interesting to see if their revenue model is sustainable. The problem is that a doctor’s office won’t know if it’s sustainable. I’m still not sure I put my practice on the shoulders of an unproven model. At least not yet.