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Shareware

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Medical Packages

Database II Summary

Survey Form

Database I Archive

Genie

Medical Director for Windows

Remedy

Rx

Medical spectrum

M.E.D. Patient

Pracsoft

MedBilling from Jam Software

Locum

MYOB

MIMS MediDesk

Medilink 32bit system

Medware

Medwindows

Compudoc

AccessSP

Infocure/PowerPractice

Medic

Monet (Doctor's Desktop, MediMin)

Functions used by respondents

Appointments		Billing	1
CPI Handouts	1	Full Consultation Records
HIC Medclaims	1	Networked	1
Pathology Downloads	1	Patient Education	1
Patient Health Summaries	1	Prescriptions	1
Recalls	1	Referral Letters	1
Travel Information	1	Waiting Room Times

Other Functions

Ante-natal records, diabetes and CVD records, chart children's percentile growth charts, audit, - Group GP, 3/1/99 11:22

Costs of Installation & Ongoing Costs

We have a 5 PC LAN, which all up cost about $15,000 over 12-15 months. Ongoing costs are minimal for software as MDW and MediDesk are $200/yr and $495/yr repsectively. If you set it up right first, your ongoing costs should be small and you should orientate yourself that way, at least until your off first base. - Group GP, 3/1/99 11:22

No problem setting up on network with NetBEUI. Easily installed on my own IBM compatible machines. $495 / yr for software upgrades & MIMS ANNUAL database, all extras as above. - Solo GP, 3/3/99 3:14 PM

Trialling this at presentb - but I have doubts it is worth $800.00 per annum. I used a DOS based system for 12 years, running it in a window under win 3.11 for only $540.00 all up! Installation is easy, but there is no manual of any significance, so you have to ring support to work out its foibles - support is good though. - Specialist Practice, 30/3/00 11:51 PM

moderate installation costs; ongoing costs fairly moderate - Group GP, 4/6/2001 10:12 PM

Time involved in establishing the package

The biggest establishment problem is the data entry phase for your clinical system. It takes about 12 months to get the info in on average and there is no way round that. i.e. just get on and do it. Then you can generate meaningful info, some as age-sex registers, no. of patients with hypothyroidism etc, health summaries, comprehensive referral letters. Once you are over that hump (allow about a year to get a majority of patients in) it is pretty much clear sailing if you have a stable well set-up system. - Group GP, 3/1/99 11:22

Patient demographics on arrival at reception. Clinical data simply at consultation. Ocassional problem list catchup. - Solo GP, 3/3/99 3:14 PM

Fairly easy - does not take lon g to set up and configure. - Specialist Practice, 30/3/00 11:51 PM

we started with version1 networked for 4 doctors and it took nearly 12 months to get the system working in any semi-reliable way; it crashed continuously and we had numerous phone calls to software providers - Group GP, 4/6/2001 10:12 PM

Level of Support received from developers

I have found the phone support from MIMS and MDW to be excellent and being via a 1800 number makes it very convenient. - Group GP, 3/1/99 11:22

Excellent. Available programmers and other support staff on 1800 number &/or e-mail. - Solo GP, 3/3/99 3:14 PM

Good and prompt support. - Specialist Practice, 30/3/00 11:51 PM

we have been totally exasperated with our support; we have often felt that our pratice manager knew more about the particular problem than the person on the help desk; indeed we've stopped asking for help except in the worst situations; early on we did ghet a site visit from a programmer and more recently from another rep.; overall we have been most unhappy with our level of support. Until this year, there has been no manual with the system. - Group GP, 4/6/2001 10:12 PM

Functionallity & Benefits of the Sytem

Overall they have been very well thought out. - Group GP, 3/1/99 11:22

Simple to use, problems ususally relate to WIN95 platform not MIMS software. - Solo GP, 3/3/99 3:14 PM

Integration is convenient. Tablet pictures are handy to clarify identification of medication patients are already on. - Specialist Practice, 30/3/00 11:51 PM

MimsMedidesk as it has now developed is a good functioning system but it has taken much time and pain to get there. There are still many small details which are annoying eg the warning that the medicare card is out-of-date comes up on the doctor's MIMSScript screen but not on thee Medidesk reception/billing screen. - Group GP, 4/6/2001 10:12 PM

Suggestions and Improvements

Make a link please - Group GP, 3/1/99 11:22

Awaiting rewrite with excited anticipation. Addition of Med record modules awaited. - Solo GP, 3/3/99 3:14 PM

It has a number of inconvenient little bugs, though none of them are crippling - you learn how to work around them. e.g. enter new patient, then close patient and re-open before you try to enter any data - particularly billing, to get around errors and freezing - Specialist Practice, 30/3/00 11:51 PM

Generally far too many mouse clicks required for using mimsScript - Group GP, 4/6/2001 10:12 PM

Other comments. To whom would you recommend the Package

Both are very highly recommendable to any GP. - Group GP, 3/1/99 11:22

All GPs, group / networked or Solo networked. - Solo GP, 3/3/99 3:14 PM

We have had an appalling time with MimsScript; it is unreliable, full of bugs, inconsistent in performance. We've persisted because we liked the idea of an integrated admin and clinical software package but we have decided to abandon MimsScript and change to Medical Director. - Group GP, 4/6/2001 10:12 PM

Software used in conjuction with this package

We use MIMS MediDesk, which currently does not have a direct link with Medical Director. It is very good value for money as a front desk billing program, robust and a good one for entry into computerising your front desk. I like the fact that both companies are bound to be around in years to come, a must for buying a program. - Group GP, 3/1/99 11:22

Mims Script - Solo GP, 3/3/99 3:14 PM