Greetings

[kengooch]

Hi, Ken Gooch, Management Program Analyst VAMC Martinsburg

 

[theDBguy]

Hi Ken. Welcome to AWF!

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Hey, Ken. Welcome.

VA Med Center?

 

[vba_php]

welcome Ken. I had to look that one up: https://www.martinsburg.va.gov/. The government is still using access databases!?

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Can't speak to what Ken is using, but the Navy used an Access FE and an SQL Server BE for a medical info database for BUMED (U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine). They were still using it when I retired. Don't forget that Access doesn't have to be homogenous. You can use something else as a BE once you get things working on the FE.

 

[vba_php]

the computer science professors I talk to at U OF I last week told me that the government is well known for using very outdated software, which includes access databases. the 70 year old professor even gave me 2 examples.

 

[kengooch]

We are supposed to get rid of all of our paper Accession logs. So access was already on our computers and since it allows multiple users to access the data, unlike excel, it makes a good tool for a log book.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Adam, Please! Access is not outdated. It is mature.

But the government uses outdated software sometimes because of the regulations regarding development of more modern software. If there is no package that does what they required (and in this case, required by act of Congress - literally), then they must "roll their own." Using leading bleeding edge modern software is considered high-risk. Using software with a proven track record of ability and compliance to regulations is low risk. We've had that discussion in another thread. It applies here.

You know that old phrase, "Sometimes it takes an act of Congress to get something done around here" ??? For the federal government, that is an exact description of the start of the project initiation process. Seriously.

 

[vba_php]

You know that old phrase, "Sometimes it takes an act of Congress to get something done around here" ??? For the federal government, that is an exact description of the start of the project initiation process. Seriously.

no argument. I firmly believe that outdated software use in government is directly related to "government paranoia" that proliferates everywhere in this world.

 

[kevlray]

Adam, Please! Access is not outdated. It is mature.

But the government uses outdated software sometimes because of the regulations regarding development of more modern software. If there is no package that does what they required (and in this case, required by act of Congress - literally), then they must "roll their own." Using leading bleeding edge modern software is considered high-risk. Using software with a proven track record of ability and compliance to regulations is low risk. We've had that discussion in another thread. It applies here.

You know that old phrase, "Sometimes it takes an act of Congress to get something done around here" ??? For the federal government, that is an exact description of the start of the project initiation process. Seriously.

I am mature also, and my joints ache on a daily basis.