AIS Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
What services will I get if I sign up for AIS?
What kind of training and support is available for me if I use AIS?
Computer and Network-related questions
What kind of computer do I need to use AIS?
What kind of network connection do I need use AIS?
Can I use the AIS software on my Macintosh computer?
Can I use the AIS software through my America Online (AOL) connection?
I don't have a computer but I am interested in using AIS. Can you help?
I have a computer but it is behind a firewall maintained by my local hospital. Can I use AIS?
Account and Authorization Related Questions
Can an AIS account be set up for my Nurse or Office Manager?
Can I access the Dartmouth Hitchcock electronic medical records of all my patients?
How can my patients authorize me to access their DHMC electronic medical records?
General Questions
What services will I get if I sign up for AIS?
Physicians and staff at practices that sign up for this free service will be able to access the electronic medical records of patients they refer to DHMC from a computer in their office.
The Regional Information Systems and Referring Physician Services teams at Dartmouth-Hitchcock support AIS users. One-on-one or small-group training is available by a scheduled appointment, and help can be requested via phone or e-mail when problems are encountered.
Are there any fees or charges for using the AIS?
No. The services and support are provided at no charge.
Computer and Network-related questions:
What kind of computer do I need to use AIS?
The full suite of AIS applications will run on any PC that runs Windows. Most computers 5 years old or newer will have adequate resources to handle this software. We are willing to visit your office, evaluate your existing systems for suitability, and make recommendations for upgrades if necessary.
What kind of network connection do I need use AIS?
The AIS software on your computer uses the Internet to communicate with systems at DHMC. If you have a dial-up, DSL, cable modem, or ISDN Internet connection, you can use AIS. If your computer is on a local area network (such as a hospital's network) that has Internet access, the AIS software can be made to work over that connection.
Can I use the AIS software on my Macintosh computer?
The Clinical Information System (CIS) program that provides access to the DHMC electronic medical records of your patients requires Windows. If you have a Macintosh computer, you can still use the BlitzMail program, but not CIS.
I have a new Macintosh with lots of memory and the Parallels Virtual PC program installed. Can the DHMC software run in this virtual environment?
We aware of some experienced Macintosh users who run the DHMC software in a virtual PC on a Mac. If you want to attempt that, it will be your responsibility to get the virtual environment configured to run Windows. We can then supply the software and documentation to get the AIS software installed in that virtual environment.
Can I use the AIS software through my America Online (AOL) connection?
In our experience, the Clinical Information System (CIS) and BlitzMail software will work over the Internet connections provided by most versions of AOL. We have found that access to the library resources does not always work when dialed in via AOL. If you use AOL as your ISP, we will attempt to help you to get all of the features of the AIS software to work, but we cannot guarantee success.
I don't have a computer but I am interested in using AIS. Can you help?
Dartmouth-Hitchcock is not able to supply computer hardware to referring clinicians who want to use AIS. However, the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Regional Information Systems team is available to help you define your computer hardware needs and a select a vendor. If you purchase or upgrade a computer system so that you can use the AIS, we are available to help you set up the computer, get connected to the internet, and start using the AIS software.
I have a computer but it is behind a firewall maintained by my local hospital. Can I use AIS?
The DHMC Regional Information Systems team is prepared to provide your local Computer Services staff with the information necessary to adjust firewall settings in a way that will allow you to safely access the AIS services. We have had success at getting our services to work from many different organizations and networks.
Account and Authorization Related Questions:
Can an AIS account be set up for my Nurse or Office Manager?
Yes. Qualifying practices can now enter into a practice-wide agreement that allows accounts to be created for nurses or other staff that needs to access clinical information on your patients.
Can I access the Dartmouth Hitchcock electronic medical records of all my patients?
You can access only the records of your patients who have explicitly granted you or your practice authorization to do so. This authorization, once established, remains in effect for 5 years, unless revoked sooner at the request of the patient.
How can my patients authorize me to access their DHMC electronic medical records?
When you sign up for AIS services, we will provide you with an AIS Authorization form for your patients to sign. Have them complete the form while at your office, and then have your staff fax it to the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Release of Information department. There the authorization will be entered into the system.
If the patient signs the AIS Authorization form at my office, and the form is faxed to the DHMC Release of Information Dept, how long will it be before I can access that patient's records in the Clinical Information System?
Forms received between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday - Friday, are entered that day (usually within 2 hours) by our Release of Information department. You may request rush processing by first faxing the form, and then telephoning the Release of Information department with your request. Their phone number (603-650-7110) is printed on the AIS Patient Authorization form.
I'm in a group practice, and all of my colleagues are participating in the AIS. Can our patients authorize the practice, rather than just me, to access their DHMC records?
Yes, that is now possible. In the past, AIS authorizations were established by patients to named clinicians. We are now able to offer a system under which the patient authorizes the referring practice. All clinicians and staff at a practice who have been granted AIS accounts can access the records of patients who have granted that practice-level authorization.
