As I mentioned in our earlier topic of upgrading, there are simple software upgrades and much more advanced upgrades, such as hardware.  I’ve seen supposedly easy software updates take a system down to it’s knees.  Nothing worse that telling your users to go grab a cup of coffee, you’ll be done in 15 minutes and “Say What!”, your 15 minutes ended up causing a complete system rebuild.

So, were you prepared the best you could be?  Did you do your due diligence in testing the software upgrade on your ‘supposedly’ exact copy test system?  If you did, then chalk it up to testy gremlins.  If you didn’t, then shame, shame, shame.  When you’re dealing with clinical systems, they’re all important.  Do yourself and your hospital a favor and keep your ‘Live’ and ‘Test’ systems up to date.  Yes it’s time consuming but that’s what you’re getting paid to do.  As most hospitals are spinning up VMs, the easier it is to have test systems, if not backup systems, sitting ready to go at a moments notice.  The days of waiting for a forklift replacement is a thing of the past.

Now, speaking of forklifts, your upgrade may be taking out that old boat anchor and replacing it with the newest, sleekest model around.  Here’s where you can go from Zero to Hero or the other way around.  It’s all about preparedness and project management.  You should have scheduled meetings which spell out everything the vendor expects from you and your facility.  During these meetings, assignments are doled out and names assigned to each piece of the puzzle.  Listen up, this is important.  Your name will be assigned to lots of lines on the spreadsheet being drawn up for this project.  These means that you will be responsible for those assignments.  Knock these out as soon as humanly possible.  If it involves you staying on someone else to get it done, stay on them.  Not only will your project manager be happy, you are showing that you own it.

Get your Test and Live systems up and running as soon as you can.  Ensure that you are current with the software for both and are updating each system together, as you build.  This will eliminate the potential of one system having the wrong data on them.  It’s better to be prepared for the worst that running for the door when trouble strikes.  If your Live system bites the dust during ramp up and your Test is up to date, you are the Hero!  If not, and you haven’t decommissioned your old system, well you can always go back to it.  Won’t your Drs be so excited?  You are now the Zero.

Proper planning and execution will give you your best chance at getting a timely, uneventful upgrade.  Just remember, stuff happens!  Be prepared, have a plan, and let your experience be your guide!