Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Recommendations for database/record keeping software?

May 31, 2015 11:03AM PDT

I've been tasked with finding over-the-counter client record keeping software for my workplace and don't know where to begin!

We're a non-profit primarily dealing with counselling, advocacy and group activities, so I wonder whether a medical records package might be appropriate, but our basic requirements are:

* customisable fields for client information
* records able to be entered as either individual client or group
* reports by time period or information required
* ability to flag certain records as having data missing
* different levels of access depending on confidentiality
* ability to attach documents

There are obviously many other things we'd LIKE but these are necessary for our day-to-day work. Currently we're using Access and it just isn't working for us, so any suggestions of packages I can have a stickybeak at would be very much appreciated!

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
The one thing you may have left out.
May 31, 2015 11:21AM PDT

Whether you were willing to learn the system and create the reports. I see such requests from time to time and some folk don't want to tailor or create reports. In that case, get some volunteer compsci folk.
Bob

- Collapse -
Re: leaving things out
May 31, 2015 2:04PM PDT

No no, I'm more than happy to learn the system and be the go-to person for our office (I'm sure it'll happen anyway!). I'm just not sure where to start with what's available now and my boss has essentially said "find us something"

- Collapse -
There is nothing ready to use.
May 31, 2015 3:05PM PDT

While there are many systems out there I get the distinct feeling it must be ready to use off the shelf. Access is fine but you are still in the teething stages. If your IT/programmer had the time they could create the design of the front end (no one I knows forces everyone to use Access directly) and the reports.

There are CRM systems but again, someone has to create the reports you want.
Bob

- Collapse -
Answer
database/record keeping software
Jun 10, 2015 8:47AM PDT

Take a look at Bento. Not sure if it has built-in encryption, but you could always use it with an encrypted disk image, which you can create with Disk Utility.