 |
Foremost the application
had to provide a medical record methodology
that adhered closely to the classic
Problem Oriented Medical Record model |
|
Because the long range plan provides
for the development of further hospitals
it needed to have the technical capacity
and speed to handle large databases
with remote admininistration and use |
|
We wanted a user interface that
was familiar and easy to use |
|
The application needed to be developed
on a flexible platform which utilized
and leveraged the most cutting edge
technology of the day |
|
It needed to be affordable |
| We were not concerned
about basic business processes as
all the current market products provide
adequately for them. What was not
available in the current market was
the first demand we had placed. Although
many products suggest they have methods
for the Problem Oriented Medical Record
they did not meet the standards we
had set. We decided to explore the
possibility of developing an application
from scratch. We were quickly drawn
to the internet technologies because
in our opinion they have the brightest
and most stable future.
Exploring the possiblilty of developing
with open source technologies such
as PHP, JAVA, MySQL etc. we quickly
decided the cost would be prohibitive
and an application impossible to
deploy within our time frame. During
this research we happened on Caravan
Business Server. It appeared to
provide all the development tools
we needed in a neat and snappy package.
It seemed so much like a "Holy
Grail" that at first we were
skeptical. With Niti Telecom consulting
we launched a small test project
to develop the client and patient
databases and their associated user
interface screens. We were surprised
by the rapid pace of development
we were able to achieve. We immediatley
moved into what we considered would
be the two most difficult modules
to achieve: The time management
module and the medical record module.
These were highly complex modules
and proved beyond our doubt that
we had made the correct decision
in choosing Caravan.
Achievement
with the Medical Record Module:
Caravan's built in XML parser has
allowed us to develop a completely
"portable" and searchable
medical record. All patient medical
record information is stored in
an xml document dynamically mangaged
by Caravan Business Server.
With its associated style sheet
this document can be viewed by any
browser anywhere! Leveraging this
potent XML resource of Caravan with
the power of Caravan's Application
and Database servers we have created
a true "Problem Oriented Medical
Record". A record which is
in an easy to read format; and where
patient problems can be easily identified,
traced and managed.
Achievement
with the Time Management Module:
Time Management is the bain of every
Veterinary Hospital, and most other
businesses for that matter. With
this module another gauntlet was
thrown down before Caravan. We wanted
not just an appointment scheduler
as is available in the other applications
on the market, but a true time and
resource manager.
Caravan has allowed us to create
a module in which we can test availabilities
of not only human resources, but
space and equipment as well. Mutliple
resources can be tested for availability
at the same time! Again Caravan's
powerful Database and Applications
servers have allowed us to deeply
integrate are scheduler with many
database tables e.g.: Client, Patient,
Staff, Equipment, Space, Medical
Complaints etc.
Final stages of development proceed
on the above modules as we begin
to move into developing more routine
business processes for the application.
We are looking forware to this "cake
walk" after these two modules!
The browser will be in the computing
future for a long time to come,
and developing for this future with
the powerful recources of Caravan
Business Server is an exciting and
rewarding adventure.
Sincerely,
Thomas J. Molloy, DVM
tjmolloy@mac.com
|
