PracticeWorks Cloud: What are the Pros and Cons?

[matt_ackerman]

Recently, I have been asked for some of the pros and cons to our PracticeWorks Cloud service.  The top reasons to go to the cloud are very straight forward.  Some have specifically to do with PracticeWorks and some have to do with security.

1. Connect from anywhere, anytime.  Your PracticeWorks software is now available to you no matter where you are, and no longer requires PracticeWorks to be installed on the workstation or laptop you are working from.  Whether you are at home or on vacation in the Bahamas, if you have an internet connection you can access your PracticeWorks software.
2. For multi-location sites, this is an ideal way to share a single database.  You do not need to maintain expensive VPN or T1 lines between your offices to review patient information and see images that were taken in a different office.
3. PracticeWorks Cloud should reduce your IT headache by taking care of all PracticeWorks software updates and backups.  If you are not an Imaging customer, you are no longer required to own and maintain a business class server in your practice either.
4. By storing your data in our storage facilities, you will significantly improve your security and lower your HIPAA-related risk.  Moving the Patient Health Information and Personally Identifiable Information out of the practice is a huge step to reducing our risk of breach.  Your data will be stored in our Tier 3 and 4 data centers where it is monitored and protected 24/7 by electronic and physical security that cannot be matched by you in your own office.
5. Consider what would happen if your current server went down?  How long would it take for your to get back up and running?  In some instances, it could take up to a week to get that new server ordered, installed and loaded with all the require software.  With our PracticeWorks Cloud service, you no longer need to worry about the time and cost to replace that server.  

There are a few reasons you might want to not consider moving to the Cloud:

1. If you have a slow internet connection that cannot be improved because of your location or exorbitant costs, the Cloud may not be a good choice.   A good, reliable service is dependent upon fast, reliable internet.  Customers with multiple offices, each in different states will sometimes run into problems finding reliable internet to connect their offices -- this is not the same thing.  Each office is only required to have their own connection to the internet, not to another office.
2. If you use (and depend upon) third-party software to run your business, the Cloud might not be for you.  We are able to integrate our software in the cloud with a few of the major third-party software companies, but not all of them.  You should speak with your sales representative to see if you have any of these software products in your practice and whether they will work in our Cloud.
3. If you like the control of having your own data in your hands, you probably won't like the Cloud.  While the data is 100% owned by you, we manage the day-to-day operation and availability of that data in the software.  So if you want to use it to allow a third-party to access it, or if you like to make your own back-ups, you won't be able to do that.  That said, if you ever need a copy of your data, you are fully entitled to it and we will make haste to get it to you as quickly as possible.  
4. If you are looking to move to the Cloud only to save money, this might not be the answer.  Depending on the size and configuration of your practice, your fees may decrease or increase, but on average your overall IT costs will likely stay about the same.  Again, talk to your sales representative to find out what the costs would be like for your practice.
5. Lastly, there are a few Carestream services that do not function at this time in the Cloud.  If you are a using any of the Fingerprint, eForms or Voice-Activated Perio services, you may not be satisfied with the Cloud, as these are not currently approved for use.

[cabaa99]

Hi. Can you update this post with 2020 information.

Also can you answer the following:

- How does the Cloud version handle the integrated credit card payments provided by your partner TSI? Currently the local version allows to have an MSR attached to the PC and when the card is read the info posts directly to the ledger without the need to type anything. 

- How does the Cloud version handle the acquisition of xray images with the Carestream sensors, which in the local version go directly into the patient's chart?

- Does the cloud version support integration with Weave?

- Does the cloud version support integration NEA Fast Attach?

- Are custom experts that, for example, create a CSV file with multiple fields of the patient database records, supported by the Cloud version? 

- Are custom events and responses supported by the Cloud version?

[adamweaver]

- How does the Cloud version handle the integrated credit card payments provided by your partner TSI? Currently the local version allows to have an MSR attached to the PC and when the card is read the info posts directly to the ledger without the need to type anything. 

TSYS integration with PracticeWorks continues to work in the same way on Cloud as it does with your on premise set up

- How does the Cloud version handle the acquisition of xray images with the Carestream sensors, which in the local version go directly into the patient's chart?

Images captures with your local version of CS Imaging are immediately sent to the Imaging Server (to ensure immediate access to these images) - all 2D images are then also uploaded to the Cloud for backup and access from the chart at a later time

- Does the cloud version support integration with Weave?

Weave officially partnered with us last fall - both they and Carestream Dental are working on Cloud integration, but it is not yet available - stay tuned!

- Does the cloud version support integration NEA Fast Attach?

Absolutely

- Are custom experts that, for example, create a CSV file with multiple fields of the patient database records, supported by the Cloud version? 

- Are custom events and responses supported by the Cloud version?

All customer experts/events should work just fine on Cloud, as the software itself is the same as the on premise version....just with the added benefits of potential off-site access, having backup included, having updates done for you, and of course the world-class data security that comes with Cloud. @matt_ackerman can you confirm this for us?

[cabaa99]

Thanks. F/u:
- Do you have a timeline for weave? This year? That’s is critical path for us.
- You mentioned an imaging server. Where is that located? Do we need that in premise and if so what are the requirements?

[adamweaver]

- Do you have a timeline for weave? This year? That’s is critical path for us.

There is not yet an official timeline for Cloud integration with Weave - our development team has been working on that, but of course due to Covid-19 there have been some delays - we will be sure to keep you and everyone posted as soon as Weave integration is available for Cloud!

- You mentioned an imaging server. Where is that located? Do we need that in premise and if so what are the requirements?

Your Imaging server would be located on premise. When it comes to Cloud, an Imaging server is more of a storage location for all images....it does not act as a "server" in the traditional sense. Most of our clients are able to convert an existing computer into this server/storage location.  

For system requirements, please visit our website at https://www.carestreamdental.com/en-us/resource-library/

If you have further questions that pertain directly to YOUR practice, do always feel free to call us at 800 944 6365 and one of our account managers will be more than happy to discuss your particular circumstances and needs!