Macs for Docs?

By David Kibbe, M.D., Center for Health Information Technology

Did you know the new Apple computers can now "do Windows?" And we’re not talking about emulation software, like Virtual PC. Nope, the new MacBookPro and iMac computers with Duo Core processors from Intel can boot up the Windows operating system natively, and run all sorts of applications and software for Windows computers. And at really high levels of performance and speed. The new MacBookPro in particular is amazingly fast!

What does this mean? For starters it means you can use the new Apple computers to run Windows-based desktop software programs, including EHR applications, scheduling programs, and practice management systems in your medical office, even if the programs specify Windows XP as the operating system. And you ought to get performance that is equal, or superior to, the PCs you now use.

You should now be able to convince your hospital or group practice’s IT staff to let you bring your new Mac into work and run it on the organization’s network, even if the IT folks have previously prohibited Apple computers from connecting to the LAN. To the enterprise’s network, your Apple computer running Windows will look and behave exactly like a Dell, Toshiba, or any other PC running Windows.

To get this functionality, you must have a MacBookPro or iMac with the new Intel Duo Core processors, and either BootCamp or Parallels software installed.

Need more information? Please feel free to contact us at the Center for Health Information Technology via email centerforhit@aafp.org.