SOAPware
The SOAPware EMR was created to provide optimal care by modeling the paper chart. There are currently over 30,000 users with 10,000 sites nationwide as well as in 30 other countries(1). The SOAP acronym stands for Simple Object Access Protocol.
History
SOAPware was founded in 1994 by Dr. Randall Oates(3) but, the program developed out of a custom EHR system he began developing for his own practice in 1987. The original software was created during the 1987 flu season when he observed that much of his work involved repeating similar phrases for similar problems over and over. Dr. Oates' desire for a streamlined solution to the constant repetition led him to build the prototype SOAPware system. By the end of the 1987 he was using the system in his personal practice full time.
The history of Soapware can be divided into four stages:
1. 1987 to 1992 – Prototype stage – Dr. Oates created the prototype for SOAPware using a program called Hypercard on early Apple Macintosh computers while building a very large and active medical practice in Springdale, Arkansas. He introduced his program at the 1990 American Academy of Family Physicians Scientific assembly where it was received with much enthusiasm by fellow physicians facing similar problems. By the end of the year, 30 doctors had begun integrating the prototype system into their own private practice.
2. 1992 to 1994 – Start-up – Greg Lose, a real programmer, came in to turn the prototype into a commercial product. He continues to lead the way doing research and development.
3. 1994 to 2005 – Market dominance in small practices – David Powell came on as CEO. In 2005, there was not an EMR product installed in more sites than SOAPware.
4. 2005 to present – Focus on transition to next generation, comprehensive EMR – SOAPware retreated from major marketing, and engaged a complete rewrite of the software. We are now focusing almost all resources on completing the product suite and simplifying what is presently an often an overly-complex interface.
Until 2005, it was SOAPware's intent to keep a focus on the EMR and links in order to interface with PMS systems. However, in 2008, it became apparent that an overwhelming majority of EMR users want a fully integrated, rather than interfaced, EMR-PMS. So, we launched into development of our fully integrated PMS that is now in an alpha-testing phase. It uses the same database as the EMR, is written in the same computer language, and does not require a separate installer.
Unique Features and Innovations
The software has been praised for its usability. The software's creators attribute this to two main things: The first is that it mimics paper charts that users are already accustomed to and the second is that the system was created in a private practice by a physician, someone who was already experienced with the needs of an office of that scale and scope.
Clinical Applications
- SOAPware EMR
- SOAPware PM
- SOAPware Hosting Options
- SOAPware Docu-Portal
Features
- Professional Scheduling
- Intelligent E&M Coding
- Patient Research Tools
- Device Integrations
- Instant Medical History Integration
- Order Entry System
- Flow Sheets and Growth Charts
- Document management
- Health Maintenance System
- Tasks Management
- E-prescribing (not available in the State of Ohio)
- Patient Education Handouts
