Easing The Routine
With similar simplicity, MacPractice automates every aspect of running a practice — from new patient intake to filing insurance claims. It crafts personalized letters to patients based on diagnoses and demographics. On one convenient page, it prints legible prescriptions along with current information on medications and their proper use. It creates insurance forms and zaps them directly to electronic claims systems. “MacPractice does it all for us,” says Gallo. “For so many routine processes, it’s one click, and you’re done.”
OS X does networking so beautifully. If I want to add a terminal, I don’t need to call a technician. I just plug any Mac into any Ethernet jack, and it’s automatically accessible by other computers on the network.
As easily as MacPractice pulls together information, Dr. Gallo pulled together his office network of Power Mac, iMac, Mac Mini and PowerBook computers. “OS X does networking so beautifully. If I want to add a terminal, I don’t need to call a technician. Quite literally, I just plug any Mac into any Ethernet jack, and it’s automatically accessible by other computers on the network.”
Extending His Reach
Dr. Gallo was also quick to embrace AirPort wireless technology. “My PowerBook laptop is always wireless, and that’s freed me in so many ways, large and small. When I’m taking a break, I can bring it into the coffee room and still have access to our entire office network. When I’m at home or at the hospital, my PowerBook becomes an extension of my office.” Via password-protected VPN [Virtual Private Network], Gallo has fast, unfettered access to office and hospital computers — often checking lab results and real-time fetal monitoring strips from wherever he finds an Internet connection.
“You can’t be in two places at once,” he says. “But you certainly can try your best to create that illusion. With AirPort and VPN, my PowerBook enables me to do just that. And it’s perfect for carrying my updated schedule with me, my baby book, which is the list of all of the babies that I’m going to deliver this year, my calendar and address book, and so forth.”
Patience for Patients
For all his facility with the latest Mac technology, Dr. Gallo has never lost sight of why he chose it in the first place — freeing time to serve his patients.
“I do a lot of deliveries, but I’m never swamped to the point where I can’t spend time with the patients,” he emphasizes. “I’ve been delivering babies for 24 years, and we’ve always made it a point never to refer to a patient by an account number. We try to use first names if it feels comfortable. My office manager has been with me for as long as I’ve been in practice. My lab person’s been with me for 15 years. So the office really does have a family atmosphere. ”
OS X does networking so beautifully. If I want to add a terminal, I don’t need to call a technician. I just plug any Mac into any Ethernet jack, and it’s automatically accessible by other computers on the network.
And what about spending time with his own abundant family?
“Well,” he smiles, “I’m lucky to have a very, very efficient wife. She’s as good at managing the house as I am at managing my practice, so I can always rely on her help. My kids are spread out over a lot of years. My oldest is 33, my youngest is 10. So it’s a busy house. I like to be home, and I like to play a part in their lives as much as I can.
“But I’ve got to admit: The one thing that my wife has never said to the kids is, ‘wait till your father gets home.’ Because they might be waiting a long time.”
