The perpetual software license

I would like to share my perspective from someone who has sold, supported, implemented and designed Healthcare Software as well as supported the associated Hardware and operating systems since 1984. I have seen a lot of Medical Software, Operating systems and Hardware come and go over the years. The only thing I have ever seen that is perpetual is change.
In 1979 when I first started using a “word processor” the gold standard was WordStar. Microsoft had not even thought of Word yet and the operating system for these Micro Computers as they were known was Concurrent Dos or Unix or something similar. No such thing as MSDOS yet and windows was more than a decade away. I purchased a copy of WordStar and I'm sure I still own it but I seriously doubt I could find the hardware to run it now or the patience to use the formatting “Tokens” to place simple bold, underline, italics or font formats in place.
Software and operating systems have usually had a set life cycle just like hardware. Yes you can limp along for 10 years on a Medical Billing system written in the late 80's for Late 80's hardware but in 2009 it is very antiquated and often difficult to maintain as well as keep up to date with the latest interfaces and functionality. If you are still running an old “Legacy” system consider yourself lucky and about 10 years past the expected lifetime of the software. You made a smart decision back then. Now it's time to move to a newer platform and get more functionality, speed and return on your next investment.
It would be nice if everyone could create a web app like what we now use to prepare our income tax online. But what had to happen before that could occur? The internet had to be developed and the browser had to become stable enough to support SaaS software. But more importantly you had to TRUST the website to stay around, to keep your information private, and to function flawlessly and quickly year after year as well as stay in business and not be bought out by a competitor. Of course I'm referring to Turbo Tax and not Kiplinger's Tax Cut in case you were wondering.
SaaS software is not new.. It used to be called Timeshare software. You rented the software and could care less what operating system or hardware it was running on since you did not own the hardware. We have come full circle from the Medical software of the Late 60's and 70's where it was too expensive for a Physician to purchase a mainframe or mini computer and run their own servers. The service bureau of the 70's is now the SaaS vendor of the 2000's. Why did service bureaus move from the forefront? Why did physicians purchase the infrastructure in people, software and hardware to do their own billing? Back in the 70's they used a peg board and ledger system and copied their ledgers as their monthly statement. So why are Physicians not using the ledger and pegboard system any more? Because there have been massive changes since the 70's and early 80's. Insurance is filed for your patients now, as well as more difficult to get reimbursed. With the changes coming in healthcare who knows if SaaS software is even a smart purchase now? If we go to one payor that would streamline your needs to file insurance to different clearing houses and there may be no need to bill a patient.
SaaS software might work for many physician's but is your data really your data? How do you keep it from getting “mined” without your consent?
So you can most likely purchase a perpetual license from any vendor. My father always said “Paper will sit still and let you write anything on it”. Meaning read the contract and know what you are signing makes common sense. Just know that your in perpetuity use is only as good as that vendors balance sheet, your willingness to loosen your grip on your data if it's SaaS, the financial viability of having your software hosted versus doing it yourself for less. But in the end make sure you are not buying a perpetual license of Wordstar.

What's Wrong with this picture?

In 24 years of Travel I have yet to see a handicap spot painted with the customary handicap logo sporting spokes on the wheels. What next Craiger Mags! Too funny.. I went down the next morning and checked it out they were hand painted.

World Series Trophy on a south west flight from Tampa to Philly. The Trophy awesome. No I don't know the guy holding the Trophy so quit sending me emails asking...

Philly Hotel goes a little far in creative hand towel art in the Bathroom.

Biker with a skateboard strapped to his back. Is he called a Biker-Boarder or a Boarder-Biker?

Letter to Mo at camp from her pets stuck at home with Dad.

Woof, Woof, Woof, Pant Pant Pant.. Chase my tale, chase my tail.

Hey Morgan that's what I have been doing all day today. In case you didn't know; this is Sophie, your Beagle. :-)

I woke everyone up at 7:30 today so I could go to the bathroom and then I enjoyed chewing on a bone while that tall guy worked at his desk where I like to chew all the small stuff on his desk.
Then I went on the run out back and had the best time. Oh my gosh that's my favorite thing other than sniffing the grass. I stayed outside for awhile and then that Kid Chris came out to watch me. He said there was an Alligator in the water. Are those fun to play with?
Any way. I hear you are at camp in the woods and can run around. Running is my favorite thing. Some times I get excited and run around the house, It's my favorite thing. I chased Tally and Pepper today. It's my favorite thing. I even tried to chase that old cat that pukes, but he just hissed at me. I love it when he hisses at me ... It's my favorite thing. Gotta go my paw is getting cramped and I see there is a chew bone on my bed. I love chewing bones … oh I tried to chew your new pink sneakers but that tall guy told me NO! And I ran around barking. That's my favorite thing to drive that tall guy crazy!!

Bugsy:
OK... enough of that stinky dog... This is Bugsy... YAK! I'm not pewking … YAK! I'm just allergic to cat hair... Yak! . Please tell me you.... why that tall guy put those dryer sheets on my favorite chairs? I can't stand the smell and won't go near them now. Hope you see lots of bird up there I love looking out the window at birds. YAK!... Oh man I hope I can sleep on those chairs soon I'm tired.

Tally:
Ah it's so relaxing on this glass dining table... Yikes ! The tall guy chased me away. How Rude. I'll just lay on this glass table in the family room. Dang! He chased me again. OK I'm going to climb on the counters and rub on the Mothers day plate. Wow.. That tall guy likes to tell me NO and to “Get Down” does that mean he wants to see me dance? I think I need to scratch on his door at 6:00am and ask if he wants to watch me get down now. Ok I'll go watch the frog in the window... Dang now that Beagle is chasing me. See you later. Love Tally...

Pepper:
OK I have basically been sleeping on your bed in your room all day loving the peace and quiet when this Beagle runs up and starts messing with me. So I ran around and hissed at her and she chased me downtairs. The tall guy gave us some Turkey in Gravy it was good... But Bugsy came and ate my last nice morsel. Dang... Then the Beagle licked the bowl. I'm not gonna say what the Beagle ate from the litter box... Yuck... I jumped on your desk but did not see my favorite website on your laptop so I jumped down. I think I'll go sleep on you bed again. Have fun at camp. Pepper.

Sunday on the Boat with the Boys

Sunday the Boys and I went on the boat and had a blast. We went to Shell Island , Egmont Key and then anchored off of the Tradewinds for an hour or so and watched the Rays game at Ricky "T"'s. Had a blast and will post pictures.

Moriarty's Pub wings in Philly

I'm in Philly this week and working with a Urology client up here. Arrived Monday and spent Tuesday working with a new client (or soon to be new client ) in King of Prussia. Afternoon was a kick off call with a new Palm Beach FL client for 30 mins and then training or basic navigation and progress note creation for my latest client at Hahneman hospital. Charley from Boston was in town and we decided to go to Moriarty's Irish Pub from a recommendation by the 10th floor grill bartender at the Hilton Garden Inn. Great suggestion! The wings are awesome. Definitely the best wings in Philly and best I have had in a few years. Very large and meaty and a nice sauce. Not too spicy and not too tame. We had some colorful Waiters tonight. She was in training and he was her mentor. He was funny and she was just plain smoking hot... Ok enough of that lets get back to the wings.

Nice Pub. Located on Walnut about 4 blocks from my hotel. Straight down 11th for 4 blocks then right on Walnut and cross over to the left side of the street and bada-bing there is the Moriarty's sign in nice bright French Blue neon. Charley and I both had the wings. They were large and filling we did not have room for anything else. The other nice thing about Irish pubs is they have 20 ways to drink Guinness. I had a Black Velvet which is Woodchuck Cider and Guinness. I first ordered a snake bite which I thought was Cider and Guinness but ended up being Cider and Sam Adam's. Oh well like all manly men I drink my mistakes. Then came the wings and the Black Velvet. Nice Combo if I may say so myself. I also had a call from Kip Kelly today. Kip is a friend from when was 15 and we were teen terrors at Wintergreen ski resort in Va. Was hoping to hang with him Wednesday but need to take a rain check till the end of the month due to his wife having a Lacrosse meeting. (Only in the Mid Atlantic). Had a fun night and highly recommend the Hilton Garden Inn at 1100 Arch Street as Well as Moriarty's. Might go to Dimitri's at 3rd and Catherine Wednesday night since i'm bacheloring it.

CD.