First Quarter of 2010

Fusion ePCR Decision Support
by Charlie Barry, Ortivus Sr. Product Manager

There have been many new concepts implemented into Fusion ePCR to make it easier to use, improve data accuracy, and to speed data entry. One of the newest features of Fusion ePCR is what we call Decision Support.

A Decision Support system is defined by Wikipedia as “a class of computer-based information systems including knowledge-based systems that support decision-making activities.” Well the decision support system in Fusion ePCR was not developed to make decisions for the caregiver; instead it was developed to provide pertinent information to the caregiver to improve data accuracy and speed data entry.

Decision Support improves data accuracy and speeds data entry by narrowing choices as the response is being documented. Decision Support can:

• Suggest the primary provider impression
• Assign a primary protocol
• Provide a link to your agency's documented protocol
• Suggest treatments and medications
• Present checklists for such things as thrombolytic screening

Decision Support can do all of the above for your agency, when configured. As most of the features in Fusion ePCR, Decision Support is designed to be tailored to fit how your agency does business.

For a more in-depth understanding of Fusion ePCR Decision Support, attend the upcoming March 25th Webinar hosted by Ortivus Senior Product Manager Charlie Barry.

Layman’s Guide to Choosing the Right SQL Server
by Dan Voss, Product Manager

There is a famous Henry Ford quote, “Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black.” While having no options on the color of a car might make some shoppers happy because it eliminates a decision, many more shoppers would be unhappy.

Such is also the case with Microsoft SQL Server. Microsoft now provides a dizzying array of SQL Server editions. Your Ortivus software depends on Microsoft SQL Server, and many customers need to update their installation of SQL Server by early next year.

First let’s touch on who has to update? On December 31, 2010, Ortivus is ending support of our products using versions of SQL Server 2000. We are discontinuing support for this platform so we can implement enhancements in our products that rely on SQL features that only exist in more recent SQL versions. Sweet-Billing customers can determine the SQL Version by opening Help>About in Sweet-Billing. Check the version information circled below.

The version information can be interpreted with this table:

Version Indicator	SQL Common Version	Status
7.x	SQL 7	No longer supported
8.x	SQL 2000	Supported through 12/31/2010
9.x	SQL 2005	Supported
10.x	SQL 2008	Supported

Sweet-CAD customers can open SQL Enterprise Manager/SQL Management Studio on the server to check the SQL Server properties to determine version.

If you determine that you need a new version of SQL, you need to wade through the multitude of options offered. Here are the questions that you need to answer to make the right choice.

• Do I want 64-bit (x64) or 32-bit (x86)? If your server hardware and operating system are 64-bit, then a 64 bit version of SQL is recommended. You could use a 32-bit version of SQL, but that would be like putting a 1.6 liter engine in an Indy race car. It will get you where you are going, but not as fast as it could.
  
  
• Should I use SQL 2005 or SQL 2008? Assuming that you want to upgrade your SQL as seldom as possible, you should use SQL 2008. It is the newer SQL platform and will be supported the longest. There are two exceptions to this. A temporary exception is that as of the writing of this article, Sweet-CAD is not supported on SQL 2008. This will be changing in the near future, however if you have Sweet-CAD and want to upgrade today, then you should use SQL 2005. The permanent exception is that if you are currently running a version of SQL 7, you cannot migrate directly from SQL 7 to SQL 2008. You must first migrate to SQL 2005.
  
  
• Can I use a free SQL Express version? If the answer to all of the following questions are no, you can use a free SQL Express version:

  Is this SQL Server being used with Sweet-CAD?
  Sweet-CAD requires advanced features that are not available in SQL Express versions.

  Is this SQL Server going to be used with Fusion ePCR? Fusion ePCR requires advanced features that are not available in SQL Express versions.

  Is my Sweet-Billing Database larger than 3.5 GB? SQL Express versions have a 4 GB database limit, so if your database size is approaching 4 GB you will need to consider how long it has taken you to get a database this large to decide whether SQL Express will serve your needs long enough to be of value.

  -> I can use SQL Express, but there are multiple packages available. Which one do I want? You want the package with Advance Services.
  -> OR
  -> I cannot use SQL Express, and there are multiple editions of it available, which one do I need? The Standard edition is suitable for all Ortivus products that require SQL Server.

If you can use SQL Express, there are quick links to download SQL Express installers as well as installation instructions on the Ortivus website.