Competency Tracking Insanity - Microsoft Access ?
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Hello fellow POCCs.
I have three different vendor-specific middleware systems, all of which try to implement various levels of competency/certification tracking for one or more instruments. Some are better at competency tracking than others, but none of them can track my whole POC program in a way that makes my job easier. All of them complicate my work in one way or another, sometimes in many ways. (my program: 114 bed hospital, almost 1K operators on 9 test systems, 5 are mod complex)
An excel file has been the best way to track most of my staff competencies, but spreadsheets are limited in functionality (with regards to reports and sorting data dynamically) and are prone to data being accidentally edited during use, especially when shared among multiple staff.
After five years of trying various solutions and increasing frustration, I'm looking into moving my tracking into a Microsoft Access database. I haven't used Access since I was in college and it was only an introduction. But so far, my re-learning is reinforcing the thought that Access might be the best tool for this job.
Has anyone else used an Access database successfully for this?
Please, no plugs for vendor solutions (unless they actually are amazing, but I probably won't believe you... )
I do not have any budget available for more middleware and I've lost faith in the ability of vendors to provide a tracking solution that will satisfy my needs as a POCC. Increasingly, I am disappointed by the lack of awareness of POCT-specific issues among vendors.
Access Database thoughts, tips, encouragement, or any relevant information would be super welcome.
Commiseration over Competency Tracking insanity also welcome. LOL!
I have three different vendor-specific middleware systems, all of which try to implement various levels of competency/certification tracking for one or more instruments. Some are better at competency tracking than others, but none of them can track my whole POC program in a way that makes my job easier. All of them complicate my work in one way or another, sometimes in many ways. (my program: 114 bed hospital, almost 1K operators on 9 test systems, 5 are mod complex)
An excel file has been the best way to track most of my staff competencies, but spreadsheets are limited in functionality (with regards to reports and sorting data dynamically) and are prone to data being accidentally edited during use, especially when shared among multiple staff.
After five years of trying various solutions and increasing frustration, I'm looking into moving my tracking into a Microsoft Access database. I haven't used Access since I was in college and it was only an introduction. But so far, my re-learning is reinforcing the thought that Access might be the best tool for this job.
Has anyone else used an Access database successfully for this?
Please, no plugs for vendor solutions (unless they actually are amazing, but I probably won't believe you... )
I do not have any budget available for more middleware and I've lost faith in the ability of vendors to provide a tracking solution that will satisfy my needs as a POCC. Increasingly, I am disappointed by the lack of awareness of POCT-specific issues among vendors.
Access Database thoughts, tips, encouragement, or any relevant information would be super welcome.
Commiseration over Competency Tracking insanity also welcome. LOL!
3 Replies
I've used ACCESS for years; however, I developed my database basically as an EXCEL document instead of the way ACCESS was designed to be used because that's the way our IT person showed me how to use it. It's not perfect because it involves data entry instead of capturing automatically the way RALS recertification sets do for Roche Inform II glucose monitors in regard to direct observations and computer learning module exams (like Healthstream or Cornerstone). I have reminder reports and deficiency lists set up and they are part of my monthly compliance reports for the various tests performed at our facility. We are 254 beds and I have ~1000 staff members who perform waived testing and ~ 500 who perform moderate complexity testing. I'm all about the need for commiseration over POCT! :)
We use Federal Medialab... sorry for the vendor plug!
Hi, I'm a new POCC, so apologies if I have misunderstood the issue. My predecessor took the one middleware system (Telcor) and tied a variety of instruments to the glucometer setting by using a multitude of "code" names and or locations. So I have an ID of 12345 for the glucometer and an ID of ACT 12345 for the Hemochron. You can sort by my name and set recertification dates just as you would for the glucometers.
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