AVImark

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Vet Med

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Well...I kind of got the idea that AVImark is used for appointment booking and charging out patients, not record keeping. Notes can be put for a client/patient, but not medical notes...I've never seen it used that way :oops:. I like it for its functions, it seems to work pretty well for a one doctor practice.
 
The clinic I work for (SA) and my favorite clinic to shadow at (Mixed) both use Infinity.

Can it be buggy? Yes. Does it do its job pretty well? Yeah, I think so. I like the software and it didn't really take too long to train into it.
 
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Curious how many people use IntraVet. That's all I've ever seen used (I've had decent experiences in different types of practices, but always stayed close to home to shadow).
 
Vet Med said:
We do use it for medical notes- there is an option to choose treatment, items, diagnosis etc. So if a dog has arthritis it shows up in bright red under diagnosis and then you can type notes in with it. Then you pick treatments for what meds to give and that shows up too. If you are curious about patient history all you have to do is scroll down.
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This is how we used it too. Buggy as all get out but quite versatile. Can't tell you how many times I've heard "Please shut down all instances of avimark" over the intercom though. It was always freezing up or doing something.

I don't think it'd be good for a real large practice (like 6+ doctors) but worked OK for a 3 doctor one.
 
CorporateFatCat said:
Well...I kind of got the idea that AVImark is used for appointment booking and charging out patients, not record keeping. Notes can be put for a client/patient, but not medical notes...I've never seen it used that way :oops:. I like it for its functions, it seems to work pretty well for a one doctor practice.
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Yeah... I'm not sure what program it is (it's definitely not AVImark) but the practice I take my cats to uses a system that allows you to input actual records. Doctors' notes, test results, reports from specialists and the emergency clinic... it's all in there in detail and appears to be relatively easy to access. When I move, they'll be able to print out most of the essentials in a matter of minutes instead of having to spend hours copying everything in their files.

One of the cats' electronic records is 28 pages long. His folder looked like it housed half a ream of paper when I last saw it... two years ago. I don't even want to think about the hassle of having to fax that monstrosity to a new clinic. Personally, I like the convenience of having everything in the computer.

We used AVImark at the last clinic I worked in, and while it was pretty straightforward and easy to use, you couldn't put anything even remotely approximating an actual record into the system. Great if you needed to look up something very basic (like vaccines or former purchases)... but for any sort of detail, you'd have to actually pull a hard copy of the pet's file.

There's nothing wrong with AVImark, per se... but it wouldn't be my first choice.
 
We used AVImark at the last clinic I worked in, and while it was pretty straightforward and easy to use, you couldn't put anything even remotely approximating an actual record into the system. Great if you needed to look up something very basic (like vaccines or former purchases)... but for any sort of detail, you'd have to actually pull a hard copy of the pet's file.
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I have to say, I don't think y'all were using it appropriately, or at least to the full power that it could. We were as paperless as we could get. Really the only paper in the office was from lab results and those were input into the computer ASAP and then filed away. Invoices to clients were the other notable source of paper utilized. Everything else was in the computer: the head doctor demanded it.

It worked well, except for the few times that AviMark refused to work for whatever reason, but if you really needed to know something, there was a local terminal you could pull up info on, it just didn't work across the hospital. That was only once a year or so.
 
HopefulAg said:
I have to say, I don't think y'all were using it appropriately, or at least to the full power that it could. We were as paperless as we could get. Really the only paper in the office was from lab results and those were input into the computer ASAP and then filed away. Invoices to clients were the other notable source of paper utilized. Everything else was in the computer: the head doctor demanded it.
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I'm wondering if we may have been using an older version... said practice wasn't particularly tech-savvy. I think there'd been some discussion about upgrading, and the powers-that-be were not having it.
 
I haven't used Avimark; since you asked about other systems, I'm used DVMax and RxWorks (more experience with the former than the latter). Both seemed pretty straightforward. The practice that used DVMax did not use macros or other more 'advanced' features to expedite entering exam findings, but those are available and the SA vet I shadowed used those to good effect. They did have the blood machines hooked up so that you could send results directly in to the patient's file instead of having to print it out, scan it, save it, and then import to DVMax. I liked the on-screen layout of previous history better in RxWorks (you could seamlessly scroll through instead of having to double-click on each entry to see all of the text), but entering billing was slightly more cumbersome/took more keystrokes.
 
I've used both Avimark and Cornerstone. Both seem to be pretty good systems. We never used Avimark for record keeping, but you most certainly can. We experimented with the idea but never did cuz Doc just didn't want to deal with it. Cornerstone is definitely a fully functional paperless system. Both have their bugs.
 
The practice I interned at used Cornerstone. Absolutely love it :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
The clinic I work at uses AVImark and we use it for all pretty much all of our record keeping. You can create medical conditions where you can write a SOAP, post diagnosis codes, import lab work from in-house machines and outside labs, etc. You can link radiographs to it too...but we don't do that. I think just because no one has wanted to spend the time to figure out how to. The only thing you can't upload into it are referral reports or things that are simply faxed to your office. However, the doctors I work with will rewrite all pertinent information as a note in the chart.
 
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My understanding is that Avimark can't be used for legally defensible medical records. Note, this is just my understanding, and I'd have to sort through last semester's business notes to confirm it, and I won't do that till after the end of this semester.

The reason, as we were told, is that Avimark's records field can be altered after the fact, which invalidates use for records. The only exception, we were told, is if Avimark is set to 'write to' another file system that is used for the records that does not allow changes.
 
For those that use AVImark for record keeping, do you have to enter the vaccine lot number every time? That must be a pain....
 
I've mainly used Cornerstone, and loved it. We went paper-light about 2 years ago and Cornerstone has pretty much everything needed for an easy transition.

Now, the ER clinic I work at uses IntraVet, and I HATE IT! It is tedious and the layout is obnoxious.

It really is all based on personal choice, but if I was opening up a practice I would invest in Cornerstone for sure.
 
Vet Med said:
Not at all. If you are just giving a shot you just choose treatments and then the shot name.

There is also a cool feature where if you are doing... say... a puppy visit. You just have to type in 1st puppy visit and everything pops up automatically- shots, exam, free puppy kit, fecal test, deworm- everything you do for that visit. Same with annual you just have to type in annual and everything pops right up and you can delete something or put notes into diagnosis etc.
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That is what I meant when I referred to macros. DVMax allows you to set them up, too; I'm not sure about RxWorks, since I didn't have to do as much with the records at that job (the vets entered their own notes directly in to the computer), but I wouldn't be surprised if you could.
 
Vet Med said:
Not at all. If you are just giving a shot you just choose treatments and then the shot name.

There is also a cool feature where if you are doing... say... a puppy visit. You just have to type in 1st puppy visit and everything pops up automatically- shots, exam, free puppy kit, fecal test, deworm- everything you do for that visit. Same with annual you just have to type in annual and everything pops right up and you can delete something or put notes into diagnosis etc.
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What I mean though is that you need keep--for example--the rabies lot number on file with the patient. I think you might even need that number to get the tag. The shelter I volunteer at has an Outlook program made for them to have a digital medical record for each animal. Right now it sucks and I have to enter all vaccine lot #'s manually :(. Takes a lot of patience, but it's something that needs to be kept on file. We usually just keep the sticker on the paper file where I work though.

That's how our AVImark works too, just it's not for the record, it's for charging out the client. I mean, it has the client and patient info in the system with all recent procedures, purchases, etc., but all exam notes go in their paper file. Honestly, I wouldn't see our practice going paperless anytime soon. Doc likes to make notes later on the file and if it isn't sitting on his desk, I really don't think he would remember to look the patient up on the computer and enter his notes that way. He just wouldn't remember if it's not sitting in his face :rolleyes:.
 
Vet Med said:
Not at all. If you are just giving a shot you just choose treatments and then the shot name.

There is also a cool feature where if you are doing... say... a puppy visit. You just have to type in 1st puppy visit and everything pops up automatically- shots, exam, free puppy kit, fecal test, deworm- everything you do for that visit. Same with annual you just have to type in annual and everything pops right up and you can delete something or put notes into diagnosis etc.
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Wow, that is pretty cool. The computer system where I work is called PetWare, and it has certain "packages" that you can order up, like pre-anesthetic bloodwork, but nothing like that for puppy wellness visits. Having that would be sooo awesome and save a lot of time, too!
 
Does anybody know anything about VetBlue? We use Avimark, and I am not a huge fan. (but I am a Mac person in a serious way and get easily annoyed with PCs. :p)

My main impression of Avimark is: 1) It's fine for the most part. Except when it freezes every day at discharge time. 2) We probably don't use it to the fullest of its capabilities. 3) When a practice is purchased, the new owner doesn't necessarily change any/much of the stuff in Avimark. This is fine, but the new owner probably has changed a bunch of other stuff about the practice, and changing the way exams are listed etc would be a pain in the beginning, but probably helpful in the long run.
 
All the clinics' I have been at used Avimark and we could upload photos of animals, especially of injuries. We also had a special scanner that would upload our radio-graph's digitally. Yes you had to go through some special functions to type in a detailed report of your clients visit and diagnosis, but we keep all of our records digitally backed up in it. As for suggesting anything else sorry couldn't help haven't been exposed to any other program!!! :)
 
My experience with other systems is limited; mostly I've just used Cornerstone. It can be a little buggy sometimes, but overall I really like it.

Despite my minimum of exposure to other systems, I can't help but think they've ALL got to be better than paper records. After working at an electronic-records-only clinic (including radiology) for so long, I seriously doubt I could go back to paper-based record keeping ever again. I'm so spoiled. ;) I cringe when I get handwritten records faxed from other clinics. Spending 45 minutes just trying to decipher enough chicken scratch to get a simple vaccine history?? :scared: Noooo!
 
sumstorm said:
My understanding is that Avimark can't be used for legally defensible medical records. Note, this is just my understanding, and I'd have to sort through last semester's business notes to confirm it, and I won't do that till after the end of this semester.

The reason, as we were told, is that Avimark's records field can be altered after the fact, which invalidates use for records. The only exception, we were told, is if Avimark is set to 'write to' another file system that is used for the records that does not allow changes.
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I'm pretty sure you're right. Mostly because there is no dating of data that is put into the system. In our school's system (something pretty ancient and made from VA technology), once a note is signed, it can't be altered. If additional info needs to be added, you must use an addendum. If you could add and take away info from the medical record at will, it would negate the use of them in a legal setting.
 
For those that use AVImark for record keeping, do you have to enter the vaccine lot number every time? That must be a pain....
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Yah, we had to do that. It'd pop up with a screen whenever you put in the rabies vaccination treatment option, and then you had to go get a rabies tag and put in the numbers. Not too bad, just takes a minute.
 
Psorophoraferox said:
My experience with other systems is limited; mostly I've just used Cornerstone. It can be a little buggy sometimes, but overall I really like it.

Despite my minimum of exposure to other systems, I can't help but think they've ALL got to be better than paper records. After working at an electronic-records-only clinic (including radiology) for so long, I seriously doubt I could go back to paper-based record keeping ever again. I'm so spoiled. ;) I cringe when I get handwritten records faxed from other clinics. Spending 45 minutes just trying to decipher enough chicken scratch to get a simple vaccine history?? :scared: Noooo!
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Haha, I agree. The only thing at our clinic that's still hard-copy are radiographs... and don't get me started on that, haha. Some of our older clients have scanned-in handwritten records though... and they're horrid D8 So hard to read!
 
HopefulAg said:
Yah, we had to do that. It'd pop up with a screen whenever you put in the rabies vaccination treatment option, and then you had to go get a rabies tag and put in the numbers. Not too bad, just takes a minute.
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You can program in system tables the vaccine information and you only have to enter in lot numbers and expirations when you open a new tray, then it is automatically recorded when you enter in the vaccine treatment. You can have the system count up chronologically for RV tags so there's no entering required for every patient.
 
And we did that for a while but had a couple minor situations and one serious SNAFU where two technicians were putting in the treatment at the same time, went and got the tags themselves around the same time, but didn't bother to check the numbers to make sure they matched. Long story short: they didn't and neither animal control nor the owners were happy when they didn't. Luckily the owner saved the original vaccination papers and didn't rely on just the tags.
 
Vet Med said:
Hey everyone I have a quick question about AVImark. I was talking to a vet earlier today who told me that she does not use AVImark because it is not a "medical records based system". I am not quite sure what she means by this. I use it at my vets office and I think it keeps pretty good records...

Does anyone know of any disadvantages of using AVImark? If you don't like AVImark what other computer system do vets use? Does any one know of the best system to use?
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AVImark is North America's most popular veterinary practice management software since it does everything you could possibly want for a variety of settings (emergency, housecall, referral, equine, herd, mobile, etc.) with one package and without additional fees for networked stations or add-on modules.

The medical record generates the invoice so less missed charges. There is a Yahoogroup you can join to pose questions and/or gain additional knowledge once you start using the system.
[email protected]

One of the criticisms about lack of protection of the records is actually a benefit since it is not onerous with the security. For those who are concerned with liability, a read-only periodical back-up stored in a bonded facility serves the purpose.
 
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