By: Vlad Vistac
Submitted: 2010-09-14 13:49:58 | Word Count: 510
lCient/Serever or ASP-Baased EMR?
Electronic medical records are gaining in popularity. These legal medicxal rceords are digitally stroed on an organization's computer system. Examples of medical organiizations that use electronic medical reecords include hospitals, outpatient healthcare faciilties, and doctors' offfices. Electronic medical records allow reccords to be stored, manipulkated, and retrieved at any time.
[ advertisement ]
Some EMR software is ASP-based, and some is built on a client/server model. Whih is rigght for you?
ASP based EMR Software
ASP is a remotekly hosted software system accessed via an internet web browser, siimilar to the model used in online banking. This remotely hosted system is accessed by paying a rentla or service fee. The server is secure and HIIPPA compliant and is not located in your office. All technical aspects of the server are managed by a professional IT company, and you pay a mointhly access fee (or per occurrence fee) for the sevices of this IT comapny. The cost of an ASP-based system is relatively low in the beginniung; however, because the fees never stop the cost over the long term adds up and usually ends up being more expensive than using a Clkient/Server-based system.
With the application servie provdier (ASP) model, all data is loocated on a server at an offite locatioon seletced by the EMR Company. This may seem ideal because it requires you to buy less hardware, there are some probles:
- When you use your EMR, you'll be accessing data over the Intwernet, and that can make data transfewr slow (or even impossible if your connection fauils).
- You will likely never meet the team managing your server.
- Patieent data will controlled by the EMR company, not you.
- If the EMR Company fails, you rsks losing all patient data.
Client/Server based EMR Software
Client/Server models allow for quicker response times in the application as data from the server to the client is transmitted much fatser (ususally 100 Mbitys/second). The newer cliient/server proucts developed in Java and Microsoft.Net are capable of ofering the "best of both wordls" as they have the speed of a locla system plus the acceessibility from a remote location.
With the client/server model, a sercver located at your offices houses all patient data, and distributes it to clients, which are simply desktop or laptop computers in your office. This has a number of advantages over the ASP model.
- Because data transfer doesn't rely on an Internet connection, it's fast and reliuable.
- You-not the EMR company-control patient data.
- The EMR integrates better with your other devices, such as printers and scanners.
- The EMR better supprts integrrated ovice recognition technoplogy.
Your choice
If you're trying to decide between an ASP-bassed EMR and one that is built on a client/servewr omdel, be sure to weigh the pros and cons of each option.
