Q:How much does the GEMMS ECIS system cost?
A:Similar
to many high-tech products and services, there are several factors that
affect the overall cost equation of the GEMMS system. Because of these
factors, the system’s overall price will vary among practices.
Where
the costs begin to differ among practices is in the configuration of
the ECIS system’s hardware, communication lines and your specific
facility requirements. Depending on your current technology resources
such as servers, desktops and pen top computers, communication equipment,
wide area, local area and radio frequency equipment, and facility upgrades
the hardware costs can range from $45,000 to $65,000 per physician to
install and implement the ECIS system’s hardware.
GEMMS
will typically make a site visit to review a practice’s current
technology resources and facility capabilities prior to drafting a proposal
and price quote for the ECIS system installation and implementation.
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Q:How involved is GEMMS in the system implementation and training
of practice staff?
A:
A typical ECIS implementation requires approximately 18 weeks and GEMMS
implementation staff members are on site throughout the entire implementation
cycle. GEMMS plays a very active role in the overall implementation
and training, working with and training both your staff and physicians.
We
utilize a "train the trainer" philosophy for your clinical
and practice management staff, thus allowing them to obtain the most
efficient and effective hands-on experience possible. Our training methods
allow your staff to be working and training on their own in the shortest
possible time frame, with the GEMMS staff available to support them.
Once
the implementation and training cycle is complete and the implementation
staff leaves the site, GEMMS offers continuous 24/7 help desk services.
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Q: Does the GEMMS ECIS system use voice recognition?
A:
The GEMMS ECIS system has a wireless dictation system integrated within
the product. This produces a wave file that you can saved and then have
transcribed by a transcriptionist. GEMMS does not support voice recognition.
After
working with voice recognition technology for more than 2 years, GEMMS
was unable to see any time or cost savings associated with the technology.
We believe the technology does not save a doctor any time as he/she
still dictates. Further, the technology is not able to save any ancillary
personnel costs as someone other than the doctor must review and edit
the voice transcription before it is ready to be sent out. Voice recognition
also increased the cost of the system by $2,000 per doctor and $500
per transcriptionist for licenses, and about $15,000 for an additional
server to hold the files.
The
ECIS dictation system provides the same services so we have no plans
currently to use voice recognition in the ECIS system.
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Q: What database is ECIS on and is it flexible and open to connectivity?
A:
The GEMMS database is as flexible and open as they come. The database
is a native Microsoft SQL allowing you to query with built-in tools
or any Microsoft SQL or ODBC compatible software: Excel, Access or any
other third party compatible product.
In
addition, if a practice has the proper IT staff, GEMMS will train them
to become the Database Administrator (DBA).
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Q:Can the GEMMS ECIS system be interfaced with other practice management
systems or with hospitals and their systems? And if an interface has
to be developed, what does it cost?
A:
The GEMMS ECIS system is a fully integrated, full-featured product.
The system integrates both the clinical and business sides of a practice.
Because ECIS is a fully integrated system, the design and product do
not allow for "hooking up to other systems." We created a
product that works seamlessly from one department to another, and in
doing so, we developed what we believe to be the best possible combination
of systems.
It
has been our experience that when ECIS is hooked into an existing system
that performs the same functions (patient registration or scheduling),
the result is less than remarkable, as the system reverts to the lowest
common denominator between the two, thus producing a very weak product.
Several
GEMMS clients, some variant of hospital interface. GEMMS uses an HL7
interface and if the hospital or outside vendor (i.e. lab) is HL7 compatible,
then the cost of writing the interface is lower. If the hospital or
outside vendor uses a non-standard custom database which is not HL7
compatible, then the interface can be more expensive.
GEMMS
charge on a project by project basis for programming the interfaces.
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Q:
When did GEMMS start selling the ECIS product and, to date, how many
installations have you completed?
A:
GEMMS was founded in 1995 within one of the nation’s largest cardiology
programs. GEMMS became an independent entity in 1999 and launched its
national sales efforts that March. Currently (May 2002), GEMMS supports
31 practices in 15 states. Within the 31 practices are eight large cardiology
groups. These practices represent more than 300 physicians and 1 million
patients.
GEMMS
is currently under contract to implement the GEMMS ECIS system in an
additional seven cardiology practices in 2002 ranging in size from two
physicians to 140.
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Q: Why don’t we see GEMMS at HIMMS or TEPRA?
A:
Our senior management staff is often asked to speak at national conventions
and thus we frequent HIMMS and TEPRA in this capacity rather than as
exhibitors. Our customers are physicians and we focus our marketing
efforts on medical conferences that cater directly to them.
Q:
What if I have other questions?
A:
Please submit your questions to Info@gemmsnet.com
and we will be glad to provide you with further information.
