February 2006 Newsletter

HARP Evolution

By: Director of Information Systems, Partner

Quadax’s HARP billing software has evolved through the years, and it is currently undergoing some technological transformations that will make it viable well into the future. 

Over the past couple of years, the HARP development and quality assurance teams have been hard at work adapting the HARP software so it can be moved to a new operating system. Although this change was necessitated by Hewlett Packard’s announcement in late 2001 that they were discontinuing the HPe3000, the idea of running HARP on other platforms was not new to Quadax. Some of you may have heard the current product, HARP 2000, referred to as HARPO; the "O" meaning "open system." As we developed the software, consideration was given to interaction with the operating system such that one code set could be compiled and run on multiple operating systems. Maintaining one code set ensures that no matter what the operating system, HARP will provide the same interface, valuable business logic, and automated processes you have come to know.

Just over a year ago, Quadax first ran HARP on an HP9000 utilizing the HP-UX operating system, HP’s version of UNIX®. We began billing for three additional clients on this system within a few short months. Results have been outstanding, with very few problems and excellent performance. We are currently in the process of purchasing a new HP-UX server, which will handle all of our in-house business with room to grow. However, migration to this server will not happen overnight since we have a significant investment in our HPe3000 servers, which have proven extremely reliable. 

Quadax has also begun billing for two clients using Windows Server 2003 during the past year. This went relatively well, but we are still examining the commercial feasibility of running HARP on Windows.  

In addition, the HARP development team has recently undertaken the exciting task of putting a new face on HARP. HARP 3.0, as it is tentatively named, uses a browser interface to add a fresh look to the software, while retaining the same concepts, reporting, and automated processes already proven in HARP. Quadax is developing this interface using the Speedware Autobahn II development tool. This allows us to incorporate HARP programs from the current version, developed with Speedware’s 4GL development tool, into the new application. In addition to a new look, the browser interface provides improved functionality and fewer limitations to the amount of information that can be displayed on one screen.  

A recent announcement from Hewlett Packard should be of particular interest to those of you running HARP on your own HPe3000. HP intends to offer basic reactive support services for e3000 systems through at least December 2008. However, there are limitations and exclusions. This announcement includes a link to an FAQ page with more detailed information. Contact HP using the number on your support contract to address your support needs beyond the end of 2006. Quadax is now poised to migrate standalone HARP clients to the HP-UX operating system. Before doing so, several options for obtaining a server will need to be considered.

Quadax is committed to continued improvement of the HARP software, not only by improving the business process, but by introducing new technologies. Doing so will keep HARP the premier A/R software package for medical practices well into the future.