Daphne,
I enjoyed your article (A Living Document) in this month's magazine. However, it reminded me of an issue I have been running into more and more lately. You quoted John Vitalis with a comment about organizations not always retiring older applications with the result being they maintain several systems. I see this regularly and I'm not sure why.
I am the CEO of a small software vendor that focuses in the Labor and Delivery arena. We have a product that adds value to the clinical systems from GE, Philips, Hill-Rom, etc. Because we specialize in extracting data from these systems we have begun to be asked to assist in sunsetting (retiring) these systems when they are replaced. I assumed this effort was a standard practice and included in the integration effort when the new systems were implemented. But it seems to be the rare exception and this surprises me. I have only been working in healthcare for the last three years and prior to that I worked for over twenty years as a systems integrator in several other industries. I can't recall a single instance where we left a legacy system in place, especially one that required significant maintenance expenditures.
We performed five sunsetting engagements already this year, so perhaps this issue is starting to get noticed. But I have to believe that for every system we retire there are hundreds out there sitting in a corner and costing some facility much needed dollars. It seems odd. Perhaps it is worth an article at some point in the future.
If you want more information concerning what I am seeing, or contact information for some of the hospitals we have assisted, please feel free to contact me at any time.
Thanks for your time,
Ross Kayuha, CEO
Strategic Thinking Industries, Columbus, Ohio
The R.N. Factor
Mr. Guerra,
It was interesting to read about the RN Factor as CIOs partner with nurses; this is good and logical.
Barbara Blond, MBA, MT (ASCP), Manager
College of American Pathologists, Northfield, Ill.