Electronic Medical Record: Third Generation Available
For over 20 years, electronic medical records have been used in ophthalmic environments. The first software package for the paperless ophthalmic office was introduced in Germany in 1988. The ifa team presented a turnkey solution with the first professional operating system MS-DOS. In 1996 the second generation with the first Windows user interface was launched already on the international market. Now the 3rd generation (3G) is available and defines new benchmarks for efficiency and comfort.

Efficiency and Comfort
Based on more than 10 years of experience with template-driven user interfaces, the ifa team developed the new generation with a state-of-the-art navigation concept. This concept combines web navigation with easy-to-use local software applications. The benefits:

• The system is very easy to learn (reducing the learning curve by at least 40%).
• The system is very easy to use (saving between 20 and 30% compared with standard EMR systems).
• The system is easy to customize even by the user (independence from additional services).

The user interface follows approved standards for digital applications (ISO) and is based on navigation recommendations by the W3 Committee (W3C). 

Smart customization tools are:
The new navigation and data entry concept works according to the 80-20 rule (also known as the Pareto principle). With approx. 20% of the codes and terms approx. 80% of the patient documentation can be managed. The intelligent SmartScreen technology which was developed by the ifa software engineers, the most commonly used findings, diagnoses and treatment plan terms can be chosen by clicking the relevant button and storing the term within the databases automatically. For the additional codes, the database can be opened offering intelligent pull-down functionality. Of course free text and individual commands can be entered through the keyboard supported by comfortable abbreviation systems. 

Subspecialty versions
The customization process is also supported by versions dedicated to subspecialties such as retina, glaucoma, cataract and refractive surgery etc. The documentation tools handle approx. 140 databases with more than 18,000 eye care related codes and terms. These codes are based on the SNOMED structure and are therefore compatible for the future with a meaningful use of data.  

Learning curve
Because of the ergonomic navigation and data entry concept, the ifa electronic medical record is very easy to learn. Clinical pathways are transferred to the logical data entry routines which are based on Preferred Practice Patterns (e.g. PPPs published by the American Academy of Ophthalmology/AAO). Templates are offered for the 8+8 concept (eight part history + eight part eye exam). 

Special exams
The ifa software provides more than 450 interfaces for all kinds of ophthalmic devices. The test results and images of all special exams such as OCTs, fundus images, perimetry, Pentacam and IOL Master etc. can be viewed within the electronic medical record with just one mouse-click.The ifa development team can guarantee comprehensive interfaces to all ophthalmic equipment based on the close cooperation between the leading instrument vendors and ifa (see interface list in menu item "Connectivity Guarantee").

Bottom line
The presentation of the 3G electronic medical record is another milestone in the ifa story of success. Every day, ophthalmic data of more than 200,000 patients are managed within ifa software systems all over the world. The close communication between the ifa support teams and the users in many countries is a guarantee for the user-friendly and state-of-the-art solution for all ophthalmic environments.