Project Date: 2005 - 2006
Project Team: Andrew, Edward

Scope of Work: The Department of Medicine (DOM) relies on a pool of volunteer clinical faculty to teach clinical techniques. DOM previously tracked their appointments and teaching hours with paper forms and a manual filing system. With this cumbersome and error-prone system, volunteer faculty appointments were lapsing, along with their medical malpractice insurance, without notification. Without adequate tracking, volunteers were not receiving promotions in a timely manner. The project team developed the Volunteer Clinical Faculty Resource Center (VCF), which allows DOM to better manage the volunteers, and gives the faculty a simple way to update their teaching records online. DOM has initiated separations for over 300 volunteer faculty members with lapsed appointments, greatly reducing DOM's risk. In addition, the volunteers are better connected to DOM, making notifications and placements easier. Most importantly, the promotions process is much more streamlined, which makes the volunteer faculty much more invested in DOM. The VCF is the only one of its kind in the UC system, and the Office of the President has expressed interest in using the technology system-wide.

Comments: Development took approximately 6 months, and the site has been functional since October, 2006. The Volunteer Clinical Faculty Resource Center was nominated for a Larry L. Sautter Award for Innovation in Information Technology.

back to top

Project Date: 1997 - 1998
Project Team: Erik

Scope of Work: Developed a web-enabled FileMaker Pro database for tracking computers, users, and trouble tickets.

Comments: The DTS system allowed searching and reporting, and was one of the first centralized helpdesk systems on campus. The DOM IT Services group used this system for 3 years.

back to top

DOM Helpdesk (OLHD) v.1

Project Date: 2000 - 2001
Project Team:

Scope of Work: Developed a new helpdesk and inventory system based on PostgreSQL and PHP, replacing the previous FileMaker solution.

Comments: This was the group's first use of open source technology for in-house application development. The OLHD was our first of many database-driven web applications.

back to top

Project Date: 2005 - 2006
Project Team: Edward

Scope of Work: Developed a new helpdesk and inventory system which also captures monthly support agreements and project time for recharge, while allowing users to submit and check on their own tickets.

Comments: This system was developed in a LAMP (Linux, Apache, mySQL, PHP) environment. Uses email notifications linked to the Campus Exchange server, links to our backup server logs for custom reporting, and restrictions on use of accounts linked to Federal funds.

back to top

Resident Sign-out Database

Project Date: 2003 - 2006
Project Team: Edel

Scope of Work: Developed a database application in FileMaker Pro 6.5 and FileMaker Server 7, and deployed it on a Dell PowerEdge 2650 running Windows 2000 Server and FileMaker Pro 7 Server.

Comments: This system provides the residents a system to support patients. In the time when residents did not have access to UCare they were still using notecards to pass information. There was a push to move to an electronic system. The planning process took about 6 months and its release was well taken by the residents. The database server is housed in the Laurel Heights server room.

back to top

Project Date: 2004
Project Team: Andrew, Kenton

Scope of Work: Specified, designed and deployed a data backup solution for 600 DOM supported desktops, laptops, and servers.

Comments: It was determined that there was a need to centralize data backups as part of the services that DOM-IT provides to supported desktops, laptops, and servers. This was done as part of our effort for HIPAA compliance. Two Dell PowerEdge servers with Exabyte 10-cartridge VXA autoloaders and Dantz/EMC Retrospect backup software were purchased and deployed in February 2004. Client software was installed on all supported desktop, laptop and server compuers by July 2004. Supported systems were grouped by campus and by division and then split up into three groups on each server. This allows us to back up clients twice per week. We defined our data retention policy for backup clients as 30 days per backup media set. We rotate our three backup media sets between our autoloaders, fireproof safes and offsite storage to provide a maximum level of safety for client data. Under most circumstances we can restore deleted or corrupted files within a four hour period. In the event of a client system failure, a complete data restoration can be done within 24 hours.

back to top

Move DOM Web Sites to Enterprise-class LAMP Servers

Project Date: 2004 - 2005
Project Team: Andrew, Edward

Scope of Work: Specified, designed and deployed enterprise class web servers to replace existing legacy systems.

Comments: In order to provide a more stable, flexible and dynamic web server hosting platform, existing legacy web servers were replaced with modern rackmounted Dell PowerEdge servers running Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Apache 2.x, MySQL 5.x and PHP 5.x. This application stack is called LAMP and it provides the underpinnings for all supported DOM webservers. Upon deployment existing web sites and their content were migrated the new web servers. To facilitate an increasing number of DOM staff that edit/create web content a staging server call sandbox was deployed to provide a secure and stable development environment that mirrors production web servers.

back to top

Project Date: 2005 - 2007
Project Team: Andrew, Erik

Scope of Work: To provide centralized access management and maintain a level of parity across our supported platforms, Mac OS X and Linux systems needed to be bound to the Campus Active Directory infrastructure. Working with Apple and OAAIS, we quickly determined how to connect Mac OS X systems. This knowledge was shared with the UCSF computing community and opened new doors for multi-platform support. Linux support for Active Directory was also achieved and allowed us to leverage the same level of centralized sign-on capabilities for all of our Linux-based projects.

Comments: Active Directory is a centralized repository of data that can be utilized by computers to authorize and authenticate services, users and computers. The main advantage of using a directory service is to maintain information in a single place and not have to constantly reinvent the wheel. Since Active Directory is based on defined and open standards, there is no technical reason that all DOM supported systems could not take advantage of it.

back to top

Move Infrastructure to Active Directory and Exchange

Project Date: 2005 - 2007
Project Team: Andrew, Edel, Erik, Kenton, Kristan

Scope of Work: The largest project ever undertaken by the DOM IT Services group, it involved a detailed analysis of competing technologies for groupware (email, calendar, contacts) and directory servers, migrating over 1000 accounts from three servers to the Campus Exchange server, migrating our Windows domain to a new OU in the Campus Active Directory domain, and binding hundred of desktops and servers to the new OU. The email migration involved installing new email clients for 700 users, importing their archived mail, and training them (one-on-one and in weekly brownbag sessions), and was staged in 15 groups. We created a special web site to distribute information, documentation, and updates about the migration.

Comments: The Department of Medicine was one of the first on campus to provide its own email and calendar services, and giving up control was a very difficult decision for our users, staff, and management. However, the benefits far outweighed the costs: joining a shared campus directory and calendar system, centralized account management, and better HIPAA compliance with better auditing and secure email. At no time during this massive migration was email ever down or misdelivered.

back to top

Project Date: 2006
Project Team: Andrew

Scope of Work: Specified, designed and deployed a solution for supported users to exchange files larger than what is permitted via email. A server called domtransfer.ucsf.edu was configured to allow senders to upload files using the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). Recipients download their files via a SSL enabled web browser.

Comments: Following the migration to Microsoft Exchange for email services, our supported users requested an alternative method of exchanging large email attachments. The current maximum size for email attachments is 20 MB with UCSF Campus staff, 10 MB with Medical Center staff and 5 MB for external collaborators. We are providing an interim method for exchanging large files that previously were sent as email attachments.

back to top

Project Date: 2006 - 0000
Project Team: Andrew, Edward

Scope of Work: Starting as a custom web portal to a legacy MS-SQL application, this project evolved into a complete electronic timesheet solution with leave accrual calculations and balance tracking. Development is ongoing, with the goal of deploying the system to the entire Department by 2009.

Comments: This system incorporates a sophisticated approval routing system, allowing for multiple timesheet approvers and backup approvers, automatic email notifications, and audit-proof logging. User comments have been universally positive.

back to top

Project Date: 1997 - 0000
Project Team: Abigail, Andrew, Edel, Edward, Erik, Kenton, Kristan, Marlon

Scope of Work:

Comments: The Department of Medicine was an early adopter of web technologies on campus, and has continued to lead the way with each successive renovation. What started as a 10-page site running on a single Mac desktop has turned into a tiered hosting system running on enterprise-class web servers, with sophisticated security and availability features.

back to top

Microbiology & Immunology Gap Support

Project Date: 2006 - 2007
Project Team: Andrew, Marlon

Scope of Work: Provided gap coverage for a large, heterogeneous computing environment while they hired and trained a replacement. We provided on-site and phone support, and helped them with their account and server infrastructure needs.

Comments: This project represents a service which we no longer provide (support for groups outside of the Department of Medicine), but it demonstrates how we can step into an unfamiliar and disorganized technical environment and "clean house."

back to top

Project Date: 2007
Project Team: Abigail, Andrew

Scope of Work: DOM IT Services provided gap coverage to the Department of Laboratory Medicine's Clinical Laboratory research group. We documented their complex application infrastructure, upgraded their computer hardware and software, and provided on-site and phone support until they could hire and train a new staff member.

Comments: This project represents a service which we no longer provide (support for groups outside of the Department of Medicine), but it demonstrates how we can step into an unfamiliar and disorganized technical environment and "clean house."

back to top

ProScript Digital Dictation System Deployment

Project Date: 2005
Project Team: Andrew, Erik, Kristan

Scope of Work: Deploy digital dictation hardware and software to 25 Department of Medicine faculty members. The deployment required the customization of transfer shell scripts for each installation, and configuration of flash-based dictation handheld devices, plus follow-up training and support.

Comments: This project was one of several geared toward streamlining the Department's clinical encounter documentation, and helped improve the reimbursement rate.

back to top

Project Date: 2007
Project Team: Andrew, Edward

Scope of Work: We developed a custom web development solution that we are offering for free to Department of Medicine affiliated groups who need web hosting.

Comments: The tool allows people with little to know knowledge of web design to build a complete web site using a simple web interface.

back to top