Another physician who complained about his software confessed that "we do workarounds on the reporting by importing raw data into a database capable of manipulation," rather than using the reporting provided by the software.

Expensive upgrades are another bone of contention. "Keeping up with maintenance fees is costly, and subsequently I have no support for the crashes that surface from time to time. I purchased the software because of its integration with [my EMR], but I have not found that plus to outweigh the minuses," explains a physician.

Old or new, management software isn't all it could be — at least in the users' eyes.

Try some low-tech tricks

We also wanted to know your favorite tricks for making technology work. "Cussing," offered one. Others were a little more constructive, offering low-tech ways to make software work better.

Several recommended actually reading user manuals. "Take the time to know and understand the software. It will become intuitive after four to six months," as one physician put it. Even go so far as to learn some basic geek problem-solving: "I have learned some computer tech trouble- shooting techniques. It has saved me a lot of aggravation and expense."

Tablet PCs have lots of fans, too. These portable tools offer great mobility and look cool, too. "Using the tablet PC for patient notes, billing, etc., is incredible, and it has impressed many patients," raves one physician. "Especially when I get a call over the weekend, and I have their entire chart and history at a glance. I can also document the phone conversation."

PDAs are being used for everything from online CME to drug databases to charge-capture at the hospital to appointment and deadline reminders.

Some other ideas:

• Print work excuses on computerized prescription pads from pre-written templates instead of writing a custom letter each time.
• Use software developed for general business, not just the medical business, to meet some needs.
• Pull in-office music from Web-based sources.
• Use a cell phone voicemail instead of an answering service for after office hours. One practice saves $350 a month doing this.

Technology will not make or break any practice. But keeping up-to-date and taking some time to learn how to use what you've got can mean more peace of mind and fewer hassles.

Pamela Moore, PhD, is the senior editor of Physicians Practice. She can be reached at pmoore@physicianspractice.com.

This article originally appeared in the September 2005 issue of Physicians Practice.