More patients are turning to a self-service approach when it comes to healthcare. Now this doesn’t mean they’ve taken to operating on themselves, but they are checking into hospitals without the help of medical administrators. Similar to portal technology, self-service kiosks can help streamline administrative tasks like hospital registration and payment. So is self-service a viable solution for hospitals?

Listed below are a few key benefits of a self-service solution.

Reduced costs

Implementing self-service kiosks in hospitals can reduce costs for the facility. Self check-ins save the hospital from using paper, filing the forms, and allows them to quickly look up information on that particular patient without having to sort through piles and cabinets of paperwork. Additionally, with self-service kiosks, nurses spend less time doing the bulk of the hospital’s administrative duties and more time providing care for patients.

Reduce patient waiting time

The need to fill out paper forms is replaced with an easy-to-operate digitized system. Usually, the administrative staff have to manually record the patient’s information and find the appropriate medical department that will tend to the patient’s healthcare needs. This process can be eliminated as self-service kiosks make it easier to check-in and verify patient information by simply swiping an identification card.

Less errors

Sometimes mistakes happen. Using electronic kiosks help reduce data entry errors made by an administrative staff. By crowdsourcing the filing of the electronic forms to patients, chances of errors are reduced since they are usually invested in getting the best treatment for themselves. This also means that duplicate consent forms and medical data going into the electronic health record (EHR) are not likely to happen as the device will simply alert the hospital staff if they have an existing record in their system.

Easier payment method

Tying the kiosk into a Web-based portal can also expedite the process of payment for the patient. Patients can pay their medical expenses by simply swiping and putting their credit card information into the electronic payment system. The device can also inform the patient of any outstanding medical balances, print out payments and medical certificates, as well as notify the hospital if the patient has made any payments for the treatment they received.

Less confusion

Apart from the easily accessible forms, patients can also take comfort in knowing that they are never lost with the self-service kiosks. In the same device, the patient can find their appointed physician by accessing a hospital map which will point them in the right direction. While this feature is pretty basic, it saves the patient some time from finding any available staff that can eventually direct them to the right room.

While some would still prefer to have face-to-face conversation with medical staff when they check-in to the hospital, self-service kiosks are well worth the investment. At the end of the day, implementing electronic devices is not only a cost-efficient solution, but one that can reduce the waiting time for patients and increase the time for hospital staff to care for them too.

Contact us today if you want to be informed on the latest trends in healthcare IT.

Apple could soon have another device to wrangle consumers back in again. With the new 9.7-inch iPad Pro, you get a tablet as powerful as its predecessor but it happens to be smaller and cheaper. Will this be the go-to tablet for all your personal computing needs? Before it’s available in an Apple Store near you, you should probably know what features it offers and see if it’s the right device for you.

Design

The new iPad Pro model will be smaller than its predecessor sporting a 9.7-inch model and follows the look and design of the iPad Air 2. With a 2048 x 1536 pixels screen resolution, you can expect your display to remain pretty as well. The new model will be available in rose gold, silver, gold and space gray.

The new iPad Pro will also sport a quad-speaker system around the sides of the tablet. Apple claims that the 9.7-inch iPad Pro will feature a True Tone Display, making this a device you can take anywhere. This changes the white point of your iPad’s display based on the different ambient lighting environments that you’re in. So if you’re under direct sunlight, the screen will appear bleached and if you’re under LEDs the display can appear bluish.

Hardware

Like the iPad Pro, the next-generation model also offers the same hardware and features. Storage is bumped up to 32GB with up to 4GB of RAM included. There will also be a 128GB model for those needing extra storage. The new iPad Pro will still include the old A9X processor, but this isn’t exactly a bad thing since it still outperforms other single-core processors and definitely comes out on top in terms of other Apple devices.

The smaller iPad Pro will also have the same amount of battery life as the 12.9-inch version. Apple states that browsing time with Wi-Fi or cellular data can last up to 9 to 10 hours, which is decent for battery life.

Better photo and video capturing

While most of the old iPad Pro’s features remain within the 9.7-inch model, there are some noticeable upgrades to its camera. Probably one of the more exciting changes is its upgraded 12-megapixel rear camera and its ability to record 4K resolution videos. Video capturing, viewing and editing is also pretty good on the iPad Pro so think about whether your company will be utilizing some of these in the future.

Third party accessories

Apple will release a Smart Keyboard with smaller keys to remain proportional to the size of tablet to accompany the device. Additionally, the new model will also have full support for the Apple Pencil. While we are unsure if prices will change for the $99 dollar pencil, it’s safe to assume that the new iPad Pro will give you the same control and drawing experience for graphic designs and sketches.

More affordable

The Wi-Fi only 12.9-inch iPad Pro model is available for $949 while a 128GB Wi-Fi and cellular model is available for $1,079. Let’s face it, that price is pretty expensive for an individual let alone to equip an entire company. Instead, the new iPad Pro model offers the same capabilities of the previous model at a friendlier price. These iPads start from $599, so if you’re thinking about going Pro, you should definitely consider this product first.

These are just some of the few features that we can expect from the new iPad Pro. So consider all these tech specifications and factors first before deciding whether or not going Pro is the right decision for your business. Contact us if you want to know more about anything Apple related.

We are no longer in the dark ages of Disaster Recovery. With the onset of cloud computing, DR has become more efficient and affordable than ever. Despite this fact, many business owners still cling to their medieval DR mindsets and myths that belong in debates among king Arthur and his knights of the round table. So if you’re uncertain as to how DR has changed and are ready to step into the light of this glorious cloud computing age, here are some myths that will soon be part of IT folklore.

Tape Backups are the best DR solution

Like a car, computer or television, tape is a physical object that deteriorates over time. Don’t believe us? Go ahead and listen to your favorite cassette. One day your tape backups will become distorted and no longer work. And hopefully, that day isn’t the same one when your business suffers a disaster. However, there is a good chance all your tape backups will work. So does that mean there’s nothing to worry about? Well, consider where you store your tape backups. Are they on-site or in a location within a few miles of your office? If so, remember that if your business is hit by a natural disaster, chances are those tapes nearby will be hit as well. And if they’re damaged or become inaccessible, say goodbye to your business continuity.

While tape backup is better than nothing, many of today’s DR providers will backup your data to an offsite location that is far away from the neighborhood your office is at. That way, if your business is affected by a disaster, your backup is located hundreds of miles away in a safe place that is likely untouched.

It’s also worth noting that modern day DR solutions also provide another valuable commodity - time. So ask yourself, is the mindless task of backing up tapes really worth the time of your IT staff? Wouldn’t you rather have them working on more valuable tasks that require a skill? Today’s DR service providers eliminate this need, as they take care of nearly everything. You or your staff will never have to bother with it.

The RTO you want will be too expensive

Recovery Time Objective (RTO) is of primary importance to most business owners. And who can blame them. If you’re going to invest in a Disaster Recovery solution, you want to be able to rely on it to recover quickly (on a timetable that won’t damage your business). In the old days before the cloud, a quick recovery time could cost you well into six figures. Today, tools such as the cloud and virtualization have made this much more affordable, and faster than ever. Most DR providers can backup all your critical data in a matter of minutes. And if you ever need to recover it, most services can do so in hours, rather than days. That’s the power of the cloud. And when it comes to DR, it truly has changed everything.

Disaster Recovery is for big business, not SMBs

Well, it once was. Again, the cloud has really leveled the playing field. And it is making a truly valuable service accessible to businesses of all sizes. From dental offices to small retail operations, SMBs can now easily take advantage of the best DR solutions on market, as the barriers of complexity, costs, and insufficient IT resources no longer apply. Modern IT advances and the cloud have eliminated these obstacles.

We hope these three myths will help you see how Disaster Recovery is more affordable and efficient than ever. If you’d like to learn how our DR solutions can safeguard your business, send us a message. We’re happy to fill you in.

We may expect to find computers everywhere these days, from our offices, schools and airports to our pockets and wrists, but until now there's not been much call for computers in our hospital operating rooms. But new technology is making waves in healthcare circles and could even save lives by helping surgeons and physicians make life and death decisions. This is why investors and governments are looking into this area as way of improving healthcare and patient outcomes. So let's take a look at some of this miraculous medical teach.

Enhanced diagnosis and treatment

IBM supercomputer, Dr. Watson, was specifically developed to help doctors make more accurate diagnoses while also recommending treatments and procedures. In the future, it is hoped that physicians will be able to rely on Watson to keep track of patient history, keep up-to-date with the latest medical research and analyze potential treatment options.

How Watson does this is by analyzing unstructured data, which includes news articles, research reports and even social media posts. Once asked a question, it evaluates all possible meanings to determine what its being asked. Lastly it’ll find supporting evidence and compare quality of information before presenting the best answers and solutions which the doctors can then decide to act on or not.

Breaking the language barrier

Omnifluent Health is a translation program developed by the Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) that helps patients communicate with doctors and others in the medical field. For example, a doctor could speak into the app - ask if the patient has any allergies - and the Omnifluent translates the doctor’s words into another language.

In the US alone there are 47 million residents that can’t speak English fluently. The Omnifluent reduces the need for translators and helps quicken relay of important information, which allows more time for accurate diagnoses and treatment.

Social networking for doctors

In 2011, U.S. News, The American Society for Clinical Investigation along with other distinguished partners in the field have joined forces to create a physician-only social network dubbed Doximity. Its premise it that it can link doctors, allowing them to work together and share expertize so as to take greater care of their patients. Currently, the roster boasts over 700,000 searchable physicians available for case collaboration via instant messaging.

One call away

To save patients from a potential trip to the ER, Sherpaa is a New York-based telehealth provider offering medical consultations online and over the phone. Patients can use Sherpaa to contact the city’s top medical specialists, capable of not only treating sore throats and hay fever but also help treat an array of acute and chronic illnesses. This development could possibly signal the beginning of healthcare (literally) being at your fingertips.

Health on-the-go

To keep up with the 21st century’s fast-moving pace, a growing number of mobile apps and gadgets have been developed to help people stay active, sleep better and eat healthy. Examples include the Fitbit pedometer that tracks sleep and daily activity, and utilizes social networking to motivate users.

Lark is a silent alarm clock and is in charge of monitoring and analyzing your sleep activity. It goes a step further by offering suggestions on how to boost the snooze. If you are diet-conscious, numerous calorie-counting, food-monitoring and menu-tracking apps are also at your disposal.

These are just five of current healthcare IT developments and many of more to come. Want to find out more on how technology is improving healthcare? Looking for some more apps? Give us a call us today, we’re sure we can help.