How Podi came to be

The principal reason for developing Podi came about as a paper based practice became more and more unmanageable. The need to carry files, notebooks, calendar etc was putting records at risk in a domiciliary practice and the storage of the records was becoming more and more cumbersome.
A few of the considerations as regards Podi were therefore:

• Meet the legal requirements for security and data protection
• Straightforward to use
• Podi needed to be portable and/or practice based
• Record search has to be quick
• Must meet the standards required for HPC Registered Podiatrists/Chiropodists
• Data entry must be standardised using the same processes throughout
• Avoid the need for repetetive typing
• Provide as many functions as necessary for a busy practitioner in one "box", but keep the sale price as reasonable as possible

Contact Management

It is vital in any business to keep records of your business contacts, in Podi's case the customers are our patients
A few of the considerations as regards Podi's Contact Management were therefore:

• Meet the legal requirements for security and data protection
• Straightforward to use
• Need to access Contacts easily, without necessarily having to start Podi
• Maintain my contacts on my mobile (This will let your mobile tell you who is calling)

Calendar Management

A considerable amount of time is spent checking diary entries, fitting in both a social life as well as a business
A few of the considerations as regards Podi's calendar management were therefore:

• Meet the legal requirements for security and data protection
• Straightforward to use
• Need to create appointments within Podi
• Need to create personal appointments eg Bank Business Manager, Child's sports day
• Put all these appointments in one calendar
• Is it possible to create an appointment on a mobile and get it into Podi (Patient Appointment)

Your Practice

The Practice itself requires management, equipment is both an assest and something that gets used, eg an Autoclave
A few of the considerations as regards Podi's practice module were therefore:

• Meet the legal requirements for security and data protection
• Straightforward to use
• Maintain an asset register (useful for insurance and accounting depreciation)
• Record usage of equipment
• Record maintenance of equipment (Autoclaves have to be serviced, just like the car)
• When is my Clinical Waste due to be collected, can I store the Waste Transfer document
• Provide a portal to the Accounts and general setup of my Practice

You the Practitioner

Keep my details and put it all in one place
A few of the considerations as regards Podi were therefore:

• Meet the legal requirements for security and data protection
• Straightforward to use
• Record my details even data such as my Allergies. (Not a good idea to order latex gloves if you are allergic to them)
• When is my Insurance due
• Must meet the standards required for HPC Registered Podiatrists/Chiropodists as regards CPD logging
• Reminder entries for HPC registration, Clinical Emergency Training etc

Your Patients

Encourage the recording of as much Patient data as necessary to provide a sound basis for an evidence based Electronic Medical Record system.
A few of the considerations as regards Podi were therefore:

• Meet the legal requirements for security and data protection
• Straightforward to use
• Break down data into different classifications, but separating it into useful components
• Record search has to be quick
• Must not be able to delete or edit data, with only a few exceptions
• Records must be kept for an indefinite period, currently there are too many variations, to allow anything other than permanent. Tidying up the system must allow for archiving
• Keep an Audit trail for each document
• Allow the attachment of Digital Images (Photos and Videos) and other documnents throughout the system