sbst, back to that automated garment receiving and dispensing
machine, I've the following thoughts (now, after having a bit of
food, mind is starting to rev up the engine liao! 
) :
- Is it necessary? Machines break down, machines also cannot react
to the changes in volume required, eg. what if there's an emergency
and suddenly, more gowns are required? What if the bin receiving
the used garments is full? I mean, you'll STILL have to keep a
back-up stock and system somewhere, which means, more space
consumption, inconvenience, etc.
- I'd rather the machine's job be given to the ah ma's in the
hospital, thus giving a few more people the opportunity of earning
a regular income.
- It's an expensive system and at the end of the day, what for?
Is it gonna impact service in any way? Nope. It's
just there so you can boast about owning it.
- Is topping up and all that going to be done regularly? We have
some expensive automated medicine-dispensing machines in certain
wards BUT, the pharmacists do not top up when it reaches a critical
level as promised, during long holiday weekends, the machine almost
always runs out of certain drugs, machine malfunctions sometimes,
causing great frustration and distress (esp if drugs are needed
Stat!), etc etc. Sounds good on paper... but in reality, leaves
much to be desired.
Basically if it does not cut down on patient waiting time, does not
free up more time for nurses to tend to patients, does not in any
way result in cost savings, then, what's the point?! 
(But yeah... we need to look good on paper cause we wanna look
'progressive' and have impressive stuff to write about when
compiling literature about the organisation, etc. Not to mention,
there's probably some tech-loving peeps sitting in their cushy Mt
Olympus offices! 
