Frequently Asked Questions About Tangier

• How many assignments/providers can Tangier™ schedule?

• How many shifts/assignments can Tangier™ show per day on the schedule?

• Are users able to e-mail schedules, reports, etc. from Tangier™?

• Is the software able to accommodate multi-users?  For example, how would the software handle two locations where two different people are working to schedule those locations, each of which wants to use the same physician for the same slot?

• Does Tangier™ print out multi-locations on an individual doctor's calendar?

• What is the underlying database?

• What operating system and hardware requirements?

• What kind of randomizer is used? How does Tangier™ choose the next provider when automatically scheduling?

• Custom Rules allowed (i.e. Dr. X cannot work more than one Saturday night a month)?

• Printing capability/flexibility?

• Is there custom development/enhancement available? What are the costs for those services?

• What types of data import and export are available?

• How does Tangier's™ training work?  How is training broken down between systems' training versus application training?

• Tangier™ versus Competitors.  Why Tangier?  How long has Tangier™ been in business?  How many installs?  How long is the oldest and how new is the newest?

How many assignments/providers can Tangier™ schedule?

Tangier™ schedules an unlimited number of shifts/assignments and Providers. The limitations to the software are really driven by the database against which the software runs. There are several choices in terms of the database. The Professional version is shipped with a Microsoft Access database. We would recommend that the user only choose to implement Tangier Professional using an MS Access database if you are scheduling less than 10 Locations (departments) and/or 100 Providers with 1 concurrent scheduler. Tangier Enterprise version works with MS SQL Server, Sybase and Oracle RDMS. The Enterprise version has sophisticated searching tools, multiple-scheduler concurrent access management, and includes all optional features available to Professional users.

How many shifts/assignments can Tangier™ show per day on the schedule?

Unlimited.  The Tangier™ Schedule and Off-Time screens both expand the "box", that represents a day, to display the number of shifts that take place on a single day.  Provider names are displayed next to the shift name.  Reports are generated in HTML.  Again, the grid used to illustrate a day becomes longer to accommodate the number of shifts scheduled per day for each Location. If there are so many shifts being printed on one day that the report expands to second sheet of paper, there are printing options that allow the user to select certain shifts to be printed together. A second Location Schedule report is also available and prints the shift information in a spreadsheet format.

Are users able to e-mail schedules, reports, etc. from Tangier™?

Yes.  Tangier™ reports, including the Location Composite Schedule and Provider Schedule, are generated using HTML.  HTML is the technology used to display information over the Internet.  These files may be either attached to an e-mail and then opened by anyone using an Internet browser or they may be published on a website. 

Is the software able to accommodate multi-users?  For example, how would the software handle two locations where two different people are working to schedule those locations, each of which wants to use the same physician for the same slot?

It depends on the product. Tangier Professional™ is meant for single-user usage while Tangier Express™ and Tangier Enterprise™ support multiple concurrent users. Security options allow each user to have a different level of access to Tangier™ if needed. Tangier provides a "locking" capability when the user goes to schedule.  Two schedulers may be working on Locations that draw from the same "pool" of Providers.  If Scheduler "A" enters the Schedule Screen and starts to automatically or manually schedule, then Scheduler "B" will be notified that another user is currently scheduling the shared Providers. Once Scheduler "A" has completed the scheduling process, Scheduler "B" will be able to use the Providers and Tangier will continue to enforce preferences and prevent "double-scheduling."

Does Tangier™ print out multi-locations on an individual doctor's calendar?

Yes.  The "Individual Provider Schedule Report" displays all Location names and shift times for which the Provider is scheduled.  Tangier also allows the user to define Off-Time types.  This gives the user the ability to indicate the exact conflicting meeting or Off-Time that prevents the Provider from working a shift.

What is the underlying database?

Tangier™ Enterprise runs on any SQL compliant database. Peake Software recommends MS SQL Server, Sybase or Oracle. Tangier Professional runs on MS Access.

What operating system and hardware requirements?

Tangier™ requires Windows '95, '98, NT, 2000, or ME as the underlying operating system. The recommended Client hardware should follow the guidelines provided for the operating system.

What kind of randomizer is used? How does Tangier™ choose the next provider when automatically scheduling?

Tangier™ uses "Intelligent Permutations" to automatically generate a complete schedule. When Tangier™ chooses a Provider to work a specific shift it first checks to see which group of shifts (e.g. Nights, Weekdays, Weekends etc.) are to be scheduled first, then the algorithm looks at the percentage of that particular group of shifts each person still needs and chooses the Provider who needs the shift the most and who's Preferences will allow the shift to be assigned.

Custom Rules allowed (i.e. Dr. X cannot work more than one Saturday night a month)?

Custom Rules are provided via Tangier™ Preferences. Number of shifts per period, Consecutive Shifts, Hours Off Before Off Time, Alternating Weekends (ever other…), Shift Type in a Row (AM, PM..), Shift Type Per Period, etc. Additional preferences are user definable via a Tangier™ feature called Shift Groups. One example of a Shift Group may be Weekends which may be defined as any shifts occurring on Sat. or Sun, or any shift occurring on Fri., Sat., or Sun, or any shifts occurring after 2pm on Fri. – Sun. before 11pm, etc.

Printing capability/flexibility?

Many reports are included as part of Tangier™ product. The data is stored in an SQL compliant database. Peake will provide additional reports, if necessary, to accommodate the client's needs.

Is there custom development /enhancement available? What are the costs for those services?

Yes. Many Tangier™ implementations have required that interfaces be developed to feed information to payroll, time tracking, and credentialing systems.  Peake Software Labs provides customized interfaces at an hourly rate of $100.00.

What types of data import and export are available?

Peake Software Labs will provide a customized import routine to load existing Provider information from compatible data source. This service is included as part of the installation setup if the Tangier Enterprise client commits to an annual support contract. Otherwise, the service is available at the time and materials rate of $100.00 per hour for non-support contract and Professional clients.

How does Tangier's™ training work?  How is training broken down between systems' training versus application training?

Tangier™ Professional and Enterprise have a variety of support options and training packages.  At a minimum, a systems administrator should have one full day of strictly training on the Tangier™ System area of the program and one day of training on Tangier™ setup/scheduling.  Depending on whether the systems' training is to include a course in "training the trainer," the number of days should range between 2 and 4.

Tangier™ versus Competitors.  Why Tangier?  How long has Tangier™ been in business?  How many installs?  How long is the oldest and how new is the newest?

Tangier™ was designed specifically for the complex scheduling needs of Emergency Medicine.  No other product that we have seen offers the same flexibility, ease of use, powerful Preference information and timesaving features found in Tangier™.  Tangier™ is a product offered by Peake Software Labs, a subsidiary of Matrix Technical Solutions, Inc.  Matrix Technical Solutions was formed in 1993 and offers software development services.  A few of Matrix's clients are: NASDAQ, Lucent Technologies, IBM, Legg Mason, T. Rowe Price, and Banker's Trust / Alex Brown. Tangier™ became commercially available in August of 1998. Peake Software Labs is now being used to schedule over 800 emergency departments, urgent care centers, and pediatric emergency departments across the country.