* Escalating student debt spells big trouble for credit files
in the future

* Graduates likely to be servicing £15,000 debts until their
mid-30s

Students face a potentially ‘calamitous’ problem with their
credit histories on graduation thanks to the now inevitable
prospect of leaving college or university with high debt levels.

Moneynet.co.uk, the online financial data comparison site, has
warned students to keep a close eye on their credit files and to
ensure that they keep up to date on all credit card repayments
and loan debt – otherwise they could be in for a nasty shock
when it comes to arranging mortgages and credit in the future.

“The major credit reference agencies such as Equifax and
Experian hold detailed files on our financial histories, which
start as soon as we open a bank or credit related account,” said
Moneynet chief executive Richard Brown.

“The majority of graduates are looking at servicing a minimum
debt of £15,000 (see note 1) until their mid-thirties, which is
clearly not the best way to start out when it comes to wanting
to arrange a mortgage or anything else requiring a sound credit
history.

“So we would advise students to keep an eye on their credit
files to make sure all the information held on them is accurate.
In addition, it is crucial that students understand the
importance of not over-committing themselves as missed payments
could mean they have accumulated an adverse credit history even
before they embark on a professional career. This could take
years to repair.” added Brown.

Brown also advised new – and existing – students to make sure
they are getting the best from their student bank accounts. And
to avoid being seduced by gimmicky special offers designed to
secure their lucrative business.

“Banks love students as they want to keep their business when
they graduate: but most young people can afford to be choosy
when it comes to picking a bank. We would always encourage new
account openers not to be blinded by the marketing razzamatazz,
and to focus on core banking services, free overdrafts and
decent rates of interest,” said Brown.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Note (1)

Last month the Government confirmed that after the introduction
of top-up fees in 2006, while 400,000 students may be able to
claim non-repayable grants and bursaries, most will service a
minimum debt of £15,000 until at least their mid-thirties. High
street banks maintain that in reality the average graduate debt,
including fees, for those entering university next year is
likely to be nearer double that by 2009.

And a recent survey by NatWest Bank this month suggested that
freshers starting university in the autumn expect to spend
£28,600 over the three years of their degree courses and to
graduate owing nearly £14,000.

Moneynet has a free guide to Student Finance – Moneynet Student Finance Guide

Press enquiries

Moneynet: Richard Brown, Chief Executive, 020 8313 9030

David Andrews Media Ltd Cathy Tully, 01273 774109
cathy@davidandrewsmedia.co.uk

Consumer enquiries: online@moneynet.co.uk http://www.moneynet.co.uk

Editor’s notes

Moneynet.co.uk is the UK’s most established personal finance
research and data website. The company offers consumers a wide
range of low cost financial products: from mortgages and
personal loans; to car, home and medical insurance; credit
cards; savings accounts and best-buy fixed rate products.
Moneynet.co.uk is an ethical, impartial and comprehensive source
of consumer finance information, covering the whole of the
personal finance sector.

David Andrews Ltd
http://www.articlesbase.com/education-articles/moneynet-warns-graduates-face-credit-history-nightmare-1138.html

Times are changing drastically in the workforce. This is not to scare you but to make you aware of what we are facing today and the years to come. First let’s look at the help wanted classified ads, don’t be fooled – they are mixing commission only and business opportunities in with the employment listings. Furthermore, you may be over qualified. Yes, that’s right! If you have a four-year college degree with or without experience, you may be over qualified.

Wow, for over 25 years, American’s have been encouraged to go to a four-year college in order to be considered for a good job. Now that we have the degree, American’s are being considered over qualified. Plus, since the 90s, employers have been requiring experience in conjunction with a degree because they wanted to weed out all the college graduate applicants. Now, how is someone supposed to get experience without a job? Things that make you say, “Hmmm….”.

You see – In the 50s, 60s, and 70s, going to a college was a privilege. Therefore, there were not many people with a degree, and supply and demand allowed college graduates to receive more money. From the 80s, 90s, and the 00s, we have been sending our children to college so they can qualify for the higher-level jobs. OK, so what is really happening? There is no more a supply and demand for four-year college graduates – white-collar workers.

What does this mean for you and your family? This means that we have too many chiefs and not enough Indians. Let’s look at an Indian tribe. How many chiefs can an Indian tribe have? 1 maybe 2. Today, with most Americans going to college, we have too many chiefs and very few Indians.

This is why jobs are being sent out of the country for lower payer. Immigrants are crossing the border to work the lower level jobs. Corporation are paying commission only or contracting jobs out to avoid paying vacation, healthcare, retirement pay, etc. Technology replaces employees to save money.

So what do we do? Majority of Americans will need to starting thinking and acting like Indians. How do we do this? Of course these are not the be all and end all answers – 1. Encourage youth to start working early to get experience and to start at the bottom to work their way up. 2. Guide Americans to technical and specialty colleges to create more blue-collar workers, Indians. 3. Start and network small businesses to do business amongst each other.

The above options are only recommendations. Keep in mind that we are here to serve others while fulfilling our passion and purpose. It’s important that Americans start to think creatively to sustain their financial future. Do what you love and love what you do is the most important thing in life. Look at “What’s Going On” and create options for yourself and your family.

Written by:

Kelley L. Jones

Editor of StartYourOwnBusiness.com

Kelley L. Jones
http://www.articlesbase.com/careers-articles/americas-workforce-too-many-chiefs-and-few-indians-89769.html

Introduction:

Quick student loans are a great financial service for the students allowing them to provide quick, fast and secure cash to consolidate their college expenses. Many students and parents take out quick loans to pay for most all college expenses. If you don’t afford to cover every day college expenses like: off campus housing, a new computer, school supplies, student car loans, transportation, student travel loans and other personal school related expenses, these loans helps to cover these college expenses with ease and comfort. Apply online by clicking on the desired lender’s website, reviewing the terms and conditions then filling out one of their loan applications. Applying online is the quickest way for you to receive money for college fast. Funding is sent direct to the student, not the college or university. Repayment is deferred until graduation with quick student loans. Borrowers are required to start repayment after graduation, usually 6 months after. Loan deferments are available after graduation.

Features:

Quick loans student help to provide funds to complete your further education. These loans can be availed by individuals like those who may be planning for higher education, post graduate students, gap semester, disabled students and many more. A college degree is an important goal for all the students, and they should have the opportunity and ability to pursue higher studies. For this purpose they need a good and helpful guide and above all a good bank balance, sometimes which is not possible. In these circumstances quick student loan can help them. These loans are easy to procure as it can be applied online without any hassle. It doesn’t involve lots of paperwork, extensive documentations and faxing procedure. No credit check formality is required. These loans are unsecured by nature so they don’t demand collateral to pledge. Hence, these loans are one of the quick, safe, secure, hassles free and risk free scheme to apply for. These loans also offers quick money loans, quick payday loans, quick personal loans, quick bad credit loans, quick loans for bad credit and quick loans with bad credit.

Requirements:

There are several specified requirement that should be there in the borrower to get eligible for acquiring the loan amount from quick cash loans. He should be a UK resident with the age of eighteen or more. He should possess a bank account in reputed bank organization. The borrower must be pursuing his education on the regular basis. The money borrowed must be strictly used for the education purpose.

Summary:

Studying in college demand a great deal of time and money. Quick click loans are designed to meet the students need regardless of their credit status. These loans are structured for the students who are looking for any financial institutions funding for their studies. These loans play a crucial role in a student life by providing funds for their higher studies. As the name suggests, you will get the loan money within a day since it is an unsecured loan. You will not go into the hassle of ordinary loan applications and the best feature of this loan is that it does not look into the credit history of the applicant. You can avail quick student loans without nay difficulty and obligations.

akangela kane

Adventure travel companies are similar to land tour companies. Guides give guests the time of their lives while they are in Alaska for vacation. Seasonal work with adventure companies is available for people wanting to see the country from a slightly different angle.

College students and other adventure seekers can come to Alaska and work their way across the country. Adventure travel is popular for those people that are looking for a more active type of vacation. Guests no longer want to sit on the sidelines and just observe the happenings. They want to get involved. This is where adventure touring comes into play.

Adventure tours allow guests to view the unspoiled nature of Alaska. They can take a wildlife excursion to view Alaskan bears, caribou, moose, and Dall sheep. Seeing the land from a zipline is breathtaking and fun for the younger visitors to Alaska.

Some adventure travel is associated with wilderness lodges. Guides lead guests on bicycle tours, hiking trips, and river rafting tours. A guide needs to be able to troubleshoot problems with equipment and medical situations during the adventure. You may be called on to take fishermen out for a day on the lake or guide a hunting party.

Adventure travel companies lead all sorts of tours. Eco-friendly tours are conducted to national parks and preserves in Alaska. These tours allow guests to see the country but are more for learning about nature and its components. Tours are conducted on land and along bodies of water.

Adventure travel jobs are varied. Workers can choose from several guide positions: jeep guides, nature guides, kayak guides, white water rafting guides, bus escort, bus driver, canoe guides, bicycle leader, backpacking guide, fishing guides, rock climbing, walking guides, and wildlife jobs. Depending on where you work in Alaska, you could be a skiing guide.

Travel companies also need to fill office positions within the company. Tours have to be organized and the logistics of travel worked out before guests arrive for their adventure. People in these support positions work hard to see that the jobs of the others are a bit less hectic. These positions include bookkeepers, administrative assistants, and booking agents. Adventure companies associated with lodges need administrative help at the sites. These positions give seasonal workers a chance to see Alaska as well.

Room and board are provided by the adventure travel company for their workers. Toru guides travel with the guests from place to place. Guides associated with adventure lodges are housed in staff quarters and provided with gourmet meals like those enjoyed by the guests. Workers can also use the facilities available to guests and enjoy adventures as a perk of their employment.

When applying for job openings with an adventure travel company, play to your strengths if you can. Any experience that you have in a particular area, say fishing, white water rafting, and mountain biking, will help to acquire a guide job with an adventure company. This is not a requirement but it helps.

Let’s look at a job as a canopy guide for example. The position requires that guides lead guests through the zip course. They are responsible for the safety and training of the guests while they are in their care. Guides also keep up with inspections of the equipment used and the course followed.

It sounds like a lot, but most employers are willing to train guides for the job. Generally, they are looking for people who are outgoing, possessing customer service skills, and are willing to work hard. Many tour guide training programs are punctuated by skills assessments and tests before the worker is allowed to guide a group. Interviews allow employers to size up workers to see if they possess the skills to make it in a position with the company.

Sometimes certifications are needed for various positions. You can learn this ahead of time by studying job descriptions. If you have narrowed down the position you want, take steps to fulfill the certification requirements after you apply for the job. This shows how serious you are about working and will impress the employer during an interview.

William F. Edwards
http://www.articlesbase.com/careers-articles/adventure-travel-tour-guiding-among-best-summer-jobs-912808.html

Almost everyone at some point or the other wonder sometimes whether they are doing what they are supposed to be doing, whether they are using their potential to the fullest or not. Lot of people work for 9 to 5 job, with the same routine going to office and coming back, going to office and coming back, following the same routine for years and years together. This monotonous lifestyle gets them out of the loop many a times and finallyleads them to frustration.
Many college and school kids suffer from this type of thinking process. They are often unsure of what to do with the rest of their lives. Many of these lost college and school kids look forcareer planning and life coaching programs.

For lost college kids, career planning and life coaching is very good, this can be taken during the college years as well as once out of college, whether completed graduation or a simply drop outs. Many young college goers are often confused while pursuing their education at college about what to major in; therefore these students stay with the general curriculum and kind of float through the college years deciding what they want out of life.

Some of the students are well planned and know very well what they will choose to take major as while starting the college but as the time passes they kind of loose interest and get to the square one, of not knowing what to do with their lives.

For such lost students career planning and life coaching is very helpful to get them back to the right track. The career coaches spend time with the students evaluating their personality, their area of interest, their aims, their goals and their talents etc.They also record student’s educational qualification. Career planning and life coachingwill evaluate where the interest of the student lies and what will best suit the student for a career.

The best thing about career planning and life coaching for these college students is that it guides them to different ways which are possible and very much within their reach.
By this they can attain certain set goals easily in the future. They would overcome any hurdle between them and their goal when they are convinced that they can do it.

If any student has financial problems, they are guided to many scholarships, financial aid programs and grants that are there for the students but many are not even aware of it. The career planning and life coaching for these lost students will guide them by causing awareness of these programs also helping them to apply for it.

Students can go for multiple sessions of career coaching and life coaching if required or if they feel like going for multiple sessions. For some students, many sessions maybe required for evaluation, for testing, feedback and also for counseling before they finally realize what their life time goal is.
Career planning and life coaching is quite effective for students with disability, it makes them realize that getting educated and a career is rather easy than they ever thought;

Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/careers-articles/many-benefits-of-career-planning-and-life-coaching-703065.html

College Funding Coaches
3952 Pine Air Place
Colorado Springs CO 80908
(719) 522-2278
http://www.collegefundingcoaches.com
United States
College Funding Coaches is a college planner that can save you 25-50% of your total cost of education by helping you save money on college with a college planning guide

http://Save-on-College.com – SPECIAL PROMOTION: During the month of December, College Funding Coaches will waive its standard $200/hour consultation fee for families that use the special promotion coupon. Promotion ends December 31, 2010. Download special promotion coupon worth $200.

Duration : 0:1:19

Read More

Technorati Tags: choosing, college, financial, FOR, getting, Guide, Help, paying, planning, ready, right, Scholarships, services, sports, the

PROM. Terrifying, right?  The cost, the danger of having your son or daughter out into the wee hours of the morning—it’s enough to drive a parent crazy.  When my daughter first approached me about going to prom with her boyfriend, I at first balked at her suggestion to rent a limo.  I figured New York limo rentals would be extravagant and unnecessary.  But then I did some research, and in the end, it wasn’t so bad. In the process, I discovered that hiring a limo service was the best way to keep my daughter happy and safe on her special night. I have boiled down what I learned into 10 simple tips. These should not only help other parents decide whether or not to rent a limo, but also show them how to do it.

Renting a limo = built in chaperone! An implied benefit of renting a lime is RENTING A DRIVER!  Who wouldn’t want an extra adult around your children on prom night?!  They can help to make sure the prom is good CLEAN fun for your son or daughter.

It’s easy. Just type “new york limousine” or “nyc limo” into Yodle Local or Google and you’re barraged with a whole bunch of potential providers.  It’s easy to compare prices and amenities if you’re persistent in clicking.

If your kid can scrounge up a lot of friends, it’s pretty cheap. Trying to convince my daughter to invite her friends wasn’t hard at all, and that way, they all split the price.  Other parents were excited to go in with me on the price because it meant their kids would be safe.

However, you should have a say in who is invited. If one kid pukes in the car or breaks the stereo, the credit card holder is charged!  Make sure both you and your kid trusts all the invites.

Renting a limo means renting an adult, professional driver. There was NO WAY I was going to let my daughter be driven by her boyfriend at night, no matter how much I like him.  Just think of how many irresponsible drivers are on the streets on Prom night.  I felt much safer knowing there was a licensed professional at the wheel.

Don’t overfill the limo! When a limo company says that their load capacity is 10, that means 10 MAX.  Remind everyone that they will be all dressed up, and they won’t want to sit on each other and ruffle up their flowing dresses and tux tails, especially when they’re trying to look pretty.

Be sure to get a contract. If you don’t have one, there is no way to insure that your limo will actually show up.

Call early! Keep in mind that it’s Prom season.  A lot of kids will want to rent limos.  Call early for the best deals.

Pricing is available. There are all different kinds of limo services out there.  Some have stretch Hummers and some have old jalopies.  It all depends on the image your kid wants to project.

Your kid will be happy. This is their night.  Usually, it’s their last real blow out before their childhood is effectively over (unless they go to college).  You’re guaranteed to make it a night they won’t forget if you’re flexible on their transportation there.  It’s all the details that go into making an incredible experience.

And after you’ve braved the New York limo rentals waters for your child’s prom, consider renting a limo for yourself!  There are tons of New York limousine tours that you could get info on—to casinos, around town—pretty much anywhere!

Alex Levin
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/limos-for-prom-a-parents-guide-to-keeping-kids-safe-on-their-special-night-715816.html

body { border-style: none; background: Window; color: WindowText; } #ljcutbegin { width: 100%; height: 1px; border: 1px dashed black; } #ljcutend { width: 100%; height: 1px; border: 1px dashed gray; } blockquote { border-left: 3px solid silver; padding-left: 10px; margin-left: 10px; } .bjspell { border-bottom: 1px dotted red; } }

Finding guides on writing your dissertation that get straight to the point are few and far between.  Some books do go on for chapters and chapters reiterating the same points over and over again; I should know, as I read most of them when I was completing my dissertations at university.  There are, however, 6 short tips that will help you complete your dissertation easily and simply – they aren’t going to be the only source you should check, but you should certainly keep note of them as they will be helpful, no matter at what stage in the process you are; even if you are in year one at college/university.

Tip 1 – Choose your topic wisely

You should confine yourself to choosing a topic to write your dissertation on that is something you are familiar with.  This shouldn’t be a topic that you know like the back of your hand, but should be a topic that you have a keen interest in and that you have some grounding knowledge on.  You shouldn’t pick a topic that you know absolutely nothing about either, as you will find searching for relevant material a little harder than you imagine.  The key point on choosing your topic is to have a little understanding about it and choose an area that has some challenging fields of interest that you can conduct an explorative study on.

Tip 2 – Check the credibility of your sources

When you are conducting your literature review, you will want to ensure that all the sources you consult are credible and reliable.  After all, you won’t want to complete this section, and other sections, to find out that the solid grounding you thought you had isn’t so.  You will want to consult academic and reliable research sources, such as books, journal articles, periodicals, and any other source that has been produced in the academic arena.  All other sources should be approached with caution, through most newspapers and newspaper publications can be considered credible.

Tip 3 – Establish a clear Methodology

Your methodology, commonly termed the methods section, is there to outline to the reader in which ways you are going to attempt to conduct the research process – primary research through interviews and questionnaires, etc.  You should always explain the key steps that you are going to undertake to gather information and I would suggest that you outline the stages of the process before you being to write this chapter.

Tip 4 –  Analyse the data with ease

When you are writing up your data analyses, you will want to make sure that you make this section both interesting to read and easy to understand.  You should produce this section in a step-by-step process, and remember to provide pointers and explanations when calculating statistics and values to support your arguments.

Tip 5 – Conclude your paper correctly

The final chapter of your dissertation will be the conclusion of your paper.  You should remember not to include new findings or arguments in this section that do not appear in the body of your work.  You should answer any questions that you posed in your thesis statement, or through objectives in your introduction, as answers to these questions need to be stated.  Additionally, you will want to summarise the key findings that you have covered throughout the whole research process and mention any difficulties that could be gained by the reader.  This latter point will build on your credibility as a researcher and research paper writer, as you will be acknowledging that your research does have some limitations.

Tip 6 – Always Review and Revise

After you have finished your paper you should always review what you have written; this will take a considerable amount of time.  You should review your paper chapter by chapter and ensure that there is a constant flow, and that the clarity of your argument and tone of your writing is consistent.  Further, you probably should consider having your work proofread and edited, and checked for consistency and structure.

Nick Sanders

A challenge awaits the physician who has had enough of the frustrating inefficiencies, financial penalties, and antiquated practices associated with maintaining a paper-based medical office. So the decision is made to digitize the practice. Any initial enthusiasm quickly wanes once an initial search for medical software uncovers hundreds of products and vendors. It doesn’t take long before the 300 or so electronic medical records system screenshots and feature/benefit grids begin to look remarkably similar. The sheer number of vendors occupying the EMR (electronic medical records) market is unmanageable without a basic product assessment/elimination strategy.

For physician practices with limited time and resources, the selection process can appear overwhelming. Fortunately, physicians can begin to narrow down potential systems by eliminating uncertified products, as well as those built upon dated technology architectures.

• Eliminate products not certified by the CCHIT® (Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology).

By confining research only to CCHIT-certified EHR (electronic health record) products, a substantial number of systems are quickly eliminated. As of this writing, 53 ambulatory EHR systems have successfully met the 2007 standards, while only 18 have met the more rigorous 2008 criteria. Using CCHIT certification as an initial benchmark is prudent for a variety of reasons: The CCHIT is the leading Healthcare I.T. certification organization, and is publicly endorsed by the American Academy of Family Physicians; the American Academy of Pediatrics; the American College of Cardiology; and the American Medical Association, among others. In addition, a CCHIT Certified designation ensures that a product has met the basic requirements for functionality; interoperability; and security and privacy.

A 2008 CCHIT certification warrants the product’s utilization of standard formats enabling the exchange information with other systems – known as interoperability. The exchange of patient information on a regional or national level is the underpinning of a more efficient and less costly healthcare system. Future tax incentives and Medicare reimbursements may be tied not only to utilization of digital medical records in general – but specifically benefiting practices with CCHIT-certified EHR systems.

• Eliminate products that do not operate on a shared database for billing and patient charting.

As little as five years ago, “interfaced” practice management/billing and patient charting systems were the norm. Today, “interfaced” systems are technologically inferior to medical software that has been developed from the ground up by a single vendor, on a single platform, and utilizing a single database – described as ‘integrated’ or ‘unified’ electronic medical records and practice management systems.

Interfaced systems are still sold today, so it is a “buyers beware” market. In the past several years, there have been a number of mergers and acquisitions between vendors having market share in one side or the other (scheduling and billing or charting/EMR) but desired a comprehensive solution to offer physicians. As a result, there are products currently marketed as a “suite,” but were developed by disparate vendors on different platforms, tied together using a separate application. Although generally transparent to the practice, there may be questions of data integrity; patient safety (for example, a patient’s practice management/billing record does not match the clinical record and lab results get overlooked in the mess); and even the vendor’s long-term maintenance of the system.

Unfortunately, uncovering if a system is integrated or interfaced is not always straightforward and may require the buyer to conduct some detective work. The first step is to ask the vendor questions about the product’s history – which company developed it, does it utilize a common database, and is there a single login for billing and charting? Some interfaced systems require users to log in separately to access the practice management/billing and the clinical portions of the software.

Following the elimination of uncertified products with dated technology, the pool of suitable products begins to shrink and the specific needs of the practice should be defined and considered.

• Establish a Budget. Medical software systems vary widely in cost. By establishing a flexible budget early in the process, practices can avoid wasted time looking at systems that are too expensive or potentially not robust enough to meet the needs of the practice. Ask questions about ongoing maintenance costs and what the maintenance covers, just as a buyer would ask when making decision to purchase a car.
• Specialty-Specific Content. Not all EMRs accommodate all specialties – regardless of what the sales rep claims. For example, some leading vendors have well-developed content for family practice; ob/gyn; internal medicine; and ear, nose, and throat; but may not fare as well in specialties such as oncology or chiropractic. By asking the vendor to demonstrate the product’s performance in a specific specialty, the number of potential candidates will decrease.
• Scalability. Just as not all electronic medical records systems accommodate all specialties, most are geared toward a specific practice size – with features and cost typically reflecting the product’s expansion capacity. In general, if the practice expects to add providers or additional locations over time, it is important to start with a product that is stable and feature-rich enough to handle the workflow of a larger practice – even if the product’s features may not be fully leveraged early in the product’s lifecycle.

Finally, it is time to ask questions about the vendor’s service and support – the most ambiguous, but arguably most important aspect in the decision making process. After all, you can purchase an electronic medical records software system with every bell and whistle, but if the implementation is disorganized; the training inadequate; or the post-installation support lacking – productivity will drop; providers and staff will be frustrated; cash flow may be interrupted, or worse.

• Take stock of in-house I.T. (information technology) resources.

Does the practice have a staff I.T. department or a trusted medical office I.T. company? If not, it’s important to ensure that the software vendor offers I.T. services. Improperly installed hardware or inaccessible support personnel can have a detrimental effect on the success of the training and implementation.

Some smaller practices opt for a web-based installation to decrease the cost of hardware and eliminate the need to maintain servers and other equipment. Web-based installations are known as SaaS (Software as a Service) and are delivered by an ASP (Application Service Provider). The electronic medical record ASP hosts the software in a secured data center, and the end-user (the practice) simply accesses the system using a web browser. All that is required is a high-speed internet connection and a workstation. Access to the data is dependent upon the internet connection, so mission-critical applications are not appropriate in a SaaS environment under most circumstances.

The alternative to a web-based installation is Client/Server, requiring an onsite server and regular maintenance of the system by the vendor. Both types of installations have advantages and disadvantages, so it is important to discuss installation with potential vendors.

• Assess technological skills of clinicians and administrative staff. Ensure the vendor’s project planning and implementation staff can aid the practice in choosing who the functional area “champions” will be.

Training, EMR implementation, and “go-live” support expenditures account for a substantial portion of the total initial system cost, and careful planning is essential for a smooth implementation. The vendor should provide a project coordinator that will help the practice make critical decisions and schedule the project timeline. Most practices utilize a combination of web-based and on-site training prior to go-live (the days or weeks dedicated to using the new system). In addition, the vendor should provide onsite support for the practice during the go-live. The number of training days, go-live days, and the delivery (web-based or onsite) is determined by the size of the practice and the skill levels of the staff. Follow-up sessions to reinforce original training or introduce advanced concepts is important for continuity.

To keep costs down, some practices may utilize a heavier web-based training plan for the bulk of the staff with designated superusers who attend advanced training. For practices with less technologically savvy staff, more handholding through onsite training may be the best option. In addition to improperly installed I.T. (hardware, networking, security, workstations), insufficient training or post-implementation technical support are prominent failure points in medical software implementations.

• Who supports the practice following the go-live? The original training and implementation staff, or a separate call center?

Not only does unresponsive medical software technical support frustrate and discourage users, it fosters lost productivity when users struggle with denied claims; unanswered questions; or broken functionality. Still, large vendors often outsource support to overseas call centers – lowering vendor overhead at the expense of high-quality, timely, and knowledgeable support.

By asking relevant questions, evaluating the needs and culture of the practice, and systematically eliminating unsuitable products and vendors – practices can enjoy the host of current and future financial and patient safety benefits that an electronic health records system provides.

Andrea Schroeder

In this video SEC-registered investment manager Bill Parish examines 529 College Savings Plans, sharing his views on how to best choose and set up the right plan for these important savings. Also, a look at Oregon’s 529 vendor Oppenheimer’s failure to protect its plan’s most conservative funds from massive losses, while similar funds around the country remained stable.

Duration : 0:8:36

Read More

Technorati Tags: 529, Adviser, Ameritrade, Banking, bankruptcy, Benanke, Bill, Bloomberg, Broker, Buffett, Bush, citigroup, college, Controversy, Core Bond Fund, Cox, Crisis, Equity, Fannie, Federal, Foreclosure, Franklin, Freddie, Free, Fund, Hedge, Illinois, Introduction, Investigation, Investment, Lone, Mac, Madoff, Mae, McCain, Moodys, Mortgage, NY, Obama, Oppenheimer, oregon, Parish, Paulson, Plan, portfolio, Portland, Private, Raines, Reserve, Rogers, Savings, scandal, Star, Tax, TD, TIMES, Treasury