September 3, 2004 to October 1, 2004

Hello!

It's time again to update you on all the cool things happening on Club Lighthouse! This newsletter represents a summary of the best of what's going on at the web site.

To properly use this newsletter, you should first log into the Club web site directly from this newsletter. Once you are logged in, you can click on any of the links in this newsletter to jump directly to the article or download of interest. To start your web browser now and log into Club Lighthouse, click here! That will open up a browser window on your computer. You can then Alt-Tab back to this e-mail and select any link in this email. Clicking on the link in this email will cause that article or forum post to appear in the browser window (you will have to Alt-Tab BACK to that browser window to see it).

If you forgot your user name and/or password, send an email to joel@lighthouse-pmg.com



In This Issue
New Articles
New or updated downloads
Interesting posts
Seminar schedule


New Articles
The TRUTH about version 5 account splitting
There has been a lot of discussion around here about the "problem" with splitting accounts in version 5. Wanting to understand more, I decided to dig a little further and find out what the fuss is all about, what the TRUE problems are, etc. After about an hour of poking around, here is what I found.

 

Integrating additional programs and file types with PracticeWorks
Even though PracticeWorks has built in support for its own documents and it has limited integration with images via scanners, it falls short in many areas. Most significant, a lot of new technologies (and a lot of neat programs) have been developed for Windows since most of the PW integration was written back in 1998. Many new "file types" exist that could be tied to a patient: Adobe's Portable Document Format (PDF) and scanned images or images from digital cameras that have newer interfaces not supported by PracticeWorks' "old" integration interfaces are two examples. There are also many times when using a "high end" word processor (such as Microsoft Word) is more desirable than the "built in" document system of PracticeWorks. For example, Microsoft Word has extensive imaging capabilities built in. Using it to compose a letter to a specialist would allow for x-rays, intra-oral camera images, and other things to be inserted directly into the document. Finally, a lot of these file types are sent TO you (vs. being generated by you). Many files are sent via electronic means (like email). Emails themselves are a file type in Windows that may be worth saving on a patient by patient basis. This article describes a simple technique (combined with a Lighthouse utility program) that opens up the entire world of Windows documents to be managed by PracticeWorks.

 

New or updated downloads
The following is a list of recent additions to the Club Lighthouse download area. It is important to remember that most downloads have a corresponding article or forum post associated with them. If they do, please read the article or post first before downloading the file. Also, for complete instructions on how download and install the files listed here, be sure to read the article on Installing from an Exchange Pack

LH Simple Recall System
Version: 9-16-2004
A Contact Expert, documents and "smart" AutoLinks that make it simple to send a series of recall reminder cards, and to do it once a week. See the Article "A Simple Recall System" for all the details. There are two versions of the Contact Expert - one to use if you don't do any calling of patients for recall, and another if you do want to call patients (in addition to sending the e-mails, postcards and letters). There are also some other "specific-use" Recall Contact Experts, including one just for kids, to be used when you're coming up on a school break. 6-1-2004: Minor update - changed the two "coming due" documents to use which takes a forced recall date into account, unlike the system-defined . 7-22-2004: Major update - added 4 letters to send to perio patients (anyone who's ever had a scaling/root planing or a perio maintenance visit) instead of the e-mails and postcards. The tone of them is much more serious, dealing with "periodontal disease" and keeping treatment costs under control, etc.

Treatment Proposal Tracking System
Version: 09-30-2004
A system for preparing a very nice looking treatment proposal for patients, and for tracking case presentation and acceptance. Consists of a Form, a Document, a Contact Expert, an Analysis Expert and several AutoLinks. 9/30/2004 UPDATE: Another version of the Form and Document were added. Treatment is presented as Immediate, Anticipated and Cosmetic/Elective phases. Just another way to present a significant case w/o using the PW Tx Proposal. See the article that describes the system by clicking here.

Explore Patient Documents
Version: 09-24-04
An Exchange Pack that adds a "Patient Document Explorer" option to the ACTIONS button on the Clipboard (and any other place you would like to put it). This allows you to keep track of external files (PDFs, Word documents, etc.) that are associated with individual patients. This is the system described in this post. Also, this system requires the services of the "Lighthouse Program Launcher" (downloaded here).



Interesting posts

The following list represents topics on the Club site that either have had a lot of posts made, or have been read by a large number of Club members.

PracticeWorks

General discussion (PracticeWorks)

Expert Creation Requests

Automation and PracticeScript

Analysis Expert Cell Farm

The Business side of things (not PracticeWorks related)

General discussion (Office Admin)

Hot Deals!

Computers and Technology

The Clinical side of things (not PracticeWorks related)

Clinical technologies

Going chartless



Seminar schedule


Lighthouse Cruise!
The "We love our members" Valentine's Cruise (Feb 6-13, 2005)

We are so pleased to announce the first (of many, we hope) Club Lighthouse Illumination Seminars on a boat - a really big boat - Royal Caribbean's "Rhapsody of the Seas"! There will be seminars where you'll learn things you can't get from any other Lightouse seminar, there will be lots of opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with fellow PracticeWorks users, and a whole lotta fun!

For more information, click here!


New Seminar - Paperless Charting

At Club Lighthouse, we are all about maximizing the efficiency of your computer system. There is no better way to do that than to rid your office of the most significant time drag most of you still have: your paper charts.

Learn to rid your office of paper charts once and for all. Click here for more information, as well as dates and locations.

On-line seminar registration now available


Turbo charging your practice with PracticeWorks
Six new dates added!

Back by popular demand, this two day seminar is sure to improve your understanding of PracticeWorks, as well as give you a better understanding of what we are trying to accomplish here on Club Lighthouse. Don't forget: Club members get a 10% discount off of the registration fee!

To see dates and locations, or to register on-line, click here.


We hope you found this newsletter informative and helpful. Remember, its our job to make your job easier! If you have ANY question, be sure to either post a question on the Club, or if you are uncomfortable posting your question in public, please feel free to contact one of us directly using email.

Thanks again, and see you on the Club!

Allen Jorgensen: allen@lighthouse-pmg.com
Brian Smith: brian@lighthouse-pmg.com
Joel Kozikowski: joel@lighthouse-pmg.com

© 2003, 2004 Lighthouse Practice Management Group
"PracticeWorks" is a registered trademark of PracticeWorks, Inc.
Lighthouse Practice Management Group and its principals are not affiliated with PracticeWorks, Inc. in any way