System Implementation

This is where the system implementation committee is formed to handle the process of the actual implementation of the new system the facility has purchased.  It may have some of the same members as the steering committee, but will probably have more "techies" present to handle the actual installation.

One of the biggest concerns is going to be how the transition will be handled.  The following are four options on how the conversion from the old system to the new can be accomplished.

Direct/Straight

This is where all the operations are converted at one time from the old system to the new system.  All manual processing ceases.

Parallel Processing

The new system and the old system are run side-by-side for a period of time until all the bugs are worked out and the facility is ready to go entirely with the newer system.  Data older than the startup is not entered into the system.

Phased

This is where parts of the new system are phased in over a period of time.  At no point are both the new and old systems run together over a specific area.  For example, lets say that the computer-based patient record is being installed in your facility.  Radiology is coming online first, therefore radiology would be automated, while the rest of the facility would still be using the paper medical record.

History Processing

This is similar to Parallel Processing except that the old data prior to startup is also entered into the system.