Author: chris

: Jessica Gentry posted Nov 19, 2015 10:57 PM
Look around the room you are in right now. How many technology devices do you have? I know in my room I have a computer, an iPad, my iPhone always with me, I am using WIFI, and have a television. Our everyday lives depend on so much technology. It would be hard for us to function without the technology we rely on. These new technology changes are happening in our everyday lives and in all of the business fields too, especially healthcare. Huge technology developments and improvements over the past few years have caused incredible changes in the healthcare field. Here are 6 ways Technology has changed healthcare for the better listed below:
1. Data consumption- data is very important in the healthcare field. The facility will have diagnostic reports to analyze and filing patient treatment histories, and so much more that require a lot of information to hold.
2. Improved Communication- there is better communication between patient and doctor.
3. Portal technology- medical providers are able to provide better visibility to patients. Patients can now have access to their information remotely.
4. Remote Monitoring- Using a small device designed to measure a particular health issue, remote centers can analyze a patient’s data and alert them if something’s wrong. This is a great device for patients who have a pacemaker.
5. Accelerated experimentation- vaccination research efforts increased
6.Mobile apps-  a person can now track your daily sleep patterns, count calories, research treatment options, and even monitor your heart rate.
**Now I want to show you some ways technology is going to change for a specific healthcare field- Nurses**
There will be three skill sets nurses will need to develop to acquire, use, and integrate these emerging technologies.
1. Being able to use technology to facilitate mobility, communication, and relationships.
Examples: email, telehealth and telemedicine, internet, cellular technology, text messaging, video conferencing, 3-dimensional printing, social media
2. Having expertise in knowledge information, acquisition, and distribution
Examples: information literacy, evidence-based practice, clinical decision support, standardized guidelines
3. Understanding and using genomics in nursing
Examples: Understanding the Human Genome Project, genetic sequencing
In any healthcare field, the technology is going to be improved and the employees are going to have to learn how to use it. I believe that this will make the healthcare system better and less time consuming for patients. Time will definitely tell with all of the new changes.
RESOURCES: http://www.healthtechzone.com/topics/healthcare/articles/2014/09/26/389918-6-ways-technology-has-changed-healthcare-the-better.htm
http://nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol-18-2013/No2-May-2013/Impact-of-Emerging-Technology.html
Response:
⦁ HI Jessica,
Of course I agree that technology is consuming the lives and direction of many aspects of our lives and organizations that we come into contact with. Change is usually a difficult aspect of anyone’s lives, and with it come many positives and negatives. However, I feel that information technology within healthcare brings more positives than negatives.
A patient having access to their medical care team electronically is a huge change but the benefits are great! However, one thing that comes along with that is the fact that interactions become less personal and that is a downside. I think that you made some great points about the potential for full use of technology in the future in the healthcare setting. I can only imagine how video conferencing would positively affect patient care and optimize patient hand-off. I’m sure as we have to take the bitter with the sweet, there will be a downside to this, in addition to the less personal relationships. However, as services are optimized it may very well fit in quite well and maximize availability and hopefully quality of care.
Great post,

Jillette
Post:
⦁ Ana Joachin posted Nov 20, 2015 10:25 PM
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We have recently implemented RelayHealth. This allows  securely and conveniently exchange of information between patients, providers, pharmacies, etc. RelayHealth improves care, provides faster access, and lower costs. The healthcare  is constantly changing and evolving. We can only change and evolve with it. Personnaly, I think RelayHealth allows faster access but will allow less face-to-face engagement between the provider and patient . Another thing that is concerning is physicians initially learning how to use the computer system and the changes related to physicians integrating computer use into their clinical workflow. I don’t know about any of you all, but up until recently, I really wasnt a fan of change.
Now with the implementation of EHRs, my job as a patient administrator has become easier. At first, it was a little chaotic with all of the new changes and regulations, but after we got over that hump, it’s been easy sailing.
Post:
⦁ Timothy Simms posted Nov 19, 2015 8:32 PM
After reading and looking over the youtube videos I’ve come to the conclusion that technology is taking over not only in the healthcare field but in other professions as well. I think that with the major changes that may occur with technology a lot of the nurses and doctors will have to be dual qualified. Not only will they have to do medical certification but they will more than likely have to hold some type of lower level IT certification as well. With the innovation of technology a lot of the nurses jobs may become easier. What I mean by this is instead of having to use all of the old school equipment like a thermometer to a clients temperature I’m sure someone will design a computerized piece of equipment that will be able to scan across the patients forehead to read their temperature. Also their may be some type of equipment designed to do the same to check other vitals as well, similar to the piece of equipment shown in the video that scanned the plant and was able to tell you the type of plant.
References:



Post:
Yvonne Tubene posted Nov 19, 2015 8:04 PM
Technology has become invisible because it is incorporated in our daily life and its usage is almost a second nature for most people around most industrialize countries and specifically the US. Healthcare setting is becoming highly computerized recently, and moving forward the influx of the healthcare information technology will cover every area of delivery of healthcare. For instance, presentation in the lecture reveals a systematic change due to technology in the healthcare. Many aspects of innovation in information Technology would be highly incorporated in the healthcare setting. A process of paper and pencil would be almost not seen in the future health vision.   There would be less human interaction between the provider practitioners at the point of delivery of healthcare. Also, a video presentation on “future health vision” show a significant incorporation of Health IT in each step of patients’ life as related to their management of health. Future trend and aspects of the healthcare system will enable patients to take good control of chronic condition such as Diabetes and hypertension, the new model of healthcare will reflect a concept that exceeds the classical term “satisfaction” with regard to accessibility to healthcare. Also, management of chronic condition such as Diabetes with a computerized medication reminder system for a patient and self-check in a clinic for blood work monitor of A1C are just few examples. Literature indicates, such model of healthcare would improve treatment adherence because they generate confidence and positively impact the course of a disease or condition. Practitioner would have live interaction with clinical researcher based on the area of interest.
Definitely, it would be imperative for any healthcare provider to have strong computer skills and good understanding of health IT in general.
References



Reig, J., Valverde, J. A., & Reig, M. (2015). Great opportunities ahead! Don’t miss the boat!

y Sunday, November 22, 2015

You are a CEO of a medium sized US based manufacturing company looking for opportunities to expand its operations globally.

Do the following to complete this assignment:

• Select two countries, one developed and one emerging, where you would like to invest.y Sunday, November 22, 2015

   

  You are a CEO of a medium sized US based manufacturing company looking for opportunities to expand its operations globally.

   

  Do the following to complete this assignment:

   

  • Select two countries, one developed and one emerging, where you would like to invest.
  • Describe the company, its industry, its products, the markets it serves, and the type of operations that will be taken abroad.
  • Consider the assigned readings and the research literature related to this module and develop a country risk analysis report for your company to assess the attractiveness of each country for your business and decide what (if any) opportunity should be pursued.
  • Analyze the political, social, and economic factors. Use current research and statistics from reputable sources.

   

  Write a minimum three-page report. Make sure you write in a clear, concise, and organized manner; demonstrate ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources; and display accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Use the APA format.

   

  Assignment Overview

  Effective operations management, particularly strategic planning, requires a thorough understanding of the organization itself.  The vision of the organization’s founder, CEO, or strategic-management team cannot be realized if it is not consistent with the assumptions and beliefs, values and culture that prevail in the organization.  One of the tasks of strategic planners is to assess these organizational qualities and where inconsistencies are found, decide whether to change the vision or the organization.

   

  Another task is to evaluate prevailing assumptions, beliefs and values to determine whether they are helping or hurting the organization.  Appropriate assumptions, beliefs and values have two main characteristics: 1) they reflect internal and external realities, and 2) they help the organization to achieve its vision.  Inappropriate assumptions, beliefs, and values have opposite effects and must be changed before top managers attempt to introduce a new vision.

   

  Sometimes the operations planning team works with the CEO and the top managers to develop a new vision for the organization.  If this is the case, knowledge about the organization’s internal environment helps planners to develop an appropriate vision.  The emerging vision also should meet two criteria for profitability: 1) it should involve business/products with the potential for leveraged customer value, and 2) it should involve business/products with the potential for increased competitive advantage through system innovation.  These criteria are essential because they involve changes in customer perception and organizational operations, both which achieved through effective management and should not require extensive capital outlays.

   

  The strategic planning team helps the organization to devise a grand strategy to achieve the vision and then develops specific goals, objectives and plans of action.  Where the CEO and the top have difficulty thinking through the strategy, goals, or objectives these can be analyzed by the use of the critical-success-factor-method.

   

  Many executives think in terms of what it takes to be successful rather than in terms of grand strategy, goals and objectives.  So the question we should ask ourselves is, “What does it take to be a successful business?  Some people refer to the answer to this question as the “critical success factors” (coined by John Rockart).  Once the critical success factors for the business are identified, executives can use them to develop strategies.  The method can be applied by strategic planners within the company or by an out side management consultant or advisor.  The three steps to this process are:

   

  1. Generate success factors.  In applying this approach in an organization, the

   

  strategic planner meets with the CEO and asks, the question we discussed

   

  earlier, “ What does it take to be successful in this business?”  The result is a

   

  first cut list of critical success factors.  My experience as a consult performing

   

  this type of analysis is that you need to query several people in top

   

  management.  This approach gives you a broader view of the organization.

   

   

   

  2.  Refine CSFs into goals and objectives.  The planner reviews the CSFs and

   

  and evaluates and restates them in a clearer and more precise language.

   

  At that point we seek to establish some goals based on the CSFs.  In the end

   

  we pare the list down to 7-10 critical factors.

   

  3.  We then determine how to measure these factors (hard data if possible).

   

  The group discusses each CSF in turn and decides on its treatment.  Sometimes we may select a subcommittee to consider a particular CSF and it performance measures in more depth.  My experience using this type of internal analysis has proven to be good tool to evaluate the internal environment of an organization.

   

  Some companies have quite effective internal operations and yet fail because of unfavorable conditions in the environment.  Others are able to generate good or even outstanding profits, despite a number of internal problems simply because they happen to be in the right place at the right time.

   

  To be successful and to maintain a competitive advantage, an organization must constantly monitor events, tendencies, and stakeholder demands in its economic, political, competitive, geographic, sociological, and technological environment.

• Consider the assigned readings and the research literature related to this module and develop a country risk analysis report for your company to assess the attractiveness of each country for your business and decide what (if any) opportunity should be pursued.
• Analyze the political, social, and economic factors. Use current research and statistics from reputable sources.

Write a minimum three-page report. Make sure you write in a clear, concise, and organized manner; demonstrate ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources; and display accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Use the APA format.

Assignment Overview

Effective operations management, particularly strategic planning, requires a thorough understanding of the organization itself.  The vision of the organization’s founder, CEO, or strategic-management team cannot be realized if it is not consistent with the assumptions and beliefs, values and culture that prevail in the organization.  One of the tasks of strategic planners is to assess these organizational qualities and where inconsistencies are found, decide whether to change the vision or the organization.

Another task is to evaluate prevailing assumptions, beliefs and values to determine whether they are helping or hurting the organization.  Appropriate assumptions, beliefs and values have two main characteristics: 1) they reflect internal and external realities, and 2) they help the organization to achieve its vision.  Inappropriate assumptions, beliefs, and values have opposite effects and must be changed before top managers attempt to introduce a new vision.

Sometimes the operations planning team works with the CEO and the top managers to develop a new vision for the organization.  If this is the case, knowledge about the organization’s internal environment helps planners to develop an appropriate vision.  The emerging vision also should meet two criteria for profitability: 1) it should involve business/products with the potential for leveraged customer value, and 2) it should involve business/products with the potential for increased competitive advantage through system innovation.  These criteria are essential because they involve changes in customer perception and organizational operations, both which achieved through effective management and should not require extensive capital outlays.

The strategic planning team helps the organization to devise a grand strategy to achieve the vision and then develops specific goals, objectives and plans of action.  Where the CEO and the top have difficulty thinking through the strategy, goals, or objectives these can be analyzed by the use of the critical-success-factor-method.

Many executives think in terms of what it takes to be successful rather than in terms of grand strategy, goals and objectives.  So the question we should ask ourselves is, “What does it take to be a successful business?  Some people refer to the answer to this question as the “critical success factors” (coined by John Rockart).  Once the critical success factors for the business are identified, executives can use them to develop strategies.  The method can be applied by strategic planners within the company or by an out side management consultant or advisor.  The three steps to this process are:

1. Generate success factors.  In applying this approach in an organization, the

strategic planner meets with the CEO and asks, the question we discussed

earlier, “ What does it take to be successful in this business?”  The result is a

first cut list of critical success factors.  My experience as a consult performing

this type of analysis is that you need to query several people in top

management.  This approach gives you a broader view of the organization.

2.  Refine CSFs into goals and objectives.  The planner reviews the CSFs and

and evaluates and restates them in a clearer and more precise language.

At that point we seek to establish some goals based on the CSFs.  In the end

we pare the list down to 7-10 critical factors.

3.  We then determine how to measure these factors (hard data if possible).

The group discusses each CSF in turn and decides on its treatment.  Sometimes we may select a subcommittee to consider a particular CSF and it performance measures in more depth.  My experience using this type of internal analysis has proven to be good tool to evaluate the internal environment of an organization.

Some companies have quite effective internal operations and yet fail because of unfavorable conditions in the environment.  Others are able to generate good or even outstanding profits, despite a number of internal problems simply because they happen to be in the right place at the right time.

To be successful and to maintain a competitive advantage, an organization must constantly monitor events, tendencies, and stakeholder demands in its economic, political, competitive, geographic, sociological, and technological environment.

Resource: Approved project plan proposal

(1) Write a 1000-1200 word APA formatted paper which describe your approach to managing this project, including methodology used.

Identify sources available to understand the scope of the project proposal.

Describe the phases the project will contain.

Develop the project scope for your project

Address the following:

• Define the project requirements
• Define activities for the project
• Develop the schedule for your project proposal.

Include the following:

• Estimate primary activity duration
• Sequence the primary activities
• Develop a work breakdown structure and define the tasks
• Determine the labor requirement

Due Week 7 and worth 150 points

Imagine you are a senior systems administrator who has been tasked with considering whether or not to implement server virtualization into your organization’s computing operations of multiple sites with a server count of more than 400.

Write a two to three (2-3) page paper in which you:

1. Specify the most significant advantages and disadvantages that could be realized by the organization in adopting a server virtualization infrastructure.
2. Prepare a plan for implementing Hyper-V (or an alternate solution, such as VMware) as a solution for your organization. Provide a rationale for the plan decisions.
3. Determine the strategy you would use to explain the concepts of server virtualization to senior management so that they understand the concepts and can form an opinion on the solution. Provide a rationale for using your chosen strategy.
4. Based on your plan for implementation and the specifics of the organization of which you are aware, determine whether or not you should move forward with the implementation of a virtual infrastructure. Justify your response.
5. Use at least three (3) quality resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and similar Websites do not qualify as quality resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Demonstrate the ability to prepare, install, configure, maintain, and update a computer system for use as a server.
• Describe and configure secure systems, networks, and computing applications.
• Analyze the creation, configuration, and maintenance of virtual servers, storage, and networks.
• Develop a server migration plan to address and solve a proposed business problem.
• Demonstrate the ability to configure and deploy Active Directory, DNS, and DHCP services.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in server environments.
• Write clearly and concisely about server administration topics using proper writing mechanics and technical style conventions.

Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic / organization of the paper, and language and writing skills. Click here to access the rubric for this assignment.

Every business should determine its own criteria for success when evaluating the attractiveness of a market because every industry has its own unique circumstances. Forces that shape segment attractiveness include the following:

• Market growth (market size, growth rate, and market potential)
• Competitive intensity (the number of companies, the ease of entry, and substitutes)
• Market access (customer familiarity, channel access, and company fit)

Although an index that is based on these criteria is useful in capturing the qualitative aspects of a market situation, the profit potential must also be assessed for all of the segments that are deemed attractive based on their market-attractiveness indexes.

Part 1: Segmentation Application 

Develop a product-focused business. Please do not use an existing company or a scenario that you utilized in a previous course. You will continue working with this business throughout the course. Complete the following:

• Introduce the scenario of the business and the main product that it sells.
• Analyze customers’ needs for the target product.
• Discuss segmentation strategies that are based on 2 real competitors’ market positions.
• Devise a niche marketing strategy that would be appropriate for your company’s product.

This section of the paper should be 3 pages in length and use research from the library’s full-text databases and other quality college-level resources.

Part 2: Gap Analysis, Benchmarking, and Competitive Advantage

Complete the following:

• Carry out a gap analysis of 2 competitors. Discuss how the findings would be used.
• Develop competitor and competitive benchmarking.
  • Competitor benchmarking involves identifying a business’s main competitors and then comparing itself against them in key performance areas. Competitive benchmarking involves going outside a business’s market or industry to study a company that excels in an area where the business is deficient.
• Devise strategies to achieve a competitive advantage for the company.

This section of the paper should be 3 pages in length and use research from the library’s full-text databases and other quality college-level resources.

1) How will managers of a monopolistically competitive firm decide on the optimal level of production?  Elucidate.

2) Describe market forces that come into play in the short run if a monopolistically competitive firm is making a positive economic profit.  How would this compare to the typical long-run equilibrium?  Explain.

3) True, False Uncertain and Explain:  “Happy hour” pricing by bars and restaurants (i.e., lower prices at the close of the business day) is not a logical outcome.  The increase in demand for food and beverages around 5:00 p.m. should actually result in higher prices.

4) Mary and Sam are the only two growers who provide organically grown corn to a local grocery store. They know that if they cooperated and produced less corn, they could raise the price of the corn. If they work independently, they will each earn $100. If they decide to work together and both lower their output, they can each earn $150. If one person lowers output and the other does not, the person who lowers output will earn $0 and the other person will capture the entire market and will earn $200.  {The table below represents the choices available to Mary and Sam.}
*What is the best choice for Sam if he is sure that Mary will cooperate?
*If Mary thinks Sam will cheat, what should Mary do and why?
*What is the prisoner’s dilemma result?

Mary
A  B
A  ($100, $100)  ($200, $0)
Sam
B  ($0, $200)  ($150, $150)
Note:  A = Work independently; B = Cooperate and Lower Output.  Each table entry lists Sam’s earnings first, and Mary’s earnings second.

Due Week 7 and worth 180 points

In Assignments 2.1 (Part 1) and 2.2 (Part 2) of the Justification Report, you built up the major parts of your formal, researched justification report (Problem Statement, Overview of Alternatives, Criteria, Methods, Evaluation of Alternatives, Findings and Analysis, and References). For Part 3 you will begin by inserting your revisions of Parts 1 and 2 based on your instructor’s suggestions. Then, you will include a few new sections. Note: Some sections presented below are out of order so pay attention to where the section should go (for instance, the Transmittal should be the second page of your report based on the provided template). It is essential that you present the final report in the correct section order.

Use the basic outline below to draft your paper. Organize your responses to each question under the following section headings:

• Preliminary Parts (for Question 1)
• Introduction (for Question 2)
• • Problem Statement (for Question 2b)
  • Terminology (for Question 2c)
  • Major Sections of the Report (for Question 2d)
  • Scope and Limitations of the Research (for Question 2e)
• Recommendation (for Question 3)
• References (for Question 4)

Using the provided template from Week 7, write Part 3 to complete a single-spaced report in which you:

1. Create the preliminary parts of the report that precede the Introduction (after reading Chapter 11 in the textbook). Each element (1a to 1d) appears on a separate page (1a should be page 1, 1b should be page 2, etc.). The preliminary part includes:
   1. Title Page
   2. Transmittal (stand-alone business letter)
   3. Table of Contents
   4. Executive Summary
2. Create an introduction that tells what your report is about. The introduction includes:
   1. Begin with a general introduction paragraph that gives the reader any needed background information on the company or problem.
   2. Include the Problem Statement that you already created and revised in Part 1.
   3. Include terms that readers will need to know in order to understand the report.
   4. Briefly summarize the major sections and findings of the report developed in Parts 1 and 2. Note: This is in addition to including the revised sections not instead of including the revised previous sections from Parts 1 and 2.
   5. Discuss what your report will cover and what it will not (including limitations such as research, time, information, or any other factors the reader should consider when reading the report).
3. Create the Recommendation section of the Report.
   1. Provide a one to two (1-2) sentence recommendation based on what your Evaluation of Alternatives and Findings and Analysis sections have determined is the most feasible alternative (i.e., solution) to the problem in the Problem Statement.
4. Create the References section, which goes at the end of the Report by pasting in your revised References page.

Note: Remember to organize the report by the section headings. The report should reflect a style and format appropriate for business; single spacing and bullet points are acceptable for formal business reports.

Your assignment must:

• Be typed, single spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, your name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Support ideas or claims in body paragraphs with clear details, examples, and explanations.
• Organize ideas logically by using transitional words, phrases, and sentences.
• Use sentence variety and effective word choice in written communication.
• Apply writing process strategies to develop formal business reports and / or proposals.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues related to selected topics.
• Write clearly and concisely using proper writing mechanics.

Click here to view the grading rubric.

In this assignment you will demonstrate your understanding of the following learning objective:

• Justify the collaborative role of transition team members who actively participate in transition meetings and examine the steps required in a transition-planning meeting. 

The assignment represents your mastery of the Course Learning Outcome 5.

In this assignment you will consider a hypothetical transition meeting. To make this meeting more productive, you have decided to create an informational brochure or handout that you would want others in the meeting to understand. For example, as a special educator, what would you want the general educator to know about the transition process, or what would you want the parents to know?

To prepare for this assignment, view the video below titled Be a Superstar – Take the Survey – Student. This video interviews high school graduates one year post-graduation to ask “Where are You Now?” Next, reflect on how creating a realistic and attainable transition from high school to post-graduation independence takes time, planning, and a strong team of professionals and family who all have the student’s best interest at heart. The transition meeting can include the school principal (who may have links to community agencies), representatives from community agencies, a school counselor or psychologist (who was involved in assessments and interest inventories), the special educator, a general educator (who may have a role in the student’s education), the parents, and the student. In addition, parents can invite anyone else they believe will add value to their child’s independence (Levinson & Palmer, 2005).

Video link:

https://youtu.be/ERtdvLn

InstructionsYour assignment must be submitted in a brochure or handout format. Access several free examples by visiting Microsoft Office Templates or create your own template. Use the following guidelines for creating your brochure/handout.

Instructions

Your assignment must be submitted in a brochure or handout format. Access several free examples by visiting Microsoft Office Templates or create your own template. Use the following guidelines for creating your brochure/handout.

Content

• Definition (2 Points): Include a definition of special education transition services with a foundation in IDEA.
• Role (2 Points): Provide an explanation of the role of the team member you chose. For example, if you choose the child’s parents, their role is as the child’s advocate, to share with the team members what their child enjoys at home, and to keep a record of follow up information learned during the meeting.
• Steps (3 Points): Include each of the steps involved in the transition process with a brief explanation of how the chosen team member is a contributor at each stage.
• Questions (3 Points): Create at least three common questions that may be asked of this team member, including their possible answers. For example, a transition team will commonly ask parents what their child enjoys at home or where they see their child in five years.

Written Communication

• APA Formatting (1 point): Use APA formatting consistently throughout the assignment.
• Syntax and Mechanics (1 point): Display meticulous comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar.
• Source Requirement (1 point): Reference six scholarly sources in addition to the course textbook that provide compelling evidence to support your ideas. All sources on the references page need to be used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment. The source for any images must be included with the brochure/handout references.