MedSWIS
Software Hott Sheet
Fall 1997
Major Journal Evaluating MedSWIS
MedSWIS Version 5.0 in Beta Testing
Welcome to New Users
MedSWIS Users Planning Major Presentation in Seattle (May '98)
Micro-Psych Windows 95 Billing Software Released
'Merlin' SF36 Scanning and Analysis Module in Beta Testing
MedSWIS SlideGuide for SF12 and SF36 Makes BIG Impact
New MedSWIS Benchmarking Announced for Data
Comparisons
Pediatric Hospital Sub-Group Formed
Inexpensive On-Site Consulting Available to Speed MedSWIS Implementation
MedSWIS WEB Site Expands to Meet Professional Needs
Major
Journal Evaluating MedSWIS
The Haworth Press Journal Computers
in Human Services has completed a comprehensive
evaluation of MedSWIS Software. This evaluation was
performed by M. Marie Green, DSW, who is a 20-year
practicing social worker whose dissertation was
entitled "Computer Assisted Instruction in
Social Work". Dr. Greene did a similar review of
MedSWIS in 1989, giving her the unique opportunity to
evaluate how MedSWIS has adapted to changes in health
care. The 1989 review rated MedSWIS on a scale from 1
(poor) to 10 (excellent), resulting in a score of 10
in "Performance", a score of 10 in
"Ease of Use", a score of 10 in "Error
Handling", a score of 8 in
"Documentation", and a score of 10 in
"Value for Money". MedSWIS staff were asked
to review a draft of the new Journal evaluation for
accuracy. We cannot quote findings of this new
evaluation prior to its publication. However, you
will be pleased to see how close MedSWIS comes to
"software perfection"! At a time when new
products don’t measure up to expectations
it’s nice to have a product like MedSWIS that
keeps adapting to healthcare changes.
The article will appear in the Fall
Edition, Vol 14 No. 297, and can be ordered by
calling 1-800-HAWORTH.
MedSWIS Version 5.0 in Beta Testing
MedSWIS, the First choice in
software for professional discharge planners and case
managers, continues its reputation for quality
upgrades with a brand new Windows-only program.
Version 5 has been shown to user groups around the
country for feedback, and many of your suggestions
were incorporated into this exciting new upgrade.
Here are just some of the features:
- Easier use of the software
using a mouse
- A new ‘Quick Data
Entry’ feature for faster input
- An improved Archive function
to save, and run reports, on old data
- A new feature when generating
reports to print a graph
- Enhanced user-controlled
graphics features
- Lots of ‘tool bars’
for quicker operation
And Much More!
Welcome to New
Users
MedSWIS has long been the first
choice of discriminating software buyers in the areas
of discharge planning and case management. Some of
our recent sales have included related areas such as
a home care agency, nursing home, and rehab center.
We continue working hard to get new users
up-and-running as quickly as possible collecting the
latest in ‘outcome measurement’
information. Here are new users since January
‘97:
Karen Smith, Pinnacle
Health Hospitals-PA
Eileen Cain, Yale
New Haven Health, Inc.-CT
Christine Baloh, Monongahela
Valley Hospital-PA
Larry Lampi, Mad
River Com. Hospital-CA
Ken Brown, Lafayette
General Med. Ctr.-LA
Linda Jones, Golden
Valley Memorial-MO
Debra Allison, Baylor
University Health Care-TX
Donna Collins, Iredell
Memorial-NC
Valorie Freeman, Salem
Hospital-OR
These sales have resulted in
sixteen new users, since some of them purchased our
'multi-site’ license for use at affiliated
facilities.
One new user Larry Lampi, has been
collecting data in MedSWIS for six months and has
already added a staff member, made MedSWIS a part of
hospital-wide Q.A., and implemented the software in
the U.R. Department.
NOTE: Our Multi-site license is an
inexpensive way to implement MedSWIS in multiple
departments or other affliated facilities because you
receive FOUR licenses at the incredible cost of
$5000, OR, 25% off the cost of one additional
license.
MedSWIS
Users Planning Major Presentation In Seattle
MedSWIS users Chris Carpenter
(Mid-Maine Medical Center), Gregory Finch
(Arnot-Ogden Medical Center -NY), and Ellen Moscinski
(Maine Medical Center) have had a presentation
accepted for the SSWAHC (Society for Social Work
Administators in Health Care) Annual Meeting next
year (May, 1988) in Seattle. The presentation is
titled "Innovative Uses of Staff Reported Data
to Effect and Substantiate Outcomes". They will
be using MedSWIS generated data to show how they are
keeping up with the latest health care trends.
Micro-Psych
Windows 95 Billing Software Released
MedSWIS Software jointly owns a
therapy-billing program that has been on the market
since 1986. Micro-Psych has many
features that cost a lot more in other products, with
our advantage of a ‘tried-and-true’ product
that has stood the test of time!
Micro-Psych provides
complete billing (by paper or electronically) along
with valuable accounting reports (including one just
for managed care). Micro-Psych has
built-in progress notes, a ‘reminder file’,
and the ability to design your own reports.
With our new Windows 95 release, we
are having a BIG kick off sale - the price of our
full version is only $999 (a savings of over $500!).
If interested, call the office for a brochure and
other information
Watch
Out! Merlin (The Outcome Magician) Is Coming!
The SF-36 (the ‘SF’
stands for "Social Functioning" and the
‘36’ for "thirty-six questions")
is a standardized health assessment tool that
measures psychosocial functioning in eight subscales.
It is used around the world, and has been translated
into more than five languages.
People have been asking for an
"off-the-shelf" system to scan, score and
interpret the SF-36 using standard hardware and
software. Merlin is in beta testing at several
national health care providers, and will be released
soon at the incredible price of $4900! Merlin will
use a Hewlett Packard scanner with a 50-sheet
document feeder along with Microsoft Access© for
data analysis. This new system will consist of a two
page SF-36 (using new SF-36 version 2) along with a
one page patient demographic form which includes
‘wild cards’ for tracking treatments,
diagnoses and other data elements pertinent to your
facility.
Data management will be simple
using Microsoft Access©. Four standard
reports/graphs are available for comparing current
patient scores to previous scores; comparing scores
for groups of patients (by site, for instance) by
age, gender or diagnosis. Your inquiries are invited.
Sample forms and a list of specifications are
available by calling the office.
We currently have four beta sites
for Merlin three Medical Centers and one HMO. If you
want to become a beta site yourself, there is still
time! Call the office as soon as possible! The
release date for Merlin will be the Spring of 1998.
MedSWIS SlideGuide Makes Big Impact!
The SF-12 and SF-36 are medical
outcome questionnaires, which are essentially
standardized psychosocial evaluations that are used
around the world to measure quality, outcome, and
effectiveness of various medical interventions.
MedSWIS Software is a licensed vendor of the Medical
Outcomes Trust, the organization responsible for
these outcome measurement tools.
We developed a hand-held
non-electronic tool to easily interpret SF-12 and
SF-36 scores. The SlideGuide allows score
interpretation by General U.S. population (males or
females); Male and female by age group. Male by age
group; Female by age group; or by diagnosis.
"Simplicity" and
"Innovation" are synonymous with MedSWIS
products. User reaction to the SlideGuide has
been very positive. For example, Neuropsychologist
and Researcher, Dr Scott R. Millis says, "I
have found the SlideGuide to be one of the single
most useful tools in my clinical and research
activities".
Richard Anton, Director of Market
Research as Vanderbilt University Medical Center
states, "I can’t carry my computer
around with me. However I don’t lose any insight
using my SlideGuide".
SlideGuide users include
professionals as far away as Australia and Italy,
which make it truly an international product! The
cost is only $59.95, plus $5.00 shipping and
handling. Why not order yours
today!
New MedSWIS "Benchmarking"
Announced For Data Comparisons
MedSWIS users may have wondered why
they have not recently received a new edition of our
Benchmarking Comparison List. The reason is that
finding other facilities to ‘match’ you to
is becoming increasingly difficult. It is critically
important to find facilities similar to yours for
data comparison purposes as a means of overcoming the
usually negative effects of hospital consultants who
use "normative databases" to justify
downsizing and realignment.
The NEW Benchmarking Comparison
List follows closely the format recommended by the
Consultant Task Force, an adhoc group of acute care
managers who have met for over a year to formulate
definitions and criteria for facility comparisons.
The focus of this Task Force was to deal with one
particular national consultant firm, but their
results have broad applicability. The Fall 1996 Hott
Sheet featured Task Force definitions for
"inpatient cases", "outpatient
cases", "case management cases" and
"care management cases" (if you cannot find
your copy download it from our website: www.medswis.com).
The NEW Benchmarking Comparison
List will be sent to MedSWIS users soon. Please
complete it as completely as possible. At the present
time, the MedSWIS office plans on responding to users
phone calls in finding matches based upon the
criteria that you want on the new comparison list.
NOTE: You can download a copy of
this Benchmarking List from our Bulletin Board at our
WEB site.
Pediatric Hospital Sub-Group Formed
Nine MedSWIS users who have
primary pediatric responsibility have formed a
sub-group to discuss issues relating to measuring
outcomes, productivity and future software upgrades
that have features sensitive to the unique challenges
of pediatric health care. Current MedSWIS users who
have pediatric units and who would like to join us
are asked to call the office.
Inexpensive
On-Site Consulting Speeds MedSWIS Implementation
Hospitals are increasingly looking
for outside professional to get maximum effectiveness
from software products. MedSWIS Software has
responded with inexpensive consulting meant to let
you get the most out of our many powerful features,
in a minimum amount of time. For only $500 per day,
plus expenses, our support person will teach ALL
staff about MedSWIS software. Here is one recent
comment:
"Having Bob on-site to walk us
through the program and to see the many features in
operaton was a tremendous help to our understanding
MedSIWS". Candyce Reynolds, Social Worker,
Columbus Hospital - WI
MedSWIS WEB Site Expands to Meet
Professional Needs!!
Do you want to talk with other
professionals about ‘outcome measurement’,
‘benchmarking’, or ‘productivity
issues’? Would you like to find other managers
who are dealing with hospital consultants who use
words like "realignment" and
"rightsizing"? If your answer is
"YES!" than join us at the MedSWIS world
wide web site (www.medswis.com). In addition
to sharing information you can also download
important documents such as: recommended definitions
for measuring staff activity; our benchmarking
comparison list which helps you find other similar
facilities to compare data to; and a paper on how to
use acuity based productivity data to predict
staffing needs.
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