Home Forums Discussions General Discussion Fax and email management - Updox.

I used Updox 2 years ago. It was slow then, but had promise. Anyone using Updox now?

How can I fax records in/out of AC without using paper? I have a scanner and a fax machine. Please make answers simple.

I also have a problem with "copying the whole chart." Not all the encounters are printed.

Thanks

If you have a fax machine hooked to your computer you typically configure it as a "printer" and whenever you want to send something by fax you select that "printer" and hit print - will ask for phone number or access address book to fax.

Faxing in is different depending on what software you have - most have some type of software which will do "fax to PC", the brother is the most talked about on the user board. The issue is to make the fax receive and not print, but instead to push to a folder - you need to choose a format, most want PDF, but not all software will do this. You would have to convert them then. The crucial step is to look at fax and determine if it needs action (like a refill) or just review - I would suggest that the folder they come in be reviewed by you or your staff and then you can move/name to a folder for import or just import yourself or act on and delete - eg look at a refill request, do in AC and then delete request.

You really need to find out what type of machine/software you have. Outgoing faxes are easy - if you have a machine designed to interface to your computer. If it is not made to be network capable you will hook it up to one computer and then "share" it.

When you want to copy a chart - I go into old encounters - go up to the top and print entire chart - choose all encounters and then instead of printing - export as a text file. This gets you all office visits/notes - I choose Text file, but you could use PDF, whatever. Then I just look at the pt file number and use a CD creator program to just go into imported items and copy that FILE Number to a disk.

When I send a chart - it ends up as one file with all office notes and a folder with all imported items.

The print chart by date range, etc to my knowledge has not been fixed on main AC screen, but I have not installed 5.024 yet and it may work.

We purposely choose Progress Notes Only at old encounters. Print this to PDF, then unfortunately have to print the vaccine sheet separately. We then combine all of the records. We don't copy or print imported items (very few) or messages.

While many probably say messages are part of the chart, we just consider them work product. We still have the messages for documentation of patient interactions, but no matter how hard we try, things that are said in messages sometimes are just better not seen by the new provider or patient.

Back to the original question...I, too am anxious to see how much the new version of Updox will help with document management. So far I have spoken to one person who likes the old version, but I can't get any other opinions. The company insists the new version offers improved integration with AC. I will probably try it out and report back in the next few weeks.

Hi Lindsey, I too have tried UPDOX and found it to be slow and cumbersome. Did find a simple program which acts as a FAX SERVER called NETWORK SUPERFAX SERVER. I have the Server program on a computer equiped with a fax modem and then installed the Client programs on each of my office computers. For a 10 Client License would cost about $600. We can receive all our faxes in electronic format and with simple manipulation can import them into AC. We can also fax from AC on any computer set up with the Client program via print to network fax. Only drawback if we have to send multiple faxes of imported items each has to be done separately. It has greatly reduced the need for printing to paper and then faxing. It also has a phonebook to store all the usual fax numbers that we use. Hope this helps you.

I have used updox since it was on a desktop. It has matured nicely into a asp documnent management service. It is more intuitive and robust than earlier versions. Like AC it is a value if leveraged right.....EX: what took a person to push papers now takes a click by the physician to get it out or in with the capability to change the doc.....

Updox may have a role in network communication via a more private network. It does provide patient portals,emails, faxes, and interfaces nicely with AC to import (infact managing labs from updox is far more effective and simple than even having the quest interface into AC). An integraded directory with AC is very efficient. As I see it google is comming strong....that said you cant deny the importance of updox function (they have an in, and if they make the right moves will carve a nitch in this area).

If you have further questions about updox feel free to email me. I do have a non business relationship with the company through Nowdox (we beta test and report on updox, amoung other advancing technologies),provide physician support for implementation ect).....(If you ask updox I am their toughest customer).

Rob Allen MD
Neighborhood Family Care, PLLC

I ROUTINELY FAX ALL REQUEST AND ONLY PRINT STUFF THAT I NEED TO SIGN
1. TO FAX THE ENTIRE CHART FROM AC- RIGHT CLICK ON THE PATIENT FROM THE PATIENT LIST AND CHOOSE PRINT ENTIRE CHART AND NEXT YOU WILL CHOOSE PRINT AND THEN INSTEAD OF THE PRINTER YOU WILL CHOOSE THE FAX OPTION OF YUOR PRINTER WHERE YOU WILL FILL IN THE FAX NUMBER AND THE NAME OF THE PERSON YOU WANT TO SEND THE FAX TO.
2 SAME GOES FOR OTHER PORTIONS OF THE AC CHART.
3. THE MORE LENTHIER WAY OF DOING IT ,IS TO SAVE IT AS A TXT FILE BY CHOOSING THE EXPORT BUTTON WHICH IS SELF EXPLANATORY.
HOPE THIS HELPS
4 SEND ME A PM WITH YOUR SETUP IF YOU NEED HELP

Greeneville,

Thanks for the post. I always hate to say this because I don't want to upset anyone. But, if possible, can you not use all caps. It is much more difficult to read.

Thanks.

Bert
Your suggestion is welcome.
I do not think any one should get upset with suggestions that help all of us
Grenville

I used the old updox as well and then switched to the new updox- I helped a lot with the development and the guys at the new myupdox are great guys but I must say I found it to be too slow and cumbersome for the ways I wanted to use it. For me splitting up faxes has in my opinion become more difficult and am now changing to just using faxtalk- a product that will allow you to network several computers and send out a fax from any computer on the network- and then just cut out pages and save the smaller documents. Then I just import them into ac through amazing charts- and I think it is easier by far for us- I tried snappy fax and while it may work well for many it was constantly crashing on us and I found faxtalk more intuitive and quicker in the long run-

any other ideas from others would be helpful

tim

Hey Tim,

I just checked out the Faxtalk website. Tell me how you use it. Can you receive faxes as well? Do you need a fax machine? Do you need a dedicated phone line? Thanks.

sorry just checked this bill but the nice thing is try it out for 15 days it is easy to install- if you are networking you just want to know the ip address of the server. it is quite intuitive to use- you do need a dedicated phone line but no fax machine- your computer becomes your fax machine so you want to leave it on all the time- just plug the phone line into the phone jack in the back of your computer not into the lan- port.

you receive all your faxes through it and then you can cut the faxes into parts and save each different part as a pdf then drop them into ac-

let me know if you have other questions thanks tim

A lot has been said already, but I want to add that I am using Updox and love it.

I have Updox installed on my server with the AC database. This is the Updox AC connector.

The great thing is that I can then log into Updox from home. Even though I am not logged into AC from home, I can import a document into an AC patient chart. This is because the Updox I am using at home finds the Updox connector at the office, which is connected to AC.

For example, at the office my medical records person scans in tests results, such as an MRI. I then log into Updox from home and review the MRI. If I want, I can (quickly and simply) have it imported into that patients chart, and designate it go under a Radiology section. I can designate if I want it to be signed off or not. I can also have it send a notification to me, so when I log into AC I can see what I have imported.

I love that I can review tests from home. You can use it on any computer. You do not need a phone line. It gives you a toll free fax number.

I am a specialist, and try to send my referring docs copies of my office notes. Updox has made this pretty easy.

-Lee

Just starting to use Updox, and the key thing is it is a cheaper fax line than other fax services like MyFax or Efax. So far, I am just using the fax line, which was ported from our old fax provider, MyFax. Right now, I am getting about 2000 faxes a month and for $60, I get them as PDF files attached to an eMail message. We're going to work with the interface and see if it is easier to import to AC from Updox or from Outlook. The patient portal is also a great feature for which we would normally have to pay a separate fee.

Does Updox demo their product used with Amazing Charts?

They do. It's fully integrated and accesses the AC databases directly.

Hey everyone:

New to the board but been using AC for 8 months. Do you have to pay for the EMR integration as they say when you contact them? Or do you just use the updox and then when you write the letter you do you just do it as out put to the program?

Also do they give you a number to get faxes on? Do you get to pick?

Someone who has used this a lot , i would appreciate some help as I need to get this going quickly. YOu can email me directly at sportsdoc@elitesmi.com

OK Updox $20.00 per Month 3 user accounts 500 pages of faxes you do select your own number but from a list of numbers they provide you. The EMR intergration is $15.00 so $35.00 per month.

here are some links they sent me might be helpful to you.

http://updox-screencasts.s3.amazonaws.com/quick_walkthrough_1.mov

http://updox-screencasts.s3.amazonaws.com/quick_walkthrough_2.mov

I have a one doc practice and do around 500 PAGES of fax a week. So the advertised pricing will be inaccurate for alot of us. I suppose if I started doing all e prescribing and had lab interfaces for all of the 4 main labs I use and told all my consultants to mail their reports I might be able to get away with 500 pages a month. Also, 3 users is not very many if it includes all the staff who might need to access faxes.

I just installed Updox. We receive labs directly from Quest into AC. What is the most efficient way to review the lab, and get it into the patient portal so the patient can see it? If it were not for HITECH, we could just e-mail the patient from AC with the lab as an attachment, but I don't know how to use Updox effectively for this.

We utilize an internet phone/fax service from RingCentral.com. (4 VOIP "lines" with unlimited local and long distance, and a separate fax number with unlimited pages, all for $100/mo. A single VOIP line + fax is $50/mo.) No phone lines needed, just internet. (Other similar services available from other VOIP providers.)

Faxes automatically download into the PC based "Call Controller". (They can also be accessed from their website, or automatically emailed to you (HIPAA concerns on latter?).) Staff downloads them from the Call Controller, and then imports them into AC.

Faxing out is a simple matter of "Printing" documents to the RCFax printer definition, which loads them into a "Fax" message. Or if in paper form, scan them into the message. Multiple documents can be added. Choose a destination and hit send.