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[1] http://http://www.drlarryemmott.com/general/speakingbike.htm

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A review from PC Magazine, read it all here Give the Gift of Vision [1]

Even a powerful desktop with the latest components isn’t much fun if your monitor isn’t up to snuff. In fact, a mighty PC possessing Herculean 3D graphics and an excellent CPU will always appear hum drum when operated through a small outdated LCD. Likewise, a fancy monitor is certain to add appeal and enjoyment to an otherwise aging system. If you get one with a TV tuner, it can double as your TV, too saving precious dorm room space. And the best part, you’ll likely pay less than you think for such luxury.When choosing a widescreen, a good one should have a wide selection of ports to connect to various devices around your home. For example, many modern LCDs now feature both analog VGA and digital HDMI inputs to accommodate old and new graphics cards. And if you’re lucky your monitor will also sport component video inputs for attaching game consoles and other consumer electronics. The main benefit of a widescreen LCD, of course, is its wider format. Even though these stretched out screens offer a little less in actual screen area, they make for better letterbox DVD viewing and high-resolution 3D gaming.

[1] http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1963791,00.asp

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Thank you.

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Faster: You don’t need to go get the chart and re-file it, you don’t need to spend time writing the same thing over and over again.
Better Organized: Everything isn’t stuffed in a folder but is organized in the electronic chart by default. That means users can instantly find anything with an electronic search. The chart will never be lost somewhere in an office stack.
Less Expensive: Paper charts and file cabinets for 2500 patients will cost at least $15,000 and take up a chunk of office space. A good data server for the dental office will cost about $3,500, accommodate a lot more than 2500 patients and take up about a foot of space.

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Sikka Software Corporation announced today that it is providing the dental community online access to its study club with articles from noted dentists and speakers, online chat ability with Sikka Software technical support and ability to view the features in the latest versions of the program releases. The focus of the SikkaSoft Study Club and Marketplace Beta version (SSCM) is to address the business optimization opportunity in a dental practice. This service is available completely free to all dentists. Online updates are relevant to existing SikkaSoft customers. 
Look Here [1], to check it out.

[1] http://www.sikkasoft.com/sscmktplace.html

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A few weeks ago Kodak announced they were considering alternatives for their Health Group, which includes the dental systems. The press release is here: [1]
What most analysts feel is that the announcement means that the group is for sale. The reaction of many people has been anxiety and uncertainty. That is understandable whenever there is a change like this and the future is uncertain it is frightening.
I have been a strong advocate for the Kodak products for years going back to Trophy and to a lesser extent Practice Works. I believe the underlying value of these systems is still present. I do not believe that the sale of the businesses by Kodak means they are in danger of failing. In fact they show very strong revenue (2.7 billion in 2005) which is one reason Kodak is considering selling them off. That is, the income from the sale will help improve the overall financial picture for Kodak which has been hit extremely hard by the decline of the film business.
So my advice; don’t panic and jump ship if you are a Kodak user. As a potential buyer this announcement does add another element of risk. On the other hand the quality of the products and the superior infrastructure of development, support and training that Kodak has created is still in place.

[1] http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=2709&pq-locale=en_US&gpcid=0900688a8051247a

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Going paperless is a process not an event. At first you will need the paper charts on all your patients as you will be referring to the previous paper entries. As time goes on you will need to refer less and less to the old paper records. After a year all the current x-rays will be digital and all the patients recent entries and treatment plans should be digital. It is now possible to stop pulling charts. However at first you will need to refer to the old charts fairly often for entries or x-rays more than a year old. Eventually you will rarely ever need to pull a chart.
Imagine what it would be like if you never had to pull a paper chart. How much time does it take to pull the charts every day and then re-file them. And of course there is the daily ritual of the lost chart, which no one can find only to have it turn up days later either misfiled or hiding in a stack on the doctor’s desk.

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If you have ever viewed a picture on a computer screen you have used digital image management. In the dental office image management can be anything from simply viewing a patient photo to enhancing a digital radiograph with advanced diagnostic software. In its simplest form image management is like an electronic photo album. It allows you to capture store retrieve and display an image. However unlike a paper photo album with digital image management you can do two additional things. That is transmit and most importantly enhance the image.
We mentally distinguish between two image types, x-rays and photos (visible light). However in many ways they is really no difference as far as the computer is concerned. Just as a 35mm color slide and an x-ray transparency are different versions of the same photographic technology a digital color image and a digital x-ray are different versions of the same digital technology. The primary difference is in how the image is acquired, yet once it is digitized the computer software needed to work with an x-ray or visible light image is really the same.

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