MTJ: What is the current focus of your company's business?
Dorsett: Vemics offers NuScribe, a highly simplified voice recognition driven medical documentation system. NuScribe allows physicians to create all types of medical documentation online using customized templates with a highly advanced macro engine. The documents are stored online and may be exported to practice management or electronic health record systems. NuScribe is also fully integrated with our new Portal that gives physicians and healthcare professionals the ability to exchange all types of personal health information in a HIPAA compliant fashion for free.
MTJ: How has this focus changed in the last 2 years?
Dorsett: We originally offered NuScribe as a local running application that was created with web-based code. We moved to an online model once the marketplace was more comfortable with storing data online. We realized that we could also offer much more value to many more clients with an online product.
MTJ: What are your current initiatives?
Dorsett: Currently we are focused on offering a more enriched client experience. We are expanding beyond documentation, into other areas that physicians and healthcare professionals value such as collaboration, personal health information exchange and educational content. We will be connecting physicians, pharmacists, payors, hospitals, medical societies and educational institutions.
MTJ: How has your market segment changed over the last year?
Dorsett: We still acquire many new clients that are not planning on adopting an EHR in the near-term, however we have seen a significant rise in new clients that are not satisfied with the documentation component of their EHR. While many EHRs can be voice enabled, most were not designed to do so. They seek us out looking for a better, more efficient way of integrating voice recognition into their significant HIT investments.
MTJ: What are the greatest challenges for your customers in adopting and implementing technology for your customers?
Although our products are designed to be as simple as possible, we find that some physicians may be reluctant to change the slightest process in their daily routine. Physicians rely on our technology therefore they have to interact with it. This can cause hurdles occasionally
How are you helping your customers address these challenges?
We have created a very flexible application that does not require significant changes in work-flow. In many cases we are simply replacing the transcriptionist, so we emulate the dictation environment that the physician experienced previous to using our system. The equipment looks and feels similar, the documents look identical and they save a tremendous amount of time and money.
MTJ: Describe your company's position in the industry with regard to the solutions you deliver.
Dorsett: Over the years we have been a leader in offering simplified voice recognition driven documentation technology, however our direction is rapidly evolving into a market of its own by bringing together so many different areas of healthcare.
MTJ: What do you believe to be the state of the industry in terms of growth, maturity, and availability of viable products to address the technology needs of the medical community?
Dorsett: I believe that healthcare is in the adolescent stages of a technological revolution. Many products are struggling to meet the complex needs of a very diverse landscape. As products mature they will become more specialized and integrated. Specialized products work better for the market segments they serve. Right now there are many companies that want to create products of the one size fits all persuasion because they create the largest market. Once things settle and the companies that are going to stick around emerge, I think we will see more specialization. We as a company will work to connect those users who have adopted technology with one another, so that the healthcare community in general, will be much tighter.
MTJ: What advice would you offer to organizations attempting to implement any technology projects.
Dorsett: Organizations should be open minded when looking at technology. There are new opportunities emerging that will allow practices to accomplish objectives that were never achievable before. Due diligence is imperative however. The track record and stability of the company are two very important factors to examine before adopting new technology.
Tom Dorsett serves as the President of Healthcare Solutions for Vemics. Prior to Vemics' acquisition of NuScribe, he served as its Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. Mr. Dorsett co-founded NuScribe and has ten years of experience in the healthcare IT market. Mr. Dorsett founded and operated Channel Management Software, a reseller of medical voice recognition and electronic medical records applications. Mr. Dorsett also served as sales manager for MD Productivity, a manufacturer of voice recognition driven healthcare documentation applications. Prior to MD Productivity, Mr.Dorsett served as Chief Executive Officer and founder of Industryworks Software, a manufacturer of management applications for the transportation and insurance industries.
