Abstract
Agency managers depend upon reliable data for planning, evaluation and funding accountability. Since changes in data requirements are unpredictable, output flexibility must be a goal of information system design. This process is often frustrating and costly as the desire to be all-inclusive may lead to an impractical solution. Successful design and implementation require clear articulation of objectives, ongoing communication with and involvement of all levels of staff, and a supportive organizational climate.
One community agency serving frail elderly identified the need for an integrated information system. Structural considerations affecting the design process included the agency's decen tralized nature, multidisciplinary treatment teams and the existence of multiple information systems. Although common frustrations were experienced early in the process, later strategies led to successful implementation of the system's first phases, intake and case tracking. Other results have included meaningful management reports, uniform definitions multipurpose record-keeping forms and improved communication among staff.
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