As AC and other medical software programs evolve, there is a need for significant improvements in both the hardware and operating system. With other systems, some versions were never compatible with Windows Vista, and struggle to run on other OS versons, even servers. What has to be considered is the fact that every chart entry, every encounter form built, uses up memory or performs a mathematical function. As the database builds, available memory is exhausted. Your computers express their opinion of what you're doing to them in several ways: slowing down, freezing, shutting down the program, or crashing.
Factually, you just can't keep going out and buying and installing memory. It's not doable. Sooner than later, you have to buy new hardware. New hardware isn't cheap because you have to buy for the future, not just the present, and hope to get a couple of years out of the equipment. As an AC biller, we are preparing for CMS5010, and thus far, have spent over $60,000.00 and that doesn't include the new servers that we need. When we're done, we'll get about 2.5 years out of the hardware before needing to replace it.
So, if you're going to go it alone and plan for the future, it's a good time to invest in the hardware that will allow you to run ever-improving versions of AC. Prices are very negotiable in this economy for the hardware, and you won't be cruising these boards looking for a fix for antiquated equipment. Time is money.
