855-455-5035 www.azcomp.com
AUGUST 2020
Empowering Small Practices to Deliver the Best Care
PARTNERING WITH YOUR IT COMPANY FOR OPERATIONAL SUCCESS
Experience has shown me that most medical practices view their IT company as a vendor, not a partner. That’s because the common course of thinking is that an IT company doesn’t provide the types of services that would be useful for a medical practice long term. But If you don’t change your mindset about what your IT company can actually do for you, then you’ll never reap the benefits of having a true partnership that leads to operational success. IT companies certainly play a role in fixing problems when they arise, but most are equipped to do so much more than that. Medical practices can strategically leverage their relationship with their IT company in ways that enable them to make the best technology decisions for their practice according to their needs, budgets, growth plans, and overall business strategy. But you have to be willing to make that mental shift from “vendor” to “strategic partner.” DEFINING OPERATIONAL SUCCESS It’s a broad term, and its details look different for every practice. But in the end, your operations are what make your business run and give you the ability to care for your patients. Even though operations are different for every practice, their importance is critical across the board, because all operational success includes three important things: happy employees, good patient care, and financial success. WHERE THINGS STAND In my 20 years working as an IT provider, I’ve seen medical practices fall into three distinctions when it comes to relationships with their IT companies. • Problem Fixers: When something goes awry, the practice pays their IT company to fix it. Once they’ve done that, they shelve them until the next technology problem arises. • Administrative Keepers: They have their IT company maintain and manage tools and programs on the practice’s computers, and they also catch and fix things when they break. It’s a little more proactive, but still reactive. • Strategic Partners: They work together to distinguish ongoing problems with software and technological operations, developing a system to improve workflow, business, and budget plans for growth. Strategic partnership should be the goal of every medical practice and IT company relationship, because it’s the best way to aid you in creating happy employees and great patient care. HAPPY EMPLOYEES In the December/January 2020 edition of Executive Decisions in Dermatology, Laura Baldwin wrote an article called “Employee
Engagement: A Key Success Factor in the Workplace.” Baldwin stated, “In today’s competitive environment, employee engagement can be the differentiator that sets your practice apart from the competition. Studies clearly show that organizations with engaged employees have less turnover, are more productive and profitable, and enjoy greater employee and customer satisfaction.” Your employees are critical to all aspects of your practice, especially when it comes to patient care. If your technology isn’t working well, you’re going to have frustrated employees. Frustration kills productivity and affects every person who walks through your doors. GREAT PATIENT CARE Successful and meaningful patient care isn’t just dependent upon the outcome of the services provided. It also takes into account the experience the patient has while receiving that care. Great patient care before, during, and after any procedure is key because patients make future decisions that are dependent upon the service they’re given. That extends beyond medical services — it also has to do with in-office interaction. If your technological operations are optimized in a way that gives your patients what they need quickly and easily, like managing their schedules and records with ease, then they’re going to feel taken care of and keep coming back.
YOUR NEXT STEPS
1. Change your mindset. Look at your IT company as a strategic partner, not just a vendor. 2. Evaluate your current relationship with your IT company. Do they adhere to a set of technology standards? Do they have the ability to be the strategic partner you need? 3. If they do, work with them to evaluate and formulate a long- term IT plan that will help your operations. If they don’t, it’s time to hire a new IT company that can. In order to achieve operational success and create happy employees and great patient care, there are a lot of moving pieces that need to work together. When it comes to technology, there are certain tools and practices you need to implement consistently to successfully run your practice. Doing so can achieve near-predictable results, increased productivity, decreased frustration, and better patient experience. All of these will almost assuredly have a positive impact on your bottom line. So use your IT company as a partner and not just a vendor. Their goal is to help you provide great service, and that should be your goal too. Let them help you get there. –Byron Adams
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.TheNewsletterPro.com
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DON’T FALL FOR IT ...
The Latest Phishing Scams Hiding in Your Inbox
It’s becoming increasingly difficult to avoid scams online, and thanks to COVID-19, hundreds of new phishing domains are registered every day as people are spending more time online than ever. Security researchers around the world are diligently tracking new cases, and have discovered two new schemes they’re warning people to watch out for.
BRINGING EMAIL RANSOMWARE BACK Malicious links may be the most popular method used by hackers, but according to researchers at Proofpoint, ransomware products are reemerging and being disguised within emails as ordinary attachments. The email tricks the user into downloading the attachment or personal messages from supposed friends and family — again using influential language about COVID-19. When the attachment downloads, its ransomware opens and demands payment in exchange for access to your computer files. It’s often a demand for a Bitcoin payment under $1,000 so that the victim is more likely to pay it. These two scams may not be brand-new practices, but the way they’re being hidden and phrased are. Both are critically dangerous to your security and privacy, not to mention potentially expensive to fight. Be diligent about recognizing suspicious signs, like unfamiliar senders, strange phrasing, or questionable information like “Your COVID-19 Results.” Just opening the email won’t trigger anything malicious, but clicking on links or downloads will. So if you click in to find out more and realize what the email is, just click back out, report it, and get rid of it. MEDISOFT, LYTEC, NEXTGEN, & APRIMA SUPPORT PLANS FOR HOSTING, BACKUP, AND MORE
USING COVID-19 TO SCARE Security researchers at GreatHorn have detected a dangerous phishing scheme attacking email inboxes around the world that uses the coronavirus as a scare tactic. In this scheme, cybercriminals send an email with a subject line like “Mandatory COVID-19 Assessment for Employees.” It
may look like it’s from your employer, thanks to its official letterhead, but it turns out that it links to a malicious domain. If you click it, enter contact information, and hit submit, your data is captured by cybercriminals who can compromise your accounts. When in doubt, if you see this email, always reach out to your employers separately about it before giving out any information.
SPOTLIGHT ON NATASHA BROWN
NaTasha Brown has been a software trainer at AZCOMP for nearly
10 years, so she knows all the tips and tricks to share with clients using their software for the first time. “I love helping our clients streamline their workflow. Making their job easier for them is what makes my job enjoyable for me,” she says.
Need Support? Call 480-497-7480 if you have a support contract. Don’t Have Support? Plans start at just $99/month. Call us at 855-455-5035 to get started with support, training, electronic claims, electronic health records (EHR), hosting, backup, and more. We have so many tools and services to help your business become more efficient, keep its network protected, and remain a thriving independent practice. We want to help your practice perform at the highest possible level by providing services that help you get the most out of your software. Be sure to check our website often at azcomp.com/events to learn about upcoming trainings and other events we host. DON’T FORGET TO UPGRADE YOUR SOFTWARE!
Proper software training takes the right environment, and our training team is no stranger to the work-from-home setup. “I’ve always liked working from home because I can really put my attention into this crucial step for the client,” NaTasha explains. “But I do enjoy visiting the office. The atmosphere and coworkers are just too fun to stay away.” Luckily, NaTasha has a few “coworkers” at home that keep things fun too. She loves spending time with her 13 and 14-year-old sons, and they’ve recently welcomed a Chiweenie puppy into their home. After a decade of successfully training clients, we have no doubt NaTasha can tackle any other training that is coming her way.
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GO BACK TO SCHOOL
With the Rocketbook Everlast Reusable Notebook
August means it’s time for many people to go back to school, and with what seems like an endless list of supplies for students of every age, back-to-school shopping can often feel like a nightmare. But the Rocketbook Everlast Smart Notebook can help you cross several of those pesky items off your list with a single purchase, and it makes taking and recording notes a whole lot more fun and intuitive for students and professionals alike. The Rocketbook Everlast Smart Notebook is a reusable notebook that connects to your smart devices and syncs with nearly any cloud account. Almost like a tiny whiteboard, anything you write on the Everlast can be wiped away with a damp cloth, but only after you’ve
When it comes to real estate, size really does matter. Just ask someone who’s ever tried to fit a queen-sized bed into a studio apartment. The size of new homes and apartments continues to decrease, though the prices of these shrinking spaces are increasing. Every inch matters, which is why a former Apple and Tesla engineer set out to redefine how we think about space. Sankarshan Murthy worked on both the Apple Watch and Tesla’s Model Y. In 2017, he founded Bumblebee Spaces, a startup that designs modular robotics systems to store objects in the ceiling. Using voice commands, Bumblebee’s modular framework can raise and lower storage units, closets, and even an entire bed frame, freeing up floor space and creating truly multipurpose rooms. “When we talk about ‘smart homes,’ we mean lights, locks, and speakers; we’re just putting a good router in the house and calling them smart,” says Murthy. “Bumblebee wants to be a pioneer in changing the way we think about homes, from square feet to cubic feet.” The software does more than lift your bed out of the way. With tiny cameras and AI programming, the Bumblebee software is able to classify and catalog all items stored in the space. Ready to read that book you got for your birthday two years ago? Bumblebee knows exactly where it is and will lower the drawer to you. Is your weather app warning of a sudden downpour? Bumblebee makes sure you never leave the house without your umbrella again. Murthy describes the system as “a butler for the resident.” Last fall, Bumblebee Spaces received series A funding, including investment from Toyota AI Ventures. While Bumblebee can retrofit existing homes, creating more space in tiny places, Murthy says that it’s most cost-effective for new construction. The startup is focused on selling to real estate developers and hopes to turn tiny apartments into fully functional, livable spaces. Visit BumblebeeSpaces.com to see what smart homes really look like. SPACE FOR WHAT MATTERS Bumblebee Spaces Creates True Smart Homes
used the Everlast app to scan the unique per- page QR code that will store your handwritten notes wherever you need them. You can write on and reuse each page infinitely, and when coupled with any pen from the Pilot FriXion line, your words will stick in place as long as you need them to. If you want to save on paper by never buying another notebook again, the Rocketbook Everlast Smart Notebook makes it possible.
‘THE NON-OBVIOUS GUIDE TO EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE’ How to Understand and Use Your Own Behavior Effectively
Emotional intelligence, or emotional quotient (EQ), is a technical skill that can take years to develop in terms of managing it successfully in the workplace. EQ helps business leaders communicate and collaborate effectively, but in a world where business environments are increasingly stressful, emotional intelligence can be hard to navigate.
“The Non-Obvious Guide to Emotional Intelligence” by Kerry Goyette challenges
conventional EQ wisdom by instead breaking down the neuroscience of EQ and offering an applicable approach to it. Goyette is the founder of Aperio Consulting Group, a firm that leverages the latest in workplace analytics and strategies to build high-performance teams. She’s also a certified professional behavioral analyst and forensic interviewer, giving her an incredible understanding of human emotion and behavior that she’s broken down into usable strategies for her readers. This guide can teach you how to improve your decision-making skills, navigate change, manage disruption, identify items holding businesses back, thrive in chaotic environments, and shape company culture to drive loyalty and engagement. When it comes to great leadership, being business-minded is only half the battle. “The Non-Obvious Guide to Emotional Intelligence” explores the emotional half of that battle and gives readers the tools they need to enter the fight for success.
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2500 S. Power Rd., Ste. 117 Mesa, AZ 85209 i nside this issu e Partnering With Your IT Company for Operational Success PAGE 1 2 New Phishing Scams to Be Cautious Of AZCOMP Employee Spotlight PAGE 2 Interior Design Meets the 21st Century The Rocketbook Everlast Reusable Notebook A Guide to Emotional Intelligence in Business PAGE 3 SpaceX Gives Innovation a Whole New Meaning PAGE 4
By Benson SHOOT FOR THE MOON
There’s a lot of hardship in the world right now, but through it all, there are glimmers of wonder that can still inspire us to do better. Our core value “We Surf Jaws” is all about finding those moments, and SpaceX’s recent feat is a great place to start looking. Many are aware that SpaceX and NASA successfully launched a shuttle just a few months ago, but some may not realize the innovation behind this launch. It was the first time the U.S. has launched its own astronauts into space since the space shuttle program ended in 2011 — we’ve relied on Russia to help us get astronauts into space during the interim. But there’s much more to this historic feat than that, and two particular details point to some incredible improvements. The first one is that SpaceX has devised a way for the rocket booster attached to the shuttle to come back to Earth to be reused or recycled. During old launches, the booster
was only good for one use, then treated as waste. To push their innovation even further, the SpaceX booster was launched into space, detached, then landed on a ship in the ocean to be reused only nine minutes after liftoff. SpaceX also managed to reduce the costs of launching astronauts into space by leaps and bounds. During the previous space shuttle program, the cost of each rocket launch was $300 million. With Russia, the U.S. paid $90 million per astronaut sent to space. SpaceX is now doing it for less than $60 million. This dramatic improvement goes to show how innovation and passion can lead to incredible outcomes. SpaceX could have just launched without many changes, and it still would have been a historic event. Instead, they pushed their limits, took risks, and reaped the rewards. It would seem that with a little forward thinking, you really can reach the stars.
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