Home Forums Discussions General Discussion AC Transition to the Cloud?

I am wondering the chances of AC transitioning to the cloud in a future version?

I know that there are SaaS and 3rd party hosting sevices but these require additional infrastructure and/or fees in addition to the AC licensing fees. I mean the model of Practice Fusion/Gmail/Fb etc. (I may not be using Cloud properly; it may be a Web service that I am referring to).

As a user it would eliminate the agony of implementing the latest upgrade or not as well as applying that upgrade to every computer.
It would also eliminate the hassle of Remoting in from home/additional offices.

Although AC would have to take on these and other burdens they wouldn't have to bother supporting users who stay on previous versions. If it were as polished as Gmail/Fb etc they wouldn't be swamped with users calling in for Support.

i think this would justify the current costs of AC + Guardian Support, if not just a bit more.

Just wondering.

Interesting question, not sure I fully understand, but....

AC has a Cloud version, which is SaaS, There are no real infrastructure requirements on your part, other than having computers that connect to the internet. It is always on the latest version. Fees? there is a monthly fee, but I DON'T THINK (I put an email in to verify but wanted to respond before I received an answer) that you also have to pay annual support. This would somewhat offset the monthly cost. But again, you can justify having both costs.

There are several 3rd party services, again I THINK you pay them for support NOT AC (you would need to check with them to be sure).

Many prefer to have their database on site. Some would rather not be subject to issues of internet. Granted, it has become more reliable and faster over the years, but there are areas where this is not the case. You need internet for e-prescribing, which I consider essential.

Yes, AC handles updates on the SaaS system, but what if you aren't quite ready to update for one reason or another. Now you staff has to deal with changes when they walk in because updates occurred. (They probably warn you, other's can chime in here).

Then there's InLight, which is a new EHR from PriMed. Nice system, I do not believe the billing aspect has been completed, which limits it at this time to those on an alternate payment model. Different from AC, but seems to be very user friendly and completely cloud based. It was designed to have an easy migration from AC for those who want to switch.

For now, I would prefer to stay with the model as it is. Everyone's different. What I am somewhat unclear is your exact issue with the current SaaS system. Of course I am seeing your argument through my eyes, not yours

When AC first offered SaaS I remember its cost being an additional $39/user/month. This would have cost significantly more because of the annual cost of paying for each user (6 in our case) versus the 2 one-time physician license fees paid when we started AC. Support and Maintenance was a mandatory purchase, which we have anyways for e-prescribing.

Aside from costs, and correct me if I am wrong, SaaS requires a small installation on a Windows OS machine. It doesn't work on Macs. Moreover, and this obviously wouldn't be an everyday occurrence, but if we needed to upgrade computers at home or the office the initial setup would be required again before accessing AC.

If it were a web-based version you could access AC from any device with a web-browser. Well maybe not smartphones and tablets, but a mobile app is the last thing on my wish list.

barcafan1990,

Transitioning to a total cloud based software by AC isn't going to happen, in my opinion. Consider the following:

1. The are lots of AC customers out there that have third part plug ins to their database they have hosted in their office. HL7 transfers to practice management systems, custom reporting, all that sort of stuff. I know this because I've set these things up for some AC customers over the years. These customers aren't about to give up that automation and reporting just because AC says "Let's move to the cloud!"

2. Transitioning to a true web based software, like Practice Fusion, will NOT eliminate support costs. AC would have to support all the major browsers and several versions of each one. You would have users on old and new versions of Chrome, Firefox, IE, Safari, etc. Users would still call in complaining about parts of the application not looking right only for support to find out the user is on an old version of Chrome (or other browser). So you talk the user into upgrading to fix their issue. The next day, the same user complains because another website they use requires the older version of Chrome so the user wants AC to "fix their website to work with older supported versions of Chrome cuz it ain't fair to force me to upgrade to fix your website!"

3. Engineering costs. Throwing away all that UI code they have written to make AC look and feel the way it is now to make something in the cloud that will, inevitably, have a different look and feel. Similar, but different. And there is no guarantee everyone will go for it.

So, in my opinion, no, I don't see AC dumping what they have for a true web app. I seem them continuing on with the SaaS approach, certainly, but not dumping the application they have now.

JamesNT

Thanks for your reply James.

I wasn't sure about the how different the costs would be with a cloud version. But true as you say there would be users who couldn't/wouldn't want to switch over.

Regarding your second point about browser inoperability: From our office's experiences, we used to have a big problem exactly like you said. Thankfully, however, most websites we use have become compatible with the latest browser versions (IE for us). The only issues we have are some minor PDF display/printing troubles.

All in all I am taking another look at AC's SaaS to reduce our IT costs.

Josue:

We've been using AC in the Cloud for over three years and are very happy with it. We are a single physician office. As far as cost--it has reduced our IT expenses and more importantly has reduced the amount of time that I have to spend dealing with IT issues.

John

Does Dragon work with AC Coud? Is there more then one host, i.e. Who host AC Cloud? I too able looking to change.

am looking to change

Thanks I think we are in a similar boat with a solo Doc and now recently a PA.

As Gary has pointed out I'm going to find out if Dragon Medical is supported. Also if Macs are compatible.

How does hosting work? Is SaaS like web site? Log in and do your thing. In which case Dragon is just like a keyboard. Someone posted a bit back Dragon didn't work until went back to server. Jimmie seems to use Dragon and Cloud with Chrome. Am I right?

Gary and others,

I would like to echo what John says above. Also, I have been using AC in the Cloud for over a year now and the upgrades have been much easier.
Dragon works, I use it every day.

I use VNC viewer made for chrome Enterprise version to connect my chromebook to my office desktop, so my chromebook becomes my virtual dual monitored desktop I take into the exam room and plug into the wall mounted TV via HDMI cord.

My office desktop uses windows 7 for the os, and connects to my AC data base in the cloud, and AC IT support staff Ryan set this up for me, also my nurses dual monitored desktop also is connected to the AC cloud data base.

I use updox which works very well with AC in the cloud. So I pay about 80 dollars a month for 2 users for AC in the cloud, and it is well worth it for me, less worries and hassle and rarely have to call my local IT support for anything now. Usually can deal directly with AC IT support for most issues.

Don't plan on switching back to local server any time soon, and pleased with the AC in the cloud thus far.

Just to be clear: that monthly fee is in addition to your annual license/GA support, right?

Jon,
Yes absolutely, the $1195 + $39 + $39 per month.

Also I only dictate with Dragon on my dual monitored desktop where I have my PowerMic ll plugged in. I don't dictate using the chromebook.

Does anybody use the Midmark IQecg with IQpath software with the Cloud? If so is the Midmark software licensing per computer or per device?

Spoke with AC and they say it is supported but don't know of any other users using it too.

A question to all of those with the Cloud version:
Is it easy for one user to switch between different computers?
Having only one connection-per-license do I have to log out of my patient room computer before logging into my office computer. Is this process hassle-free, or would I have to walk back to the patient room if I forgot to log out.

Concerning the Midmark ECG:
We have several clients who use it with our fully managed environment. I believe we have at least one client we support on AC Cloud who uses it, but can't remember who it is atm.

It works fine once you get the client and server pieces installed and configured, which takes quite a few steps. You have to purchase the RDC/Terminal services software from Midmark as well to make it work.

A word about the new MidMark IQVitals, they are not ready for primetime yet. MidMark changed the interface to AC, and it has some problems.

Thank you Indy.
That's what I was told. We only have to purchase IQpath software from Midmark to have our ECG machine work. We shouldn't need IQVitals but thanks for the note on it.

Do you know how easy it is to move from computer to computer with the cloud version? Do we have to remember to log off completely from RDP for another user to log on or do they just need to sign out of AC?

Dear Josue,

You asked about Macs--I use one as my primary computer with AC in the Cloud. Works great using Remote Desktop Connection.

In our office with one doctor we have 5 connections. We could get by on less but for optimal productivity for us 5 is best. I use two computers so that I can multitask and even if i have a problem with one, the other will work. My medical assistant has one and we have two in the front office--one primarily for billing (ACPM--at least when that's working) and the other for our receptionist.

John

Thanks Dr. Howland.
Do you have 5 connections for 5 total users, or are you paying for an extra connection to be able to work on an extra computer?
This is what I am curious about. Is it that impractical for the Dr to login to a room computer, log out of the RDP connection, and then move to another room all on one connection?
If so, this is a problem since we have 5 total rooms being shared between 2 doctors and 1 MA. They are constantly logging off and on throughout the day as well as going back to their office computers. As it is now (without the cloud/RDP) I can log into multiple computers with the same AC login without any problems. If I forget to log out it doesn't crash etc.