E-drug: Re: Inventory control software (cont'd)
----------------------------------------------------------
Having worked with hospitals for over 25 years in the US and overseas, I
concur with Lambert's suggestion to use pharmacy inventory control
software that has already been tested and is continually updated rather
than building your own using ACCESS or other database software and you
own staff to develop such software.
The cost of developing software for the first time is not exhorbitant,
it is the updates, retraining needs, and documentation which make any
software expensive. When these costs are spread over many users it is
always cheaper than when they are born by just one hospital or health
center or warehouse.
I therefore would urge you to get together with other potential users,
to pick an already existing software, and to negotiate a reasonable
price, based on multiple users, longer term contracts, and the
understanding that the software company will benefit in their upgrades
(and therefore reduce your price) from your continuing feedback on
problems. You may also provide a quid-pro-quo by being an alpha site and
available for site visits and marketing.
Good luck.
Karin A. Dumbaugh
5 Acorn Street, Boston, MA 02108-3501,
PH 617 248-9866, FAX 617 248-9866
dumbaugh@gis.net
--
Send mail for the `E-Drug' conference to `e-drug@usa.healthnet.org'.
Mail administrative requests to `majordomo@usa.healthnet.org'.
For additional assistance, send mail to: `owner-e-drug@usa.healthnet.org'.