the risk of things going horribly wrong down the track, says
setting up a new medical practice is an
exercise the owners will bear and struggle
with for some time, especially where the
cost exceeds the amount budgeted for.
whole range of possibilities when it comes to
things going wrong from delayed building
works to wrong data cabling to under-scoped
IT systems. For the purpose of this article,
however, I will focus on the IT component.
are invisible at this point. The benefits of a
properly structured system are not limited
to the system doing what you need it to do
immediately a car is a car, not a truck or a
lawnmower, yet any one of those vehicles
will get you from point A to point B.
safety or the safety of your data, the
reliability of the systems and recoverability
in case of problems.
into account redundancy for the system and
data protection. As a clinician there are two
irreplaceable components to your practice
you and your data.
a mass scale, practices systems have been
hijacked for a ransom and staff have left
abruptly and taken the practice data. We've
also encountered businesses that have
had to purchase new equipment just a few
months after starting out, as their original
equipment was no longer up to the job.
not to say systems don't fail and things don't
if a plan is followed and a proper process is
adopted, then the risk is lowered.
setup process is only the first step and, in my
view, the more crucial aspect is the long-term
upkeep of the system, especially as a practice
or hospital increases its business and patient
intake. When a system breaks down and,
like everything, they can and do you need
to be able to rely on an organisation with the
expertise to deal with the situation and a
willingness to be accountable.
planning and over-capitalising. However, it
is easier and cheaper to maintain a properly
structured system than a less-structured
system, especially when you take into
account loss of productivity.
within a properly structured IT company.
A reputable company will provide you with
a well-structured system, a well-structured
budget and properly documented processes,
backed by good support.
are less relevant in today's world over 80%
of support calls are now dealt with remotely.
Having said that, I do encourage you to visit
the firm in question, see how their office is
structured, observe how their people behave
with calls and towards guests, and note
how their offices are laid out and how they
capture all the documentation and issues
related to your site.
Managing Director
at ISN Solutions.