TECHNOLOGY phones, tablets, and portable computers. Examples of leading cell phone products include the Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and Note, HTC 8x and One, Motorola Moto X, and the Nokia Lumia. Some of the popular tablet products include the iPad Air or Mini, Google Nexus, Samsung Galaxy Tab, and Microsoft Surface, which is especially useful if you require Windows compatibility. Finally, examples of dominant portable Ultrabook products include the HP Revolve, Envy, and Split; Lenovo X1 Carbon, Yoga, and Twist; Sony Vaio; and Dell Inspiron and XPS. Once you have the services identified, think about the software to drive these deliverables. You have chosen a billing system, and possibly a coding system, as well as software to satisfy document management and portal needs. You may not have chosen anything for workflow or customer relationship management (CRM)/business development, such as Results CRM or Infusionsoft, because you have been focusing on ICD-10 compliance. Over time, you will have new opportunities to service your clients and may have to acquire other tools to comply with new regulations, such as Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC), Clinical Decision Support (CDS), and the Medicare Incentive Program (MIP), since these regulations are not well understood today. To support these software products, you may need to continue to implement new servers, whether in the cloud or on-premise. You should watch for the latest processor chip technologies, including Intel's Xeon E7 v2 for servers and 5th Generation Broadwell chips for desktops and laptops. The Broadwell chips include DDR4 RAM support, are 30 percent more efficient, which should yield about 17 laptop hours on a single charge, and include advanced Pro Graphics. We expect Next Unit of Computing (NUCs) or all-in-one computers with touchscreens to become viable replacements for desktops. Over time, higher-resolution monitors supporting ultrahigh definition (UHD) and 4K will also become more common. Continue to maintain your operating systems, Microsoft Office productivity software, and antivirus licenses. As you complete your transition from Windows XP and Office 2003 to Windows 8 and Office 2013, continue to plan for the new Windows 9 and Office 2016. Microsoft is being very aggressive with software licensing audits. Your best business strategy to protect your firm from an audit is to use either Microsoft Open Licensing with Software Assurance or a version of Office 365 that meets your business needs. Look for Results Be careful not to choose technology levers that do not fit your business. Just because everyone else is using tablets or Ultrabook computers does not mean that they are the right solution for you. Is it effective for your company? What are you trying to achieve? Do you just need access to a little information when you are meeting with a client? Is a smartphone enough? Perhaps a slightly larger phone lets you accomplish everything you need. If that is the case, why buy and maintain tablets or Ultrabooks? Even using the simple approach of a desktop in the office and a desktop at home can certainly work effectively. The bottom line is to choose the best technology for your firm’s needs. Picking the right technology tools can help you pull the right levers! ■ Randy Johnston is CEO and cofounder of Network Management Group, Inc. He and his NMGI team provide IT consulting services and recommendations to HBMA members as part of their membership benefits. If you have questions on any hardware, software, procedures, or IT strategies for your firm, contact helpdesk@nmgi.com with your questions or to schedule a time to speak. To see the latest HBMA videos on YouTube, go to www.youtube.com/ HBMAbilling THE JOURNAL OF THE HEALTHCARE BILLING AND MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION 37
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