Practice Management Software: When Less Isn’t More

Compromise vs. Quality in Software

When I first went into practice, I followed a path of balance. I wanted to get the right equipment, but without going overboard on debt. You can want the best of everything, but budgets don’t always allow for that option.

However, there was one area where I refused to compromise—instruments. And specifically? My pliers. I bought the best model I could find.

That adherence to getting the right tool for the job probably goes back to my Military Dad. Despite the fact that I could have spent less, I knew that the right tool is always the best investment.

Let me add that all these years later, yes, I’m still using those pliers.

It might have been a convenience to buy something for less, but it would have been a compromise in quality.

That’s what guided me when I first started looking at practice management software. I created TopsOrtho™ in 1992 because I knew I could create a better, more efficient, and dependable program than any other on the market.

I was rather impressed with the Mac® computer. I figured I would write my own program—so I did. I really like the intuitive nature of the Mac. It was also fast and reliable.

In the late 1990s, Apple announced an upgraded operating system, Mac OS X—built on the UNIX platform. It was without equal.

I wanted Tops to be its best so I went after and hired Aaron Hillegass, who was a global leader for programming UNIX on the Mac. Aaron’s previous experience included teaching Apple programmers. In fact, Aaron has trained programmers at Pixar, Google, Facebook, Spotify, Airbnb, and Nextdoor. I made Aaron our Chief Architect.

The rest is history.