Dodge Communications

LiveGO: LiveGO is a web dashboard that incorporates email, instant messaging and social media in one easy-to-use platform. After connecting LiveGO to your Twitter, Facebook, and Gmail/Yahoo!/AOL email accounts, users can get a combined view of all messages and updates in the dashboard screen, or they can choose each account individually to obtain the full functionality of each tool right there on the site. For each email account, the corresponding instant messaging platform is imported, as well, and then combined into one buddy list with icons to distinguish which network each contact belongs to. LiveGO allows users to engage with their entire social network in one place, instead of keeping several tabs or browser windows open at once.

Past Words of the Week

ifttt, Chaptur, SOPA, Social Television, Flipboard, Social Commerce, Doximity, Troll, Healia, HealthTECH Live, Revolution Health, Buffer, Twilert, nptech, Taweet, MedicalCavity, DoAT, Turntable.fm, iMedix, Twylah, Masher, Proxlet, Geeje, Google+, SocialVisor, Scribd, Pinterest, Graspr, White hat, Screenr, dushare, MEDgle, PostPost, Deals, SPOT Healthcare, Evernote, dlvr.it, Bounce, iTriage, popurls, Trunk.ly, Dropbox, Storify, Newsvine, Layers, Thsrs, #tagdef, Check-in, MDJunction, Blekko, Healthline, Spindex, Vanilla, Twingr, Tweetbeat, Social Media Policy, infoMedMD, Health Care 3.0, Groupon, icyou, #MDchat, Quality 101, MedlinePlus, HITSphere, URL X-ray, Mashup, Blog Talk Radio, TweetedRanks, Ping.fm, Digsby, Qik, Posterous, Ning, API, Lifecasting, Crowdsourcing, Meme, Social bookmarking, Trackback, Twitter Grader, Authority, TweetBeep, Compete, Astroturfing, WEGO Health, BackTweets, PDR.net, socialmention, Twazzup, Health Exchange, Health Tweeder, DIDGET, Thoora, Google Buzz, bit.ly, E-patient, Alltop, mHealth, Augmented reality, OpenID, ROI, #hcsm, Medpedia, Almost.at, Hashtag, FollowFriday, Beta, Microblogging, Sidewiki, Meta tags

Having worked both in business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) communications settings, it’s evident many factors differentiate the two, but a lot of the guiding principles remain the same. For example, B2B in its definition requires a 100 percent complete understanding of a product or service, which in our industry is often rather complex. Whereas it’s often easier to describe a consumer product because of the personal connection. How do you sell potato chips? Taste them, describe them. How do you generate leads for your B2B client? Not quite as simple…

B2B requires relationship building at a higher and greater level, whereas B2C can often focus on quick, point-to-purchase decisions requiring less strategizing and more overt creativity. The underlying foundation for both is the same: targeting decision makers with an end goal to inform and influence action. (more…)

ifttt: This simple acronym is a very unique and useful tool for the social media user trying to synergize. ifttt stands for “if this then that,” and this free tool allows users to create certain scenarios within their online presence. For example, “If a friend tags me in a photo on Facebook, add that photo to my Flickr stream,” or, “If I favorite a video on YouTube, share a link to it on my Twitter feed.” ifttt is compatible with almost 40 social media sites, or channels, and each channel has a number of actions, or triggers, that can be set in order create the desired result. ifttt can even contact a user via email or cell phone to alert him or her of a pre-set trigger. With just a few minutes of setup, ifttt creates seamless sharing and transfer of data among any user’s social networks.

Past Words of the Week

Chaptur, SOPA, Social Television, Flipboard, Social Commerce, Doximity, Troll, Healia, HealthTECH Live, Revolution Health, Buffer, Twilert, nptech, Taweet, MedicalCavity, DoAT, Turntable.fm, iMedix, Twylah, Masher, Proxlet, Geeje, Google+, SocialVisor, Scribd, Pinterest, Graspr, White hat, Screenr, dushare, MEDgle, PostPost, Deals, SPOT Healthcare, Evernote, dlvr.it, Bounce, iTriage, popurls, Trunk.ly, Dropbox, Storify, Newsvine, Layers, Thsrs, #tagdef, Check-in, MDJunction, Blekko, Healthline, Spindex, Vanilla, Twingr, Tweetbeat, Social Media Policy, infoMedMD, Health Care 3.0, Groupon, icyou, #MDchat, Quality 101, MedlinePlus, HITSphere, URL X-ray, Mashup, Blog Talk Radio, TweetedRanks, Ping.fm, Digsby, Qik, Posterous, Ning, API, Lifecasting, Crowdsourcing, Meme, Social bookmarking, Trackback, Twitter Grader, Authority, TweetBeep, Compete, Astroturfing, WEGO Health, BackTweets, PDR.net, socialmention, Twazzup, Health Exchange, Health Tweeder, DIDGET, Thoora, Google Buzz, bit.ly, E-patient, Alltop, mHealth, Augmented reality, OpenID, ROI, #hcsm, Medpedia, Almost.at, Hashtag, FollowFriday, Beta, Microblogging, Sidewiki, Meta tags

In the latest installment of our HIMSS12 blog series, Gary Palgon of Liaison Technologies is interviewed. Gary serves as Liaison’s vice president of healthcare solutions. To view earlier installments click here.

Dodge: What do you think will be the theme of conversations this year at HIMSS?

Palgon: Three things:

• Cloud services and how they can help organizations
• Mobility and how it can facilitate better patient care
• Social networking, benefiting both the business and patient sides of healthcare

Dodge: How is Liaison approaching its overall strategy for HIMSS this year?

Palgon: Being the largest healthcare show of the year, beyond meeting with prospects, we see it as an opportunity to network with the journalists and analysts that are there. We also see an opportunity at the conference for brand awareness and business development with other companies that we do or should partner with that are attending.

Dodge: What are you looking forward to most at HIMSS?

Palgon: We are mostly looking forward to creating more brand awareness and the opportunity to meet the mass amount of people that are there. Liaison Healthcare Informatics is one of the best kept secrets in integration and data harmonization.

Dodge: Cloud’s a big topic of conversation right now and will likely continue to be during HIMSS. As an expert in this area, what types of conversations do you anticipate hearing during the conference and how do they play into other trends in healthcare like care coordination, ICD-10 or Meaningful Use?

Palgon: In 2009, people were beginning to learn what the cloud was. In 2010 people were looking at the cloud, seeing the use, and beginning to take advantage of it. In 2011, we saw hospitals and other entities actually run production systems and applications within the cloud.  Here in 2012 we have the recognition for services beyond the basic applications, and how the cloud can speed up and improve the efficiencies of health systems and hospitals as they look to meet their goals. For us, Liaison plays in the integration and data harmonization areas, and our customers benefit from these services being run in the cloud. As a result of that, hospitals and other entities throughout the healthcare ecosystem can connect to one another and make sense of the information much faster because of this.

Dodge: Where can we find Liaison Technologies at HIMSS?

Palgon: We will be at booth #2375.

Chaptur: Chaptur is a simple, easy-to-use real-time search engine for staying up on the latest breaking news or simply following a news outlet. From the front page, all a user needs to do is type in his/her search term, and instantly real-time results appear that have been instantly indexed from Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, RSS feeds and the news outlets themselves. For active topics, users can watch their screen update as new items come in. Searches for publication names also bring up all the latest news being distributed by or about that publication. All links within the posts are clickable, the videos are watchable, and the site will even integrate with Twitter and Facebook so that users can send replies, comments and retweets.

Past Words of the Week

SOPA, Social Television, Flipboard, Social Commerce, Doximity, Troll, Healia, HealthTECH Live, Revolution Health, Buffer, Twilert, nptech, Taweet, MedicalCavity, DoAT, Turntable.fm, iMedix, Twylah, Masher, Proxlet, Geeje, Google+, SocialVisor, Scribd, Pinterest, Graspr, White hat, Screenr, dushare, MEDgle, PostPost, Deals, SPOT Healthcare, Evernote, dlvr.it, Bounce, iTriage, popurls, Trunk.ly, Dropbox, Storify, Newsvine, Layers, Thsrs, #tagdef, Check-in, MDJunction, Blekko, Healthline, Spindex, Vanilla, Twingr, Tweetbeat, Social Media Policy, infoMedMD, Health Care 3.0, Groupon, icyou, #MDchat, Quality 101, MedlinePlus, HITSphere, URL X-ray, Mashup, Blog Talk Radio, TweetedRanks, Ping.fm, Digsby, Qik, Posterous, Ning, API, Lifecasting, Crowdsourcing, Meme, Social bookmarking, Trackback, Twitter Grader, Authority, TweetBeep, Compete, Astroturfing, WEGO Health, BackTweets, PDR.net, socialmention, Twazzup, Health Exchange, Health Tweeder, DIDGET, Thoora, Google Buzz, bit.ly, E-patient, Alltop, mHealth, Augmented reality, OpenID, ROI, #hcsm, Medpedia, Almost.at, Hashtag, FollowFriday, Beta, Microblogging, Sidewiki, Meta tags

2012 is here! And that can only mean one thing—time for resolutions.

Aside from resolving to become better-looking, healthier, richer and more successful over the next 12 months—while also knocking off a few bucket-list items—January is also a good time to focus on goals for your professional growth.

1. Become more familiar with the latest industry trends. This is a larger task you can’t simply check off a list. It represents continual growth to become better, sharper and more proficient in your role. And with the whirlwind of change taking place in healthcare IT, it’s a definite “must do” no matter what position you hold in your organization. With busy schedules, it’s so easy to get lost in a niche bubble and overlook hot topics that can indirectly affect your business. Take this time this year to read, discuss, ask questions and read some more to gain a deeper understanding of what’s happening around you.

2. Focus on a project that you didn’t have the time for in 2011. Simple enough, right? Looking back over the past year, are there any projects or activities you wish you had taken the time to tackle, but just couldn’t seem to fit in? Make one of those your priority this year.

3. Embrace social media, and set out to accomplish an actionable task from it. Not to sound like a broken record (if you actually know what one of those sounds like!), but social media is transforming the way we interact personally and professionally; the way we get our news; the way we find out about new products, ideas, people; etc. As its uses continue to evolve, make it your mission to evolve with them. Designate 2012 as the year you embrace social media and work toward achieving incremental goals from it. Inspire a journalist to cover a story from a company tweet, set up a meeting with a prospect, make 50 new connections you actually interact with, etc. (more…)

In the latest installment of our HIMSS12 blog series, John Tempesco of ICA is interviewed. John serves as chief marketing officer, is an ACHE and Life Management Institute Fellow, and has 34 years of healthcare experience. To view earlier installments please click here.

Dodge: What do you expect will be the theme of conversations at this year’s HIMSS show?

Tempesco: I think there will be three key threads that will run through the conference. One will be about ACOs, their value proposition, and how they will affect all kinds of technology, especially interoperability. This thread will give a good value-based reason for exchanging information, creating interoperability solutions and lead toward the next thread, which is value reimbursement.

Secondly, in addition to ACOs, there is a real focus on value-based reimbursement. Everyone wants to get out of piecework healthcare and start reimbursing healthcare based on results.

The last topic, since we are in an election year, will be about the politics of healthcare. There will be discussions about who will win the election, and what will happen to healthcare especially as it relates to healthcare IT. And, will there be a continued push for interoperability solutions, health information exchange, with the future of direct – all of those things that the current administration is pushing. (more…)

SOPA: The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) is a bill that was introduced late last year in the House of Representatives that is aimed at protecting intellectual property on the Internet. Supporters of the bill cite its ability to improve the enforcement of copyright laws as well as protect Internet users against scams aimed at convincing them to purchase illegal or counterfeit goods. Opponents of the bill have a differing opinion about SOPA, claiming it violates the first amendment and will create Internet censorship. There is also the fear that, if made law, it could have a chilling effect on user-generated content. This is such an important issue that several major Internet companies, including Google, Facebook, Twitter, PayPal, Yahoo! and Wikipedia, are planning a coordinated blackout in protest of the bill. They say this will give us “a taste of what we could expect from post-SOPA Internet.” This is quite the controversy, and regardless of what side you take, SOPA is a term we’ll be hearing a lot during 2012.

Past Words of the Week

Social Television, Flipboard, Social Commerce, Doximity, Troll, Healia, HealthTECH Live, Revolution Health, Buffer, Twilert, nptech, Taweet, MedicalCavity, DoAT, Turntable.fm, iMedix, Twylah, Masher, Proxlet, Geeje, Google+, SocialVisor, Scribd, Pinterest, Graspr, White hat, Screenr, dushare, MEDgle, PostPost, Deals, SPOT Healthcare, Evernote, dlvr.it, Bounce, iTriage, popurls, Trunk.ly, Dropbox, Storify, Newsvine, Layers, Thsrs, #tagdef, Check-in, MDJunction, Blekko, Healthline, Spindex, Vanilla, Twingr, Tweetbeat, Social Media Policy, infoMedMD, Health Care 3.0, Groupon, icyou, #MDchat, Quality 101, MedlinePlus, HITSphere, URL X-ray, Mashup, Blog Talk Radio, TweetedRanks, Ping.fm, Digsby, Qik, Posterous, Ning, API, Lifecasting, Crowdsourcing, Meme, Social bookmarking, Trackback, Twitter Grader, Authority, TweetBeep, Compete, Astroturfing, WEGO Health, BackTweets, PDR.net, socialmention, Twazzup, Health Exchange, Health Tweeder, DIDGET, Thoora, Google Buzz, bit.ly, E-patient, Alltop, mHealth, Augmented reality, OpenID, ROI, #hcsm, Medpedia, Almost.at, Hashtag, FollowFriday, Beta, Microblogging, Sidewiki, Meta tags

In the coming weeks, Dodge will be sharing a series of guest blog posts leading up to the HIMSS12 conference that will be taking place February 20-24, 2012 at the Venetian Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The blog series will allow a sampling of our clients to share their expectations for the show and comment on what 2012 holds for healthcare IT.

Dodge will be attending HIMSS12 and conducting interviews throughout the conference. We’re looking forward to sharing our experience with you.

Our first interview is with Kristen Heffernan who oversees the marketing of Henry Schein MicroMD Practice Management and EMR software. Heffernan joined the company three years ago.

Dodge: What do you think will be the theme of conversations at this year’s HIMSS conference?

Heffernan: I think the themes at this year’s conference will center on the hot topics in the industry – the things that still aren’t fully vetted out either by CMS and other healthcare regulatory organizations. We are still learning about healthcare information exchange and ACOs, specifically how they can best operate. One of the hottest topics I think will be about ACOs and interoperability between all of its parts, specifically health IT. As healthcare organizations take the first step of adoption towards EMR, healthcare analytics will be another big topic among attendees as they recognize the value of how to work with the wealth of accessible data that’s now being collected. And obviously, ICD-10 will also be a popular subject as we just made the leap into 5010, and now we’re focusing on how the industry will go about implementing ICD-10 and how it will impact the payers, the physicians, the clearinghouses and the hospitals. (more…)

For U.S. citizens, Presidential elections can be a very exciting time. For healthcare communications professionals, they can also be exciting…but for very different reasons.

The healthcare industry is used to being in the spotlight. However, shifting media attention in 2012 will present unique challenges for successfully delivering messaging to the masses. What can we do to help ensure EHR, HIE and ACO initiatives remain front-of-mind during this Presidential election year?

There’s no way to guarantee your message will be heard by the right people at the right time. But, if you follow these tips, you’ll help increase your chances.

1. Pay attention to what the media is covering and how they are covering it. A journalist, who might have been solely focused on one beat last year, may be responsible for covering something all together different for the publication in 2012.
2. Try to become part of the discussion. Timely thought leadership articles, white papers and op-eds are great tools to help spread your message. Be sure these communications don’t come across as self promotional – you want to position your company as one who understands the issues and is providing a product or service that helps address those issues.
3. Utilize social media tools such as Twitter, YouTube and blogs. Traditional media outlets will be consumed with covering the hot issues and their editorial direction may change at any given notice. That’s where social media plays an important role. For example, use Twitter to help spread your message. Follow relevant people discussing healthcare issues, tweet daily, use hashtags for discussion topics (#ACOs, #HIE, #healthcarereform, etc)

What have you done in previous Presidential election years to help make sure your message is noticed? What actions do you plan to take this year? We’d love to hear them!