Within my division we are looking at purchasing an equipment management database system. There are 4 major teaching hospitals involed and at present only one is using a commercial database, "HECS" from "ECRI". I would like to get in touch with other users to discuss how they find it?

DD

Also check out EMAT ... at this URL.

Mr. DD, you might find it worthwhile spending half-an-hour browsing through the previous posts in this very section of the forum (ie, Forum – Maintenance - Biomed Databases).

All this stuff has been gone over time and time again, and you'll find that various parties have fierce loyalties to various software packages. Some of the package vendors are sponsors of this website too, so people's views are not always, shall we say, completely objective.

For what it's worth, my oft-stated personal view on this topic is that “home-grown” is always best, with the caveat that it all takes a lot of time. But at least you then remain in full control of the design, implementation, and evolution of your database(s), and can modify (tweak, or whatever) at will. Any of the proprietary system vendors will promise great works, at great cost, but you will never get the “perfect system”. You pays yer money and yer takes yer choice.

I have been told so many times that “there's no such thing as the perfect design”, that it's almost become a catch-phrase. However, I usually turn that on its head and reply “if you're not seeking perfection, why carry on experimenting”?

Hi Folks,
I agree with Geoff, I use an 'of the shelf' relational database, upgrading the version as necessary. The application I initiated in 1989 and have been developing and tweaking since that then.
The advantages are - it fits the bill exactly and virtually forever.
The disadvantage is (in this Trust) no one is inclined to take over the development once I retire in 2006.
Pete

I would agree with Geoff, until the person who did our home-brew left and we had pick up the pieces, not easy.
Ask yourself what you want from a database. I have used SEMS which has a lot of information stored and retrievable and HECS which I feel is much for user or technician friendy but does not have all the detailed data storage.
You have to make the decission, we can only advise what we have found is good for our needs.
Robert

Pete, if it's any good, send me some details, and if I like it I'll buy it off you (purchase the rights, as it were). Then I'll maintain it for as long as you like, for a fee. Got to scrape a living some how, you know! In fact, I'll extend that offer to any “home-grown” equipment maintenance management system out there. Can't be fairer than that, eh?

Robert, one of the main points about “home brew” is that you (ie, the manager) should always retain the source code. Fundamental, I'm afraid Old Chap. You're right, however, about commercial packages. The ones I've seen are all very nice, some more “user friendly” than others. But, to be frank, most departments do not fully utilize all the features (parts stock control, especially, seems not to be bothered with). What's the point in buying a load of features that you don't plan to use? Why not simply add them yourself as you grow?

One thing is for certain - future developments will be web-based. The biomed workshop of the 21st century will have its database systems linked to the world. All the information available on the internet will be accessible, whether on demand, or seamlessly integrated into the system at your finger-tips.

Also, we should be looking at ways of simplifying present systems by using more efficient techniques, and considering all available technology such as PDA's, the internet and the ever-elusive "paperless office".

Dear DD,

If I could respond to Geoff's pertinent points regarding the web and the following statement:

"Also, we should be looking at ways of simplifying present systems by using more efficient techniques, and considering all available technology such as PDA's, the internet and the ever-elusive "paperless office"."

E-MAT provides the following functionality:

• WEB - We provide the call logger functionality and a view facility of our Training System(CNST) over the internet/intranet with more modules on the way.
• PDA - We allow the capture of service history via PDA's (both Palm's and Pocket PC's) in situ.
• Paperless Environment - Any PC file formats (including web links) may be attached to equipment, service history entries, notices, manuals etc. which assists in moving to a paperless environment.

E-MAT is available to download from:
http://www.barwicksystems.co.uk/products/emat/index.html

Regards,

Paul Stockton
Barwick Systems
http://www.barwicksystems.co.uk
ISO 9001 Registered Firm

Nice little lead-in there for you, then, Paul.

You're going to have to start considering paying me a commission, you know!

Geoff,
It was not the source code that was missing, the documentation was nowhere near what it was supposed to have been (or was implied to have been).
Totally agree with you about web based is the future. Especially if one is out and about on the road log on to any handy PC and away you go.
It also makes setting up the Managers/nurses access to see what is happening with their kit very easy.
How long does it take to get an ICT department to load client software on - correctly let alone at all.
Robert

Robert, if you've got the source code, then you've effectively got the documentation right there in your hand. Perhaps not immediately in the form you would like, but available to you all the same (all it takes is “a little time”). On the other hand, if you've got the documentation, but no source code, then you've really got a challenging situation!

Forget hospital IT departments! As usual, the Americans are way ahead of us here in our cosy little Sceptred Isle, and for years biomeds in the States have been realising that they need to get into (“take over” was the phrase that resonated) the hospital information side of things.

I despair when I see so much time being wasted on AfC, “Voluntary” Registration, and all the rest … when what we should be doing is re-inventing British biomed and taking charge of all technology in the hospital! No one else knows more about it than us, yet the rest of them continually carry off the kudos! Bah!