.: Mission-Critical: Technology Helps Nation's Largest Organ And Tissue Bank Save And Enhance Lives
By:Stacey Moore
Category:Home / Computers / Software
Technology can seem so commonplace sometimes it's easy to forget how many crucial services depend on it. Virginia Beach, Va.-based LifeNet (http://www.lifenet.org), the nation's largest nonprofit, full-service organ donation agency and tissue banking system, is one example of the necessity of choosing the right IT products and services mix, in its case to support a mission-critical function: saving and improving lives.
Each day, LifeNet receives notice via its donor call centers of approximately 12 to 15 newly deceased individuals across the U.S. identified as donors. Given that one person can save seven lives through organ donation and impact more than 50 others with tissue transplants, it is crucial to accurately track data and effectively communicate with a broad network of field staff, medical institutions, transportation companies and others to ensure the process goes smoothly. All told, the work of LifeNet's staff affects thousands of lives each year.
A Delicate Balance
When considerations of "human resources" relate to actual, life-giving organs and tissues, the familiar business technology concept of downtime gains a whole new meaning. Even with the company's patented profusion pumps in place to help preserve organ viability, some tissues live a mere four hours outside the body, requiring LifeNet to meet exceedingly tight deadlines. While field staff rushes to the hospital to work with family members and procure tissues, others must find suitable matches and ensure that operating rooms and transplant surgeons are standing by.
Once tissue is recovered, activities such as precise inventory management and tracking, and coordination of quick and accurate delivery, are crucial. Recovered tissue is processed at LifeNet's headquarters, then distributed across the country for procedures, which can include knee and limb replacements, spinal fusions, heart valve replacements and countless others.
Life-Enabling IT Processes
According to Steve Lenz, vice president of Information Systems for LifeNet, "It's all about the ability of our staff to access each other and accurate data, anywhere, anytime. So much of what we do is basic communication, which seems simple on the surface. What goes on behind the scenes is another story."
LifeNet chose a solution leveraging Microsoft Dynamics GP and other key, familiar Microsoft products, allowing the organization to seamlessly track the intake, classification and distribution of organs and tissues from its headquarters and five remote locations -all processes that were previously scattered across multiple systems. The new integrated system can be accessed via both centralized and Web-based tools, and also interfaces with messaging technology to be accessed by field staff across the U.S. via PDA devices. The new streamlined process has also freed some of LifeNet's administrative staff to focus on other core activities.
Donation Education
According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), more than 92,000 Americans currently await a lifesaving organ transplant, and tens of thousands more each year require a tissue transplant. Thus, educating the public about the importance of donation is also integral to LifeNet's mission. Technology is central to this outreach as well, via the organization's national donor education Web site, http://www.lifenet.org, which includes links for donor sign-up around the U.S., as well as http://www.save7lives.org, a Web site aimed at recruiting donors in LifeNet's home state of Virginia.
A New Take on ROI
Clearly, technology infrastructure is just one piece of the process that allows LifeNet to perform its critical public service, as well it should be. Technology should work for businesses, not the other way around. All types of businesses and service organizations are getting smart about what a truly integrated technology platform can do to free them to focus on what they do best.
Said Lenz, "So much of what we can see and do is new. We've never had many of these capabilities before. I don't think we could possibly overestimate the impact of what that means, when you consider how many lives can be touched by the work we do every day."
Now that's what I'd call a good return on investment.
Article keywords: Mission-Critical: Technology Helps Nation's Largest Organ And Tissue Bank Save And Enhance Lives
Article Source: http://www.articles32.com
About the author: Jeff Young is vice president for Microsoft Dynamics, U.S. division, at Microsoft Corp. For more information on Microsoft Dynamics, visit www.microsoft.com/dynamics /default.mspx.
.: New Software Articles
1). What Your Spouse Might Not Want You To Know
Is your spouse or significant other extremely secretive about their computer habits?
2). Why Buy Anti Spyware Software When I Can Download it Free?
Many Spyware software packages are being sold on the Internet. Many other packages are listed for free. Why should you pay for something that might be free?
3). Free Spyware Adware Remover
Computers need routine maintenance as well as systems checks in order to be in good condition at all times. This can be done by getting the proper software or sending the unit to the shop.
4). Getting Free Internet Security for Your Computer
Surfing the Internet nowadays can be very dangerous. With all the viruses, spywares, adwares, identity thieves and hackers circulating for surfers to victimize, opening and downloading an attachment sent by your friend can be very scary.
5). What Are Your Children Doing Online?
In the Internet age, our children use the computer as much as or maybe more than their parents do. Kids use the Internet to do homework, play video games, converse with their friends and more.
6). Safe Guard Your Critial Business Documents
All types of commercial places, whether in the private, public or the government sector are now increasingly using computers for various possible functions.
7). How Folder Hider Software Works
Nowadays, a computer is being increasingly used in all types of settings, whether it is an office, a corporate house or domestic settings.
.: Top Software Articles
1). Track Your MySpace Profile Visitors
I know that everyone who is on MySpace has had the same burning questions that I’ve had. How can I see who has viewed my MySpace profile? Where can I find a MySpace Tracker? Since MySpace has become so popular, so have the MySpace profile stalkers. Could be your friends, neighbors, ex-boyfriends or ex-girlfriends, or even someone you don’t even know.
2). Discover Mozzila FireFox Browser -and How to Install Extensions
Discover Mozilla FireFox Extra Features – Extensions and How To Install Them
If you are still not using any other web browser then FireFox (no matter what OS you are using) you are endangering the security of your computer and missing out on a much richer surfing experience.
One of Mozilla FireFox browser most powerful feature is the possibility to install extensions.
3). PsP Software Downloads – Review for PsP Blender
PsP software downloads is a very good way to get new software for your psp hand held. You can get psp movies from many different websites. Most of these sites include psp music downloads, psp movie downloads and psp software downloads and of course PsP Games. Many of the databases are different from one site to another. Some sites offer a wide variety of different choices.
4). Tutorial - Enabling IIS 5.1 on Windows XP Pro
Windows XP Home Edition does not support IIS
1. You may need to put your Windows XP Pro CD into the PC.
2. Go to Control Panel, ‘Add Remove Programs’, then ‘Add/Remove Windows Components’. In the Windows Components window, place a check mark
beside ‘Internet Information Services (IIS)’, then click next, then click finish.
3. During installation, Windows creates a directory at C:inetpubwwwroot and places a few files there.
5). PsP Software – Review of Software Download Sites
PsP handhelds are one of the newest and most fun ways to play games, watch movies and listen to music. PsP software downloads are just some things that you can do to improve your psp. PsP software downloads are fun and easy.
There are many places on the net were one can find psp software downloads. Some sites have you pay per download and sometimes charge up to a couple dollars for each download.
6). What To Do When Windows Fail To Boot
Copyright 2006 Otis Cooper
When Windows fails to boot it is normally caused by you installing a program or device and it has caused a conflict with one or more other programs.
This will no doubt give you plenty of heartaches if you're not certain which program caused Windows to not boot up.
If you recently installed a program or application and know where it was installed,you may be in much better shape as for as correcting the error.
7). SQL Server 2000 Data Types
SQL Server requires that each variable and column in a table should be defined with respect to the type of data it will store. From a bit to a huge image and binary storage types, the allocation is supposed to help the user conform to the data required, and help the engine allocate space and processing speed efficiently.
Built-in data types
SQL.