While 233 megahertz or 266 megahertz machines may be attractive because they are being offered at bargain prices, Dr. Carter suggested that physicians consider buying a machine with a 450 megahertz processor. The difference between a lightning-fast system and a slower but cheaper one is often not enough to justify the cost difference. Dr. Corley, who is also an associate professor at George Washington University, said that the goal was to give all staff members in the practice, including nurses, their own workstation and to boost overall productivity. Because the practice bought such high-end machines, it was able to install Windows NT, which is a much faster and more stable operating system. Getting a turbocharged system was also necessary to reach the practice's long-term goal of moving toward a paperless office.
Physicians enter patient histories directly into the computer using a voice-dictation system.
Phone messages, prescription refills, patient advice and lab results are handled through the electronic medical record software. Physicians and nurses no longer pull charts to handle patient phone calls. Despite such advantages of high-power computers, some physicians have found 233 megahertz processors too good a bargain to pass up. William A. Harrison, ACP-ASIM Member, a general internist in Cheyenne, Wyo., who is part of a group that includes two pediatricians and one physicians assistant, bought four new computers last summer from Compaq Computer Corp. as part of a special program for medical practices. While experts would argue that a 233 megahertz machine is already close to being outdated, Dr. Harrison said that the technology is more than adequate for his small group.