Implementing complex networking laboratory information systems in a health maintenance organization.

Kaiser Permanente, Northern California Region (KPNCR) currently consists of 17 medical centers and 28 medical office building clinical laboratories plus a large, centralized reference laboratory. Before 1977, KPNCR processed laboratory information manually. With the opening of the Kaiser Permanente Regional Laboratory in Berkeley in 1977, a card punch system was used to capture that laboratory's data. In 1985, the Regional Laboratory installed a mini-mainframe system. In 1990, KPNCR Implemented a Region-wide Integrated Laboratory Information System. The software used was manufactured by Cerner Corporation, Kansas City, Missouri. The hardware platform consisted of for DEC VAXs. The decision was based on flexibility, supportability, and well established customer base. Work on the database began in September of 1991. The first "go-live" was in August of 1992. All facilities--46 laboratories--were "live" by February of 1995. Total implementation time was 27 months.