How do you know if a particular health records software will meet your needs? Here are a few things to consider about choosing computer software for managing family health information:

ESSENTIAL FEATURES

·        Does the software run on your computer? Does it run on a PC using Windows, or a MacIntosh? Which operating system (on a PC, this might be Windows 3.1, 95, 98, or NT), how much space does it require on your disk, how much RAM?

·        Can you try the software before you buy it? Be sure you have a 30 to 60 day trial period to give it a reasonable trial. The software author should supply an e-mail address or telephone number for you to use to ask questions about installation or use of the program. Browse through the manual, read the on-line help. Use the trial period to try various program features, and to ask questions.

·        Can you enter the basic information required for any good health record? The software must provide ways to enter these basic types of information:

·        major and chronic illnesses and accidents

·        hospitalizations

·        medications, both past and current

·        pregnancies

·        allergies

·        medical devices, such as pacemakers

·        immunizations

·        surgeries

Each of these health care event records should include the date and the health care provider's name and contact information.

·        Is the software for personal use only, or does it have special features for the family as a group? Intelligently designed software will make it easy to share information among family members such as health care providers names and telephone numbers or insurance policy numbers. If a program handles   medical expense and insurance claim information, does it provide family totals? Does the software store the relationships between the family members in the database? Are pets included?

·        What kind of reports can you print out from the software? Would the reports be a useful thing to give to your health care providers for their files, or to take along while traveling? The information on the reports should be organized in an intelligent way so that, in an emergency, a professional could readily see the most vital and current material first.

·        Does the software protect you from entering wrong information where possible? If you are to enter a date, does the software recognize it as a date and check it for reasonableness? For example, entering a date of hospitalization before you were born is not reasonable, and the software should catch your mistake. Entering a payment that is greater than the fee is also not reasonable.