Monday, February 14, 2011

OSCAR via the iPad - damn! Works GREAT!

I seem to have been able to make the iPad actually useful in clinic with OSCAR.

The trick seems to be to install Printopia on any Mac in the clinic that is able to print on any printer.

Then, install text expander on the iPad & make it sync to my MobileMe account.

Clinic notes are then a breeze to enter into OSCAR with text expander, and longer notes are simply dictated into the ipad using Dragon. All specialist referrals are dictated, then copy/pasted into the consultation.....then faxed directly from the iPad to the specialist with the patient in the room! Yes, occasionally I will type a note directly or via a blu-tooth keyboard....

Prescriptions print seamlessly from the iPad to any printer I select, and I use Dropbox on the iPad to print out patient pamphlets when necessary. I often now also email them to patients from the iPad.

Uninsured services (like sick notes, etc.) are also paid for immediately using the iPad, directly into Paypal, and receipts are emailed to the patient or printed. The IPad's multitasking makes this a breeze!

The iPad with the camera will make it easy to attach photos of things to patient notes. Can't wait to get that in April!

JF

BTW: had to work during superbowl - so used the TiVo app on the iPad to schedule the recording in the USA remotely, then the sling box app to stream the recording later to the ipad while at the office doing my paperwork. Made it bearable.

2 comments:

  1. Hello,

    My husband is a family doc in Ontario who is joining a FHO here. He is setting up a temporary office location that he'll use for the next year while his FHO's main clinic undergoes renovations.

    The FHO uses OSCAR and we are in the process of figuring out how to outfit his clinic with the right hardware. Your post about using an iPad to run OSCAR in the clinic is intriguing. Could you share more about how you've set up your operation?

    Do you have a desktop computer in the exam room, in addition to the iPad? We are hoping to use nothing but an iPad in the exam rooms, a desktop iMac at reception and then have Tom bring his existing MacBook from home to use at his desk when not seeing patients.

    Do you like to have a printer in each exam room or one at a central location?

    Do you have recommendations for a wifi router?

    Sorry to ask about such tactical details. We are new to this subject and would like to get things right the first time.

    Thanks,
    Tamara

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  2. I simply use OSCAR on the iPad like I would with any other computer. I also print prescriptions, etc. Wirelessly to my nurse's printer that is on her desk at reception. I have found that it is faster, however, to carry around a Macbook Air. I dictate into my iPhone using Dragon, and my notes are captured perfectly. I have both a 10" air and a 13" air. I prefer the later one for the better screen real estate. Inferior computers (ie. Every other brand) are just not worth the hassle. Each room has a charger for my Macbook air that I plug in to when power starts to get low.

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