Ask Marty: Which is the better patient education software, Caesy or Guru?

Apr 22, 2010

2014 02 13 13 44 51 873 Ask Marty200x200

Q: I would like to know which is the better patient education software, Caesy or Guru? The price difference is huge.

A: You are looking at two quality products. Both will allow your patients to better understand their dental conditions and assist you in educating them on the treatment they may need. The best thing for you to do is demo each product and choose the one that best fits your personal style and practice.

The Caesy by Patterson Dental.

Caesy (Patterson Dental) is available two ways: integrated into a computer that is placed on your office's local area network and as a DVD.

The Caesy Edge Server has three parts: Caesy, Smile Channel, and Showcase. Caesy is the patient education package. Smile Channel is a patient entertainment/education package for your reception area, and Showcase allows you to make CDs for your patients, incorporating the videos and animations. Showcase also can produce CDs for marketing purposes.

Caesy and Smile Channel are also available as standalone DVDs that can be played on a regular DVD player. So the cost can be less if you decide to purchase the DVDs and not the Edge Server. Caesy integrates into EagleSoft but can also be used with other practice management software.

Guru (Henry Schein) uses your existing computers and network to distribute its education content. Guru also has multiple components. Guru is the patient education library. Guru TV is a DVD that can be used to educate patients in the reception area. Guru Web allows you to e-mail your patients links to videos about their proposed treatments. You can also link the Guru Web videos to your Web site. The thing I like best about Guru is the ability to customize presentations by drawing and writing on the screen with Guru. You can do this with a mouse or stylus.

The Guru by Henry Schein.

Guru integrates with Dentrix but can be used with other practice management software. Guru patient education and Guru TV are also available as standalone DVDs.

Both Guru and Caesy can work in your office. You do not have to use all segments from one package -- you can mix and match. For example, you could choose to use Smile Channel DVD in your reception area and Guru for your patients in the operatory. Select which package you think will work best in your practice.

Martin Jablow, D.M.D., is a practicing dentist and a self-professed technophile who lectures and blogs on a variety of technologies used in dentistry (dentechblog.blogspot.com). If you have a technology question for Dr. Jablow, e-mail it to us at [email protected].

The comments and observations expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of DrBicuspid.com, nor should they be construed as an endorsement or admonishment of any particular idea, vendor, or organization.