CPSI's ClientWare® application allows the CPSI hospital information system to take advantage of Client/Server technologies by providing integration between the UNIX and Microsoft Windows NT operating systems. This integration brings together the strengths of both operating environments. The raw processing power provided by UNIX combined with the communication capabilities of NT networking creates an information system that allows; the use of familiar "point and click" processing of Windows, the integration of Microsoft Office products, and expanded opportunities for the inclusion of new technologies. These enhanced capabilities are all available without sacrificing system processing speed or power.

To realize the benefits of incorporating Windows technology into CPSI application software, a communication system that could manage the traffic of graphics intensive data was required. CPSI chose the industry standard Ethernet with TCP/IP to supply the increase in communication bandwidth and control to meet this need. With ClientWare software operating in a Microsoft NT network environment, CPSI is able to totally integrate Windows technology and the full complement of Microsoft office automation products with the CPSI System. Personal computers running Windows 95, 98, or NT Workstation 4.0 complete the network configuration. This state of the art client/server network allows CPSI application modules to utilize Windows point and click screen formats as well as Windows edit boxes for data entry.

In addition to incorporating Windows technology into CPSI applications, ClientWare provides seamless integration with all of the products in the Microsoft Office Suite. Microsoft Word may be used for all desktop word processing. ClientWare also allows the use of Word for Medical Record or Clinical transcription with automated inclusion of user defined patient data fields. With the ClientWare filter, it is an easy matter to place hospital data into either Excel or Access. Excel provides powerful data modeling, forecasting and graphing capabilities while Access expands the data query options available to client hospitals by utilizing data from the CPSI System Database application. Microsoft Office users on the network can also use the system to send Microsoft E-mail. Individual network workstations can be set up to use licensed MS Office products either through the network (thin-client) or local copies of the software on the workstation.

Additionally, ClientWare Networking positions CPSI client hospitals to take advantage of new technologies as well as the opportunities the Internet provides. CPSI is able to choose from the best of new, proven technologies for inclusion in the CPSI System and provide benefits such as remote laptop computing for home health, document scanning, hand held point of care devices, web-enabled software, and CPSI support via the Internet. With ClientWare Networking, our client hospitals are prepared to face the technological changes and challenges that will shape the way community hospitals use information in the delivery of quality patient care.