which practice management system?

RE: which practice management system?

Christopher Saul — Sun, 10 Apr 2016 18:21:10 GMT

In my time I've used mid shires, ventana, voyager and most recently robovet

I can't speak from the management side of things but as a clinician I'd say ventana was the worst and voyager the best.

Robovet is considerably better than ventana but only in the same way as, say, botulism is considerably better than rabies.

RE: which practice management system?

Rachel Brown — Sun, 10 Apr 2016 17:25:41 GMT

Hi Michael

We were dealing with the Idexx crowd -Animana. Cloud based and seemed good. Had the demo set up and was happily working with it. However we got the total runaround trying to arrange on site demo and even price quotation, with the eventual failure to reply to our emails on their side. We figured if they didn't want our business we would no longer try to deal with them. We were extremely disappointed with their customer service as we do a decent bit of business with Idexx.

Rachel

RE: which practice management system?

Andrew Henfrey — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 13:12:46 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]

Very odd. We have signed up for VetEnvoy but been told that we cannot send a full history from EzVetPro until a future upgrade has been made - about a month.

Possibly we have a different version of the software.

[/quote]

We had this upgrade/update in the last month. Prior to this we routinely got requests for histories from insurance companies if we didn't send paper copies, so we didn't use the VetEnvoy for any except Petplan. We have started now and had no problems so far.

The sending histories with claims has to be activated in the Practice part of the Reference section as I remember.

RE: which practice management system?

Bob Russell — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 10:51:02 GMT

[quote user="Andrew Henfrey"]

been using VetEnvoy on ezVetPro for about 3 years now for Petplan claims and have recently started doing other companies also as the system will send the full history automatically with each claim. About 1/2 of our claims are now via VetEnvoy. The microchip online registration works very well also via VetEnvoy.

I find it unbelievable that some systems still can't email histories [Cirrhus I think] and we still end up getting faxes!

[/quote]

Very odd. We have signed up for VetEnvoy but been told that we cannot send a full history from EzVetPro until a future upgrade has been made - about a month.

Possibly we have a different version of the software.

RE: which practice management system?

Anthony Todd — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 23:20:32 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Todd"]If you like have another auto backup to another hard drive [/quote]

Sh1t, big advice error, should be back up to another hard drive on the surgery/branch network, or even two of them, that is to another box or boxes.

That way if your "server" box fails you can install another box and transfer the data and away you go.

sorry.

RE: which practice management system?

Anthony Todd — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 18:47:27 GMT

[quote user="Andrew Mellor"]he has said he could build a system for us either cloud or server based with everything we need for a few hundred quid using the hardware we already have. scary though , what would you do if you lost all your data ?[/quote]

Backup, backup and before you leave take one copy with you....

The other thing I never understood is why people put up with off-site support. Keep a spare box loaded with the essentials, load your backup or even just plug in a new HD and off you go, what 30 minutes, they're just plug an' play.... [Er, program on one HD data on the other]

I don't know why loss of data would be your major concern. If you like have another auto backup to another hard drive in the box so you don't or can't forget and, when you remember ,rip a backup off and take it with you....

When I hear about the costs of some of these systems and all the add-ons I really wonder if they're worth it.....

RE: which practice management system?

Richard Carter — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 17:04:38 GMT

Teleos for 10+ years, very easy and good support team, seem to be able to handle most things by remote access. I see that both my neighbours are now Teleos practices as well - basics work well, minimal down time, have previously used others where you were needing to reboot the system every other day, you had to buy the computers from them etc. They have an app for phone for consults and pricing away from the practice and as mentioned above can use the vetenvoy for insurance, labs, id chips

RE: which practice management system?

Andrew Henfrey — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 20:34:07 GMT

I find it unbelievable that some systems still can't email histories [Cirrhus I think] and we still end up getting faxes!

RE: which practice management system?

Rob Loxley — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 14:34:37 GMT

we use VetEnvoy for insurance claims and it speeds things up - however you need a PMS which will also allow you to efficiently process claims for all the other insurance companies that don't use vetenvoy. There is a charge from vetenvoy to send claims (monthly and per-claim), though you do get a SPVS discount.
We also use vetenvoy for direct microchip registration which save som much time and mis-keying of contact numbers...

We used to use VetEnvoy for SMS messaging but that was withdrawn and out PMS provider uses a different gateway

RE: which practice management system?

Bob Russell — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 13:23:55 GMT

Ezvetpro have not charged for activating Vetenvoy. We have just had the system set up but not really tried it yet!

We found RXworks really fussy but that was only when it was demonstrated!

RE: which practice management system?

Peter Ding — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 12:19:44 GMT

Think laterally. Computer management systems are there to make your life easier.

One of the chores of practice is insurance claims, another downloading lab results and chasing them up, another reminders and transferring client contact history details to the client card. Also forwarding client histories, Pricing up lab tests accurately and consistently. All those chores can be done AUTOMATICALLY ELECTRONICALLY with all things recorded on the client card and you being sent an internal mail message to say that client has a new result etc.

here is an excellent communication system out there that helps almost all computers systems communicate to wholesaler, labs, client, insurance companies. It's called Vetenvoy. It's independent of all the veterinary software systems.

Ask them which veterinary software system has the greatest percentage of their users using them. Which is responsible for over half their work. Which doesn't charge extra for this wonderful functionality. It's the same one software system out of of 8 or 10, and it works!

Other systems may claim they can use Vetenvoy etc but when it comes down to it relatively few of their users use that functionality compared to Teleos users. Mostly because they charge extra for it, or it doesn't integrate as seemlessly. Speak to Vetenvoy.

Whilst Teleos is a little old fashioned in some respects they don't rip you off by charging you for Idexx or Vetenvoy activation, give good support and by using their software your life ends up being that bit easier. I recommend them.

RE: which practice management system?

Lucy Fleming — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 18:42:22 GMT

[quote user="Michael Nolan"]Looks like anything other than stay with ventana then! Has anyone experienced the new Idexx cloud based system? (I think it is called Animalia)[/quote]

Animana. And not yet...but check back in a few months and we will

RE: which practice management system?

Mark Hedberg — Sat, 05 Mar 2016 20:18:40 GMT

I rather like RxWorks; certainly prefer it to EzVet.

RE: which practice management system?

Andrew Mellor — Sat, 05 Mar 2016 11:02:02 GMT

rx works and everything works well, we use 22% of its functionality apparently, we have had for years , it was a total nightmare data transferring from an old ms dos system before, still have weird gremlins in the system but think most computers do, it does everything well but it is really expensive . One of my nurses husbands provides tech support for hp uk , and they are charged yearly what I pay monthly !!! he has said he could build a system for us either cloud or server based with everything we need for a few hundred quid using the hardware we already have. scary though , what would you do if you lost all your data ?

RE: which practice management system?

Steve Johnson — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 20:35:32 GMT

I did the 'show me how it works' thing with one of their staff. Seemed quite nice but I nearly fainted at the month to month costs...

RE: which practice management system?

Michael Nolan — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 14:11:17 GMT

Looks like anything other than stay with ventana then! Has anyone experienced the new Idexx cloud based system? (I think it is called Animalia)

RE: which practice management system?

Bob Russell — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 13:39:01 GMT

[quote user="Andrew Henfrey"]

ezVetPro. Had 10 years now. Works well, not changing

[/quote]

Unexciting, rock solidly stable, licence and support pricey especially as you hardly ever need to contact them with issues!

If you just want something that works, performs all the necessary tasks and a lot more then this is still my choice. If you want dancing girls and pretty lights, you will be underwhelmed!

They either have the driest of senses of humour or none at all so don't expect to be wooed by the sales pitch!

Sticking with it!

RE: which practice management system?

Alan Tevendale — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 08:19:10 GMT

I've been with Verifac for a good number of years and moved over to their latest offering, Evolution, in 2011. It's an excellent system and as Steve Johnson says their support is excellent. All the staff are helpful and problems get solved very quickly. They are also fairly open to making changes to the software if needed - one of the advantages of the company owners being the programmers.

RE: which practice management system?

grumpyoldman — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 00:14:14 GMT

Binned Ventana in 2007, it was a disaster ,had Teleos ever since its been great ,with several in between upgrades , software support is expensive at £200 a month ,and not very good if i am honest ,but luckily we hardly ever need it.

RE: which practice management system?

Ashley Rubens — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 00:04:44 GMT

[quote user="sajackson"]

[quote user="Ashley Rubens"]Assisi, a new system[/quote]

Is their PMS better than their web site?

[/quote]

Yes! To be honest that did initially put me off, but on reflection there's plenty of companies with fantastic websites and sh*te customer service...

Any member of staff can pick up the phone and speak directly to someone who actually solves the problem (over half the time there and then via remote log in) rather than a help centre or a sales rep. I'd rather pay for that service than the advertising for new clients!

RE: which practice management system?

Andrew Henfrey — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 21:32:01 GMT

ezVetPro. Had 10 years now. Works well, not changing

RE: which practice management system?

Steve Johnson — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 20:27:17 GMT

We swapped from VetOne (I shall say nothing inflammatory) to Verifac's Evolution. It meant going from cloud based to server on site but apart from it taking a long time for them to get the VetEnvoy up and running, mostly it has been fairly painless. I still don't think we use enough of the functionality tho!

We have found their phone help to be very on the money, most issues sorted almost immediately and they seem to be willing to listen to suggestions.

RE: which practice management system?

Rob Loxley — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 19:45:31 GMT

Do any people still buy their IT equipment from their PMS supplier?? Ours runs on bog-standard off the shelf PCs, including the 'server'. Do all PMS systems not now integrate with the wholesalers?

RE: which practice management system?

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 19:13:45 GMT

I dissed NVS Vetcom but it is useful if you are an NVS customer as it integrates seamlessly with their ordering system. It is a monthly subscription and their customer service is good and always available plus if you need a new monitor or whatever it usually comes with your next NVS order. It is just not particularly intuitive and a bit fragile if you hit the wrong key but it works and TBH its probably me as a technophobe as much as anything that's the problem. The fact we've stuck with it must mean its not too bad. However I probably would not consider it it I was not an NVS customer.

RE: which practice management system?

Nicola Cole — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 18:39:02 GMT

Teleos fan here