PKA,
Good luck with your new practice, and we all understand the need for confidentiality with your "old" practice. And, everyone here will be very helpful. This is probably the best message board for EMRs or anything for that matter. I have learned a ton from my colleagues on here.
That said, and please don't take any of the next few comments the wrong way, but setting up your network by asking this many questions will simply lead to chaos. If you ask specific questions when you are at certain points in the process, it will be more helpful. For instance: "We are going with Vista, which version should we use?"
A NETWORK NEEDS TO BE DESIGNED! This means what type of PCs, do I use P2P or server/client, what specs in the PC, what specs in the server if I use one, do I go wireless or wired, tablet or desktop, Cat6 or Cat5e, what brand of laptop, PC or Tablet, where do I put the database, etc. etc. etc. When you combine all of those choices, number of possibilities is endless.
Think of it like a car. You could ask each of us what car and what amenities and features we would suggest, and you would get everything from a Ford 150 to a Jaguar of Mercedes. They all get you from A to Z. Of course, Paul would say a Jeep.
I despise wireless, but my office allows wired. Some offices don't or some offices want to move laptops around. I am a client/server DOMAIN (just because you have a server with a server OS doesn't mean it is a domain) but most on here use P2P, and it is just fine.
I have never owned a laptop in my life, but laptops work great. What works best for YOU?
I would highly suggest you buy a cheap book on networking. Even Networking for Dummies (I have a copy) is OK. PLEASE hire an IT consultant at least for the initial setup. Given the number of questions you have (which is great!), you could probably use one.
Not to belabor this point, but when you go out to purchase a Smartphone or cell phone, the first thing you have to do is decide do I need email, do I need to text, is the phone more important than the PDA portion, what reception do I get with each wireless company in my area. Hopefully, you don't just buy a phone.
I would sit down and design by looking at the key things you want and what would work with your office. Of course, ask for help on those as you go. For instance:
1. Do I want PCs or laptops or tablets? Well can you put a PC in each room? If not, then you have to with one of the latter two. Do you like the stability of having a PC in each room (as I do), then go with that?
2. Wireless or wired? What is your building going to allow? Can you even run wires? Or is wired not secure enough?
There are many threads and topics on here but, by far, the big three are 1) networking, 2) backups and 3) PC to fax and Fax to PC.
To answer a few questions that area screaming to be answered (at least for me):
What version of Vista. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE...get Vista Business or above. Do NOT get Vista Home. It's called Home, because it is used at home. Very difficult to network with Vista.
XP has many years left, IMHO. Best OS ever made by Microsoft. But, you are right, Vista and 7 are going to take over, unfortunately. Make sure you get XP Pro and not Home.
Do NOT put the database on a computer you will be using. SEE THIS IS MY THING AND OTHERS WILL DISAGREE. With a good network, your receptionist will have no issues accessing the database with good speed especially with V4. Your receptionist will use his or her PC probably the most. With the best change of needing reboots, etc. Do you want the database down while Windows takes it sweet time rebooting?
As to LogMeIn, the answer is yes and no and please don't. Yes, you can both use it, but whoever has the quickest mouse will win. Now only one LogMeIn user can log in with LogMeIn at one time. I wouldn't use VPN if you have this many questions without some help. Go with LogMeIn. Free, secure and fast. Not as fast and secure as other remote solutions but good enough. Also, the LogMeIn user can turn off the host computers mouse and keyboard so if that is set, then he or she could not use it.
As a small suggestion to be politically correct, I may stay away from "girls" and use staff or women. Just a tip. My staff likes to refer to themselves as "girls." So no big deal here, lol.
