Newbe questions

Management and Administration
1

amaidonis wrote on Monday, December 12, 2016:

Hi!

I am very new to OpenEMR and I have a caouple of questions:

  1. Can OpenEMR sync the data between multiple workstations (via internet)?
  2. Is there a “cloud” version of it?
  3. Can it be done so that to work in Android?

Thank you all for your answers.

Regards,
Apostolos

2

bradymiller wrote on Wednesday, December 14, 2016:

Hi Apostolos,

OpenEMR is a server application and so multiple workstations can connect to it. Since it is a server application, it can be used in a cloud. Regarding android to connect to it, that would depend how well the android web browser works with it. Recommend having your android device use the following demo to see how it works(let us know how it goes):
http://www.open-emr.org/wiki/index.php/Development_Demo#Daily_Build_Development_Demo

-brady
OpenEMR

3

amaidonis wrote on Wednesday, December 14, 2016:

Thanks Brady!

Here comes another set of questions (sorry to waste your time…!) :slight_smile:

Has anyone tried it as a cloud application?
Do I have to install it in the cloud? And how?
I assume I will then have to use some kind of “remote desktop” program, correct?

If I manage to use it as a cloud app, then I will try it on Android…

Thanks,
Apostolos

4

bradymiller wrote on Saturday, December 17, 2016:

Hi Apostolos,

Definitely has been used in the cloud. Note the definition of cloud is very broad. Are you looking at a specific cloud solution?

You would usually install it in the cloud like any other server (this is the simple answer when using a simple server appliance on cloud such as ec2 in aws; this answer can become far more complicated, however, if decide to break it down into multiple services on aws).

The way you would connect to your instance serving OpenEMR on the could would depend on what cloud service and configuration you use.

-brady
OpenEMR

5

medfetch wrote on Thursday, December 22, 2016:

Hi Apostolos,

The easiest answer regarding accessing a “cloud” openEMR instance, is you access it via a browser. Any browser on any workstation. You do not need special software. Installing it in the cloud requires a lot of knowledge about protecting your server from hacking and unauthorized use. There are many, many ways to do this and unless you are comfortable with all of this, you should look at outsourcing your “cloud” to an openEMR vendor. They are listed on the wiki. Alternatively, you can install it on a very inexpensive PC in house, behind your firewall. This gives you another set of options if you wish, like deploying openVPN or opening special ports for remote access, etc. Again, each of these choices has risks and paying for support is not as expensive as you think. It is well worth the investment no matter which way you go. (I am not a vendor but a user who pays for support as I need it).

Since openEMR is an opensource product, its development is community-based. Many of the issues you face (if not all of them) have been conquered by someone else right here. So please feel free to ask for help if you decide to deploy it yourself. Search the forums and you will find a lot of free advice and recipes for hardening a cloud-based server from attacks. When a new issue arises, the community adds the solution right into the next version of openEMR for everyone to benefit from. So please contribute your experience back as you proceed - it helps newcomers, support vendors and current users alike.

Good luck and welcome!
Ray

6

amaidonis wrote on Sunday, January 08, 2017:

Brady, Ray, thanks a lot!

I have some space rented on a server for hosting my websites so I will try to “host” the openEMR there. The hosting company is owned by a close friend so he will be doing the setup. I will try to get as much involved as I can and, of course, I will let you know of the outcome.

Thanks again and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Apostolos