Difference between revisions of "Where do I Start"

From VistApedia
Jump to: navigation, search
(Mumps guides)
(Added glossary link to Configuration~)
 
(28 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
= Depends on who you are!! =
+
Of course, you should start by looking at the different [[Main_Page#Versions_of_VistA|versions of VistA]], installing one on your computer, and trying it out. Once you've done that, here are a series of pages to direct your interests.
  
VistA is many things to many people. In order to help you get what you want from VistA, we need to know a little more about you. Depending on what kind of VistA user you are, this system will provide documentation that will be relevant to you.
+
* [[How_does_VistA_work|Basic VistA Architecture]]
 +
* [[CPRS]] -- the powerful front end to VistA
 +
* [[Usage]] -- what to do once it's installed and running smoothly
 +
* [[VistA Administration]] -- more on management
  
== Evaluators ==  
+
== User Roles ==
You are an evaluator if you are considering using VistA. The Evaluator page will help you to determine if VistA is right for you. This is a place to get an honest evaluation of VistA's strengths and weaknesses. (Granted, we are biased.)
 
  
[[Evaluator Page]]
+
* [[Evaluator Page]] -- if you are considering whether VistA is right for you.
  
== Clinical Users ==
+
* [[Vendor Page]] -- if you are hoping to make money supporting VistA, or a regional expert needing to install your 1000 client quota (in order to get stimulus funds). Additional information regarding installation, [[configuration~|Configuration]], and support is provided.
Clinical Users of VistA do not necessarily need to know the complex details of what makes VistA tick. While you should probably understand the [[Basic VistA Architecture]] you really do not need to know much more about the VistA server itself. To you VistA will largely be an application called [[CPRS]]. This application is a powerful front end to VistA that will vary based on what kind of user you are.  
 
  
=== Physician VistA User ===
+
* [[Physician Page]]
If you are a physician and you are interested in using VistA to improve the quality of your care, this is a good place to start.
 
  
[[Physician Page]]
+
* [[Nurse Page]]
  
=== Nurse VistA User ===
+
* [[Pharmacist Page]]
You are a nurse who is interested in using VistA to better care for your patients
 
  
[[Nurse Page]]
+
== For MUMPSters and Novice Programmers ==
 +
If you already know MUMPS, here are some technical references to get you deeper into the system fast.
  
=== Pharmacist VistA User ===
+
* [[Introduction To Programming VistA with MUMPS| MUMPS and VistA]] - Basic programming guides.
If you are a pharmacist and you are interested in improving the way you handle medications with VistA, then this page is for you. There is currently no GUI for the pharmacy interface, rather an advanced text interface is used.
 
  
[[Pharmacist Page]]
+
* [[Begin Configuration of Vista]] - A lengthy guide written in 2005, but clear and still useful.
== Technical Users ==
 
If you care what server it runs on then you are probably a technical user. This is the section for you if you want more help with operating systems, technical terms, programming help and everything you ever wanted to know about how VistA works underneath.
 
  
 +
* [[Programming VistA Issues|VistA Programming Issues]] - A collection of how-to solutions to frequent VistA programming problems.
  
=== Vendor ===
+
* [[VistA MenuCommands New|List of menu commands in VistA]] - An organized list of all 9,000 menu items accessible within VistA.
You are a Vendor if you are hoping to make money supporting VistA. This section will cover the technology behind VistA in-depth and stepwise. Look here if you want to learn about the technologies that VistA relies on, and how to install, configure and support a VistA system.  
 
  
[[Vendor Page]]
+
* [[Package Interface Specifications]] - A link to a manual of CPRS hooks.
 
 
=== MUMPSter ===
 
If you already know MUMPS you have a huge leg up in learning VistA! This section will give you the deep technical references to get you deeper into the system fast.
 
 
 
[[Introduction To Programming VistA with MUMPS| MUMPS]] programming guides.
 
 
 
[[MUMPSter Page]]
 
 
 
[[VistA MenuCommands New]]
 
 
 
=== Novice Programmer ===
 
If you understand the fundamentals of C/C++/Java/PHP/Python but you are a novice to MUMPS then this is the page for you. This section will give you an introduction to MUMPS, which is the critical first step to becoming a competent VistA developer.
 
 
 
[[Novice Programmer Page]]
 
 
 
=== VistA Administrator ===
 
Here you will find links on how to Install Configure Maintain and Restore VistA installations.
 
 
 
[[VistA Administration]]
 

Latest revision as of 18:56, 17 October 2012

Of course, you should start by looking at the different versions of VistA, installing one on your computer, and trying it out. Once you've done that, here are a series of pages to direct your interests.

User Roles

  • Evaluator Page -- if you are considering whether VistA is right for you.
  • Vendor Page -- if you are hoping to make money supporting VistA, or a regional expert needing to install your 1000 client quota (in order to get stimulus funds). Additional information regarding installation, Configuration, and support is provided.

For MUMPSters and Novice Programmers

If you already know MUMPS, here are some technical references to get you deeper into the system fast.