Software & EMR Requirements

ChiroTouch utilizes industry standards. This is extremely important. Your practice and patient information is YOURS. You own your ChiroTouch system and the data that it stores. Some systems store data in a propriety encrypted format, guaranteeing that you must continue service with them, pay to have access to your own patient information, or you simply lose years of hard work. Other systems are built on old or uncommon data platforms limiting what you can do with the system and its potential/scalability for future improvements. ChiroTouch is built on the backbone of Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft SQL Server .NET. These are two worldwide industry standard platforms that are supported by Microsoft and a community of seasoned professionals, dedicated to its support and service. Micorsoft SQL Server is the most robust and secure database platform in the market today.

The server is the “command center” for all computers running ChiroTouch in your office. Reliability and performance are the two most important aspects when making your decision. Due to your office’s dependency on the server, it needs to be capable of running 24/7 without problems. This is why it is important to dedicate your server for ChiroTouch. Using your server as a workstation is NOT recommended. The information and services ChiroTouch manages are invaluable to your practice. You wouldn’t want to jeopardize this critical component of your practice with other non-essential applications. You will want to ensure that your data is properly protected from viruses, theft, fire, and power surges. An automatic nightly backup of your patient data is a minimum requirement to ensure reliability. It is also highly recommended that you keep a backup of your data off-site in case of theft or fire. The more precautions you take, the quicker you can get your office up and running in case of a system disaster. Lastly, you want to choose a server that will meet the increase in demands while your office grows. This will ensure that you will not have to purchase a new server for the next 3-5 years because of a decrease in performance.

It is important to match your workstations to their specific tasks within your practice. A workstation that is exclusively used for running ChiroTouch will not need the resources as one that is being used for a multitude of computer programs and services. It is important to understand that the additional hardware and software you install and services you run on your workstations can affect ChiroTouch. Things like spyware, viruses, and unnecessary startup or system programs & services can slow down or crash your computer. You should know the computing behaviors of your staff to ensure that ChiroTouch will not be jeopardized with these problems. The best piece of advice we can give you is to buy quality hardware from name brands, match your computing needs with the hardware you buy, and have a professional setup it all up,

ChiroTouch is a Client/Server application so it needs a secure and stable network. Wired networks work best for connectivity and uptime, yet are not as mobile as a wireless network. In order to be connected to a wired network you need to be physically plugged into the router/hub. Wireless networks are great for mobility, but can have serious connection problems if not planned correctly. Wireless networks can be compromised by environmental interferences such as: outside interference, concrete walls, other wireless devices, poor placement of wireless access points, etc. ChiroTouch requires a stable wireless network environment. In an unstable wireless network environment, ChiroTouch will report “connection lost” errors and will not run as expected. Whether you choose a wired or wireless network, we recommend that you hire a network professional with appropriate networking installation/configuration experience to setup your network.

You must have an Internet connection to receive installation, updates, training, and support. We require a high-speed Internet connection if available in your area.

ChiroTouch’s network and hardware setup is a common installation procedure for any networking professional who is familiar with small business network and server setup. With that being said, you will need to make sure the personnel you select to manage your network have the basic skills and experience to do a professional job. Setting up a business network is not the same as setting up a standard home workgroup network, and the company or individuals you select should have the below skills:

• They should have previous experience setting up a business network
• They need to know TCP/IP protocols and setup procedures
• They should be very familiar with the setup and maintenance of Windows Server, DNS, & Active directory
• Be sure they can implement a backup that will meet the ChiroTouch basic backup criteria provided in the “Tech Sheet”, and they outline the plan for you and your staff so you can easily oversee the day-to-day procedure and ensure that backup is taking place each day
• They need to know how to secure a network and protect your equipment from outside interference
• Be sure that they make all primary and administrative codes accessible to necessary staff
• Ensure they can quickly get to your office should you need immediate assistance

Selecting the right professional will ultimately save you money and protect you, your staff, and your patients from technical grief ChiroTouch support staff is ready and willing to assist you and your chosen network technician. Don’t hesitate to call 1-800-852-1771 should you have any questions along the way.

Some of these tasks can be performed by you or your staff. If this is something you don’t feel comfortable doing, you may want to contract with your network technician to provide these basic services at a cost and schedule that fits your needs.

• Make sure computers have plenty of room for air flow and vents are clear from objects to prevent overheating
• It is important to make sure your server and workstations are regularly blown out with compressed air. It is ideal to perform this every 6 months. Waiting over a year or… millennium is way too long, potentially stopping your system fans and overheating your processors.
• Gently wipe down the server, workstations, devices, and monitors with approved cleaning solutions or products.
• Log in to the server and check to see if any system errors or updates are pending. Most servers will not install updates without direct consent as they are designed to perform around the clock. Many updates require a system shutdown, which would be inconvenient during your operational hours so updates will need to be invoked. Just check to make sure everything is running and backups are taking place. Some technicians can perform these duties remotely.

You are responsible for backing up your data. If you lose your data, recovery may be difficult and costly. Backing up your data is the best thing you can do to protect your office’s data, your patients’ data, and to preserve your paperless environment. Your understanding of the backup process is crucial to a successful backup. Although ChiroTouch customer support initially setup your scheduled backup of files onto your local server, they are not responsible for taking that second step. This is your responsibility. We strongly encourage that you hire a network professional to handle your backup procedures. Have a qualified IT technician contact Customer Support immediately to create a backup plan. Backing up your data will only take a few minutes of your time, and it’s worth the effort. Remember, it is your responsibility to make sure this is done daily.