Backup and Verify

Friday, July 16th, 2010

Backup and Verify

The importance of backing up your Datacon system each and every day that your office is open, cannot be stressed enough. You should have a clearly labeled backup media for each day of the week and maintain a strict rotation schedule. Using this method prevents good backups from being overwritten by a unsuccessful or “bad” backup. Don’t take a chance with your data, back up daily and ensure that the process is verified.

Standard Steps

Place backup media in the drive
SELECT “Backup” from Main Menu
SELECT “Start Backup Now” or “Start Backup Later”
If backing up “Later”, be sure to double check that the “A.M.” or “P.M.” is correct!
If backing up “Later”, your screen will not be usable until the (now) scheduled backup is completed.
After the backup is completed, check the results of the last backup verification.

Alpha Micro Servers

• SELECT “Backup” from the Main Menu and review the information on screen.
• “Last backup”, “Last verify” and “Created” should all have the same dates listed.
• If there were any “Hard Errors” or “Soft Errors”, please contact our Customer Support Team for assistance.

Mac Servers

• SELECT “Backup” from the Main Menu and review the information on screen “Last backup”, and the 4 dates down the left side of the screen (referenced as “Started”, “Copying”, “Creating” and “Completed”) should all have the same dates listed.
• If you backup utilizing a CD or DVD, your media should eject on its own upon completion of your backup. If this media is not ejected you can SELECT “Eject backup media” from the Backup screen to retrieve your backup.

All Servers

• Remove your backup from the office and keep offsite until the next good backup is ready to replace it.
• It is a good idea to archive a monthly backup, stored offsite.

A new feature included in the Version 3.6 update is the ability to see the complete history of
your backups. Simply SEARCH at the Main Menu for Backup and SELECT Review Backup
Log. This feature gives you a nice historical overview of your backup history.

New Features!

Friday, July 16th, 2010

Your Software Is Full of New Features!

As your office needs change, so changes your software. Our goal is to help make your day as efficient and easy as possible. Our team members listen to your needs and discuss your ideas with our programming team. Over the past year we have added a number of features to your Datacon Dental Systems software. Below is a brief list. Don’t know if you have a certain feature? Give us a call or email us at support@datacondental.com.

• Send an email to your patient or account holder right out of Datacon-one click gets you to the body of your email!
• Electronic consent forms using a tablet PC- have your patient review and sign the consent form, store it electronically in the patient folder, no need for paper files!
• Treatment Plans in the Operatories-you can select from your list of “Today’s Patients”, and enter right into the charting screen for that patient! The Charting area has been completely reworked and now has drop down menus, status codes, frequently used treatment codes and more! This feature will save you and your staff a lot of time!
• Track your patient’s medical history using your software-this feature can be accessed from your Patient Visit Screen. Two clicks gets you to the Medical History screen where you can add important medical information and mark your note(s) to Alert you to special considerations.
• Templates for entering Chart Notes-this handy feature allows you to simply click on boxes to indicate the most common information you want to record about your patients. You can also set up procedure codes that prompt your staff to important information using these templates too!
• Download patient lists and data to your iPhone, Smart Phone, or Palm-many of our doctors use this feature for evening follow-up phone calls!
• Compare your patient’s periodontal exam results to previous years results-the ability to visually see the changes is a great way to educate your patients!

If you are not taking advantage of at least 6 of the above features, give us a call today to schedule an Internet Training. 1 hour will change the way you use your Datacon Dental Systems software!

CDA Training Winners

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

CDA Training Winners

By Laura Andersen

The following is a list of the offices that were the first to bring their Datacon Dental Systems May newsletter to our CDA booth each day.

• Drs. Jerry Young & Maureen Short, Diamond Bar, CA
• Dr. Robert Merin, Woodland Hills, CA
• Dr. Steve Aylard, Napa, CA
• Dr. Michael Rimmer, Bakersfield, CA
• Dr. Parissa Djafari, Riverside, CA
• Dr. Richard Henefin, Diamond Springs, CA

Winning offices will receive an hour of free Internet training. This is a fabulous time to get training with all the new features and enhancements to the software. Internet training is a simple and fast way to get the help that you need to use your Datacon Dental Systems software to its fullest capacity.

Traveling Study Group

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

Traveling Study Group Seminars

By Flo Janes

Last year we held several Study Groups for specialty and general practices. The primary focus was on running a paperless office. These meetings were very well attended and a lot of useful information was presented. As always, we listen to your feedback and it directly affects the development of our software. Datacon is now offering one-day seminars in the Sacramento and San Jose areas.

Mark your calendars for our next events:
SAN JOSE STUDY GROUP - WEDNESDAY JUNE 16, 2010
SACRAMENTO STUDY GROUP - WEDNESDAY JUNE 23, 2010 (Date changed)

Datacon has all of the tools - both clinical and administrative - so come learn how to use them!

Subjects to be covered include scheduling, email and digital x-ray integration, referral tracking and communication, electronic consent forms, periodontal charting, tooth charting, treatment planning, electronic chart notes, and downloading data to an iPhone or BlackBerry. If you are interested in maximizing the power of your Datacon system, you will not want to miss this meeting. CE units are available as well.

Call or email us for more information about these events.
 floj@datacondental.com or (800) 773-7878.

Anaheim CDA Wrap-up

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

Anaheim CDA Wrap-up

By Brian Benefield

Another eventful CDA meeting has come and gone, with a strong turnout at the Datacon Dental Systems booth in Anaheim. From Friday, May 14 through Sunday, May 16, we proudly showed off our wares and were happy to see so many of you stop by. As expected, we saw a large number of clients from the southern California area, but central and northern California were well represented as well.

Visitors were able to see the very latest version of Datacon dental software, including new buttons on the bottom of various screens to increase efficiency, additional recall tools, and the debut of a new touch screen. Datacon’s incorporation of the newest “touch” technology can benefit both patients and office staff. Imagine having patients check themselves in by simply touching a screen in the waiting area. In the back office, treatment planning and perio exams can be easily entered without using a keyboard.

We also showed off a new electronic signature pad, which can be used in a variety of ways, including electronic consent forms and health history updates. Datacon’s ongoing commitment to incorporate the latest technology leads to direct time, money and paper saving benefits.
If you weren’t able to attend the meeting in Anaheim and have questions about our latest offerings, call us today!

2010 CDA, Booth 1658

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

2010 CDA Anaheim

Booth #1658

Datacon Dental will be presenting a large assortment of new features and offerings at this year’s CDA Scientific Session, May 13th - 16th in Anaheim. We will be located in Booth #1658. Please stop by to see all of the new features or just to say “Hi.” We look forward to seeing you there.

Software Version 3.6

Offering all of these features:

• Tooth charting
• New periodontal charting graphics
• Medical history and Medical alerts
• Enhanced treatment planning
• Expanded schedule with up to eight column display & confirm appointment feature
• Customized main menu and schedule views
• Charts and Graphs of financial and demographic statistics
• Update notes for changes is now conveniently integrated in the software
• Insurance profitability report allows multiple carriers in one report
• New color features in many areas
• Additional buttons have been added to the bottom of most screens for more intuitive use
• Integrated patient email and text messaging, and much, much more!

Talk to us about how a Mac Pro server can improve the performance of your practice management software, while also storing documents and images for your Windows based clinical packages.

On each day of the session, the first two Datacon Dental users to bring this newsletter to our booth (#1658), will win an hour of free Internet training!

New Features

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

New Features - Full Screen & Screen Shot

By Laura Andersen

In our latest 3.6 version of Datacon Dental software, we have introduced a new feature to expand your viewing window to Full Screen on PC workstations. This allows you to drop the Windows portion from your screen view and enables you to have more area to see your Datacon window.

You must be on the latest version of pcLink software for Windows (dated 2/12/10 or later) to use this new feature. Click on File on the top menu then click Full Screen, to turn it on or off. There will be a check mark next to it when it is on. This feature is not permanent and will turn back off when you close your Datacon pcLink session, unless you check the box in Customize pcLink to allow it to Start with full screen.

Another new tool has been added to allow you to take a screen shot and paste this “picture” of your screen in Word. You can also save it to the Patient Folder or attach it to an email. Just click File on the top menu, and then click Screen Shot. The Save As window will come up and allow you to save your image onto your PC. Just give it a name and choose where you want to save it and you’re finished. This comes in handy for capturing pop-up messages that you would normally have to write down.

Also, with newer pcLink versions you have options to have different background colors, as well as different lines and dot colors. Click File, then Customize. Use the scroll bars to get the exact hue and brightness for your background color. Click on the down arrow next to Line and Dot color to choose the right combination. You can choose Start with full screen at this point as well.

The Intercom can now be opened with a click of the menu item, or you can just press the F10 key.

The Calculator can be opened with a click of the menu item, or you may also use the Shift + F8 key.

Traveling Study Group

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

Traveling Study Group Seminars

By Flo Janes

Last year we held several Study Groups for specialty and general practices. The primary focus was on running a paperless office. These meetings were very well attended and a lot of useful information was presented. As always, we listen to your feedback and it directly affects the development of our software. Datacon is now offering one-day seminars in the Sacramento and San Jose areas.

Mark your calendars for our next events:

• SACRAMENTO STUDY GROUP - WEDNESDAY JUNE 2, 2010
• SAN JOSE STUDY GROUP - WEDNESDAY JUNE 16, 2010

Datacon Dental Systems has all of the tools - both clinical and administrative - so come learn how to use them!

Subjects to be covered include scheduling, email and digital x-ray integration, referral tracking and communication, electronic consent forms, periodontal charting, tooth charting, treatment planning, electronic chart notes, and downloading data to an iPhone or BlackBerry. If you are interested in maximizing the power of your Datacon system, you will not want to miss this meeting. CE units are available as well.

Call or email us for more information about these events.
Contact: floj@datacondental.com or (800) 773-7878.

100th Mac Server Install

Monday, April 5th, 2010

Our 100th Mac Server Install

Installation of a Mac Pro server in Dr. Bennett Brodwin’s office in Dublin, CA was our 100th client to convert from an Alpha Micro server to a Mac server for their Datacon Dental System software. Mac Pro servers are our “One Box Solution” for all your dental needs including digital x-rays and images. This “One Box Solution” allows a single server and backup of all your vital data and images. So, before you buy a new peer server for your imaging software program, consider buying a Mac Pro server for both!

As a reminder, Datacon integrates with all the major imaging systems.

Call, or email us today for details!

Dear Valued Clients…

Monday, April 5th, 2010

Important News from Duane de Long, President

Dear Valued Clients,
After 37 years at the podium orchestrating the Datacon “players”, I have decided it is time to pass on the baton. In fact, I have decided to pass on two batons.
We have decided that in order to grow Datacon more efficiently and effectively, separating it into two unique businesses would facilitate more flexibility and opportunities for each entity.

Effective April 1, 2010 (no jokes here!) one baton will be passed to my sons, Jim and Jay de Long who will orchestrate the dmi Networking Solutions division. Collectively, they have been involved in Datacon for almost 8 years. This business will handle hardware sales, service and installation for current Datacon clients and others.

The second baton will be passed to the Datacon Dental Systems software division. This business will be lead by Buddy Kurz. As most of you know, Buddy has been the genius behind Datacon’s software creation and development since 1981.

How will these changes affect you? Very little. You will receive separate statements going forward and future upgrade proposals will consist of two parts; hardware (dmi) and software (Datacon Dental Systems, Inc.) In fact, to insure a smooth transition, both divisions will continue to occupy the same facility with the same personnel.

Effective April 1 you will begin receiving new, separate statements from dmi Networking Solutions, and Datacon Dental Systems, Inc. Your dmi statement will include any balances and account details prior to April 1, 2010. After April 1, your dmi statement will include charges for hardware, repairs or IT related sales and support. Your Datacon Dental Systems statement will include charges for monthly software support, training, billable software support and purchases of Datacon software including pcLink, Time Clock, and our Mac server support software. We do not anticipate making any changes to our billing rates or monthly support fees in the near future.

As those of you who are business or professional owners realize, your business becomes much like your child so leaving is somewhat bittersweet; similar to a child leaving home for college or getting married. Fortunately by keeping part in the family, this allows me the privilege of keeping a desk and being available. I consider many of you much more than clients; I consider many of you professional friends with whom I have been fortunate to nurture very long-term professional relationships with. For that, I am extremely grateful.

A few years ago, I had the privilege to serve the U.O.P. Dental School Alumni Board with the esteemed Dr. Art Dugoni. Those of you who know or have worked with Dr. Dugoni realize he is an extraordinary individual. Once while I was standing with him and a small group of others, someone asked him what he believed enabled to achieve the high level of success that he had attained… he didn’t hesitate a moment when he replied “Surround yourself with positive individuals. Others will only tend to drain you from your ambition, goals and passion for achieving them.” In my own way, I have subscribed (somewhat unknowingly) to that same premise.

Datacon’s success was not realized by my skills and capabilities, but by the wonderful and talented individuals I was fortunate enough to associate with along the way. Dr. Colin Wong of Mill Valley, CA who believed enough in my dream to assist me financially. Mr. Buddy Kurz who was willing to share his genius with me 28 years ago and create the Datacon Dental Systems package. In 1991 this software program was rated #1 in the nation for multi-user dental offices.

There have also been many loyal employees who were willing to put up with me for almost 20 years… many I’m certain you know:

• Dianna Vantine (1980-1997) Data entry (keypunch!) and bookkeeping
• Elyse Jaynes (1984-2005) Reception, inventory, bookkeeping
• Michele Weitzenberg (1984-2008) Vice President, Sales and client relations, and general “thinker outside of the box.”
• Rachael Schlief (1988-current) trainer, bookkeeping and software support
• Julie Thompson (1988-current) trainer, software support

And there were many, many others who were team members for over 10 years, plus my current team of all-stars.

In addition to loyal employees over 150 current clients have been using Datacon for over 20 years. THANK YOU ALL.

Now comes my time to pursue new dreams. My time now will be spent working my “Red Poppy Farm” and Vineyard with my wonderful wife, Sheila, woodworking, travel, winemaking, grandkid time, diving, cycling, watching over dmi and Datacon and generally celebrating life and my good fortune.

Thank you all for everything!
Sincerely,
Duane de Long