John, There is no simple answer to the cost of an EHR implementation, VOE or otherwise, for solo, 5 provider, 10 provider, etc. This is caused first by an absence of data, and second by an extreme variability in site-level technology life cycle costs which are independent of the software application layer. EHR software is just another electronic workflow solution which rides on top of the underlying technology infrastructure at any practice, along with scheduling, billing, lab, email, calendaring, etc. In many cases there is no clean way to break out the costs between the underlying technology infrastructure layer (servers, cable plant, bandwidth, provisioning and administration, security measures, backups, after- hours support, etc.) and the EHR (or other application) software in use at a typical office.
In my prior life as an IT Manager in the non-healthcare sector during the 1990s, I found it best to speak in cost ranges (or estimates +/- some x% cost factor) for the entire technology operating budget. Trying to isolate the specific cost of a single application in the overall technology environment is not necessarily a good use of time, nor does it provide data that is relevant in similar institutional settings. Applying this as a general rule to the healthcare sector, I would answer your query by starting with the total annual technology budget as a % of total operating costs for the typical practice. I expect (no avalanche of data to support this yet) that we will find that technology cost ranges below something like (insert weasel words here!) 5% of total operating costs will be inadequate to provide a robust and satisfactory clinical software environment. The practice-level costing studies I have seen to date do not give me the confidence to estimate these cost values yet, but the work of Robert Miller and others gives me hope that we are not far from establishing preliminary cost ranges for small practices. Understanding the basis for technology costs precedes the specific comparison of VOE costs versus any other EHR solution. Claims for VOE costs compared to the costs of other EHR software have to be looked at carefully. Claims for such costs will vary based on who is making the claim, the site-level technology sophistication which is the basis for the costing claims, and the extensiveness of technology utilization at the site(s) in question. [wr] - - - - - - - - On Oct 3, 2005, at 7:24 AM, John Leo Zimmer, MD wrote: > -----Original Message----- > From: openhealth@yahoogroups.com > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of Mike > Sent: Monday, October 03, 2005 6:55 AM > > ...we have found > that VOE is still less expensive than other, > functionally comparable EHR's. > > > Who's "we"? > > We know... make that "I know" that the cost of VOE will include > licensing > costs for Cache', the version of the MUMPS language which CMS has > chosen to > use... and a few hundred per year for licensing the AMA's CPT codes. > > I know or can calculate the costs of hardware: a server and > workstations, > laptops or tablets, networking, backup, printers. > > I know the cost for licensing VOE itself... Zero. > Or rather, licensing is neither necessary nor available for public > domain > software. > > I would like to see the numbers on what "we" think VOE will cost, > installed, > for say a solo practice, a 5 provider, 10 provider, 100 provider > practice. > > Regards, jlz > > Just reading the tea leaves like everyone else. > > > > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor -------------------- > ~--> > Get Bzzzy! (real tools to help you find a job). Welcome to the > Sweet Life. > http://us.click.yahoo.com/A77XvD/vlQLAA/TtwFAA/W4wwlB/TM > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > ~-> > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > [wr] - - - - - - - - will ross mendocino informatics 216 west perkins street, suite 206 ukiah, california 95482 usa 707.272.7255 [voice] 707.462.5015 [fax] - - - - - - - - ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get Bzzzy! (real tools to help you find a job). Welcome to the Sweet Life. http://us.click.yahoo.com/A77XvD/vlQLAA/TtwFAA/W4wwlB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/openhealth/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
