Assignment: Developing a Relational Database System for Community
Health Center
Introduction
The Community Health Center in Dubai offers various health services to the local
population. Currently, the center uses an Excel-based system to manage patient,
doctor, appointment, and billing data. However, this system is prone to errors and
inefficiencies. As part of the center's upgrade plan, you are tasked with designing
and developing a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) to
address these issues and improve data retrieval and management. Your role as
a Junior Database Intern is to create a comprehensive database solution using
appropriate design tools and techniques, based on the provided data and
requirements.
Task 1: Database Design
User and System Requirements
Identify and document the user and system requirements based on the provided
scenario. The database system should meet the following key requirements:
- Store information about patients, doctors, and appointments.
- Facilitate efficient data retrieval and updates.
- Provide secure access to sensitive information.
- Support multiple users with different roles (e.g., admin, doctor, receptionist).
Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD)
Design an Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) representing the logical structure
of the database. Include at least four interrelated tables, such as Patients,
Doctors, Departments, and Appointments. Resolve any 'many-to-many'
relationships by introducing associative tables. Specify primary and foreign keys
for each table.
Normalization
Normalize the database tables to Third Normal Form (3NF) to eliminate
redundancy and ensure data integrity. Provide a list of attributes for each table,
including the identification of primary and foreign keys. Explain the process of
normalization and its importance in reducing data duplication.
Task 2: Database Development
Database Implementation
Implement the database using a suitable Database Management System
(DBMS), such as Microsoft SQL Server or MySQL. Create the necessary tables
based on the ERD and populate each table with at least five sample records.
Include screenshots of the created tables and the inserted data.
User Interface and Data Validations
Develop a basic user interface for data entry, ensuring that data validation rules
are in place. These rules should include checks for data types and value ranges
to maintain data quality.
SQL Queries
Write at least eight SQL queries, demonstrating your ability to retrieve and
manipulate data. Include:
- Simple queries for single-table data retrieval.
- Complex queries involving multiple tables using JOIN operations.
- Aggregation queries (e.g., COUNT, SUM, AVG).
- Queries using WHERE clauses with different conditions.
Task 3: Evaluation of Database Design and Implementation
Evaluation
Evaluate the effectiveness of your database design and implementation. Assess
whether the system meets user and system requirements, and provide
recommendations for improvements. Include an analysis of database security,
maintenance practices, and the meaningfulness of data extracted through
queries.
Conclusion
Summarize the key points of the assignment, highlighting the importance of
effective database design and implementation in improving data management
and decision-making processes at the Community Health Center.
References
Ensure all references are cited using the Harvard referencing style. Include any
textbooks, articles, and websites used in your research.
