Cross-Platform MediFile version 3.0 Paperless Medical Office Software Takes Patient Care to a Higher Level
Friday, February 25, 2000
Press Release Edited By Applelinks
Contributing Editor Charles W. Moore
Jonoke Software Development Inc. has announced the start of development of MediFile version 3.0, a paperless medical office software solution. Jody Bevan, the president and founder of Jonoke Software says that the whole development team is very excited about the new development tools, and the features planned for version 3.
Jonoke Software Development Inc. is an Edmonton, Alberta Canada based software development company that now concentrates exclusively on their MediFile line of software products. MediFile is sold to clinics across Canada with plans for the USA market. It is very scalable from a one physician office to 100 physician offices in multiple cities.
MediFile 2.6 helps facilitate advanced patient care, reduced operating costs to the clinic, and convenience. In talking about paper charts and the issues surrounding paper, Dr. Chris Hall of the Glazier Medical Center in Oshawa Ontario, Canada is quoted in the Family Practice Journal April 99 edition:
'It was a really labor-intensive process, never mind the process of getting the lab results and hospital reports back in to the chart. That's one of the reasons that we said, 'This is crazy. We've got too much invested in time and too many good staff who should be doing something more useful for patient care.'
One of the unique features of MediFile is its ability to work in a multi-platform environment. Users in the same clinic can be using MacOS and Windows based workstations with either a MacOS or WindowsNT Server. The iMac computer has been a very popular computer at MediFile sites since it came out. Some clinics have gone with 60 or more iMacs connected to the MediFile server computer. The stability, lower maintenance, and setup of the iMac computer has been a big hit with the clinics. The small footprint has been attractive as well, especially in a lot of the rooms that were not designed with computers in mind. The cost for external consultants to assist in the maintenance and setup of computers is lower than for windows based computers using MediFile in the same clinics.
Cost savings in operations is not the only reason for going paperless. Better patient care, communication, and legal considerations are also advantages. In talking about the electronic medical record Dr. Hall is quoted:
'Electronic medical records can't help but improve a practice because it forces a physician to be current, legible and complete, he said. We all look after each others' patients on an urgent care basis. I have enough notes that I cannot read - which have not helped the patient or me - and now it's legible.
'When seeing a colleague's patient, he can now access the patient's background history, allergies, current medications and send his partner an electronic note about what treatment was given.'
The use of computers for all aspects of patient care, and operations in medical clinics is not the norm. In fact most physicians and nurses still use the same paper chart that was used 25 years ago. The fear of going paperless is not founded in the experience of clinics that have gone paperless. Dr. Vince Di Ninno is quoted in the Dec 99 issue of Family Practice Journal:
'... many physicians are scared off from implementing an EMR because of the initial capital outlay, the fear that the keyboard will slow them down, the financial impact of being able to see fewer patients and the concern that the computer will be intrusive in the physician-patient encounter. Di Ninno has experienced just the opposite in his practice, particularly with regard to the number of patients seen. In the past, he would see 40-50 patients per day, but would spend a number of hours each evening dictating letters and checking billing. Now he sees the same number of patients but, in his words, "I know have time for coffee and generally I leave my office earlier than in the past."'
The use of 4th Dimension as the development and deployment tool not only provides cross-platform support, but also high speed and data integrity which is critical in a paperless medical environment. 4th Dimension's integrated client server design is an important component of MediFile's success. Mr Bevan indicates that 4th Dimension has been a solid development and production tool since he first started working with it in 1988. As important is that ACI the developers of 4th Dimension (Paris France) have been advancing the products features, and performance the whole time. Version 6.5 of 4th Dimension provides many exciting new features and performance increases again!
The demand for version 2.6 of MediFile paperless medical office solution has been so great in the last 18 months that Jonoke Software had to turn away more business than it took on Bevan says. It is expected that version 3 of MediFile will only increase this demand. Jonoke's success is certainly assisted by a unique relationship between MediFile users and Jonoke. Feature requests from users are implemented at as quickly as possible, with well over 700 user requested features implemented in each of the past 4 years. This pace will only increase with more developers on staff, and more users.
To learn more about MediFile and 4D visit: http://www.jonoke.com
or contact:
Jody Bevan - jody@jonoke.com
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