Photo sharing via the web is a tool that can be used both personally and professionally. Professionally, sharing an image / photo via the web is time saving where it can be accessed immediatelyeither publicly or by a private invitation. This ability can be beneficial to the health care field to educate practitioners, patients and other office personnel about virtually anything (ex. how to properly use equipment, view profiles, or show the proper care of medical devices to obtain accurate readings.) Within the scope of medical records, I only think that this tool would be useful to show a step-by-step guide visually, to aid patients in completing a records request form. Photo sharing would be beneficial perhaps to those in the medical profession that need a visual reference of a placebo to an abnormality (i.e. a smoker’s lung to that of a life long non smoker). The addition of adding a photo to a social networking tool like Face book is beneficial in the most part to individuals who are job searching and/or creating professional contacts. This visual tool definitely can put a face to the facts and perhaps help that individual stand out amongst other social contacts. In my opinion, it’s a good tool for demonstration purposes and professional purposes. Personally, if made private, it’s a great way to save time and money on pictures you wish to share with others. I think if personal pictures are made public, that the invitation to the general public breaches ones’ privacy that is irretrievable.
This weeks assignment on Google Docs …
Web Office Tools
Is this the future of all software products? What do you think?
After setting up an account with Google Docs and reviewing other possible web office programs, specifically www.zoho.com, I find that this is a tool that is a largely untapped resource for companies. I do believe that the ability that Google Docs and Zoho provides in terms of information storage and on line collaboration is the future of software products. The only downside is that if a company’s ISP is down, then so does productivity. With many businesses hiring companies that host their server, this is a problem anyway. Perhaps if this office tool can offer a wireless connection solution, it could boost the popularity even more. Once the word is out and businesses take the time to employ these new tools, it will free up memory storage and perhaps assist their systems to work more effectively. I really like the ability to choose between making something public vs. private, deciding who you are going to invite, and choosing the level of access they are granted. The jury is still out for me however from the perspective of someone who is being invited vs. the person who originates the document/spreadsheet/presentation on it effectiveness.
I explored ZoHo even further and found that I really like the set up of this “office tool” better than Google Docs. It really says something when the application is laid more user friendly. If a company selects one of these tools, the better the user friendly, it’s more likely to be a program utilized by a business. I viewed Microsoft Office live and they seem to be just as effective as ZoHo. ZoHo, however, I like that it’s not just geared toward businesses but also educational and personal purposes as well. (I realize that Microsoft Office also can provide this resource but it appears more of an application suitable for the work world.)
Social Networking
Learning about social networking has been one of the most useful tools I have discovered, to date. I enjoy this feature as not only does social networking benefit the user by having the accessibility to access favorite sites, organize these sites and share, it also opens up the ability to find other useful sites that other individuals have marked. This saves time and the effort to search vs. search engines like google. The ability to locate sites quickly can produce time saving methods to gain useful information for both personal and professional use. These already bookmarked sites can aid professionally in being current and up to date with what tools and information is out there. I would highly recommend this Internet tool to anyone!
Social Networking Tools
Assignment # 3:
* How can social networking be used by National Jewish to make professional connections?
Having these tools of social networking can be used by National Jewish to communicate better between the different departments. Improving by using these communication tools can only improve the quality of service the company provides. Opening these different methods of communication for National Jewish would be beneficial since it is a company that employs many. Having these resources of social networking can aid the company by improving the communication to that of what a small company can provide.
* Should you have a Facebook, MySpace or Linkedin page?
For my position, I’m still not sure if it would be as beneficial or quick to address concerns as just contacting my department directly. It has potential for other departments.
* Are there privacy concerns for individuals when using social networking sites?
For a company in the medical field, there are always concerns for privacy for both patients and employees. It’s up to the company to put its faith in the individuals it employs.
* What did you like or not like about your experience with Facebook?
I liked learning about these outlets, however I didn’t like how you had to know the address of other people. Perhaps with the next weeks lesson on Social Bookmarking, these then might become a little more useful.
Blog vs. Wiki
Blogs, fun to use, fun to share. They are very one sided, one perspective. Wiki’s are a great place to comment on in one central place. Wiki’s are useful to create a place to have a community to contribute to the topic of interest and have the ability to add, change or edit information and comments. See my wiki at: http://whatsforbreakfast.wetpaint.com/ for an example.
Staying ontop on the release of information news in a medical practice.
In accordance to HIPAA guidelines, medical offices everywhere strive to protect their patient’s information. In order to maintain records, the Release of Information Secretary needs to be informed of how to maintain medical records appropriately and what instances is releasing medical records are warranted. Subscribing to an RSS feed is a great tool that if there are any changes, updates, news, the Release of Information Secretary can continue to uphold the law, informed to protect the patients’ information in their medical chart. In some instances, the secretary in charge may be dealing with a gray area of what is appropriate. With the HIPAA guidelines and a connection to an RSS feed on medical records, privacy of patient information, the RSS feeds assist in minimizing the gray area that can sometimes present itself.
