1. Outgoing Letters. This should be very straightforward, drawing addresses for both the primary recipient and faxes for the cc recipients, from the Rolodex. I should be able to shoot the letter to all at the same time. Having to dictate/compose in a separate program from AC is an extra step I'm trying to avoid.
I agree. We're planning to talk about this at the Users Meeting in Branson in June.

2. Pulling previous problems directly into the HPI. This should be a simple right click operation where I can select multiple diagnoses, from the previous problem list, from which I can then expand.
I assume you saw the last suggestions I made in this thread:
http://www.amazingcharts.com/ub/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=6999#Post6999
The function you are looking for doesn't exist in Amazing Charts. You will have to create this problem list for yourself, within the note. Then, it will be available for you at the next visit.

3. Lack of information on how incoming faxes are handled by MA's and then MD's.
http://www.amazingcharts.com/ub/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=7017#Post7017

4. Separating Assessment and Plan is artificial. The diagnoses in Assessment should be numbered at the very least. Each of my Plan steps refers to each specific assessment. Having them in separate sections isn't intuitive to tracking why something was ordered. This is important to justify coding, at the very least.
  • So, don't use both sections. Copy your diagnoses into the Plan section, or copy your orders into the Assessment.
  • If you want your diagnoses numbered, double click on the "#" symbol and type a number!
  • If you want your plan associated with the diagnosis, insert your cursor after the diagnosis and start typing.
5. I'm not clear on how I can enter orders that will occur at different time points. Eg, I want blood work today, and different blood work and an ultrasound one week later.
Well, you document your lab request in your Assessment/Plan section, then use the reminder buttons to make the order come up in someone's Inbox at the date you desire.

6. Customization of letter writing. I wasn't planning on having to print letters to customized letterhead. This just makes an extra step for my staff.
You don't have to use customized letterhead. I just had some laying around. Most of my correspondence was created in Amazing Charts. When I wanted run-of-the-mill stationery, I used a Word template which had my letterhead in it. It is easy to save these documents in the patient's record. I think maybe I'm making this sound more complicated than it really is.

Part of my reason for going to an EMR is to downsize from 2.5 staff to 1.0. I'm looking for an EMR, even if more expensive, because I'll recoup these costs quickly with savings on staff expenses.
Sounds great. Lots of us here are doing that. Here is another great users group where you can talk to doctors who are doing what you are doing:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Practiceimprovement1
(free registration required).

You asked.
Hope this helps.

PS Thanks
You're welcome.

Brian Cotner, M.D.
Family Practice