Using a DBMS suggested by your instructor, such as Microsoft Access or SQL Server, you may begin to prototype a database for Mountain View Community Hospital. Here are some suggestions to guide you:

a. Develop a metadata chart for an EMPLOYEE table similar to Table 1-1.

b. What types of relationships (1:1, 1:M, or M:N) are likely to exist between your PATIENT table and other tables in the database? How did you determine that?

c. MVCH hospital administrators regularly need information about their patient population. Based on the distinction between data and information discussed in this chapter, explain why a printout of a PATIENT table will not satisfy these information needs.

d. Create a report that organizes the data from your PATIENT table to provide hospital administrators with useful information about the patient population at MVCH.