East General Hospital Vocera is a multi-purpose intercom that can be worn about a person's neck or clipped to clothing. It uses wireless technology and operates the same way that the communications devices in 'Star Trek' worked - you tap the device to activate it. The system uses voice recognition to initiate calls to others, and can also send text messages.

Since the system was recently implemented by East General Hospital, staff can now talk to others who are in isolation, and obtain emergency help if they tap the device's grey button twice. It cost the hospital several million dollars to implement the system. The older city hospital is about one million square feet in size, with thick brick walls and special concrete protection around rooms that handle radiation, such as medical imaging.

Now, the hospital is thinking of implementing electronic document systems for its patient records. This would mean that existing hospital records would be scanned and placed into electronic files, while any new records would be created electronically or added to patient records as prepared.

The hospital is looking at two different options for its acquisition of the patient record system - purchasing a packaged system that is in use by hospitals in the U.S., or having a customized system developed.

Required: What are five advantages of purchasing ready-made packaged software? (5 marks)