Archive for the ‘Information Technology’ Category

Why Health Care IT Needs to Focus on Case Manager Communication in EMR Design, Care Transition Plans

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012

The health care industry is seeing major changes in its acceptance of care coordination, regardless of the fate of the Affordable Care Act. The inclusion of the case manager in technical plans is often a design afterthought, despite this position’s importance in care transitions programs.

The New Phase of Learning

Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012

There have been exciting technical advancements in the last decade in systematic support of targeted education and training. Gone are the days when education was styled on college lectures and end of session exams. Now it seems even passé to reference Computer Based Training (CBT), the darling of association training and certification just 15 years ago. I can recall the technical trainings I received in cramped rooms with enormous PC computers and a frantic facilitator running about rebooting the early versions of Windows.

Calculating Caseload Capacity in Case Management Industry

Friday, October 14th, 2011

“What is the right caseload for a case manager to effectively handle?” But of course as any of the seasoned members of Case Management Society of America or National Association of Social Workers might be able to tell you, this is NOT a simple question. Cheri Lattimer the Executive Director of CMSA answers this question ‘Give me an hour and I can tell you a little about caseloads’.

Website Content Management: No Longer a Luxury for Serious Organizations

Friday, September 23rd, 2011

It wasn’t that long ago when building a website required hours of labor and technical programming simply to organize, link, and publish a vast set of individual HTML pages. And once this static website was put into place, parts of it were probably already outdated. Then fast forward a few years and the word “redesign” seemed to strike fear in the minds of your graphic artists, programmers, and copy writers.

So how can your organization build a flexible website that can accommodate today’s flurry of updates, enhance productivity, incorporate newer developing technologies, and be as easy to rebrand as slapping a new coat of paint on a wall?

Open Source Software as a Business Alternative

Friday, August 26th, 2011

As an association, you have to look for trends in your industry and figure out how to leverage technology to meet the newest demands of your members. However, is the software your organization has been using for years (often requiring significant investment to remain updated) simply not keeping up with the latest technology trends? Is volatility in the economy making you relook at your IT budget? Looking for ways to cut costs? Consider using open source software as a business alternative. You might be surprised at the functionality, quality, security, and lower costs.

5 Tips on How to Prepare for Next-Generation Email Campaigns

Friday, July 1st, 2011

We’ve all read about the current best practices for association email campaigns: content personalization, list segmentation, A/B testing of content & subject lines, and more. While these best practices remain to be important in improving the effectiveness of current email campaigns, new technologies are quickly entering the vernacular of marketing and communications departments everywhere. Let’s take a look at the five most important changes to email communications that may look new now, but will be as common as the subject line in just a few years.

PCI Compliance Champions

Tuesday, June 28th, 2011

Do you ever wonder what happens with your credit card when a waiter takes it from your table to the back for processing? You would probably be upset if you learned that the waiter left it unattended at the register or made a copy of it before returning it to your table. Now I am not insinuating that waiters are malicious in anyway, but simply making the point that you place your trust in the waiter by handing over your credit card. What do you suppose your members think is done with their credit card information once it is received at your office?

Increasing Functionality without Increasing IT: Cloud Computing and Outsourcing for your Association

Friday, April 22nd, 2011

I love it when the meanings of common words are redefined by the technology industry. One such word is “Cloud” which still refers to those puffy blobs that float high in the sky periodically dropping precipitation. However, the IT industry now uses it to mean the “Internet.” The word is used everywhere….”In the cloud”, “Cloud Computing”, and “Take it to the cloud” to name a few. What is it and how can your association benefit from it?

How (and Why) to Engage Donors Using Social Media?

Friday, April 1st, 2011

As we all know, a diversified funding plan is one of the keys to maintaining a stable nonprofit organization, and in recent years the juggling act has become even more involved. Grants are harder to come by as government funding decreases and private foundations tighten up eligibility requirements. More than ever before, special events, direct sales and donor solicitations require maximum visibility, which is why fundraising through the internet has become a major boon to many nonprofits.

Healthcare in Virtual Worlds

Friday, February 18th, 2011

With the virtual gaming industry expecting revenues over $1.3 billion in 2012, healthcare organizations and care management professionals have a tremendous opportunity to reach out in new and innovative ways with no geographic boundaries. What’s amazing is that virtual worlds allow staff, patients, and caregivers to interact with other people through self-defined avatars, inspiring creativity and increasing confidence. Going beyond traditional business, how can healthcare organizations effectively utilize virtual worlds?