EBME Forums Forums Management Medical Equipment Management Asset management systems

Just obtained android tablets , now trying to 'piggy-back' onto the hospital wifi (data only) system. Do not want IT to have access to the BME server or any of our computers. Our 'home-grown (MySQL) system is working fine and do not need IT people screwing it up. Would be excellent using the tablets around the hospital for job orders, service manuals, operator manuals etc all with the plan of going paperless as much as possible.

@Rob: what's that, Rob? You had a guy toiling away for over a year, yet only paid out £ 5 k?

Yes ... you shall need thoughtful, intelligent, constructive feedback in order to develop further. I hope you find folk willing and able to provide that. I say that as, in my experience, such a useful service is rarely found.

@Neil: sounds like you're making some nice advances there, Neil (I wish I was there doing it with you). It must be great to have patrons who are willing to support you in going forward like that.

Yes SQL is probably the way forward. The thing about SQL, of course, is that you still need someone with a bit of nous to be able to script (write) the queries!

And I dare say that we're talking about two different database models here, one for use in the commercial service provider environment (for want of a better phrase, Rob), the other for traditional in-house hospital biomeds (Neil). And (unless no-one else has noticed), neither are in "the NHS setting".

No doubt each will fit the bill in its own setting, but it's very difficult to expand (develop) beyond that ... to Conquer the World (so to speak). In other words, "One Size Fits All" - and doing it well - may well be impossible to achieve!

@Charlie: Asset Management System ... or Maintenance Management System? Yes, I know that some folk use these terms as if they mean the same thing, but in actual fact they may not be. Of course, a well designed system can embody both.

Geoff, regarding your point "difficult to expand" no problem as everything is centered around the 'asset' number, you can add anything Furniture, Office equipment, Static units etc.. We are using Rigel equipment for the test gear and this is soon to be tied in as well, main work for now, checking spelling mistakes, equipment inventory standardization (no more 'Dinamap' Monitor, Vital Signs etc.)Monitor, Vital Signs or Vital Signs Monitor, only one description is required in order to tie the equipment to the protocol in the Rigel. As for Patrons we have a boss, although he refer's to himself as one of the team who is very forward thinking and knows where I want to take the department.

I hear what you're saying Neil ("we went to the same school", remember), and it sounds like you've got everything pretty much squared away. Especially regarding integration with the test kit. Bravo!

But in my experience the "asset number" idea has by no means been taken up by everyone.

I may be straying a little off the original topic here (so apologies for that), but if you are "programming to the world" (as it were), any system needs to take all possible scenarios into account (and there, in a nutshell, lays the problem).

For example (as I may have mentioned before), some places I know of don't seem to bother too much about stock control of parts etc. Whilst others have yet to find the resources to implement a half-decent PM system of any kind.

Any one else still using WIMS?

Just received the following PM

Hi Charlie,

I am an account manager at RAM, I am sorry to hear that you are having issues with the software. Can I ask which trust you work at so that we can look at resolving the issues you are having with the software ?

Regards,

Sam.


It's good to see this forum is read, however the company full well knows our issues and have failed to answer them.

@Charlie

Private Messages are supposed to be just that on internet forums - please respect people that send you PMs or nobody will send PMs if the recipient will just post it in an open forum.

@eastangular

If Sam to answer to something posted in an open forum why not do it do it in the open forum. If they wish to hide their actions then please do not PM me. The message was sent to me and therefore in my opinion is mine to do with as I like.

Charlie,
With my moderators hat on I would agree that Private Messages are just that; Private.
It is not yours to do with what you want, if it was sent to you in confidence, respect that persons confidence.
Do not use the forum as a tool to bash people who you have a disagreement with.
Robert

Robert

There was nothing in the body of the text which I posted in full that it was sent in confidence. I stand by what I have posted we have been led a merry dance for over 2 years with no resolution in sight why should a PM resolve our issues.

I was not using the forum to bash but to answer the original request, and not stray off topic like other posters do. By demonstrating the problems that we have experienced other people can draw their conclusions. Hopefully your moderators hat is not clouded by the fact that the company in question is one of this sites sponsors.