Re: OANDP-L Digest - 15 Apr 2001 to 16 Apr 2001 (#2001-100)

Re: OANDP-L Digest - 15 Apr 2001 to 16 Apr 2001 (#2001-100)

Phil Heberer

4/17/2001

Hello Matt,

> I am investigating office software for O&P. I would like to get people's
> opinions on the different brands of software out there. What is
> available these days? What are the pro's and con's and computer system
> requirements?

I was going to broach this subject myself soon, as I'm curious what some of the
small, independent practices use. MedFlex advertises on the OANDP web page, and
it's no doubt an excellent program, but it's out of range for most small shops
(prices range from $6000-10,000 with monthly support/update fees of $125-200,
though they do have a lease plan now) There are also programs from Futura and
MOM&POP software from Southern Prosthetics.

I am semi-retired from orthotics, and have started doing some part-time computer
consulting for a little extra income (I have a degree in computer science). One
of my orthotist friends who owns his own business asked me to find something for
him to do HCFA 1500's on the computer last year. After a bit of research, the
most cost-effective was a program called EZ-Claim (www.ezclaim.com, if you're
interested). EZ-Claim can do paper or electronic filing, and also supports the
NSF 2.0 of 3.1 formats that many insurance companies are adopting for electronic
filing, and the EZ-Claim Pro version is only $300. I recommend the Pro version,
as that also can export the patient data to Quicken/QuickBooks. EZ-Claim also
keeps it's patient data in an ODBC-compliant Access 97 database, so other
applicatons can easily share the data. QuickBooks Pro (about $225) or PeachTree
Complete Accounting 8.0 (about $199) are more than adequate for the financial
side of the business. All the programs mentioned can also be scaled for
multi-user, multi-location use as well.

Another medical office management program one friend likes is called MediPro
(www.medi-online.com, if interested) It is pretty much a complete package, but
doesn't have as much accounting possiblities as I'd like personally.

All the above programs will run on a resonably minimal system (Pentium-133 or
higher, 32 megs RAM, 1 gig or larger HD) and can run on Windows 95/98/ME. If you
do a search for Medical Office Management on Google.com, you will get
literally hundreds of possible solutions, depending on your needs.

I'd be very curious what other businesses are using, and what they like or
dislike about them. Just from personal experience, I've found that regardless of
what you use, if you don't get a bit of training on it, it will be of little
use, regardless of price.

Respectfully,
Phil Heberer, LO
Texas Licensed Orthotist