[Gllug] Linux for dentists

[Bernard Peek]

In message <3DE2A23E.8080405 at markpreston.co.uk>, Mark Preston 
<mark at markpreston.co.uk> writes


>3. Database incompatibilities between different suppliers.

This is relatively simple to deal with. If there is a single central 
body that has a reliable web-server then an XML schema can be created 
for interchange files.

This has several advantages. The first is that it makes data validation 
easier, The second is that it makes it quite clear who is responsible 
for validating data files (the sender). The third and less obvious one 
is that if the receiver rejects a data file because it doesn't validate 
then it's possible to blame the machine and not a person. That saves a 
lot of arguments.

XML is a platform-neutral technology that enables UNIX and Windows 
systems to work together.

>4. The change to using the internet to send data (Web EDI) is an 
>important step, but this could have disasterous consequences for 
>dentists whose intranets may well become dangerously exposed to viruses 
>and crackers on the internet. Securing a computer network exposed to the
>internet is quite an undertaking, especially for always on broadband 
>connections.

AIUI most of the recent malware incidents have been Outlook worms or 
attacks on server software. As most businesses use Internet e-mail 
anyway there is no additional risk in using the Internet for EDI 
provided that the mail client is something other than Outlook and they 
don't run unnecessary server processes.

If the dentist's systems hold confidential patient data then it's 
arguable that they are not permitted to use Outlook because the Data 
Protection Act requires them to take all reasonable precautions to 
eliminate anything that risks breaching patient confidentiality. I note 
with interest that several large pharmaceutical companies have switched 
to using Lotus Notes for their e-mail.

If you really wanted to get up Bill Gates' (grammar?) nose then you 
could claim that it's impossible to validate an open computer system 
without access to the source code for all of the OS and application 
programs.



-- 
Bernard Peek
bap at shrdlu.com
www.diversebooks.com: SF & Computing book reviews and more.....

In search of cognoscenti


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