Home Forums Discussions General Discussion 2 office locations

Hello All,

I've reviewed many of the previous posts and gleaned much needed information. Thanks to all that have contributed thus making EHR's a less tedious job!

I've done a search but did not find what I was looking for.

We have 2 offices and would like to use AC at each location. Do we have to purchase AC for each office or can we somehow use one license for both locations? The offices have different names and we would like to keep everything completely seperate. We are a 3 provider office and rotate between offices.

July 1 is knocking and we need to make this happen! Any better ideas or personal experience?

Thanks Mark........

You may need to clear this with AC central. They may have a better solution.

Because you are using different names, and the licenses are tied to the names, you may need separate AC programs.

I suppose you could come up with some middle ground name "Medical Office Center" and use for both, since you have the same providers.

You can use an AC license in multiple offices of the same name. I indeed, do this, but the offices are the same name. Your main issue is the use of different names.

IMHO, based on that quote, if everything is "separate" including the databases, then you are looking at 2 different installations of AC. I would think you need two licenses for 3 providers each. This is entirely and completely different from you having multiple service locations that use the same database.

This is no different from you working at
ABC Office where they use AC AND working at
DEF Office where they also use AC.

This almost seems like a no-brainer. But, there is one area we may be overlooking.

There is almost no doubt you would need two licenses if you are using different names as everything is tied to the names and the licenses.

Now where it is slightly different is this:

Office A = one license for the first provider = $995

Office B = one license for the first provider = $995

Now, you have another provider. Say, that provider was working at Office A = another license = $995

OK, so far so good. Now as George says, since all three providers will be working in each office, that's three licenses for each office = six.

But, what if AC looked at it like 3 licenses for each doctor working at two different offices, each of which is licensed.

If you take it verbatim, then you would probably need three licenses. But, AC may not see it that way.

BOTTOM LINE: You are asking the wrong people. I would discuss it directly with Jon and by phone.

Just my two cents worth.

However, the price is going up on July 1, so you need to discuss with them and move to lock in the old pricing. You should call them tomorrow.

I am thinking of purchasing Amazing Charts and we have 2 locations open at the same time. Will Amazing Charts be able to communicate between the offices???

smonline,

Welcome to Amazing Charts. In order to do this, you would need to run AC on one server in Office A and then access that database in Office B. There are a number of options, but generally the best option is via a VPN using good routers and/or firewalls.

There are literally tens of threads on this very subject, and you may wish to search for them.

BUT, I ALWAYS END UP SAYING, if you have to ask, then you would probably be better off hiring an IT consultant. There are a lot of variables: network topology, server and server software, firewalls (Cisco >>> Linksys or Netgear for VPN), bandwidth, QOS, etc. I don't know how to say it enough. I would hire a networking specialist, pay the $75 to $100 per hour and have it done correctly right out of the box.

We have been trying to lock in the old pricing since we already are users w/ 5 licenses. I understand that if we set up a credit card autopay, then we qualify to maintain the old pricing. Has anyone been successful in setting this up? We find that there is no mechanism to actually set up an autorenewal system. Only if you are purchasing a new license can you enter a credit card. We have contacted support and they don't seem to know how to do it either.

Wasup?

Tim

Tim,

Not that assuming is always good, but I would think that if you purchasing using a credit card, then your credit card would be on file. That should do it. After, though, you may wish to send an email stating you would like to be on autorenew and send it to help@amazingcharts.com. Ask for a response. If no answer from them send back with its being copied to jon@amazingcharts.com.

Also, are you using this phone number: (866) 382-5932?

Mark,

We have THREE offices and use AC. With respect to pricing and 'stand-alone', if each office were 'non-integrated' we would have required three licenses. However, all three offices (each have separate names) share the same data base and are part of a larger corporation (me) and share the same providers. So... we registered the practice, in AC, as Blank and Blank Family Practices. We share the same database, same EIN, etc. but have two/three locations and our current billing software separates the two practices at the close of batches each day so we can track the offices separately.

Second, with respect to how to 'connect' the databases we have played with multiple options including:
[1] VPN (Virtual Private Network across the internet at 2MB/sec)
[2] Remote Desktop Connection - software part of Windows and lets you log into your desktop or server at main office and take over that desktop or use the server to run AC.
[3] Synchronizing the databases each day.

Ideally, choice #1 above, VPN, would have been ideal and the best option in theory. In reality, unless you have a true T1 speed internet connection or cable modem with >10MB/sec and rock stable connection it does not work very well and the time lag transferring information makes it almost useless -- especially if you are importing information.

Choice #2, Remote Desktop Connection, is what we have finally settled on and are reasonably happy with this solution. We either remote into the server directly, or remote into our personal workstations/computers at the 'Mother Ship' -- any IT person can set this up for you easily. On a 1MB internet connection it is VERY fast, works well, and provides good integration. Downsides: You will need to import documents at the mother ship and if you use Dragon Medical it is usable but a bit quirky using Remote Desktop Connection.

Choice #3, daily synchronization, was not really an option for us -- too cumbersome, too much reliability on people being consistent and not screwing up, too much reliability on a snychronizing module from AC that was not robust nor reliable enough to trust at the time (v3.7).

I hope this is helpful.

Best regards,

James P. Clayton, M.D.
US Virgin Islands