Welcome DRM! I am glad you could join us. I think you will find AC has the best community out there in addition to its other bonuses.
You certainly could use Apple hardware. I only have one desk transitioned over to an iMac on a trial basis, running parallels, and it has been fantastic. I enjoy the excellent built in, free dictation capabilities. I also enjoy excellent stability without the annoying crashes I'm so familiar with using PC's. Further, the customer service from Apple is award winning: Dell - not so much!
That being said, the rest of my network is Dell. AC does not need a ton of power, so if you are solo just keep it simple. A higher end desktop for your server (maybe the new Mac Pro?!) some desktops or all-in-one for your nurse and reception, and a laptop to take in the room. Touch screen is too slow - you need to type. But you can keep the typing to a minimum with abbreviations, quick keys, and templates.
