Peter,

First let me say thanks for your time in helping me with my problem, I truly
appreciate it. I took

your advice and wrote out what I needed to accomplish. Using some of your
suggestions this

would seem to do what I want. BTW I also have Access and don't really know
how to use it

any better than Excel - but I do have it if it will be easier.

What I need is something that allows exact count of pills that are in the
clinic, per type. This

would change each time we dispensed samples, say like giving 30 Lipitor 10mg
to Ms. Jones

would change the total of 300 to 270. Simple, right? I don't know about
that . . .

=====

Medicines
Name Lipitor
Strength 10mg
Batch# 12345
Exp.Date 02/2008
Qty 300
Class Statin
Category Cholesterol-lowering

=====

Patients
Date 07/23/2007
Chart # 1098765
Fname Wilma
Lname Flintstone
DOB Long ago
Next of Kin (NOK) Fred
Medication Lipitor
Batch# 12345
Exp. Date 02/2008
Qty Dispensed 30

=====

Now - other patient info will be found in chart. Use of database would
allow easy

recall/notification of patients should medicine be black boxed or pulled
from market (Vioxx was

yanked awhile back and had us pulling our hair out flipping back through
paper records trying

to determine who we had given any to). The 'in stock' count of medicines
allows us to

control/monitor and also may provide police/government agencies with needed
info should there be need, i.e. theft or breakin.

Time to build and implement is not a real concern as that we would be
starting fresh without having to input old records. I just want it simple
and effective.


It seems so easy in my mind but I can't seem to get it to work. I need to
tie the 30 I gave

Wilma, probably by batch# and exp. date (because different drug companies
may have same

batch#'s but it would be highly unlikely they would also have same exp date)
to the original

300, perform my calculation, arrive at new total and be ready to change that
total the next time

I give away some lipitor 10mg with same batch# and exp. date to then again
arrive at yet

another new and correct total number of Lipitor. Crystal clear, right? It
should be easy, maybe

I am trying to make an omelette when all I need is scrambled eggs? I do
have Access ;-)

Thanks again,

Craig C.

--
It is getting harder and harder to concentrate . . . what was I saying again?