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Technology
Tool - Delphi
Client/Server & Midas/DCOM
Industry - Medicare, Information
Services
Application - Decision Support
System
Database Server - Oracle, SQL
Overview
ACS needed to update and
enhance its Decision Support System
software to enable their clients to
analyze terra-bytes of data to determine
patterns and trends in the Medicare
industry. ACS's clients required the
system to be faster, stable, more
scalable, and to provide decreased query
time. The system needed to be simple for
users and did not require users to have
prior knowledge of SQL structure.
Return on Investment
1. System allows for a
strategic advantage over ACS
competitors
2. The system is now stable,
scalable, and easily maintainable for
future development.
3. Query time was decreased
from hours of wait time to minutes, thus
increasing efficiency.
4. Cost-effectiveness has
been obtained through the improved
architecture.
5. Enhancements have
increased ACS's client productivity and
confidence in the QueryPath
product.
6. ACS development staff now
has a showcase product that is
enthusiastically supported by various ACS
internal departments.
7. Broadened skill set of
the internal ACS development staff.
Unresolved Issue
Multiple states were
unable to access the DSS system that ACS
previously had in place, QueryPath v2.5.
The system was a two-tier application for
the Microsoft SQL Server database. Query
response time could take hours when
returning large amounts of data due to
the slow speed of the two-tier system.
The system could not accommodate all of
the data requests necessary and the
requisite number of users. The system
also needed the capability of adding new
users to the system with little
modification. An updated system was
necessary in order to maximize the
possible data analysis capabilities of
the DSS to determine patterns and trends
in the data.
ACS's fixed deadline was
at risk for a version release that
consisted of maintenance items &
enhancements. The primary lead ACS
developer left to pursue other interests.
A number of technical issues of the
release were beyond the skill level of
existing staff. There was a directive to
introduce methodologies to this version's
implementation process.
Solution
DSW installed a
Technical Team Leader with full lifecycle
& methodology experience from v3.0
through 3.5. Team Lead immediately
performed a full technical review of the
existing system, compared existing system
against open issues, research best
practices, created a hierarchy of tasks,
made presentations on methodologies to
ACS internal departments, developed
strategies, assigned tasks to ACS
internal staff, and developed solutions
for the more complex issues.
The QueryPath v3
maintenance & enhancement release
developed in Delphi 4 and MIDAS/DCOM
technology, exceeded ACS's expectations.
QueryPath v3 became a three-tier system
that is scalable, running against an
Oracle database. The new middle-tier
server consists of a SQL engine and
metadata analysis toolset that creates
optimized queries based on parameters
selected by the user through the client
front end. The optimization realized in
v3 cuts the query time from hours to
minutes, which eliminated a key client
complaint. The new middle-tier server is
dynamic easily handling the current
number of users, the volume of data, and
expected growth in system use. New users
are easily added through the database.
The system can now be implemented
nationwide without the previous
compatibility issues, giving ACS a
distinct advantage over their
competitors.
Ongoing Support
DSW continues to provide
technical leadership, training, mentoring
and development support to ACS to enhance
functionality of the Query Path product.
Query Path v 3.5 is ACS's latest
release.
Company
Background
ACS specializes in
systems development, data processing, and
administrative services for both the
public and private sectors. For the past
thirty years, its focus has been on the
health care industry by providing
Medicaid information systems and
operational services. ACS is one of the
most experienced, respected, and
successful contractors in the country
offering Medicaid Management Information
Systems (MMIS) development and fiscal
agent services. ASC is a Fortune 1000
company comprised of more than 30,000
people in 35 countries, achieving more
than $3 billion in annual revenues.
Team Size
6 developers
Development Time
7 months
Debut Date
Deployed in 4
states with several other states
currently in the testing phase.
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