The Super System is the name given to a software program designed by partner’s Bruce McKinnon, MBA (Systems Analyst) and Robert Hyatt, PhD (Software Engineer and PL/1 Programmer) in Hattiesburg, Mississippi to handle billing and insurance operations for medical groups. Software development was initiated (and later trademarked) under the legal name of Super Systems Corporation, of Hattiesburg. IIII In 1980, McKinnon had 13 years of experience in insurance, Medicare and both the public and private sectors of health care management AND had set up his own healthcare management consulting practice in 1977. Hyatt taught undergraduate and graduate level courses at the University of Southern Mississippi, then the 4th largest computer Science department in the US. Hyatt was one of 18 professors in computer science, but also designated by the department as Chief of Systems (responsible for hardware and software within the computer science department). When the Super System software was introduced, computer hardware was essentially divided into 3 categories: (1) 16 bit MINI computers - dominated by IBM and Digital Equipment Corporation / DEC, later purchased by Hewlett Packard / HP, (2) 32 bit mainframes - dominated by IBM, DEC and Burroughs, and (3) 64 bit supercomputers, dominated by Cray Research. In 1976, 2 year old Computer CPU manufacturer Zilog introduced the 8 bit Z80 microprocessor chip that soon formed the foundation for the PC (Personal Computer) and started what many call the evolution of the computer revolution that played out at lightning speed over the next 8 years. Zilog’s contribution was further fueled by the advent of the Intel x86 series chips (8086, 89286, 89386 in 1986 and 80486 in 1989). Few realized then that the Microprocessor would turn the computer industry upside down. The computer quickly moved from a manufacturer end-to-end product (outside the budget of small companies) to the single user desk top computer of the 2000’s (and now 64 bit Smart Phones and Tablets). IIII In 1979, Televideo began manufacturing Z80 computer monitors (becoming the largest manufacture of terminals in the World). This soon led the company to introduce multi-user computers like the one adopted by our firm, the TS 816-40 (4 MHz Z80A microprocessor, 128 Kbytes dynamic RAM, 4 Kbytes EPROM, CP/M-86 operating system with a multi-user / multi-tasking service operating system - MmmOST scheduling and shared file access for 16 user stations). Because of his connections with the University of Southern Mississippi, Hyatt was able to get a FIRST LOOK at the new TS 816-40, 16 user system with a pricing point well within the reach of smaller medical practices (2 to 10 physicians). We soon found ourselves on the bleeding edge of THE COMPUTER REVOLUTION (Apple, HP, Intel, Microsoft, etc). IIII Our software, the Super System, was purposely named after a book I had written: “The Superbill”, while an Administrator active in Medical Group Management Association. IIII Robert Hyatt was also the author of Blitz (later Cray Blitz), World Computer Chess Champion in 1983 (using the CRAY-1 in New York) and 1986
The Super System is the name given to a software program designed by partner’s Bruce McKinnon, MBA (Systems Analyst) and Robert Hyatt, PhD (Software Engineer and PL/1 Programmer) in Hattiesburg, Mississippi to handle billing and insurance operations for medical groups. Software development was initiated (and later trademarked) under the legal name of Super Systems Corporation, of Hattiesburg. IIII In 1980, McKinnon had 13 years of experience in insurance, Medicare and both the public and private sectors of health care management AND had set up his own healthcare management consulting practice in 1977. Hyatt taught undergraduate and graduate level courses at the University of Southern Mississippi, then the 4th largest computer Science department in the US. Hyatt was one of 18 professors in computer science, but also designated by the department as Chief of Systems (responsible for hardware and software within the computer science department). When the Super System software was introduced, computer hardware was essentially divided into 3 categories: (1) 16 bit MINI computers - dominated by IBM and Digital Equipment Corporation / DEC, later purchased by Hewlett Packard / HP, (2) 32 bit mainframes - dominated by IBM, DEC and Burroughs, and (3) 64 bit supercomputers, dominated by Cray Research. In 1976, 2 year old Computer CPU manufacturer Zilog introduced the 8 bit Z80 microprocessor chip that soon formed the foundation for the PC (Personal Computer) and started what many call the evolution of the computer revolution that played out at lightning speed over the next 8 years. Zilog’s contribution was further fueled by the advent of the Intel x86 series chips (8086, 89286, 89386 in 1986 and 80486 in 1989). Few realized then that the Microprocessor would turn the computer industry upside down. The computer quickly moved from a manufacturer end-to-end product (outside the budget of small companies) to the single user desk top computer of the 2000’s (and now 64 bit Smart Phones and Tablets). IIII In 1979, Televideo began manufacturing Z80 computer monitors (becoming the largest manufacture of terminals in the World). This soon led the company to introduce multi-user computers like the one adopted by our firm, the TS 816-40 (4 MHz Z80A microprocessor, 128 Kbytes dynamic RAM, 4 Kbytes EPROM, CP/M-86 operating system with a multi-user / multi-tasking service operating system - MmmOST scheduling and shared file access for 16 user stations). Because of his connections with the University of Southern Mississippi, Hyatt was able to get a FIRST LOOK at the new TS 816-40, 16 user system with a pricing point well within the reach of smaller medical practices (2 to 10 physicians). We soon found ourselves on the bleeding edge of THE COMPUTER REVOLUTION (Apple, HP, Intel, Microsoft, etc). IIII Our software, the Super System, was purposely named after a book I had written: “The Superbill”, while an Administrator active in Medical Group Management Association. IIII Robert Hyatt was also the author of Blitz (later Cray Blitz), World Computer Chess Champion in 1983 (using the CRAY-1 in New York) and 1986
The Super System is the name given to a software program designed by partner’s Bruce McKinnon, MBA (Systems Analyst) and Robert Hyatt, PhD (Software Engineer and PL/1 Programmer) in Hattiesburg, Mississippi to handle billing and insurance operations for medical groups. Software development was initiated (and later trademarked) under the legal name of Super Systems Corporation, of Hattiesburg. IIII In 1980, McKinnon had 13 years of experience in insurance, Medicare and both the public and private sectors of health care management AND had set up his own healthcare management consulting practice in 1977. Hyatt taught undergraduate and graduate level courses at the University of Southern Mississippi, then the 4th largest computer Science department in the US. Hyatt was one of 18 professors in computer science, but also designated by the department as Chief of Systems (responsible for hardware and software within the computer science department). When the Super System software was introduced, computer hardware was essentially divided into 3 categories: (1) 16 bit MINI computers - dominated by IBM and Digital Equipment Corporation / DEC, later purchased by Hewlett Packard / HP, (2) 32 bit mainframes - dominated by IBM, DEC and Burroughs, and (3) 64 bit supercomputers, dominated by Cray Research. In 1976, 2 year old Computer CPU manufacturer Zilog introduced the 8 bit Z80 microprocessor chip that soon formed the foundation for the PC (Personal Computer) and started what many call the evolution of the computer revolution that played out at lightning speed over the next 8 years. Zilog’s contribution was further fueled by the advent of the Intel x86 series chips (8086, 89286, 89386 in 1986 and 80486 in 1989). Few realized then that the Microprocessor would turn the computer industry upside down. The computer quickly moved from a manufacturer end-to-end product (outside the budget of small companies) to the single user desk top computer of the 2000’s (and now 64 bit Smart Phones and Tablets). IIII In 1979, Televideo began manufacturing Z80 computer monitors (becoming the largest manufacture of terminals in the World). This soon led the company to introduce multi-user computers like the one adopted by our firm, the TS 816-40 (4 MHz Z80A microprocessor, 128 Kbytes dynamic RAM, 4 Kbytes EPROM, CP/M-86 operating system with a multi-user / multi-tasking service operating system - MmmOST scheduling and shared file access for 16 user stations). Because of his connections with the University of Southern Mississippi, Hyatt was able to get a FIRST LOOK at the new TS 816-40, 16 user system with a pricing point well within the reach of smaller medical practices (2 to 10 physicians). We soon found ourselves on the bleeding edge of THE COMPUTER REVOLUTION (Apple, HP, Intel, Microsoft, etc). IIII Our software, the Super System, was purposely named after a book I had written: “The Superbill”, while an Administrator active in Medical Group Management Association. IIII Robert Hyatt was also the author of Blitz (later Cray Blitz), World Computer Chess Champion in 1983 (using the CRAY-1 in New York) and 1986