VM,
To answer your question simply: Yes.
To best understand it is this: There are two ways to set up AC in a network, you can run it on "server" and share it out. This works, but I do NOT recommend it as Jon recommds installing AC on EVERY computer. Once this is done, and you open AC, it will look for a database. You MUST make sure you browse to the database on the MAIN computer, which, in your case, will be the one on the reception's desk. This Amazing Charts folder ON THE DESKTOP ON THE RECEPTION's AC folder will need to be shared. In other words, right click on it and choose shared. You will see a blue hand underneath it, which is Microsoft's way of showing you it is not shared.
What you want to be careful of is to NOT let your AC on your desktop browse to the AC database on your desktop. Every computer whether one in your exam room on 100 computers need to browse to and find the database on the reception computer. Otherwise, each computer will be putting data on each computer's database. One way to tell is after you set up your desktop computer with all of your demographics, i.e. Practice name, users, schedule, etc. then all computers can browse to that database with no problem. If you try to use the database on your PC, it will again ask you for all of that information.
So, once all computers are connected to the same database ON YOUR RECEPTIONIST's COMPUTER, no matter where you enter data, it will be on all computers in real time.
You can set up VPN (probably something you are not ready for yet) or use Remote Desktop, GoToMyPC or LogMeIn, if you want to work from home.
Remember, you have to understand that we are all trying to help, but we all take things for granted as we are all on a certain level. I like to think that I understand AC and networking rather well.
BUT, I don't even come close to VINNY who programs for AC and has been doing networking when I was in diapers. (Sorry, Vinny, not commenting on anyone's age here, lol). So, setting up UltraVPN is easy for me, but a piece of cake for him. If you have a networking or technical question, VINNY knows more than all of us combined. Then again, he uses Linux, et al.
My recommenation would be as follows again. It may seem redundant, but it should be helpful:
Reception computer: Hard wired with main database (get it running and practice with AC on it until you feel comfortable)
Laptop with wireless or wired if it is feasible to main database
I would keep it like that for at least a week or so. Do all of your catching up in your office. When you feel comfortable like that, THEN and only THEN, start taking things home and using remote connection or sync. That would be a good time to contact Wayne or Brian or Vinny or me.
You can alway PM us or contact any of us by email. Mine is:
badams_remove AT riverviewpediatrics.org (Of course, take out the _remove and change AT to @. Have to keep the bots at bay.
