Help with database validation for electronic medical record

[Mark Fowler]

Our group purchased the code of an "EMR" program that was a flat file database in access.
We contracted with a company to make make the database relational (SQL) and to add a few features. We now have our contractor saying the database/program is ready to go, but our IT department (which was hired just recently as this process if "finished" says it has not been validated. I am an MD with minimal database experience. What questions should I be asking. I do no want to throw our new product away, but I also can't use it if it is not structurally sound.

Thanks,
Mark

[NeoPa]

Mark,

I can only suggest that you test the solution against your own specification. If no official specification was shared then determine what you were expecting from the product, including the extra bells and whistles requested specifically, and ensure that the software does what you expect.

Your testing is unlikely to find all the bugs straight off. Go as far as you can in the time allowed. If you find any bugs, be very clear when speaking to the developers which category the problem falls within :
Bug
Enhancement

If it's something you wish you'd asked for then it's the latter. If it's something specified, then it's the former.

Good luck and welcome to Bytes!

[Jerry Winston]

I know you came to this site for technical advice and I don't want you to think I'm trying to send you away empty handed when I say this. You don't need to ask the technical questions, I'm sure your techs are chomping at the bit to get a hold of this new app and see if it's up to snuff. I agree with NeoPa, I'd advise you to make sure the application meets the requirements for your industry such as data retention, HIPPA, or not storing Credit card information. I would suggest you ensure it does what you need it to do from a business stand point.

However, if you just want to ask good tech questions, ask about security/authentication, data encryption and protective measures against SQL injection attacks.