On November 18th, Great Big Solutions will be a proud participant at the Innovations in Health Care Expo (www.health.gov.on.ca/innovations) at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (www.mtccc.com).  We were selected from hundreds of applicants to present CompTracker to a large industry audience.  The selection committee was looking to showcase groundbreaking initiatives in health care.  This honour recognized Great Big Solutions as an innovator in health information management at a national level.

The information technology revolution is changing the way all services can be provided.  The opportunities in health care alone are profound and impressive.  Enthusiastic adopters have used CompTracker to strive to make the best possible work environment for health science educators and students.  An innovative training environment plays an important role in teaching and retaining talented individuals in health care.  By automating their administrative work, CompTracker allows educators to focus their time on training rather than completing paperwork.

CompTracker has truly come a long way from the first paramedic program that was looking for PDAs to be an alternative to log books seven years ago.  Now completely web-enabled and on trendy mobile devices like iPhones, iPods too, CompTracker is found in a diverse range of health science programs on more than 20 colleges across the country.

Look for the GBS booth in the Innovations Expo.  It is part of the Health Achieve 2009 Exhibition (www.healthachieve.com), the largest national health industry trade show.  We welcome a chance to discuss ways to make health science education even more efficient.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8305306.stm

Blackberry, Apple, Palm, Windows, Google - all the big names of smartphones are battling it out to win the social media game with their new and improved handsets.

"Smartphones are going mass market, fuelled by the public's "insatiable appetite" for social media, analysts say."

This article explains that despite the worldwide economic crisis, smartphone sales are still booming - with no signs of slowing down soon. 

"The mobile internet is at the same stage as the internet was in 1998," (and we all know how that one turned out...)

Canada is behind the charge since mass market usage of data-centric devices means we have to be able to afford the transfers.  The current monopolized cell phone usage rates in Canada restricts our cell phone users to capitalize on full use of new technology available.

"It is no longer about whether a phone can access the internet but how well."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8305306.stm

From the RN Journal, Jennifer Predhomme (BScN) reports on the effects that have been shown in testing PDA use in the Hospital setting.  A great analysis from both sides, including the identification of risks of introducing a PDA program into a hospital.  Her findings may surprise you:

How Personal Digital Assistants Can Increase the Quality of Nursing Care Provided in the Hospital Setting

I for one, am extremely excited about this news.  It has been too long that Canada has been held hostage by the current providers and their restrictions on rates and data plans.  Especially when it comes to expanding businesses and innovation, we need to have access to the affordable technology options that our international competitors have, in order to maintain our presence as a globally competitive nation.

http://newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2009/29/c9483.html

TORONTO and PARIS, July 29, /CNW/ -- Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and
NYSE: ALU) has been awarded a multi-million dollar, three-year contract to
help build Globalive Wireless' new nationwide 3G mobile network in Canada.

Globalive is focused on launching a new national wireless operation,
serving consumers across Canada.  In 2009 Globalive was awarded spectrum
licenses by Industry Canada after successfully bidding more than CDN $442
million in the government's Advanced Wireless Services auction.

"Our commitment is to provide Canadian consumers with unmatched value.
For that we need future-ready technology that enables the delivery of
high-capacity, cost-effective IP-based services," said Ken Campbell, Chief
Executive Officer of Globalive Wireless. 

Read the full article here: http://newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2009/29/c9483.html

and see Globalive's website for more announcements AND your opportunity to send them your requests: http://www.wirelesssoapbox.com

Happy Tracking!

Kathryn

This past week I was honored to be in attendance at the 3rd Annual Society for Prehospital Educators in Canada's (SPEC) AGM and Conference in St. John's, Newfoundland.

Great Big Solutions continues to be a proud supporter of this Society and the annual event, in its continuing efforts to promote national collaboration amongst Prehospital educators.

I was privileged to meet many new faces, even those of which we have been working with over the years and hadn't had the opportunity to meet in person until now.

One of the most prevalent topics of the conference was Simulation training.  So many of the educators around the country are expanding their use of Simulation in their programs to enhance the skills of their students.  This topic at the event spanned everything from the use of Stress Innoculation and Cortisol testing, to Clinical Simulation Centers in hospitals, to the evaluation of student judgement in the Clinical Setting using high-fidelity simulation.

Simulation and its use in Prehospital programs has been debated recently, especially in discussions relating to the national competency profile for Paramedics in Canada.  There seems to be a push towards more Simulation experience as a tool for students to capture experience in high-risk, low-frequency skills.  With all of the evidence for simulation being proven as an environment that can enhance a learner's skill set in this area, it becomes (to me) a question of WHY it hasn't been as widely accepted as a proven tool in the field of Paramedicine training; when it comes to program budgets and investing in the technology, simulation time (%) allotted to Paramedic programs as compared to other Health Science fields, frequent high-fidelity experience to be recognized equally as less frequent experience on patients in the field.

We are interested in opening up this conversation to the Educators of all Health Science programs across the country, as in the end it affects all of us.  The more information and opinions we can share, the more changes we can make in the end.

Please comment if you have something to share about simulation training.  Are there research projects that you think would be advantageous to perform in order to address some of the concerns from the other side?

My thanks again to the members and executive of SPEC for including Great Big Solutions in their recent event.

Thanks, and happy tracking!

Kathryn

The Canadian Pharmacy Technician Educators Association (CPTEA) invited Great Big Solutions to speak about CompTracker at their recent conference at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario, on June 20, 2009.

Rod Wolchyn from Great Big Solutions was on hand to present the concept of electronic student tracking, and answer any questions that might arise from the Educators in attendance.

Educators representing about 30 Canadian colleges and universities were present, from every region of the country.  The instructors from our existing CompTracker Community (currently using CompTracker) commented on how their colleagues' programs have benefited since using our software. 

We will be arranging demos of the latest version, CompTracker 5.0, as soon as its available late this summer, so if you'd like to have a sneak peek just give us a call!

If you think your industry might benefit from using CompTracker and would like us to speak at your school or Conference, please feel free to get in touch and arrange a presentation!

Happy Tracking!

Please join us to celebrate our new home

at an Open House

Friday, July 17, 2009
5:30 to 8:00 p.m.

6827 - 104 Street
[Calgary Trail]
Edmonton, Alberta

Cocktails & Hors D'oeuvres will be served

Come and join us for Games, Fun, and Prizes!

please RSVP to
kathryn.fraser@greatbigsolutions.com

You may have noticed within the CompTracker 5.0 requirements, that specially designed stylus' will be required to capture signatures while using CompTracker on an Apple® iPhone or iPod Touch device.  Without this stylus, your Instructors won't be able to sign your progress - because these devices are designed to only respond to finger touch!

Lucky for you, we have arranged a special discount offer with a Canadian distributor of these items and TONS of other accessories for your iPhone or iPod Touch.

http://qcsaccessories.com/

Simply use the Discount Code "COMPTRACKER" when you're checking out and you will receive a 10% DISCOUNT!  This is a better deal than you will find with ANY American online dealer!

Here are the links to the stylus product pages:

 
Original Pogo Stylus (attaches to your device)

Pogo Sketch Stylus (finer point)

QCS also recommends:

ZAGG Invisible Shield, for iPhone or iPod Touch
(Reason: since you're gathering LOTS of signatures on your device, you probably want to protect the screen from stylus use.)

There are lots of other great deals on accessories, like cases and headsets, so check it out and remember to use "COMPTRACKER" as your Discount Code to get 10% off!

SHIPPING is FAST and FREE!

(In case you're wondering, Great Big Solutions does not profit financially from ANY sales through QCS Accessories, and DOES NOT guarantee or warrantee these products.  Read the QCS website for terms, conditions, and return policies BEFORE making a purchase.)

Happy Tracking!

Kathryn

SPEC Conference St John's, June 30 - July 3, 2009

Great Big Solutions and CompTracker are once again proud sponsors of this year's event.  I had a great time mingling in Victoria last year, and hope to see you this year also!

Speakers include leading pre-hospital educators from across Canada from B.C. to Newfoundland and Labrador. Presentations include:

• Strategies to Maximize the Impact of Teaching and Learning
• Strategies to Maximize Your Teaching Performance
• Strangers, Gods, Monsters, and Learning Theory
• The use of High Fidelity Simulation in EMS Education
• What do we mean by "Clinical Judgment"?
• The Student as Teacher
• The Influence of Stress on Clinical Performance
• Panel Discussion - How do we maintain consistency between evaluators?
• Interactive session to explore the instructors' tool kit of learning activities
• Focus group discussions

Kathryn Fraser from Great Big Solutions will be in attendance from July 2-3, in case you have burning questions about CompTracker or want to grab a coffee!

Download the brochure for more information and how to attend:

n.b5z.net/i/u/10051305/f/temp/SPEC_2009.pdf

Wondering how PDAs and website functions are going to collaborate in CompTracker Version 5.0 coming out this September?  Here are the answers!

Just so you are aware of our intentions regarding the use of PDAs with CompTracker: it will never go away!  We are expanding the use of certain parts of the system to bring you more BENEFITS (see the GREAT BENEFITS below) but there will ALWAYS be a need for mobile data capture if paper systems are to be eliminated in every possible aspect of our clients' needs!

You will still REQUIRE your students to use PDAs if you:

• ... don't know who all of your preceptors are in advance of sending your students to site (enough information to give them EACH their own CompTracker login).  You will need the PDA to capture these users' signatures.
• ... are trying to get rid of paper completely and your students are going to need to enter some information while in an "offline" setting (or an inconvenient location to get to a connected computer).  You will need the PDA to enter the information as needed, instead of jotting notes and trying to remember missed information at a computer later on.
• ... want to capture REAL signatures as opposed to electronic (this is based on personal/school preference ONLY; secure electronic signatures are still as binding as signing).  This is also preferred by some accrediting bodies, so you might want to check before making the decision.
• ... need students to use PDAs in Clinical or Field settings and want them to practice during labs.  This will give them exposure to the PDA interface before the high stress environment of the real world practice site, giving them one less thing to worry about on their practicum.

You will NOT require students to use PDAs if:

• ... your students are tracking in a lab setting, where enough computers are available for students to use individually, AND none of the criteria in the first section applies.
• ... the program is still using paper logbooks to track real-time, and your students are using CompTracker at this stage strictly for duplication into electronic format and approvals (AND none of the criteria in the first section applies).
• ... NONE of the criteria in the first section applies.

Some GREAT benefits you can reap in having the extended COLLABORATION of PDA and website technology:

• ... students can enter critical data at the point of care on their PDA, and then expand on their work after uploading to the website, before submission.  This will give them the opportunity to provide more detailed treatment histories and feedback/comments.
• ... students who have hardware trouble or are in the process of receiving a device will have another entry point when necessary.
• ... you can still control where the actions happen, so students and instructors can either have the option or be forced one way or the other, depending on your program needs.

If you're still wondering what all of this means for YOU, give me a call!  Or add your comments here, maybe you have a question that is on everyone's mind.

Thanks for reading!  I look forward to providing more valuable information through this blog, so please subscribe so you can stay tuned!

Happy tracking,

Kathryn