Adding another location.

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ForrestGumpDDS
Posts: 177
Joined: Fri Oct 14, 2011 3:31 pm

Adding another location.

Post by ForrestGumpDDS » Thu Sep 26, 2019 3:57 pm

When another office is acquired, what would be the correct protocol to setup the new location?
The locations will not share patients on the day to day basis, however it would be nice if the patient's information could be alienated from one practice to another one per patient's request with minimum efforts. It would also be nice to be able to access both locations on one screen.
Another big concern - in case one of the locations gets sold in the future, the way the new location is setup today should provide for clear separation of the location being sold to the new potential owner.
How will adding the location affect the license fees paid including the eServices, such as eRx?
Thank you

PatrickC
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Joined: Thu Jun 06, 2019 11:37 am

Re: Adding another location.

Post by PatrickC » Fri Sep 27, 2019 9:06 am

Take a look at what CEMT may be able to provide you. It would mean a separate Database for the new location, but you would be able to transfer patients between the databases and search for patients in all databases utilizing the CEMT tool. Below is the link to the manual page for the CEMT tool. Be sure to check out the sub categories for CEMT on the left as well.
https://opendental.com/manual/central.html

Regarding the fees, eservices are on a per location rate, but there are discounts available for the standard support fee if there are more than 4 locations.
https://opendental.com/site/fees.html

It would be worthwhile to call in and talk with our tech support concerning your specific details regarding fees and setting up CEMT if that seems like the solution for you.
Patrick Carlson
Open Dental Software
http://www.opendental.com

ForrestGumpDDS
Posts: 177
Joined: Fri Oct 14, 2011 3:31 pm

Re: Adding another location.

Post by ForrestGumpDDS » Sat Sep 28, 2019 9:42 pm

Thank you.
How would "Clinic" feature be different in terms of restrictions as compared to 2 separate databases managed by CEMT tool?
Would it be possible in the future to run a query and get an exportable list of patients that belong to one of the clinics with a purpose of migrating them into a standalone database?

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jordansparks
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Re: Adding another location.

Post by jordansparks » Sun Sep 29, 2019 6:52 am

Once you merge them into one db, it's hard/impossible to cleanly split them into two later. Divide and conquer is the solution to many complex problems, and I've always preferred two separate databases for simplicity.
Jordan Sparks, DMD
http://www.opendental.com

ForrestGumpDDS
Posts: 177
Joined: Fri Oct 14, 2011 3:31 pm

Re: Adding another location.

Post by ForrestGumpDDS » Sun Sep 29, 2019 3:59 pm

Thank you Jordan.
I'm going to try this way.
I started the "clinics" way and liked it because of these reasons:
  1. My frontdesk person sitting in one office can get the patients scheduled to another clinic by switching the "clinic" in one click of the mouse.
  2. I can use claims processing software on patients from both clinics.
  3. I can use DemandForce on patients from both clinics.
  4. It reflects my current situation most accurately. I expect some patients be moving from one "clinic" to another one within a year or two.
  5. The issue of separating the patients becomes important only when/if the other office gets sold.
With all of this being said, there will be a day when the office gets sold and I'd rather do the right move for that distant situation today, so I don't ask myself unpleasant questions later.
I am a single dentist, for both of the locations and would really prefer to design the solution that would not effectively double up the support fees, at least where it is possible to avoid that.

It looks like I need to create a separate test database and go through testing CEMT tool to get a better idea. Will try to do it tonight.

BTW, I assumed that another "clinic" would not add another instance of "monthly support fee from OD. Correct me if I'm wrong.

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jordansparks
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Re: Adding another location.

Post by jordansparks » Wed Oct 02, 2019 1:49 pm

I don't think one dentist at two locations would ever trigger a second support fee, regardless of how you set up your databases.
Jordan Sparks, DMD
http://www.opendental.com

ForrestGumpDDS
Posts: 177
Joined: Fri Oct 14, 2011 3:31 pm

Re: Adding another location.

Post by ForrestGumpDDS » Mon Oct 07, 2019 1:22 pm

Thanks, Jordan.

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