Web 2.0 - Future QI

From what I understand, Web 2.0 is “second generation” of the web that we currently have. I did some research and found out that this web might appear on many types of screens ranging from a cell phone to a microwave! This type of advance is bound to be helpful in healthcare QI which involves hospitalists, hospital settings, patients, and more. In three years, I feel that every patient room in a hospital will have a TV featuring Web 2.0 for the patient. Also, I feel that this program would reach the PDAs of hospitalists and other health professionals. Through this web, the doctor and patient could share information through this improved form of communication. Also doctors may communicate with each other through this web on their PDAs, improving the communication of patient information between each other. This is a great advance to improve the c0-management between a doctor that is a specialist and a hospitalist, for the betterment of their services to the patient. Also, if a hospitalist is unsure of a topic, he may also easily look it up online. Considering the characteristics of Web 2.0, the information that the hospitalist will look up will most likely be updated to the max. Web 2.0 also offers secure information sharing which could really boost patient confidentiality- something that is important in QI. In terms of Pharmacoeconomics, Web 2.0 may also leave a beneficial impact because determining which drugs to include in a hospital formulary requires updated research that can be easily found through the advanced web program. Overall, I see doctors and health professionals making moves because of Web 2.0. I also see health professionals becoming very dependent on Web 2.0 in improving QI. Web 2.0 will be widely used in hospital settings and will certainly improve QI efforts.

Web 2.0 Enhancements

In 3 years I think that Web 2.0 will be more like Web 5.5 or something. With everything that is being advertised/marketed/communicated on the internet in three years I think what is now our regular base of media will be totally enhanced. One thing I think that will become more popular (and when I say popular I mean an everyday occurrence would be more video- whether as Instant message or incorporated in news articles..) I also think that more touch screen computers & enhancements will become very popular. I think that maybe not in three years but in time paper newspapers will be completely taken over by the web, and even banking. I think that with the mix of “going green” and “web 2.0” many everyday medias and communications will be completely virtual.

Office Space

In a professional setting, organization can help maintain a sort of balance. It makes sense that when your environment looks less chaotic, it probably is less chaotic. Sure, there is such a thing as “an organized mess,” but when it comes down to it, if it takes you more than five minutes to look for something on your desk (or inbox), how organized is it really? I was a believer in that little oxymoron, but I have found out for myself that when it is easier to find things, it is easier to manage and stay on top of them. For instance… I have recently organized all my papers into folders and the ones closest to me are for current projects and the ones further are for ongoing projects or papers to be filed away. (Thanks, TVD. Very handy little system I have been compelled to create for myself.) Also, it happens that once in a while someone will be absent from a Monday Morning Meeting, and organization helps co-workers collect what they need from you. Overall, organization can benefit everyone in the work environment.

The World of Web 2.0

I think that Web 2.0 will expand even further in the near future than it has recently. In retrospect to three years ago, Twitter was not even on the public’s radar. MySpace was the “it” network, while Facebook and YouTube were just rising. None of those scenarios are the case today. Facebook has made rapid and drastic developments, and many professors are using YouTube videos as supplements to standard PowerPoint presentations. Slowly but surely, Web 2.0 is being incorporated into industries all over the world. I would not be surprised if in three years there were even more social networking sites and organizations focused a lot of time and energy into improving upon their web based activity, which is clearly exemplified in our department.

I think that M&M’s efforts in working with Captiva to improve PPC advertising and SEO are phenomenal, as well as those put into re-launching the website on hospitalist.org. Having in-house graphic and web designers really have given me insight to all the work that goes into a relatively small task. An example would be that every time a short web update has to be made in the Marketing department, it has to be approved by the Marketing Lead, and then sent to Dan. Sometimes it can go through multiple rounds of edits just to get the blurb right. Having firsthand experience with managing Facebook and YouTube, I have realized the work that goes into it from an organizational perspective. As a recreational user, I would never have thought of that because the majority of the events and groups I join are for entertainment purposes or something. The statistics behind these sites can be pretty intense at times, and that’s another part that I never had to experience with personal use. This information that we collect really gives us a chance to target and reach out to members, keeping them informed in a way that was not possible before. Although there is not a large percentage that is taking advantage of it, SHM is ahead of the curve. We’ve tackled a wide variety of Web 2.0: HospitalMedicine.org, Facebook, Twitter, e-mail marketing, blogs, YouTube, and RSS feeds. And each and every day we are learning new information/tips and ways to improve, which will definitely continue within the next few years.

P.S. We just changed our Facebook address to http://facebook.com/HospitalMedicine today. It was pretty exciting... :)

P.P.S. SHM is testing out the new Beta version of YouTube. I’m SURE you’ve all checked out our sweet page before, but maybe you forgot the link… No worries, I’ve got your back: http://youtube.com/SHMLive.

Interviewing Process--Design Interns

I think that the structure of my interview was very efficient. The first question was the classic "Tell us a little bit about yourself". I think that is a very good question, becasue it allows the interviewee to just freely speak about themselves both professionallyand personally. After I answered the question, I proceeded to showcae my portfolio, giving brief explanations of each as I went along. I do think that the prospective interns should be a few mroe design specific questions like, "How would you describe your design style?", "Are you familiar with corporate identity and the its language?", "Are you familiar with designing for a very specific audience?".....I think questions like these would gived them some more insight to what their role would be as a designer here at SHM. My favorite part hands down, is the on-the-spot ad creation. I love the surprise, and it is actually quite relevant because there will be times where you will be be designing/creating things that you don't expect. It shows who can think on their feet. There have been many times where I had to be creative in a very short time period. The only thing with the on-the-spot-ad surprise is that every designer can not draw! (which in my eyes is sinful). For the non-drawers, I think allowing them to hop on Illustrator is just as effective. I also think that having the current graphic assistant in the interview is great because it creates a sense of ease (being that most of the graphic design students at Drexel are somewhat familiar with one another).

I'm Back....

That's right...after an all too long hiatus, I'm back...

Thanks for your posts in absence of a question of the week...and for those who, on a occasion, posted a random blog about something that happened in the office (hint to everyone: you should be posting about a random happening at least once a week...you don't want it to come back and get you on your review, do you? :-)

So...for the next couple of weeks we're going to talk about web 2.0. This is a series of discussion questions put together by a former MA - Jill Patel.

Here's the first question (please post by Thursday)...

"Based on what you know about web 2.0 - what do you think it will look like in 3 years? How do you think web 2.0 will impact marketing (Em, Victoria, Sam, Natasha) or QI (Reshma)?"

And a bonus question for the Membership and Marketing Crew...

"Why is personal organization and keeping your materials in some sort of an organized and easily understandable fashion beneficial in an professional setting? Do you subscribe to the belief that some have that if it's your stuff, and you know how to find it, that's all that matters?"

That's all for today - talk soon...

Todd

New MA's...

When the interview process comes around for the next group of MA's, I think that you should ask the same things that you did in ours because we are the BEST! Just kidding, but I think the most important factor is to stress how this job is not going to be a sitting around- making copies kind of job. From my experience on interviews, I got that impression from a lot of different places, and SHM was the only one that emphasized that you will be treated like a full timer. In the group discussion, I think it is important to ask a bunch of different questions, and get peoples opinions and perceptions on things. When I came to this interview and had to answer questions on facebook, and not only on myself - it made me think and put more effort into the interview, and I think it shows how people can think on their toes. The one on one conversation will get good information about people personally, but the group should be used more to see how people work professionally. Have a good weekend everyone!