Presented at the 2000 APIII Conference Return to 2000 Abstract Index
EXPERIENCES WITH AN OFF-THE-SHELF DATABASE SOLUTION
University of
Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, Texas
Kevin J.
Land, MD
Background: Historically, database solutions
were developed independently and with a variety of software.
The true power of a database can not be realized until its
information is shared. We attempted to identify a generic,
off-the-shelf software solution that could fit our minimum
requirements for a department-wide solution.
Design:
Minimum Requirements:
- Cross-platform (20 % PC and 80% Macintosh Environment)
- Low Cost
- Open system (connects with other applications)
- Scalable (multi-user and multi-site deployment)
- Web-enabled and able to handle multiple data types, including images
- Widely-deployed across multiple industries
Solution Choosen: Filemaker Pro
- Most popular DB solution available for intermediate system complexity TCP/IP networks
- Readily available programmers
- Rapidly growing plug-in accessories for easy customization
- Rapid learning curve for the novice programmer or user
- Robust software on the market for many years (Windows, NT, and Macintosh servers/clients)
- Supports TCP/IP, HTML, XML, SQL, and ODBC standards
- Supports multiple data types (text, images, movies, etc...)
- Scalable, web-enabled delivery using a Redundant Array of Inexpensive Computers (RAIC)
Results:
-
Dynamic Web content that meets most of our minimum requirements.
- Pathology Web site: http://pathcuric1.swmed.edu/
- Residency Program Description: http://webpath.swmed.edu/res_brochure/brochure.htm
- Laboratory DB and DBMS (i.e., Cytogenetics, Flow Cytometry, Hematopathology, and Molecular Diagnostics).
- Industry
Solutions http://www.filemaker.com/solutions/index.html
- High
Bandwidth delivery to high-demand users such as medical
students with minimum support costs.
- Sophomore
Pathology Course http://webpath.swmed.edu/pathcases/search.htm
- Sophomore
Pathology Course http://webpath.swmed.edu/pathcases/search.htm
- Allows
support for resident/fellow developed one-time projects
with minimal additional
- Urological
Pathology Lecture Series (cross-platform CD)
- Urological
Pathology Lecture Series (cross-platform CD)
- Evolving
into a viable enterprise-wide solution for data management
- Catalog of Services and Online Ordering (reference lab) Interfaces with legacy systems (i.e., TN3270 terminal interface to a Purchasing system)
- E-commerce (on-line report viewing, email, faxing)
- Wireless delivery of content via Palm VII PDA (Hematopathology database)
Conclusion: Filemaker Pro has proven to
be a robust and flexible database solution with a minimum
start-up cost for network deployment of less than $2000.
Although no off-the-shelf software title can ever provide
a universal solution, this software has enough power to
support a variety of database needs.