CCHIT has been chosen as the decision making board to determine what EHR vendors are Fully Certified- meaning that if you implement them correctly they will qualify a practice for the government stimulus money and help you get to meaningful use.
You can find the list HERE
Although there are several that are certified, not all of them will do exactly what you need them to do. It is important to do your research and find out which one is best for your practice.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Implementing a new EHR: 3 Recommendations on the IT side
I have recently(over the past 6 months) been studying the healthcare industry and the IT needs that are coming about as a result of the government stimulus money and the push for EHR (Electronic Health Records) across the whole industry.
Physicians need 3 things relating to IT as they look to implement a new EHR system.
1. IT consultant or manager
This seems simple to those that have implemented EHR systems and understand the complexity and the requirements, but physicians need to know that the systems are very IT dependent and definitely need guidance through the process of merging their current IT infrastructure with the new EHR system. An IT consultant will definitely help Healthcare practices have a smoother transition to a new EHR system. I recommend finding somebody in house that understands and can implement IT or finding an independent Healthcare IT consultant that knows how to integrate your IT systems with the proposed EHR.
2. Basic Systems and Network
It is super important that your computers and servers and firewalls are upgraded to handle the new load that will be put on the network. If a practice fails to do this, many problems related to the EHR will find their roots in a poorly set up network. Critical components to systems are cabling and wiring, reliable and sufficient internet connectivity, security measures like a good and managed firewall and anti-virus, and reliable desktops, laptops and tablets. If all these things are in place it will greatly help the transition to a new EHR be more pleasant.
3. Strategy for maintenance and support
New requirements for support are often overlooked and can add an additional cost of maintaining and supporting a new EHR. This step should not be overlooked. Many physician practices are spending at least $1,500/month on IT support to maintain and take care of the IT infrastructure that is critical to a smooth operating practice running a new EHR. This should not be overlooked and having an IT person on staff or outsourcing to a reputable company that has experience in that area.
If practices consider these 3 things they will be more prepared for the IT demands that a new EHR puts on a small practice.
Physicians need 3 things relating to IT as they look to implement a new EHR system.
1. IT consultant or manager
This seems simple to those that have implemented EHR systems and understand the complexity and the requirements, but physicians need to know that the systems are very IT dependent and definitely need guidance through the process of merging their current IT infrastructure with the new EHR system. An IT consultant will definitely help Healthcare practices have a smoother transition to a new EHR system. I recommend finding somebody in house that understands and can implement IT or finding an independent Healthcare IT consultant that knows how to integrate your IT systems with the proposed EHR.
2. Basic Systems and Network
It is super important that your computers and servers and firewalls are upgraded to handle the new load that will be put on the network. If a practice fails to do this, many problems related to the EHR will find their roots in a poorly set up network. Critical components to systems are cabling and wiring, reliable and sufficient internet connectivity, security measures like a good and managed firewall and anti-virus, and reliable desktops, laptops and tablets. If all these things are in place it will greatly help the transition to a new EHR be more pleasant.
3. Strategy for maintenance and support
New requirements for support are often overlooked and can add an additional cost of maintaining and supporting a new EHR. This step should not be overlooked. Many physician practices are spending at least $1,500/month on IT support to maintain and take care of the IT infrastructure that is critical to a smooth operating practice running a new EHR. This should not be overlooked and having an IT person on staff or outsourcing to a reputable company that has experience in that area.
If practices consider these 3 things they will be more prepared for the IT demands that a new EHR puts on a small practice.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Tier3: Platform as a Service
I have recently been investigating the best of breed cloud solutions for clients and I came across Tier 3 a few months ago. They are a platform or infrastructure as a service provider. Their solution has built in disaster recovery and all the compliance of SAS 70 type II, HIPAA, and PCI. So for businesses looking to have servers hosted in an environment that was built from the ground up with high availability in mind, then Tier 3 is a perfect solution. Please contact me if you have any questions regarding this solution.
Friday, October 15, 2010
VMware Consulting in Utah
VLCM is a VMware consultant in Utah. Below is an article that explains that we are a Premier partner and how that benefits businesses that need VMware consulting. If you have any VMware needs for your business, please contact Mike Linton at 801-262-9277.
Premier Designation Validates VLCM’s Key Role in Next Era of Virtualization Services
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – May 19th, 2010 – VLCM, a leading IT provider for the Rocky Mountain Region, has achieved Premier status in the VMware Partner Network. “VMware is pleased to recognize VLCM with Premier status, the highest partnership level within the VMware Partner Network,” said Brandon Sweeney, vice president, Americas channel sales, VMware. “We value our relationship with VLCM and look forward to even greater success in the future.” Premier partners have earned the highest partner level in the VMware Partner Network resulting in the greatest level of benefits from VMware. Through rigorous training and commitment, VLCM has earned all three VMware solution competencies, which VMware has established as designations of expertise that enable customers to identify partners with the highest level of VMware technical solution knowledge and experience. VMware partners with competencies are able to earn customer credibility by driving deeper into customer engagements, based on knowledge and ability with the following VMware solution competencies:
Infrastructure Virtualization Competency: Recognizes partners for their demonstrated ability to virtualize and consolidate server environments using a VMware virtualization solution.
Business Continuity Competency: Recognizes partners for their expertise in deploying VMware solutions for data protection, high availability and disaster recovery.
Desktop Virtualization Competency: Recognizes partners for their expertise in deploying VMware solutions for virtualizing desktops and applications.
For more information on VLCM, visit: www.slcval.com
About VLCM
Founded in 1983, VLCM has a long history of meeting the technology needs of small to medium-sized businesses, educational institutions, non-profit and government organizations. As a leading supplier of IT solutions, VLCM researches the best products and pricing to meet the needs of its customers. VLCM is a factory authorized service center, providing each business with warranty and non-warranty repairs. VLCM is headquartered in Salt Lake with offices in Orem and Boise and can be found online at www.slcval.com.
"VLCM Achieves Premier Status in VMware Partner Network
Premier Designation Validates VLCM’s Key Role in Next Era of Virtualization Services
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – May 19th, 2010 – VLCM, a leading IT provider for the Rocky Mountain Region, has achieved Premier status in the VMware Partner Network. “VMware is pleased to recognize VLCM with Premier status, the highest partnership level within the VMware Partner Network,” said Brandon Sweeney, vice president, Americas channel sales, VMware. “We value our relationship with VLCM and look forward to even greater success in the future.” Premier partners have earned the highest partner level in the VMware Partner Network resulting in the greatest level of benefits from VMware. Through rigorous training and commitment, VLCM has earned all three VMware solution competencies, which VMware has established as designations of expertise that enable customers to identify partners with the highest level of VMware technical solution knowledge and experience. VMware partners with competencies are able to earn customer credibility by driving deeper into customer engagements, based on knowledge and ability with the following VMware solution competencies:
Infrastructure Virtualization Competency: Recognizes partners for their demonstrated ability to virtualize and consolidate server environments using a VMware virtualization solution.
Business Continuity Competency: Recognizes partners for their expertise in deploying VMware solutions for data protection, high availability and disaster recovery.
Desktop Virtualization Competency: Recognizes partners for their expertise in deploying VMware solutions for virtualizing desktops and applications.
For more information on VLCM, visit: www.slcval.com
About VLCM
Founded in 1983, VLCM has a long history of meeting the technology needs of small to medium-sized businesses, educational institutions, non-profit and government organizations. As a leading supplier of IT solutions, VLCM researches the best products and pricing to meet the needs of its customers. VLCM is a factory authorized service center, providing each business with warranty and non-warranty repairs. VLCM is headquartered in Salt Lake with offices in Orem and Boise and can be found online at www.slcval.com.
VLCM providing IT Outsourcing in Utah
VLCM is one of Utah's largest VARs (Value Added Resellers) that is well known for their ability to provide IT solutions for small and medium businesses, but another service that they provide is IT outsourcing for companies that don't have a need for a full-time IT manager.
For details or questions please contact Mike Linton 801-262-9277.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Shoretel Targeting Small Businesses
Shoretel is once again targeting small business by expanding the functionality of their small business bundle. It was announced on Jan 30, 2010 that a major update to their SBE bundle which will allow up to 50 users across 3 sites instead of just a single site location that was previously supported.
I think this will allow more small businesses to take advantage of the amazing functionality of Shoretel. Contact Mike Linton at VLCM if you would like more information. www.slcval.com
I think this will allow more small businesses to take advantage of the amazing functionality of Shoretel. Contact Mike Linton at VLCM if you would like more information. www.slcval.com
Monday, September 14, 2009
Skype and Shoretel
Alot of people have asked- Does Skype work with Shoretel? Can I make free calls with Shoretel? How does Shoretel integrate with SIP. This article below is a good explanation and helps answer some of these questions. I was emailed this interesting article about Shoretel and Skype. If you are interested read it- it is about a 10 minute read.
"ShoreTel has just entered into beta testing with Skype’s “Skype for SIP” offering (see below). One important thing to be aware of, this Skype for SIP offering requires and Ingate SIParator. On top of that you will still need to purchase the ShoreTel SIP Trunk License per trunk and have available ShoreGear Switch resources to terminate the trunks.
This still leaves Etherspeak as the only ShoreTel Certified ITSP that does not require and Ingate SIParator: http://www.shoretel.com/partners/technology/etherspeak.html"
This article can be found at here
SMBs and enterprises can now make voice calls via Skype with ShoreTel's UC system; Skype users can contact ShoreTel-based businesses for free with global click-to-call button on corporate Web sites
LUXEMBOURG and SUNNYVALE, CA, September 9, 2009 - Skype and ShoreTel, Inc., (NASDAQ: SHOR), the leading provider of brilliantly simple IP phone systems with fully integrated Unified Communications (UC), today announced interoperability between ShoreTel's UC system and the beta version of Skype for SIP. ShoreTel is the world's first UC vendor to achieve interoperability with Skype for SIP. The nearly 11,000 ShoreTel enterprise customers can now register to try Skype for SIP in beta, giving them the opportunity to save money, save time and stay ahead by integrating Skype into their communications portfolios.
"By certifying ShoreTel's UC system as interoperable with Skype for SIP, we have made it possible for ShoreTel's business customers to reduce their costs even further, while also enhancing their own business experience through communications," said Stefan Oberg, VP and General Manager of Skype for Business. "Skype for SIP is easy for businesses to configure and manage using Skype's Web-based Business Control Panel (BCP), making it complementary to ShoreTel's UC system, which is renowned for its simplicity."
Skype for SIP allows ShoreTel's business customers and their employees to receive inbound calls through their ShoreTel SIP-enabled UC system from more than 400 million registered Skype users around the world at no cost to the Skype user. In addition, organizations using ShoreTel can reduce their costs further by directing outbound calls from devices connected to the ShoreTel UC system via Skype for SIP to landlines and mobile devices worldwide at low Skype rates. Organizations that use ShoreTel with Skype for SIP may also purchase and associate online Skype numbers, currently available in more than 25 countries, with their ShoreTel UC system to receive inbound calls from landline and mobile phones.
"As part of our ongoing commitment to a standards-based open ecosystem that offers flexibility and choice, we are delivering a significant competitive advantage to ShoreTel customers with the ability to leverage Skype's low-cost calling rates and to create an online presence with a click-to-call button that enables Skype users to call them for free," said John W. Combs, president and CEO at ShoreTel. "The simple-to-configure capabilities of Skype for SIP will further improve the flexibility and efficiency of our customers' operations, while lowering the total cost of ownership even further, and providing the boost in productivity they are used to seeing from ShoreTel's UC systems."
For more information on Skype for SIP and to sign up for the Skype for SIP beta, please visit www.skypeforsip.com.
For detailed information on ShoreTel products and features, please visit www.shoretel.com.
"ShoreTel has just entered into beta testing with Skype’s “Skype for SIP” offering (see below). One important thing to be aware of, this Skype for SIP offering requires and Ingate SIParator. On top of that you will still need to purchase the ShoreTel SIP Trunk License per trunk and have available ShoreGear Switch resources to terminate the trunks.
This still leaves Etherspeak as the only ShoreTel Certified ITSP that does not require and Ingate SIParator: http://www.shoretel.com/partners/technology/etherspeak.html"
This article can be found at here
SMBs and enterprises can now make voice calls via Skype with ShoreTel's UC system; Skype users can contact ShoreTel-based businesses for free with global click-to-call button on corporate Web sites
LUXEMBOURG and SUNNYVALE, CA, September 9, 2009 - Skype and ShoreTel, Inc., (NASDAQ: SHOR), the leading provider of brilliantly simple IP phone systems with fully integrated Unified Communications (UC), today announced interoperability between ShoreTel's UC system and the beta version of Skype for SIP. ShoreTel is the world's first UC vendor to achieve interoperability with Skype for SIP. The nearly 11,000 ShoreTel enterprise customers can now register to try Skype for SIP in beta, giving them the opportunity to save money, save time and stay ahead by integrating Skype into their communications portfolios.
"By certifying ShoreTel's UC system as interoperable with Skype for SIP, we have made it possible for ShoreTel's business customers to reduce their costs even further, while also enhancing their own business experience through communications," said Stefan Oberg, VP and General Manager of Skype for Business. "Skype for SIP is easy for businesses to configure and manage using Skype's Web-based Business Control Panel (BCP), making it complementary to ShoreTel's UC system, which is renowned for its simplicity."
Skype for SIP allows ShoreTel's business customers and their employees to receive inbound calls through their ShoreTel SIP-enabled UC system from more than 400 million registered Skype users around the world at no cost to the Skype user. In addition, organizations using ShoreTel can reduce their costs further by directing outbound calls from devices connected to the ShoreTel UC system via Skype for SIP to landlines and mobile devices worldwide at low Skype rates. Organizations that use ShoreTel with Skype for SIP may also purchase and associate online Skype numbers, currently available in more than 25 countries, with their ShoreTel UC system to receive inbound calls from landline and mobile phones.
"As part of our ongoing commitment to a standards-based open ecosystem that offers flexibility and choice, we are delivering a significant competitive advantage to ShoreTel customers with the ability to leverage Skype's low-cost calling rates and to create an online presence with a click-to-call button that enables Skype users to call them for free," said John W. Combs, president and CEO at ShoreTel. "The simple-to-configure capabilities of Skype for SIP will further improve the flexibility and efficiency of our customers' operations, while lowering the total cost of ownership even further, and providing the boost in productivity they are used to seeing from ShoreTel's UC systems."
For more information on Skype for SIP and to sign up for the Skype for SIP beta, please visit www.skypeforsip.com.
For detailed information on ShoreTel products and features, please visit www.shoretel.com.
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