| Once you've finished the layout design for your | | | | backup, and control access to info. |
| medical practice's network, you're ready to decide on | | | | Additionally, this will let your users get the info they |
| its logical design. The logical design, in other words, is | | | | want from any machine across the network, even |
| the intangible function and infrastructure of the | | | | from home. It can be preferable to setup every user |
| network. Below you'll find tips on making your | | | | account with a series of network drives with a |
| network flexible and efficient, contributing to smooth | | | | narrow access scope. This lets the user easily share |
| medical practice management. | | | | documents across departments, be it an employee |
| Flexibility | | | | manual, new policy, or vacation scheduling. The |
| When organizing a design, group by functions as well | | | | department drive can also be set to share info only |
| as geography. This sort of design allows for better | | | | with users in that specific department, allowing fluid |
| flexibility for the functionality and management of the | | | | department collaboration. Each individual user account |
| network. That is, if you have multiple medical offices, | | | | has its own home directory which is only accessible |
| is can be beneficial to form a logic unit called 'front | | | | by that individual user. This creates a safe area for |
| desk.' From 'front desk,' you could then also create a | | | | confidential documentation which should not be |
| logic unit for every location and place each user | | | | accessed by others, also backed up on a nightly |
| account into an appropriate unit. The first benefit is | | | | schedule. |
| that you can apply network policies to the logical | | | | Internet and email |
| units. For example, perhaps all 'front desk' accounts | | | | This is an excellent service to include on the network. |
| are set for their screens to lock up after ten minutes | | | | However, when setting up email, be sure to run good |
| without activity. To apply, simply add this feature to | | | | anti-virus software on the mail server to scan all |
| the 'front desk' unit on the network. | | | | outgoing and incoming messages. Email is the top |
| The second benefit allows to group by function, then | | | | method of spreading viruses, and if the mail server is |
| geography, allowing you to delegate necessary admin | | | | configured properly at the outset you have most |
| functions across the network. Going back to the | | | | effectively reduced your risk. Microsoft Exchange or |
| front desk, for example - each area could be | | | | another mail server solution are excellent ways to |
| delegated to a supervisor with the privilege of | | | | introduce email as well as online calendars. Internet |
| changing passwords. In this way the entire front | | | | access is a must to properly communicate between |
| desk set could be delegated to a single medical clinic | | | | multiple locations. |
| administrator, eliminating the problem of a staff | | | | Additionally, most software companies ask that you |
| member who is unable to perform the job functions | | | | keep a broadband connection in order to send you |
| because they need the unavailable resources of an | | | | updates and support. Although pricing and support for |
| IT person to sign in and out. | | | | broadband service varies by area, the need for |
| Basic Network Service | | | | proper security is constant. No matter what kind of |
| When you've produced a working draft of the | | | | connection you establish, be sure your assets are |
| network organization, it's the time to choose which | | | | kept behind a firewall, a security device that stays |
| services you'll add. For a smooth-functioning | | | | between the network and the world outside it. It can |
| physicians' office the most needed are Internet | | | | be a good idea for someone to perform an outside |
| access, email, and file storage. Network file storage is | | | | scan and look for weaknesses in your firewall every |
| an excellent tool for an organization to have, allowing | | | | now and then. The majority of vendors have product |
| them to map network drives for individual users, and | | | | versions for both corporate and consumer |
| requiring them to save the data to the network | | | | customers; the corporate version are built for |
| instead of local machines. This protects and backs up | | | | network-based deployment and have additional tools |
| the data. By storing the data on a single server, you | | | | for you to centrally manage your anti-virus product |
| will have the ability to perform a centralized nightly | | | | and strategy. |