Information Technology for Business Blog

Medical students at the University of Central Florida will soon be able to learn practice management and electronic health record programs as part of their curriculum. NCG Medical donated their software to UCF, which is worth $1.25 million.

NCG Medical has partnered with Data-Tech to host their backend SaaS solution in Data-Tech’s private, secure, redundant data center. The solution uses 2x application server to distribute the software in a SaaS model to the end user. During a demonstration of the NCG Medical SaaS website, Kirk Chung, Director of IT at NCG Medical, noted that the Data-Tech solution  ”simplifies the installation” by delivering the application straight to the user’s desktop. The technology that UCF students will be learning through the NCG Medical software assists future doctors on many levels. EMR/EHR and practice management are critical elements in running a medical practice in today’s technology-driven world. The electronic health records program will take all patient records and information and store it online.

Electronic records have been in the news a lot recently, especially since President Obama took office. The Obama administration has been pushing for medical records to be stored electronically, and even offers incentives to practices who are making the switch.

Practices that use electronic health records get to take advantage of their many productivity and management features. Some of the proposed benefits of electronic health records are a decrease in cost, a reduction in errors, more information and clinical data for healthcare providers, efficient record keeping and ease of mobility.

Traditionally, most medical records are stored in paper files. If a building containing the records is destroyed by fire or some other natural disaster, the records are lost. Storing records electronically and backing them up in a secure data center is a great way to keep patient data available.

Having records stored electronically also makes transferring medical records easy. On a personal note, growing up in a military family, I remember what a hassle it was every time we moved and had to go and collect hard copies of our family’s medical records. A standardization of electronic records would have eliminated that problem, as our new doctor would be able to access all of our records from previous doctors.

Data-Tech is excited to be a part of NCG Medical’s huge contribution to UCF. We have been working with NCG for two years and are planning to assist in the delivery of EMR/EHR software to practices throughout the country.

Like many medical practices around the United States, HCA (the Hospital Corporation of America) has decided to start using Electronic Medical Records (EMR) in its hospitals. HCA uses software from eClinicalWorks, who specializes in Electronic Medical Records and Practice Management software.

Why Electronic Medical Records?

There are many benefits for a medical practice that uses EMR. They can decrease costs, reduce errors, provide more information and clinical data for healthcare providers, provide efficient record keeping and are mobile. President Obama’s administration has been pushing for medical practices to switch to Electronic Medical Records, and even offers incentives for practices that use EMR. President Obama announced this year that his goal is for all Americans to have Electronic Medical Records by 2014.

Electronic Medical Records that are stored online in a secure, redundant server are also able to be recovered if something happens to the medical practice they are stored in, such as a fire or other natural disaster. Once there is a standardization of Electronic Medical Records, patients will also be able to easily transfer their records from one doctor to another.

What is Practice Management?

eClinicalWorks also offers Practice Management software, which medical practices can use to streamline billing management, electronically receive and post payments and keep track of the practice’s billing and client information. Practice Management is crucial for medical practices in today’s technology-driven world.

Data-Tech has supported several clients who have purchased eClinicalWorks software and has experience hosting and installing the software. We look forward to continuing to help in this huge advance in medical technology.

When most people think about problems with copy machines, images from the movie Office Space come to mind.

Paper jams, running out of paper and replacing toner cartridges are all problems that we associate with these sometimes problematic, yet vital machines.

However, these are minor inconveniences compared to the biggest problem that can come from copiers: identity theft.

Many people may not know that copy machines are equipped with an internal hard drive that saves a copy of all documents that are scanned. According to a CBS article from February of this year, many used copiers for sale have not been wiped clean of the documents they hold on their hard drive.

Imagine that all of the documents that your company has ever scanned and copied are now available to whoever buys the used copier that you have just sold.

Used copiers can be a gold mine for an individual who will commit identity theft. The CBS article found several examples of documents re-printed from used copy machine hard drives that gave away customer information such as names, date of birth, address and even social security numbers.

A group called Digital Copier Security, Inc. is doing its best to raise awareness of this problem, but is largely greeted with indifference when notifying organizations about this problem.

What can your company do?

The CBS article states that there are security software available that a company can use to protect the information stored on their copiers hard drives, but notes that these security features are hardly ever used, and aren’t 100 percent effective.

The moral of the story: if you are going to be disposing or selling a used copy machine, make sure to wipe clean the hard drive first. The instruction manual for your machine should come with instructions for how to do this.

From a customer perspective Disaster recovery and business continuance are a form of Insurance.

Disaster recovery is the process by which you resume business after a disruptive event. The event might be something huge-like an earthquake or the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center-or something small, like malfunctioning software caused by a computer virus. A Disaster Recovery Plan insures a company can recover from such a disaster. However, it does not put a time-line on how fast business operations will resume. That’s where Business Continuity takes over.

Given the human tendency to look on the bright side, many business executives are prone to ignoring “disaster recovery” because disaster seems an unlikely event. “Business continuity planning” suggests a more comprehensive approach to making sure you can keep making money. Often, the two terms are married under the acronym BC/DR. At any rate, DR and/or BC will determine how a company will keep functioning after a disruptive event until its normal facilities are restored.

The first step in a sensible business continuity planning process is to consider the potential impacts of each type of disaster or event. This is critical – how can you properly plan for a disaster if you have little idea of the likely impacts on your business/organization of the different scenarios?

Data-Tech Services can partner with you to:

Cost-effectively recover across distributed multi-vendor environments. Whether your platforms are all-hosted or mixed-vendor – we have services to suit your needs.

Ensure nearly continuous availability. Our disaster-tolerant technologies and services help you to avoid data loss and practically eliminate downtime.

Maintain continuity amid IT and business change. Obtain ongoing protection with program management, business continuity audit, change management, and training services from Data-Tech.

Comply with the latest regulations mandating business continuity. Let us show you how to satisfy the requirements of Basel II and HIPAA, the Turnbull Report recommendations, and more.

Safeguard enterprise application suites and strategic business processes. Protect applications such as SAP, MAS90, QuickBooks, BAAN, PeopleSoft, Oracle Financials, Microsoft SQL, Microsoft Exchange and Siebel, as well as processes in critical areas like your call center, order entry department.

Business Continuity with a difference, Data-Tech

Protect your mission-critical operations against diverse downtime threats, and ease your recovery if an unforeseeable catastrophe strikes. We can help!

Hurricane season has arrived and two Tampa companies are bringing awarenesss to it in a fun and lighthearted way.  Data-Tech Information Technology Provider and Brimmer, Burek & Keelan CPAs will be hosting a “Hurricane Party” themed networking event on June 16th from 4pm. – 7pm. Guests are invited to come network with other business professionals while enjoying Happy Hour at the Crabby Bill’s restaurant on the Courtney Campbell Causeway.

Admission is FREE and each registrant will receive one complimentary drink. Specials include half priced wells/house wines and $1.25 domestic draft beers.

For more information and to register, go to www.hurricaneparty.eventbrite.com. Or call Nathalie at 813-872-8011, ext. 1010.

Data-Tech has organized the Suncoast Healthcare Executives June Mixer at 717 South in Tampa on June 23rd. This is a FREE networking event where professionals in the health care industry can come together to mingle. 717 will be putting out hors d’œuvres and providing one complimentary drink for all registrants. Happy Hour specials include $5 martinis, $5 glasses of wine and $5 appetizers.

Suncoast Healthcare Executives is a professional networking organization founded over ten years ago to provide educational programs and develop a communications network among health care executives throughout Tampa Bay.

As a leader in healthcare technology implementation and support for over 15 years, Data-Tech is a member and active supporter of the Suncoast Healthcare Executives.

The event will be held on Wednesday June 23rd from 5pm until 8pm. To register, go to www.shejunemixer.eventbrite.com.

What is cloud computing and what does it mean for my buisness?

Simply put, cloud computing is a set of pooled computing resources delivered over the Internet. The Cloud delivers a hosting environment that doesn’t limit an application (aka. Microsoft Office 2003/2007/2010, QuickBooks, MAS90, Closers Choice, Time Matters etc….  to a specific set of resources. Depending on the platform, an application can scale dynamically and increase/decrease its share of resources on-the-fly.

The Cloud can quickly scale from a single server to thousands of servers to make resources available as they’re needed. Cloud hosting customers never need to worry about buying new hardware to meet increasing traffic demands or huge traffic spikes. Offload IT dollars and resources to a service provider with the infrastructure and resource to deliver better services at a more cost effective price. For more information check out our Cloud computing services

Best regards,

Scott Dollar

www.datatechitp.com

The Data Tech team is proud to be a silver sponsor for the Tampa Bay Technology Forum’s Cool Tech event / expo coming up June 4th, 2010. This event will be held at MOSI here in Tampa.

Join technology and business leaders at the hottest event in the region showcasing breakthrough technologies and cutting-edge innovations impacting the way we live and work.

At coolTECH 2010 you will experience first hand fascinating emerging technologies including a Halo Aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing, personal electronic transportation vehicles, digital pen and paper that captures handwritten data, video game technology that is motion activated, a balancing belt by Draper Labs, and much more!

Also don’t miss a special Keynote Luncheon Presentation by Frank Farro who is responsible for New Technology R&D for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts!

Data Tech will be showcasing our Versa Appliance line of business class, firewalls, spam filters, VoIP phone systems and disaster recovery / business continuity devices. Also staff will be on hand to answer any questions about Data Tech’s cloud computing solutions.

Unitrends and Data-Tech will be holding a Disaster Recovery and Data Protection Workshop that will cover valuable information including: Backup, Rapid Recovery, Data Compliance Issues and Encryption. They will also do a live crash and recovery (5 minute total system restore) demonstration of a server.

Being prepared for a disaster isn’t just about being ready for a fire, flood or earthquake; it’s putting a solid plan in place for your organization’s day-to-day operations. A natural disaster may never hit your office, but Mother Nature isn’t the only cause for concern – viruses, equipment failure and user error can all put your organization into a crisis.

Failures and downtime cost money. When a crash or systems disaster occurs, Unitrends’ Rapid Recovery solutions quickly restore everything necessary for full functionality. By implementing the right technology and adopting smart business continuity strategies, you can devote more resources to your core mission.

Some of the reasons our customers have chosen Unitrends’ appliances include:

- No need to purchase agents
- Bare Metal Recovery – Ability to restore a server without formatting a drive and loading the OS
- Disk Based Solution – No need for tapes, a tape drive and a dedicated server

You should attend if you’re having issues with:

- Growing amounts of business-critical data
- Slow and unreliable tape backup and recovery
- Limited IT budgets and staffing
- Aging equipment
- Multiple OSs-Windows, Mac, Linux, NetWare, AIX, SPARC/Solaris, etc.

To register for this FREE event, go to rapidrecovery.eventbrite.com. It will be held on May 25th at the Centre Club in Tampa from 8:30 – 11. Breakfast will be served.