While video conferencing technology isn't exactly considered "new" technology, it has long been considered a potentially revolutionary solution for healthcare.

Why? Not only does it mean that patients can receive real-time access to specialists in metropolitan hospitals regardless of their location, but it also dramatically improves the way that GPs and clinicians share information and train staff across multiple practices.

Not only have the latest developments, such as the availability of high-definition group video conferencing, meant that this technology is now far more accessible, affordable and compelling for healthcare organizations, but the Australian government's decision to provide doctors monetary incentives for videoconferencing is sure to drive uptake. Check out the full article that appeared in The Australian here.

The great thing about this initiative is that it's a mandate. Introduced in July of this year, the new plan supplies doctors with a $6,000 incentive payment the first time they introduce a patient to a city specialist through a videoconference - just a part of the government's $620 million telehealth program.

What does this mean for Australians? For those living in regional areas, it means greater access to healthcare, which is really important for such a geographically dispersed country as ours. Video conferencing technology gives clinicians and patients in rural and remote areas real-time access to the specialist advice normally only found at city hospitals, and patients no longer have to travel long distances to consult city-based medical specialists; instead, they can receive the same level of care from the comfort of their own home.

One of the areas where video technology will have the greatest impact is in the care of young children, who may find a hospital environment stressful. It will also be useful for doctors working in rural practices or nursing homes. These government incentives will help regional GPs afford the necessary equipment and train their staff to provide these video consultations.

While it's too early to evaluate the success of the program, given that some specialists still do not use computers, it's definitely a huge step in the right direction. With the availability of proven, easy-to-use technology, more healthcare organizations will adopt desktop video conferencing, making consultations far more beneficial and cost-effective while encouraging specialists to adopt electronic communications with GPs.

One customer that has already reaped the benefits of video conferencing is Medibank Health Solutions, a division of Australia's largest integrated provider of private health insurance and health solutions. The organization has been using Citrix GoToMeeting with HDFaces, a high-definition group video conferencing solution to connect disparate remote staff for better collaboration and training.

In this short video, Dave Buckmaster, the technology manager for Medibank, describes how they're trialing the technology with its clients to improve their services.

Watch this space as we see more healthcare organizations enjoy the benefits of video collaboration!

This blog was designed to serve the Workshifting community with relevant information contributed by the community, and when appropriate mention our services.  However, every now and again a really interesting and useful fact lands on my desk that I feel compelled to share.

The graph represents Citrix Online's internal use of GoToMeeting and GoToWebinar compared to our Average Travel Spend per Head Count.  The reduction in our Average Travel Spend is significant as our use of online meeting tools has increased (special thanks to Scott Allen).

I thought it would be useful to pull back the kimono and show internal data that demonstrates the value of online meeting tools.  I feel like I should add the disclaimer, "...individual results may vary".  However, I don't believe that to be true.  There are many choices as it pertains to Workshifting tools, and plenty is being written about adoption.  Once put into practice, whatever your tool of choice, the impact can be significant.

However, ROI for online meeting services is not always measured by a reduction in travel expenses.  In many cases your travel may increase because your use of the tools has allowed you to interact with an even greater number of clients and potential clients.  If you're that person, ROI could be measured in terms of an increase in Leads, Gross Revenue or Bookings.  For many others, ROI is defined by Productivity and Family Time.

The point is not to pigeonhole yourself into one or the other.  Select the tools that best serve your needs and the needs of your team.  It's your adoption of the tools into your life that makes them effective, not vice versa.  

How do you measure the effectiveness of your Workshifting tools?

The call center industry pioneered the all-virtual business model more than a decade ago. As a result, thousands of people now work from home taking pizza orders, sending flowers, booking flights, and answering informercial calls from insomniacs. Now think about that. Here's an industry that relies on fairly low wage workers to:

• work untethered,
• provide their own workplace--one that meets the companys' requirement for privacy and quiet,
• purchase and maintain their own computer and broadband service,
• and meet the stringent security standards required for handling credit card numbers, social security numbers, medical information, etc.,
  

VIPdesk, is an all-virtual call center based, well, everywhere. They provide customized solutions for premium brands such as Land Rover, Eddie Bauer, and others. "We refer to our home-based staff as Brand Ambassadors," says Sally Hurley, president of VIPdesk, "because their job is to inspire customer loyalty through great customer service." I asked Sally what led them to the virtual model. She described it as a matter of business survival.

VIPdesk started life as a concierge service for MasterCard and other credit card issuers. If you hold a premium MasterCard, chances are you can call their 800 number and reach someone who can help you reserve a flight to Machu Pichu, purchase tickets to see Wicked on Broadway, or send your Mom a bouquet of her favorite orchids. As a platinum customer, you expect great service. That's where, back in 1997, VIPdesk saw its niche. At least that was the plan.

"We started out with a traditional big-building, cubicle-farm approach but quickly--or, actually not so quickly--learned that the kind of people who made great brand ambassadors didn't want to sit in a cubicle eight hours a day earning $10/hour. Initially we thought, well, maybe we're in the wrong place to attract the kind of people we need. Over the next several years we pulled up stakes and moved three times in search of a reliable pool of talent; to no avail. There just had to be a better way. In 2001, we completely abandoned the bricks and mortar approach for a home-based agent model. That decision, it turns out, made all the difference."

Here are just some of the benefits VIPdesk realized when they sent their people home:

• The average age of their customer service representatives went from mid-twenties to early forties.
• They attracted more educated people. Over 90% of their reps have college experience and 5% have advanced degrees.
• Their retention rate went from 100% turnover, to 90% retention.
• Their employee to manager ratio went from 12 to 1, to 25 to 1.
  

Now if that doesn't inspire managers to consider telecommuting, here's the clincher,: VIPDesk has never lost a single client to a competitor--something Sally attributes entirely to their virtual business model.

VIPdesk's experience is not unique. Time and again, companies have found that a home-based approach yields more qualified, more engaged, more professional, more available, more productive, and less expensive (by a long damn shot) workforce

If an industry can achieve unprecedented success by sending its lowest paid employees home, why doesn't the rest of the world follow suit?