Each and every eyecare practice has different patients, staff, and business needs. What works well for one office, workflow, and team might not be the right fit for another. Determining the type of technology you purchase for your eyecare practice can have a big impact on the efficiency of your staff and the jobs they do every day to keep patients rolling through your office.

Today we want to share some optical resources and specifically talk about the computers you use in your practice. Do you work better on laptops, dekstops, tablets, or a combination of all three? We'll highlight a few potential benefits and drawbacks of the different technology options your practice has when it comes to computer hardware in your practice.

Optical Resources: How to Determine the Right Computers for Your Eyecare Practice

Desktops

A desktop computer usually describes a fixed computer that doesn't move around your office. Compared to older models, today you can purchase desktop computers that are modern, thin, and equipped with the right tools, technologies, and speeds to manage all of your business needs.

Advantages:

• Not as prone to theft as more portable options which leads to less HIPAA concerns
• Bluetooth connectivity for wireless mice and keyboards for a clean workspace
• iMac option gives your practice a modern and hi-tech appearance
• Wide variety of styles, sizes, and prices to fit your needs
• Very flexible when it comes to software compatibility
• Additional accessories and repairs are generally low cost

Drawbacks:

• Not portable, need a device for each room
• Can take up more space than smaller alternatives if space is a concern
• Additional equipment might be needed for things like voice recognition or handwriting recognition programs

Laptops

Laptops are portable computers that come equipped with a keyboard and some type of mouse or trackpad to move around the screen. Laptops are typically just as functional as desktops, but offer more portability to move throughout the office or to take home with you when you leave the office.

Advantages:

• Portable from room-to-room, or outside of the office
• Traditionally smaller than desktop models
• Can more easily move around to share info with patients

Drawbacks:

• May need to implement locks and security to avoid stolen devices. See more on laptop and HIPAA security here.
• May need to purchase accessories like mice and keyboards for more comfortable data entry

Tablets

When it comes to tablets, there are a lot of options to choose from. Tablets are small and portable touch screen devices that may or may not come with an attachable keyboard. There are also convertible tablets that are very similar to laptops where they have a screen that can swivel and fold to create a tablet feel. In most cases, you probably won't run your entire practice off a tablet, but having a few in the office for certain situations can make it easier to input data and share information directly with patients.

Advantages:

• Portable and more lightweight than most laptops
• Easy touch screen data entry
• Handwriting recognition software
• Voice dictation capability with many models
• Easy to share information on screen with patients
• Can use in your dispensary or waiting room for patients to fill out information

Drawbacks:

• Learning curve for data entry and stylus use
• Software compatibility may be limited
• Cracked screens or other damage may happen more easily
• Additional purchase of accessories can add up

We'd love to hear how you are using computers in your eyecare practice to make your workflow efficient. What's working for you? Share with us in the comments!