I agree with David Sommers, except I am much less sophisticated. Paste your query right into google and it does a nice job of searching the vdl site including the pdf files as well as finding some unexpected other sites. Just be sure to include VistA in the search terms and it does a pretty good job of finding hits - at least with IE which is what I used most of the time until recently, when I started use Mozilla most of the time. Last time I checked, the VA was using Microsoft servers, so maybe it does matter which browser.
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of CS Wagner Sent: Monday, September 27, 2004 1:26 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Hardhats-members] RE: Vista without CPRS... I must say that 99% of my frustrations come from the difficulty of finding and reading the documentation. For instance, I had no idea what the 'Add a User' command was when I started. The VA has a great volume of documentation online, but it is broken up by cryptic module names. I had to scan through each and every file on the site until I found something that looked like it might work. Luckily, Nancy sent me a document that had XUSERADD right at the top. Next, adding a patient... I don't know what module that would be in. I just want the command. After scanning a bunch (over 50) of possible docs, I found mention of DG ADD PATIENT. I tried that and it worked (of course, I still don't know what 10-10 Data is or how to add an outpatient). Side note: You cannot easily search PDF and Word documents online. It would be SO much nicer if all the documents were in HTML. I assume that the DG on DG ADD PATIENT means something to those who know the modules, but it means nothing to me because I haven't found a document that lists all the module names and what they do. I know that would be a huge list, but it could be made nicer by listing only the top 10 most used modules at the top. The same with the commands - a list of the top 20 most used commands (and what they do) would be nice. Because I am a software engineer, I recognize the problem too well. This is like trying to convert a Windows user Linux (sans GUI). They may have used DOS and they know that 'dir' will list a directory, but that won't help them figure out that it is 'ls' in Linux. Once they figure out a few commands, telling them to read the man page is a waste of time because the manual is written specifically for those who already know how to use Linux, not for those trying to figure it out. The popularity of Linux is directly related to the translation of the manuals from tech-speak to plain English. I think that Vista has the ability to become more popular as the manuals are translated from cryptic module groups with cryptic file names into plain English. Also, like Linux, there is the version-specific threat. A document about using Fedora may give wrong information to a Debian user, just like a document about VistA might give wrong information to an OpenVista user. -Shaun Kevin Toppenberg wrote: >Shaun, > >Well, my sympathies are with you. I don't know if it >will help, but I compiled the following top level >menus into a supermenu called "adam". It helped me >explore the menu options for registering patients, >having nurses add vitals etc. > >You will have to ignore the "<Field" etc. stuff and >just look at the menu names. You can create this menu >through the menu system (let me know if you need >further help in that direction) or you can enter the >data into the OPTIONS file directly. > >Good luck. > ><Field id="MENU/.01">EVE</Field> ><Field id="MENU/SYNONYM">EVE</Field> ><Field id="MENU/DISPLAY ORDER">1</Field> ><Field id="MENU/.01">ORMGR</Field> ><Field id="MENU/SYNONYM">CPRS</Field> ><Field id="MENU/.01">OR OE/RR MENU CLINICIAN</Field> ><Field id="MENU/SYNONYM">DOC</Field> ><Field id="MENU/.01">MAG SYS MENU</Field> ><Field id="MENU/SYNONYM">IMG</Field> ><Field id="MENU/.01">XUKEYMGMT</Field> ><Field id="MENU/SYNONYM">KEY</Field> ><Field id="MENU/.01">OR OE/RR MENU NURSE</Field> ><Field id="MENU/SYNONYM">NURS</Field> ><Field id="MENU/.01">FBAA MAIN MENU</Field> ><Field id="MENU/SYNONYM">PHAR</Field> ><Field id="MENU/.01">DG REGISTRATION MENU</Field> ><Field id="MENU/SYNONYM">REG</Field> ><Field id="MENU/.01">TMG TEXT MENU</Field> ><Field id="MENU/SYNONYM">TEXT</Field> ><Field id="MENU/.01">TIU MAIN MENU >TRANSCRIPTION</Field> ><Field id="MENU/SYNONYM">TRAN</Field> ><Field id="MENU/.01">GMRVMGR</Field> ><Field id="MENU/SYNONYM">VITL</Field> ><Field id="MENU/.01">OR OE/RR MENU WARD CLERK</Field> ><Field id="MENU/SYNONYM">WARD</Field> ><Field id="MENU/.01">WVMENU</Field> ><Field id="MENU/SYNONYM">WO</Field> ><Field id="MENU/.01">YSMANAGER</Field> ><Field id="MENU/SYNONYM">YSM</Field> ><Field id="MENU/.01">ECTMGR</Field> ><Field id="MENU/.01">PX PCE CLINICIAN MENU</Field> > > > > >--- CS Wagner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > >>I've actually been attempting to get Vista to a >>state where we can use >>it in production since last November. So, it is >>almost a year now. It >>took a very long time to get it installed properly >>because I didn't >>realize that M was picky about spacing and the >>commands kept failing. I >>then had a major headache getting CPRS to allow >>users to log in, but got >>that taken care of for all but one user. His last >>name is Nida. I set >>him up the same as everyone else and on the old >>install and the new one, >>he is the only one who cannot use CPRS. In the end, >>firewall issues >>with CPRS made me give up on that and I'm back to >>the basics - adding a >>patient, scheduling the patient, entering patient >>visit and lab data. >>As for contracting this to someone else, that isn't >>easily available. >>This is merely a grant study on setting up a >>distributed EMR system for >>rural clinics. There isn't much money in it. The >>choice of Vista came >>because so many of the people here work at the VA. >> -Shaun >> >>Kevin Toppenberg wrote: >> >> >> >>>Shaun, >>> >>>It sounds like you are in the midst of doing a >>>production installation. That is going to be >>>difficult if you are learning the system as you go. >>> >>> >>>Have you thought about contracting with one of the >>>support companies to help with the installation, >>>education etc. etc. process. I have been working >>> >>> >>with >> >> >>>the system for 6-9 months now, and am just starting >>> >>> >>to >> >> >>>get comfortable with the system. I wonder if you >>> >>> >>are >> >> >>>biting off too much at one time. We'll help you as >>> >>> >>we >> >> >>>can, but it takes time. >>> >>>Kevin >>> >>>--- CS Wagner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>>I will send you what I can this week. I currently >>>>know how to log in. >>>>I have until the end of the week to learn how to >>>> >>>> >>add >> >> >>>>clerks, nurses, and >>>>providers. Then, get the clerks to enter patients >>>>and schedule visits. >>>>Then, get the nurses and providers to enter data >>>> >>>> >>for >> >> >>>>those patients. I >>>>hope to be able to do all that in the next few >>>> >>>> >>days, >> >> >>>>but as this has >>>>been an uphill battle for months on end, I'm not >>>>very optimistic. >>>>-Shaun >>>> >>>>Steve Wagner wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>>I've been following this thread with interest, >>>>> >>>>> >>not >> >> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>because of the >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>>puzzle of getting CPRS to run with various >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>security schemes in place, >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>>but because of CS Wagner's (no relation) comment >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>early on that: >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>> "...it is my understanding that CPRS does >>>>> >>>>> >>not >> >> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>allow you to add >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>>patients..." >>>>> >>>>>It seems like what to do after installation and >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>before CPRS is my >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>>problem, just as appears to be CS Wagner's >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>problem. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>>I've successfully installed the Cache Vista >>>>> >>>>> >>thanks >> >> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>to the very nice >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>>Hardhats installation instructions, but now am at >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>a complete loss >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>>because I don't know what to do next. I finally >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>got it that I needed >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>>to add some users with appropriate menu >>>>> >>>>> >>privileges >> >> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>so that I could >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>>start using the subsystems, but where do I start? >>>>> >>>>>In other words, it seems like the installation >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>instructions or the >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>>getting started documentation or the original >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>cache.dat ought to >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>>provide a little bit more in terms of basic >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>configuration stuff, or am >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>>I missing something obvious? >>>>> >>>>>If I want to start entering patients after >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>installation, what are >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>>steps A, B, C to be able to do that? >>>>> >>>>>A demo database would be nice--I've seen some >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>stuff on the web >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>>authored by Rick Marshall about the Whoville >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>scrambled database >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>>project, but it doesn't appear to be in existence >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>yet. I've been in >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>>touch with my local VA folks (Seattle) to find >>>>> >>>>> >>out >> >> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>if they had any >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>>de-identified data I could start with but they >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>don't. We are trying to >>>> >>>> >=== message truncated === > > > > >__________________________________ >Do you Yahoo!? >New and Improved Yahoo! Mail - Send 10MB messages! >http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail > > >------------------------------------------------------- >This SF.Net email is sponsored by: YOU BE THE JUDGE. Be one of 170 >Project Admins to receive an Apple iPod Mini FREE for your judgement on >who ports your project to Linux PPC the best. Sponsored by IBM. >Deadline: Sept. 24. 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