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Thick clients versus thin clients

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Last Post by chews on straws 12 years ago

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srock

(@srock)

Posts: 81

Estimable Member

Topic starter

During setup, our clinic made the decision to install thick client on desktop computers ONLY. However, after adding users, our server is bogged down and we are considering transitioning laptops to thick clients also. Is there greater risk involved with installing thick clients on laptops that are frequently removed from office premises in regards to protected patient health information? Our IT department has told us both yes and no. Can anyone answer this and help me understand the rationale for the correct answer?

Posted : October 30, 2012 5:24 am

kwolfe

(@kwolfe)

Posts: 63

Trusted Member

I know it could be possible for files to be in Internet Explorer's cache, such as attachments that open up from a document management server. Not sure if anything directly from Centricity does. That would increase risk especially if the laptops are not fully encrypted.

Posted : October 30, 2012 6:04 am

tnc

(@tnc)

Posts: 517

Honorable Member

srock said:

During setup, our clinic made the decision to install thick client on desktop computers ONLY. However, after adding users, our server is bogged down and we are considering transitioning laptops to thick clients also. Is there greater risk involved with installing thick clients on laptops that are frequently removed from office premises in regards to protected patient health information? Our IT department has told us both yes and no. Can anyone answer this and help me understand the rationale for the correct answer?

Encryption is the best option, in addition to a remote wipe capability if the laptop is lost, and a complex password. That would be your best practices. It is hard to say which (if any) patient data would be physically on the drive and it would probably be due to Windows caching the data, not GE downloading things. I always play it safe in these instances and the few laptops I do support are thin for that reason.

Mike Zavolas

Tallahassee Neurological Clinic

Posted : October 31, 2012 2:46 am

Sam

(@sam)

Posts: 371

Honorable Member

I echo what kwolfe and tnc have said above. We strictly use thin clients, but are a large facility and have the advantage of a larger budget to build the thin client infrastructure.

Posted : November 5, 2012 12:16 am

cliffstark

(@cliffstark)

Posts: 194

Reputable Member

Honestly, I don't think it there would be anything of significance installed on the thick client. If you have a webcam, it's possible to have pictures stored on the PC but otherwise, pretty much anything patient related is not stored.

Posted : December 19, 2012 4:59 am

chews on straws

(@jwollard)

Posts: 46

Trusted Member

The application makes calls to the database. No data should be stored locally except for possibly billing imports (EDI), photos or scans.

Thin client is good for applying updates to only a certain number of computers without having to sneaker net the updates around your office.

Posted : January 14, 2013 2:20 am

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