Good advice so far.
The only thing I could possibly say against MDIntranet is that there is
no off-line reader included -now if the networking (NHS Net or
otherwise because this is hardware/telecomms) solution your PCG/HA is
going to adopt gives you a permanent connection to the Internet [1]
then that is not a problem, but otherwise I suppose you might look at
Lotus Notes itself [2] which I conjecture could be used to replicate
the MDIntranet onto your local systems so as to read and reply to
e-mail at leisure and low cost.
The problems I have had revolve around people not technology, and Ahmad
is spot on in saying get people together in a small group around
dinner. I would add that it may be expedient to get their computers,
or at least system boxes and modems/ISDN TAs along with them, and get a
techie to be there and a hardware and software seller so that everyone
leaves with a PC which actually works on the solution chosen.
GOing from the first two problems of selecting a tech soln and getting
people connected to it to the problem of actually doing work over this
new and exciting medium...
The message I have almost managed to get absorbed by our IT task group
is to think of us as being in committee session, in a room around a
table, with some papers...
All comments [3] are to be made to all members IE if one cannot obain a
list-server [4] then all postings should be to the entire cc list.
Every member should be heard. THe chairman should sum up and th
esecretary mail a final set of minutes of the discussion for approval.
In the early phases I found we had several mailings like "we should
,meet to discuss where we go from here..." and "please phone me we need
to discuss that futrher..." both of which I met with the simple reply
"...so discuss it..."
We are now accumulating sensible postings which undoubtedly will lead
to a physical meeting in due course... which leads me to...
If you can get a diary/scheduling application running, used by the
members and networked then the secretary can book meetings without the
time consuming diary shuffle that takes up so much of meetings.
Documents for meetings should of course be placed on the website or
e-mailed to the list in advance, but if there is a physical meeting
then either a data projector[5] or a printer should be available at the
meeting in case paper is needed.
THe chairman may have an excuse to be provided with a 19" monitor[5]
for meetings - my consulting room is large enough for the group, I am
glad to say.
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[1] By a fibreoptic T1 connection if you can get it, or by capped
ISDN, where the total cost is not variable according to how long that
line is in use, which at least one of the telcos is offering soon.
[2] Used by the Peterborough locality and written up in
Pulse/GP/Doctor a while ago. Also used by the BMA for CorpNet. Notes
clients are now only about £70 per person.
[3] Except the inevitable occasional sotto voce mutterings and any
genuinely bilateral interjections,as one gets in meat committees.
[4] I am of course addressing the convereted on GP-UK, nevertheless I
have been completely unsuccessful in introducing a list server into
Devon, with sme 75% of my colleagues apparently not understanding the
concept at all, and the majority of those that do seem to understand it
being quite clear that it is preferable to have 20 people each trying
to keep their address books up to date themselves, rather than have a
list doing it...one of them replied to an e-mail last week, saying that
unfortunately a crash had destroyed his entire address book Oh what a
pity I said.
[5] Morgan have some at £1500 but even that might be more than we have
to play with - pity. A large monitor would be good enough for small
group meetings, and if it is driven off the cahirman/secretary's laptop
then everyone around the table can be facing a screen.
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