As I have said before I have a ScanSnap. It is great! I scan certain documents like checks into a paperport directory. I have set up the scan to be B&W regardless of the color of the check.
I have another setting for scanning documents into my Medicare Directory. We only have to select the patients directory and Name the file. For instance a PT-INR for Peter Viera would go to V/Viera,Peter/07 PT-INR 021407. Of course a "searchable" PDF file.
If I want to fax this report to the cardiologist I open the PDF file with Adobe and print it to the Fax printer. Of it goes!!
We have another setting for scanning color pictures, usually of ulcers sent by home health agencies, into the appropriate Medicare folder.
Not having a twain driver, ScanSnap cannot be controlled by other programs. BIG DEAL!!
Adobe Acrobat standard comes with ScanSnap. It produces "seachable" files. You can use the Typewriter feature to annotate the file and you can affix a stamped signature to the document.
The pdf documents can be encrypted. Printing and editing can be controlled.
I received a record request for a patient's file several months ago. We had scanned the 250 pages into the patient's directory. We combined the pdf files into a large document. I encrypted the document, giving only printing permission and loaded the file to a USB drive, 32MB. I got the drive in a statin promotion. I used a "lock", a 30 day trial of a program that would encrypt and "lock" the whole file in a USB drive. I mailed the USB drive to the Doctor with instructions to call my office for the keys to unlock the USB drive and to open the pdf file. Total cost <$1.00, except for the time spent doing the scanning etc. Using his Acrobat reader the Doctor could select those pages he wanted to print or to import the whole document into his EMR. His choice, his money!
DrO