Home Forums Multiple offices with AC and VPN

I am a computer consultant and I have a new client that has decided to implement AC in the near future. They have 2 offices now and will soon add a third. Just 3 to 4 PCs at each office.
My question - does AC support running across a VPN in a traditional client/server model? They'd prefer to not have to use any remote access software to run AC as more than 1 office will operate on any given day. There may not be a PC on the far end available to control.
thanks
fred

We tried a VPN, but the latency was too much and the connection wasn't stable. That was with a reasonable DSL connection at each end. I don't remember which VPN software we tried. The remote access solution is much easier even if less elegant.

We have three offices, 9 providers, 37 work stations, around a dozen printers on our network. We have AC and all our servers at the mother ship. We tried using a VPN for our two remote offices with a 5MB pipe and it was still way too slow especially when printing, importing, or viewing imported documents.

We now use RDP to log into the servers at the main office and have a configured VPN for printing and this works quite well for the most part. Docs and staff love being able to remote in while at home, while doing home visits, as well as when on vacation to check messages.

If you would like further input contact us offline and I will put you in touch with our IT staff.

Best,

James Clayton, M.D.
www.redhookfamilypractice.com
US Virgin Islands

Thank you both for your responses. I suspected VPN alone wouldn't provide a satisfactory solution.

Docclayton I'm sending you a pm now to take you up on the offer regarding your IT staff. Two minutes of their time will help me get these folks the best solution.
fred

With people with multiple offices, do you change the location in your system? does it change the searching for a patient?

Ketan

I use logmein and ignition.

I have a template I put into the HPI that says "REMOTELY CHARTED FROM CHICAGO OFFICE" or opposite for the other office.

The best solution for remote access is Citrix server. using the Citrix server I can use this over the internet from any office, transcriptionist is able to do her work. The best of it all I can use the iPad as a tablet and run AC on it.

Mukesh
Internist
Maine

To answer the question: It is one thing to talk about remote. LogMeIn, Citrix, GoToMyPC versus a real time total connection to the AC database that Ketan is talking about.

I will say this again as I have many times, if you are running AC on a terminal server in one office and you want to connect real time from other offices and you are asking questions on here, then, BY DEFINITION, you need to get outside IT help.

What is the cost of citrix server and licenses? What are both the hardware and network requirements?

While I do agree with Bert, it's good to know what the options are before you ask for outside IT help.

I too am interested in how this citrix server works, perhaps if you could you post a link of the model of the product, or perhaps a website with more information that would be great, this looks like it could be a very viable solution.

Thanks

As a biller, I presently have a provider connecting to Medisoft in my office via "Go-Global". This way he can review reports and access certain patient data. My understanding is that Go-Global is a similar concept to "Citrix" although less sophisticated and less expensive. It's meeting our needs for now. The provider can access Medisoft from most computers as long as internet access is available.

I would like to know what Mukesh is talking about as well. Actual Citrix interfaces like terminal services are generally rather expensive. Hell, Citrix own GoToMyPC, and it isn't even free.

XenServer, which is now owned by Citrix has some free versions, but it doesn't look that easy.

Hopefully, I am wrong, but for now, RDP or LogMeIn seems fine.

Here is one other thing I have on this subject that I wanted to know about. . .
I have dragon now, and if i am using logmein from home, I cna't use my dragon correct?

If you are using the Pro version (there is a free trial), it has audio support, not sure how that would work.

As a tangent, if you are using the medical version, it typically has support for multiple work-stations.

You can use Dragon Medical on your home computer, and dictate over a LogMeIn connection onto your office computer running AC. I reported on a test I did using LogMeIn and Dragon, and it worked well.

I am fortunate that our local hospital has a citric server. It did not add any cost to my practice. We have been using the iPad to room patients. I use it to sign off off on charts, labs etc. I realize that the citrix solution is not cheap. I got to say it works.

It is also very secure.