For The grAde

ITC 4150, Database Design and Implementation

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Unit II: Westlake Hospital Sample Answers to Scenario Questions

1. Study the forms above. Make a list of questions you would ask about the data in them.

INITIAL MEDICAL HISTORY FORM

This is a complex form and can generate many questions. Here are a few:

 Does every patient fill out this form?

 Is all the information required, or is any optional?

 Does the patient fill out these fields?

 For the question When did your depression first begin, are you expecting a date or a narrative?

PATIENT VISIT FORM

 Are vitals taken every time?

 What kinds of things are entered in the doctor’s notes?

 Why would a doctor recommend that a patient be dropped from the study?

 Who finally determines whether a patient will be dropped or not?

2. Identify the stakeholders in the drug study. Stakeholders should include the researchers, the doctors, and the patients. They may also include nurses, other

staff, and secretaries, possibly even the drug company.

3. Prepare for a one-hour interview with representatives of the stakeholders listed above. Then meet with the

instructor to discuss possible answers to the interview questions.

West Lake Hospital

Total time: 60 minutes. Allow 10 minutes for introductions.

Question For Time Allotted

What are some of the situations or conditions that would justify dropping a patient from the

study?

Researchers 5 minutes

Can doctors be dropped or added during the

study?

Researchers 5 minutes

What sorts of things would you enter into the section called “Doctor’s notes”?

Doctors 10 minutes

What are the security issues that must be

considered for the study?

Researchers 5 minutes

Who would enter and track the appointments? All 5 minutes

Can a patient see more than one doctor, and if

so, under what circumstances?

Researchers 5 minutes

What information would you hope to see from the study?

Patients 10 minutes

Time allotted for follow-up questions. All 5 minutes

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4. Create a questionnaire for doctors about what they think would help improve the process.

1. Would you like to view your upcoming appointments online? A. Yes B. No

2. Which of the following would you like to access before a patient visit? (Circle all that apply.) A. Patient medical history B. Notes from previous visits C. Current vitals

3. Which of the following would most improve the process? A. Online scheduling of appointments B. Online medical forms and histories C. Online entry forms for patient appointments D. Other. Explain:

4. What is the most important thing for the database to track? A. Drug effectiveness B. Patient status and well-being C. Appointments

5. Review the Job Shadow Report. Do you see any exceptions? Do you find any additional business rules in the

account? What additional questions does the report raise?

EXCEPTIONS

Because of the structured nature of the study, there are few if any exceptions. One might note that the doctor

does not exactly follow the form but covers all the main points. One of the points of the database may be to

make the doctors follow the form more strictly. Also, the criteria for dropping a patient from the study are

vague, especially in terms of non-participation. How many missed visits does it take to be dropped?

BUSINESS RULES

 Nurses take the vitals.

 Secretaries arrange appointments.

 Patients are dropped from the study because their symptoms need more urgent care or because of lack

of participation.

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General Guidelines for this Assignment

Question 1

You should create questions for any ambiguous or obscure fields you notice in the form. You should also consider

including questions related to the use of the form and how it fits in the overall process. The questions shown

above in the sample are just general guidelines to help you understand how questions should be derived and

worded. You may have more or different questions.

Question 2

This is a minimal stakeholders list. You should try to identify several other legitimate stakeholders and subdivide

the general stakeholders into more specific groups. You do not have to include all stakeholders in the

table/interview plan.

Question 3

The interview plan should follow the structure of the one outlined in the chapter. It should also focus primarily on

open-ended questions.

Question 4

The questionnaires can be difficult. You will be allowed a lot of latitude. The important thing to remember is that

the questionnaires should focus on relevant closed-ended questions.

Question 5

You should identify the major exceptions and some new business rules in the Job Shadow.

The guidelines below outline the level of detail and the content expected. Contact your instructor if you have

questions.

Poor Okay Good

1. Does not identify most of the

unclear or ambiguous fields. No

questions about how the form is

used.

Identifies most of the ambiguous

or obscure fields.

Some questions about the use of

the forms.

Identifies all the obscure fields

and may ask questions of other

fields, such as when they are

required. Several questions about use of the forms.

2. Misses some of the major

stakeholders.

Identifies most of the

stakeholders.

Identifies all the major

stakeholders and may include

some additional ones by breaking general groups into more specific

ones.

3. Does not use the form from

the chapter. Questions are vague: not directed or open ended.

Uses the appropriate form.

Decent open-ended questions.

Uses the appropriate form. Good,

focused open-ended questions aimed at the stakeholders and

data needs of the scenario.

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4. Only a few questions, not

focused on topic. Questions not closed ended.

Most questions are focused and

closed ended.

Good closed-ended questions

with a direct relevance to the database and business needs of

the scenario.

5. No clear idea of what

exceptions and business rules are shown in the job shadow.

Spots most major exceptions.

May see one or two business rules.

Clear idea of what the exceptions

are. Good exposition of the business rules exposed by the job

shadow report.