Health care web site snafu hardly the first

Editor,

Almost always when something new is undertaken, such as the Healthcare.gov website, there are unanticipated problems that require more time and effort than was initially scheduled.

Here are two examples that occurred in my life.

In the early 1960s, I was employed by a company that was responsible for getting the first two radar sites that were to be entirely controlled by software (one in Turkey and the other on an island off the coast of Alaska) installed and operational. When it was almost time for the project to be completed, there were still major problems.

I was sent to Turkey to evaluate the situation and make recommendations. Shortly after I arrived in Turkey it became apparent to me that the man assigned the task of getting the software operational was not capable of doing that, because he became easily upset and was unable to reason rationally. When I returned to the United States and reported this, I was sent to Turkey to finish the task of getting the site operational.

As anticipated, there were many unresolved problems that required me to use all the talent I had and a few months to fix. But all were eventually fixed and the site became operational. So did the site on the island off the coast of Alaska shortly thereafter.

Several years later, the company I was working for lost the contract to operate those two sites to another company that was going to replace the computers with newer and better ones and more functional software.

Shortly after they began working on the project, their management became aware that they needed help with the software, and I was called to see if I would consider being employed by them. I was familiar with the management of that company and did not want to work for them, so I refused that offer.

A couple of days later, I received another call and this time I was asked if I would consider becoming a consultant for them because they were desperate to find someone who could find solutions to the problems they had so they could successfully complete the contract. I thought that over for a couple of days and did agree to do that.

To make a long story shorter, about a year and six months later, both sites were operational again with new computers and new software because I had the experience to make that a reality and everyone else had the patience to afford me the time I needed to make it happen.

Robert Gardiner
Daily Lobo reader