There are some parts of a Doctor’s Surgery that could benefit from computerisation.
As time goes on technology will aid most types of work, for instance office work (Department of Trade and Industry, for example). Technology could be used in a Doctor’s surgery to computerise the patients’ files, to print out prescriptions and certificates for things like immunisations. The patients’ file would consist of their name & address, telephone number, D. O. B, sex, allergies, and diseases. In addition, it will be faster for the doctor to access his or her files because they are all just a few clicks of a mouse button away instead of loads of paper-based files in a big fat cabinet away.
If you were to misplace a file in your office, it would probably be hard to find it, whereas if you lost a file on a computer you could use the find utility in Microsoft Windows 95, 98 or 2000 (by pressing the button and F at the same time) and the file would be found in a few seconds. On a computer you could automatically put the files in alphabetical order by whatever- name, GP, date of birth e. t. c. However, in an office cabinet it really would not be easy at all to put and keep the files in some sort of alphabetical sequence.
Currently the database is pen-and-paper based, which may be cost effective but is very time-consuming when compared to a computer-based database. Say you have a paper-based database. If one of your clients move house or get married, you would have to create a whole new record because of the altered information. And say it was a family who moved residence, and then after you made the new records the parents got married.
It would cause a lot of hassle and waste a lot of time, wouldn’t it? The doctor would get annoyed searching for people’s files and they would take longer to get through things, which means less appointments every day. The dilemma is that I need to make a database to answer all these problems. I will make a database for a doctor’s surgery so the doctors can look up and alter the files of their patients with just the click of a button. The database will be able to find their medical record (allergies, etc. ), their home address, their home phone number, their allergies (if any), and their diseases (if any). The potential users of this database are doctors, stand in doctors, receptionists, physiotherapists and nurses.
Doctors are potential users because they are the people treating their patients so they will need to be constantly checking their patients’ files. That also applies for the nurses, physiotherapists and receptionists. Receptionists are potential users because they are the people who book the appointments and edit files for things like addresses or names. Also, I will need to make a brochure for my company for it to be a form of advertising.
In addition to that, I will make a slide show advertisement that customers could watch when in the surgery. This could be used to let them know the full capabilities of the surgery; it could also help the customers tell their friends about the surgery in case their friends are looking for something that they cannot find in other surgeries. I asked my GP (General Practitioner) these questions:1. Would you prefer a paper-based record of everything or a computer-based record of everything?2. Why?3.
Which system are you currently using?4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using this system?5. Did you ever use the other system?6. Why did you change?He replied:1.
I would prefer a computer-based record of everything. 2. Why? Because it means easier access, more space in my room, lees time-consuming, and I can print out prescriptions instead of hand-writing them, and I don’t have re-record things when I have to edit something. 3. Currently I am thankfully using a computer for my records and prescriptions.
4. The advantages are that it is quick, that the files can be edited, added and erased easily, etc. The disadvantages are that data can be lost permanently; the computer can crash because of bugs. 5. I used the other system years ago. 6.
I changed because compared to the system I am using now it was very frustrating and time-consuming. In my database I will construct a spreadsheet for customer details, employee details, for the supplier’s details and appointment details. From these spreadsheets I will generate a form for each so the receptionist/Doctor can simply fill out the form instead of having to keep checking what column he/she is writing on in a spreadsheet. It is also easier to write in forms rather than spreadsheets because you can merely press the tab button to move down to the next data insertion/edit field. I will mail merge the spreadsheets for customer details, employee details and prescription supplier’s details. I will need a computer, preferably with Microsoft Access included, and one or more floppy discs to transfer my work from one computer to another.
I will make a logo to represent my company in the advertising area of things, and I will make a slide show for my company, also for advertising purposes. You could make certain databases available to certain people only, for instance the appointment data available only to the receptionist, the patient’s data available only to the This Database would only be available to the Doctor, and you could certify this by these security procedures:? Encryption? Password at login screen? Password at bootup screen? Files kept on LaptopProblems with the current system? It is written on paper? The doctor would have to re-print the patient’s file if something had to be altered, e. g. vaccinations, change of telephone number, moving house. ? You have to sift through loads of files to find a specific patients file? The only way they are secure from prying eyes is to lock them in a cupboardObjectives of the new system? Faster access to files? Easier alteration of files? Confidentiality? To be less space- consumingLimitations? If I were to create a new program to do this task from scratch, I would have to learn C++ so I could do it? I can only use the programs that I have access to: Microsoft Access, Microsoft Works, and Delphi 3.
? Time – You never have enough time. The limitations of the potential users will be minimised by the production of a simple user guide written in plain English. The limitations imposed by the resources available are:? I can only use a program that I and they have constant access to? I and they must know how to use the program to good effectSo, the key objectives are to make a logo, id badge, business card and a doctors’ database for a surgery. There are no data sources needed for this task; all the names have been devised by myself to use in the database. All the addresses are bogus as well.
