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Automating Routine Tasks
Sher also created several macros
in Access that automate housekeeping tasks both on his desktop
database as well as on the handheld. One of these macros
is used to update the tables that provide content for the
drop down lists on the form. The desktop database contains
tables of surgeon names, medical facilities, procedures,
diagnoses, and other parameters. During synchronization,
as new case records are downloaded from the handheld, the
macro automatically updates the desktop database tables
with the new data. The tables are then uploaded back to
the handheld to update the list tables.
The macro procedure also scans through
all records to eliminate duplicate entries. For example,
if he worked with a new surgeon several times in one day,
the macro picks the doctor's name once from the handheld
records and adds it to the Physician table in the desktop
database
A second macro periodically cleans out
old case records from the desktop database and dumps them
to an archives file. Matching records are also deleted from
the handheld. The tables of physicians, facilities, procedures,
and other parameters remain intact even though the records
have been removed.
Sher also solved the problem of how
to keep track of records that have not been billed, while
avoiding duplicate billings. He created a field in his desktop
database called "Billing Flag," which defaults
to zero when a new case record is entered from the handheld
billing application during synchronization. A third macro
prints new billing forms from database records that have
zeros in the Billing Flag. The macro then changes the flag
to a 1 to mark the record as billed. On the next synchronization,
these newly billed records are backwritten to the handheld
so they are not billed again.
The solution is also much more flexible
than working with paper forms. Drop down lists can be modified
in seconds by simply updating the database table. In addition,
the drag and drop functionality of the handheld application
allows the easy creation of new fields to meet the needs
of the billing company as well as the physician.
Maximizing Billing Efficiency
Sher recently presented the handheld
application to his group of over 100 anesthesiologists.
He reports that enthusiasm was very high, and his Pocket
PC application is now being evaluated as a solution for
the entire group.
The ultimate goal is to migrate the
practice to a real time wireless billing solution using
handheld devices. Another SYWARE product called mEnable
allows real time interactive access to server databases
from a handheld PC. Physicians will be able to tap in billing
data from the operating room or any other convenient location,
and the records will go directly to the billing company
for immediate processing. As Sher points out, "Every
day you save on billing is real money."
Related links: SYWARE's
Visual CE.
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