It isn't sexy. But it is very important, and we think we are in good shape. It has not been easy. One of the biggest challenges by far, Dr. Seger and others at the center said, was not strictly technical. When UMass and Memorial joined, each center wanted to keep its own computer system and way of delivering care.
Computer systems represent a culture.
But now the two centers with two campuses could communicate. Technology purchasing became centralized, so departments could no longer buy renegade software that was incompatible with the network. Then there were systems that needed tweaking before they were brought online. We don't want to automate bad systems. And at times doctors have resisted change.