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Always Examine the Political Landscape.
Whether it's a software company, a manufacturer, or a dental distributor, it's not unusual to hear reasons why you shouldn't buy a particular product. Practice Management Software companies tell you that you should never use a "bridge" to access clinical software. They say that you should only "integrate" your images into the same database used to manage the business side of your practice. Sometimes a bridge is the right solution. If you are using practice management software that you will replace over the next few years, it makes sense to use separate clinical software to store your camera and x-ray images. It's a pretty good strategy to encourage you to keep all your practice information, along with all your images, in a single database, so that changing software becomes almost unthinkable.
Most manufacturers make a major investment in creating software that they believe enhances the products they make, like cameras, sensors and scanners. There is also imaging software, like ImageXL, Gendex Platinum, and others, that makes itself compatible with most practice management software, and supports competing products like the cameras and digital x-ray products just mentioned. So while "integration" of images is a great solution, here is simple bit of advice. "Don't Burn the Bridge!" Many times, a bridge is the best solution. It is unfortunate that most practice management software companies say they have discontinued many bridges or they are just too hard to create. It is simply a matter of "won't" not "can't."
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Most manufacturers take all the work out of "creating" a bridge. New advances allow twain drivers to make different software compatible.
When a software company tells you that you should only buy their private label intra-oral camera to avoid problems, it may be time to evaluate the advice. All cameras send information through a cable to a capture board or USB port. The only thing that should inhibit a great image is the quality ofthe camera. There are many quality cameras on the market.
When it comes to digital x-ray systems, the bias continues. And it comes from manufacturers, distributors and software companies. Those that don't have a sensor to sell may say that Phosphor Plate scanning systems are the only good decision. And those without a scanning system say that sensors are the only true way to to digital. And then there is the building up or tearing down of certain brands, in order to establish an advantage for what each party has the ability to sell. It becomes exhausting, trying to work through the political maze.
But there is good news. There is not a "one size fits all" solution when it comes to technology. Each practice has its own specific needs. It makes sense to evaluate the information you gather when making technology decisions. Sometimes it's just a matter of finding a resource that offers the most important ingredient. Choice! |