It appears there are more problems with information security regarding the Obamacare database. Do you think the government can fix it?

CPO Nate S. - I was stationed at OPTEVFOR in the mid 90's testing DOD GCCS and in charge of all Navy GCCS implementations. When it came time for our decision, we found that it was nowhere near ready for release, but DOD released it anyway. Quite often these pet programs go out the door despite their poor state, due to political desires.

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow - Yep, understand. When I was station in Yokosuka in erly/mid-90s I developed a simple yet powerful way to track kids registered to be tracked in the Navy's Pediatric Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (PLPPP). Without going into great deal, I worked with a programmer on my own after studying short and long term monitoring needs for this program. After giving him the needs he took about a week to take my needs turn them into an executable program. We tested (attempted to break) the program. Found two minor but very irritating bugs. Bought him a steak and a beer. He fixed the bugs and it worked 100% regardless.

The Navy Environmental Health Center (NEHC) heard about it. So, I came back for a NEHC conference. I had it on CD as an executable program. Finally, I was approached if I'd share it. I told the my contact a fell Khaki "Here I developed to help the Navy." So I gave him the disk. Other than a quick note a few weeks later I did not hear more. But, I had also already given other CDs to shipmates dealing with the program, before NEHC got a copy. They loved its simplicity and intuitive approach. By the time NEHC shared with everyone else "their idea" others, who knew me, knew the deal! My EOT NAM mention my PLPPP work.

Regardless, the FUBAR/SNAFU on the "Obama Care" insurance website, was a total failure to foresee and execute. People too eager to move fast to look good and instead not taking the time think. I completely understand your response. Believe me I have had to suffer through poor designs of other things that actually cost more and effort, than if I had simply done them "stubby pencil".

Finally, the real question to ask is "When people are put in charge of a project, it seems they lose their minds and fail to think!". Thoughts?

CPO Nate S. - In the end software developed by and for users will always be better than that developed by people in search of fitrep bullets. The problem with GCCS as well as with most EMR systems I've seen is that users were not in the development loop.

Roger that! It is CRITICAL for for end users to be engaged. I will say that one system that did well was the navy's SAMS (SNAP Automated Medical System) that I and many others used to management various Medical Department programs and processes. Those who used it daily were always reporting needs and the Naval Medical always took in feedback and provided systems updates that made sense.