MANAGEMENT ESSENTIALS

Sidecar software can help organize clinical information

EHR add-ons ease data collection and sharing.

By Farrell “Toby” Tyson, MD, FACS

Sidecar software has improved the check-in and checkout procedures of an ophthalmology practice, but that’s only half the story. Sidecar software, or add-ons, can also assist in organizing the clinical side of a practice.

EHR systems have tried to integrate diagnostic output, but too often focus on hitting all the pertinent exam bullet points to meet regulatory scrutiny. This has left an opening for parallel-document and image-management software.

IN TREATMENT

Several manufactures have jumped into this market to fill the void with products known as picture archiving and communication systems (PACS). Many have been designed to maximize the use of a specific brand of diagnostic equipment and also incorporate devices from other manufacturers. They allow for not only storage of diagnostic data, but also for customization of data displays of related data the user can view at one time.

With this technology, a doctor could, for example, bring up a patient’s most recent glaucoma diagnostics, including visual fields, OCT and disc photos all at once.

HARDWARE COMPATIBILITY

Most systems directly integrate into a practice’s EHR. Using point-and-click technology within the EHR system, the user can bring up individual patient data for viewing and annotation. These systems allow for serial display, side-by-side display or comparison analysis.

Once the diagnostic equipment captures the data, it uploads immediately for dissemination throughout the practice. Direct connection to many devices forgoes the need to purchase equipment-specific viewing software.

INTEROFFICE ADAPTABILITY

Some web-based systems allow access to any Internet-capable device. This makes for simple operation with secure off-site data storage. It allows for quick viewing, comparison and management of images using drag-and-drop simplicity.

It creates a customizable solution from a single-office, single-computer setup to a multi-satellite enterprise level. The data is readily available across multiple offices through personal computers or tablets.

ONE-STOP SOFTWARE

Through years of competition between diagnostic imaging companies and the industry realization that doctors prefer to own a variety of equipment made by different manufacturers, proprietary, single-manufacturer data management software is going by the wayside. Open access, unidirectional and sometimes bidirectional communication is allowing these systems to finally become the one-stop software that can display data from every piece of equipment in the ophthalmologist’s office.

Companies may tout storage, security and access, but the real benefit is the efficiency of going paperless — and color ink jet cartridge-less or color toner-less. OM

Farrell C. Tyson, MD, FACS, is a refractive cataract/glaucoma eye surgeon at the Cape Coral Eye Center in Florida. His e-mail is tysonfc@hotmail.com.