It is a baby step toward electronic medical records. Another critical feature of Web-based software is access. Some products allow you to log on from any computer with an Internet connection. Other products, however, require you to log on from a computer on which you have loaded special software. While products that restrict access tend to have more security features, they limit your flexibility in accessing information.
Cost is probably the biggest advantage of purchasing Web-based software.
Experts, however, say that you need to make sure that you won't have to incur other costs. Many ASPs also charge fees for training sessions, and some charge transaction fees for services like accessing lab results and checking whether patients have insurance. In addition, many physician practices use older computers that can't easily process graphics and other elements used on the Internet. These practices must often replace their computers to use Web-based software. Even if your practice is already connected to the Internet, you may have to do some upgrading.