Spotlight on Technology & Technique

Compulink: A Customizable EMR Solution

By Leslie Goldberg, Associate Editor

One of the biggest challenges ophthalmologists have in transitioning to electronic medical records is the need to customize an EMR system to suit the unique circumstances of eye care in general and their practice in particular. To help, Compulink has developed the Ophthalmology Advantage system, which comes preloaded with ophthalmic content and exam screens to help meet practices' clinical requirements and address their workflow needs. Here, a few users share their experiences and insights.

User Feedback

"The system is highly customizable. This was key to becoming our EMR solution. The system meets all of the requirements of our practice's demanding ophthalmologists," says George Gunshefski, office administrator at Eye & Laser Physicians in Walla Walla, Wash. "You are able to create your own fields and resize anything on the screen."

Another key benefit: the system integrates well with the practice's autophoropter and refractor.

Dallas Eye Care Associates went live with the practice management portion of Compulink in April 2008. The practice then followed with EMR implementation in October of that year. "I like that Compulink encompasses all of our needs: practice management, EMR, optical and ASC cap a bilities — one-stop shopping," says Debbie Weiss, practice administrator for Dallas Eye Care Associates.

"The transition to the practice management system was extremely easy," says Ms. Weiss. "We were able to get all of our billing and schedules under control before making the jump into EMR."

She says that the transition to EMR "was a whole different ballgame" because of doctor involvement in the process. "The staff caught onto EMR easily, but the doctors did not feel comfortable for about eight months." Ms. Weiss says the biggest obstacle was getting the doctors to give up their paper charts.

"What sold me on the Compulink system was their optical program. I was never able to get a good inventory program set up in the optical. Now, at the push of a button, I have an inventory on both opticals as well as our lab," says Ms. Weiss.

The Compulink EMR system has over 150 ophthalmic equipment interfaces.

Support

Eye & Laser Physicians purchased 12 hours of one-on-one training, and had a Compulink trainer visit for a week when the practice updated its software to use as a paperless medical records solution. The practice also had a trainer on site for the first two "live days," and Mr. Gunshefski says that everything ran very smoothly. He also notes that the staff had a great deal of experience using the system before the "go live" date.

The key to their successful implementation? They had a plan and stuck to it. Given Compulink's 15+ years experience in EMR solutions, they were prepared. "Compulink's training program is the best that I have experienced," says Ms. Weiss. "The trainers were well-versed in their abilities and I liked that I could have a trainer come to help out with individual needs after the ‘go live’."

Ms. Weiss recommends having a trainer come back to the practice after a year. "Staff members forget about the wonderful things that the software can do when they get bogged down into a routine," she explains. "Having a trainer come back after a year helps the staff refocus its attention and find ways to become more efficient."

"The one thing that is consistent with Compulink is change—the system is always evolving," says Ms.Weiss. "With today's uncertain times in the healthcare system, you need a software company that can go with the flow. Compulink does this for us." OM

For more information on Compulink, visit www.compulinkadvantage.com.