What is a "Hosted Application"? (Back to Top)
Simply put, a "Hosted Application" is one where the software and practice data reside on a system outside of the dental office. A hosted application is paid for by the month instead of up front. The best way to understand it is to compare the "Old Way" to this "New Way":
| The Old Way | The New Way - Dental 2000 online |
| Install Software Locally
Traditionally, dental offices have purchased practice management software from the software vendor and then installed the program onto a computer in their dental office. That computer then contained both the dental software program and the practice data. |
NO Installation Required
The software is already installed and working on a "Super Computer" located elsewhere. To begin accessing it, you fill out an application providing key practice information. We initialize your data files for you and provide instructions on accessing your practice information via the Internet. |
| Update Software Manually
Whenever a new version of the software came out, the office would purchase an update from the software company and then install it on all the computers in the office. This process had to be done several times a year. While the update was being done, the system was not available for use. |
Updates Done Automatically
There is NO down time for updates! They are done automatically by CSI. There is also NO COST for the updates. This service is included in the monthly hosting fee.
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| Replace Hardware Often ($$$)
Frequently, the new update would not run on the old computer hardware and the dentist would then have to trash his old systems and buy all new equipment. As fast as computer technology has been changing, this meant that hardware had to be re-purchased once every 2-5 years. |
Use Old Hardware
Change hardware only when it breaks! In most cases you can use the same hardware you have used for many years for many years to come.
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| Switch Software Programs
Occasionally ($$$)
Sometimes major changes in the computing environment (like going from DOS to Windows, for example) would mean that the office would also have to purchase a different practice management program altogether.
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Stay With the Same Software
for the Life of Your Practice
Now there is no need to have to repurchase new software every time the wind changes direction in the technology world. Who knows what operating systems will be in use 5 years from now. Maybe we'll go from "Windows 2000" to "Doors 2005"- or Microsoft will be broken up like the Baby Bells were and there will no longer be a standard operating system. It won't matter to you! Dental 2000 online insulates you from these changes. |
Every dental practice is different, so there is no quick easy answer to this question. Some offices switch to Dental 2000 online simply because they are tired of the hassle of keeping updated and the cost of repurchasing hardware and software. Others like the fact their data is more secure than when it was located in their own office. But the most common reason of all is- "In the long run, it is less expensive!" (Back to Top)
One of the advantages to Dental 2000 online is that it is MUCH FASTER than most of our competition! (See the answer to "How do we compare?") Even though we are faster, is that fast enough to be practical? The answer is a resounding YES! Have you experienced the frustration of sitting and waiting for a page on the World Wide Web to come up? Even if you are connected at 56K, sometimes it seems like it takes forever! Because we use the Internet, but not the World Wide Web, we are sending only the pixel changes to the screen. This technology (called "thin client" because so little information is actually coming across the Internet) allows us to have screens appear almost instantly, even if you do not have a high-speed connection to the Internet available! All processing is done on a high-speed computer at the hosting site (not your office). Your system is freed up to do nothing but display and print information, so in many cases it operates with even greater efficiency and speed than if you installed the software on your own computer! (Back to Top)
You won't have to do back-ups ever again! We do it for you at no extra charge. (Back to Top)
How secure is my patient information?
Your data is even more secure than when it is stored at your own office. Computers are popular items to steal, so if your office is broken into the computer is often the first item to be taken. Computers are also easily damaged in an office fire (so are paper records). One of the advantages of Dental 2000 online then, is that your patient data is safer than it ever has been before! If your system is stolen or destroyed, you can still access your practice data from any computer with Internet access. We also guard your data from unauthorized access. No one can access your data without having a proper login ID and Password (which can be changed as often as you want). Information is passed across the Internet in a secure encrypted format that no one can intercept. In addition, physical access to the hosting location is secured through a high-level on-site security system. The equipment is further protected by a both an uninterruptible power supply and a backup power generator and Halon fire protection. The systems are located in a temperature-controlled room with a protected, raised-floor environment. (Back to Top)
There is NO UP FRONT COST. All you pay is a monthly hosting fee and a per claim fee for your electronic claims. The normal cost is $150 per practice. This fee includes access through any one computer at any given time. For instance you can access the data from one computer on Monday through Wednesday, a different computer at a satellite office on Thursday and a third computer at home on any given evening. That's still only one computer at a time and therefore costs only $150 total. Each additional workstation that is used simultaneous to another connection is $75 per month. Payment is made either a year at a time (in advance) or on a monthly basis by paper bank draft (a pre-authorized check like is often used to pay for life insurance premiums). Electronic claims are billed monthly at $.55 per claim. (Back to Top)
There are only two requirements for your hardware: (1) The computer has to able to access the Internet. (2) It must be able to display in color, 800 x 600 resolution (in order to be able to see the entire Dental 2000 online screen at once without scrolling it up or down). As long as those requirements are met, you can use Dental 2000 online program. There are no hard disk requirements or memory requirements. In fact, you can even use an inexpensive "thin client" terminal. We recommend the use of a laser printer, however any Windows compatible printer can be used. (Back to Top)
You will not experience downtime from the standpoint of your software not being functional. The software is guaranteed to be available for your use 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Other things outside of Complete Systems, Inc.'s control may cause you to experience some down time. Your own computer may fail and consequently make accessing your data difficult if another computer is not available to get on the Internet. Local Internet Service Providers (ISP) may occasionally become unavailable. For this reason, it is important to select an ISP well known in your area for reliable Internet access. You may also want to contact us for help in selecting a reliable ISP in your area. (Back to Top)
What are the Internet access options?
There are several ways to connect to the Internet. The first is through 56K dial-up access. This is both the slowest and the least expensive. A dial-up account is available through most ISPs for $10 to $29 per month. ISDN is also a dial-up type of access, but requires a special type of telephone modem and special type of phone hookup to the phone company. It is much faster than 56K dial-up access and also more expensive. Generally, an ISDN hookup is more reliable as well. The new digital cable modems or DSL modems provide for continuous access to the Internet at a speed to or less than ISDN. Unfortunately, DSL is not yet available in many areas. T1 and T3 connections are the fastest of all. The cost varies greatly depending on how far your office is from an Internet connection point. For a T1 or T3 connection, you should rely on the services of a local Internet consultant familiar with this type of Internet connection. NOTE: Because Dental 2000 online does not use the World Wide Web, there is no need to for an Internet browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator. (Back to Top)
Can I access my practice information from other locations (home or a satellite office)?
Yes, you can. This is one of the big advantages of using a hosted application like Dental 2000 online. Enter information into the office system all day long. Then access the same data from your home computer that night or a satellite office the next day. Anywhere that you can get on the Internet can be your office. (Back to Top)
Can I have more than one workstation?
Yes, you can have as many workstations as you want. Each workstation that will be accessed simultaneously with other workstations will cost extra, though. For more than two workstations, we recommend that high-speed Internet access be used (ISDN, DSL or T1). The other units use the Internet connection on the file server of the local area network (called a proxy server). We recommend that you use the services of a qualified network technician to set up your local area network with a proxy server for shared Internet access. Keep in mind that when more workstations are added to a local area network, performance is degraded somewhat. This makes it especially critical that you have an efficient connection to the Internet when workstations will be in use. (Back to Top)
How does Dental 2000 online differ from other online practice management programs?
Dental 2000 online is MUCH FASTER! There is a big difference between a hosted application and a web-enabled application. Most of our competition uses a "web-enabled" program. If you have ever accessed the World Wide Web and sat impatiently waiting on a screen to come up, you are familiar with the frustration of waiting 15 to 30 seconds each time a new screen is displayed! This type of delay is typical of a "web-enabled application". These programs, typically written using JAVA or HTML, require that the actual program that controls each screen be sent to your system each time a screen is accessed (in addition to the patient data which is looked up). This much larger block of information that is being sent causes greatly reduced performance on a web-enabled application.
Dental 2000 online does not use JAVA or HTML and is not accessed through a Web browser. The dental program is run on the host computer that you are connected to through the Internet. We use a new technology that sends screen content only across the Internet. This process, called "Thin Client" computing, maximizes performance by making sure that only a minimal amount of information is sent across the Internet. Typical screen access time is less than one second even at 33.6K dial-up access speeds! Since all calculations and computing are done on a high speed computer at the other end of your Internet connection, it no longer matters what speed computer is used in the dental office.
Dental 2000 online is an established program from a well established company. Dental 2000 has been around for years. Complete Systems, Inc. is one of the oldest dental software manufacturers in the U.S. (established in 1982). This package is the culmination of 18 years of experience in dental practice management software development. It functions in exactly the same way as the stand-alone version which can be purchased for installation on computers in your office. The package has matured and for years has been well recognized as one the easiest to use dental programs on the market. (Back to Top)
Can you convert my data from existing software?
In most cases, yes. We have successfully converted practice data from many of the common dental software programs in the past. Some programs, however, encrypt their data in such a way that it is very difficult (or impossible) to extract patient information for export to another software program. If you would like to switch from another software program and have your data converted, we offer the option of doing a partial test conversion at no charge and no obligation. If you are satisfied that we can extract a good set of patient data based on what results you see, then we convert the data set for the whole practice and you pay for data conversion at that time. Data conversion costs vary from $995 and up depending on the dental software package we are converting from and how much work is involved. (Back to Top)