MUSE: An Enjoyable Experience for All

MUSE: An Enjoyable Experience for All

Guest Poster: John Vergato of HealthNET Systems Consulting Inc.

Having worked at MEDITECH for almost six years, the International MUSE Conference has numerous meanings for me. It is an opportunity to catch up with other fellow MEDITECH “alumni”, a great way to share knowledge with others by both giving and attending presentations and by exploring the exhibits to see what kinds of goods and services are out there to make healthcare IT the best it can be. As a consultant, we spend months, if not years, with our clients helping them implement and optimize their HCIS. Attending MUSE takes us out of the “vacuum” of everyday work life and lets ideas flow freely to ensure our clients are getting the absolute best out of MEDITECH and their partners.  Having attended MUSE numerous times over the past decade, I want to cover a few of the different areas that make it so great ...

Opening/Closing Session

The Opening session is always an enjoyable satire of today’s current events that without fail lightens the mood and garners many laughs. It is a way to get everyone loose and ready for the intense agenda of presentations, forums and trainings. 

Listening to the keynote and closing speakers is also a very worthwhile experience, as they give a unique perspective to the healthcare landscape in ways I personally have never thought of before. Hearing from MEDITECH and the innovation that they are working on gives everyone a snapshot of what to look forward to in the coming year.

Exhibit Hall

The exhibit hall is packed full with a variety of companies showcasing a plethora of goods and services that they provide for MEDITECH clients. These goods and services include: 3^rd party software partners, services to improve the different facets of an organization and its’ systems, reporting and analytics software and services and other tools to get the most out of MEDITECH to name a few. MEDITECH customers are able to walk around and truly engage with the different vendors in an environment that is buzzing with excitement.  The interactions that I had this year while manning HealthNET Systems Consulting’s booth were one of the highlights of the Conference; it provided me with a venue to find out what kinds of projects are going on and the challenges different organizations are facing.

Presentations

Presentations are a fantastic way to focus on a particular topic of interest, network and earn CEUs. I have been on both the presenter and attendee side of the presentations and enjoy both aspects for different reasons. Giving presentations is rewarding because you can share your experiences with other like-minded individuals and help them learn from your experiences. 

Often times, presentation attendees share their experiences during these interactive presentations and this is especially rewarding because you as a presenter get learn something while instilling knowledge on others. Attending presentations always helps you in getting a different perspective of a particular topic, which often times results in you being able to work through something in a way you had not previously discovered. I always make it a point to engage with the presenter after they finish their presentation to pick their brain and exchange information.There is no such thing as too much knowledge gained at an industry conference.

Networking

One of my all-time favorite things to do at MUSE is network. As previously stated, many MEDITECH alumni are still heavily involved in healthcare and work at companies that still work with or use MEDITECH. Finding out what direction the market is heading is helpful for all parties involved. We are able to learn how the evolution of healthcare IT is progressing and we can be a part of that change through networking. Some of the fellow attendees are either from different parts of the country or are colleagues who you do not see as often as you once did and it is really enjoyable to catch up, learn about their particular product or service and find ways to collaborate in a mutually beneficial way.

Every MUSE Conference that I have attended has had different and unique offerings, however the thing that has stayed consistent is the fact that the Conference experience continues to prove more useful and informative with each and every passing year.

About The Author:  John Vergato of HealthNET Systems Consulting Inc. has over 10 years of implementation, optimization, and sales experience with Healthcare Information Systems, specializing in MEDITECH.  He has experience with MAGIC, C/S, 6.0 and 6.15 READY, full service implementations, optimizations, migrations, updates, and end-user support. For more information visit: www.healthnetconsulting.com

Smartphones

Do you remember your first cell phone? I do; it was such a revolutionary feeling to be able to call someone while I was out and about. It was a useful tool for one thing, making and taking calls. Flash forward to today. My phone can do everything a computer and a camera can do, and it can still receive and place calls. 

I don’t like using human adjectives (such as smart) to describe an inanimate object, but the smartphone has earned this title. It has revolutionized the concept of communication.

I do like analogies. So, think of MUSE as a cell phone. Are you still using MUSE like your first cell phone? Or are you utilizing all its features to maximize the benefits like a smartphone? While the International Conference was the original foundation of MUSE, the robust, year-round programming has transformed MUSE into the one place you can go for education, networking and professional development.

Have you been participating in the additional programs and events? If not, you are likely to be surprised by what you are missing. Here is a summary of the last several months of MUSE programs:

Tricks, Clicks and Bricks – a Foundation for 6.16

Northwestern Medical Center, located in St. Albans, Vermont, welcomed 30 attendees, representing eight different facilities to learn about the MEDITECH 6.16 upgrade project at Northwestern Medical Center (NMC).

Attendees travelled from as far as Ottawa, Ontario, and Salina, Kansas to participate in the education and interaction offered during this meeting.

The event was held October 13, and featured presentations detailing the MEDITECH 6.16 project overview, as well as explaining the various conversions, Web Acute, PCS and revenue cycle.

Application leads from NMC then facilitated module-based small group discussions, which were especially helpful for attendees. 

The attendees were also treated to a tour of the hospital (which was undergoing a major construction project).  Participants shared glowing reviews of the program, as well as the hospitality and welcoming atmosphere within the hospital.

Thank you Northwestern Medical Center for hosting this event, and Acmeware for sponsoring!

Southern California Community Peer Group

Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital (HMNH) hosted 98 attendees in an innovative blend of virtual and live presentations on November 30. 

HMNH, located in Valencia, California, provided presentations describing the experience with upgrading to 6.16, with spotlights and MEDITECH demos on hardware integration, WebAcute and revenue cycle, plus a project overview. 

The event included an exciting and unique first-hand experience of the integrated testing process.  

Sessions from this event were webcasted, and recorded. You can access these videos here:
Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital CPG Videos

Thank you Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital for hosting the event, and Jacobus, NTT Data and Lumentate for sponsoring!

Kentucky Community Peer Group

The longest-running MUSE Community Peer Group set a new attendance record this year with 63 attendees. 

Hardin Memorial Hospital served as host for the Kentucky CPG, where attendees gathered on December 6 to learn about topics such as MACRA and MIPS, Cybersecurity, and MEDITECH optimization. 

A lively interactive discussion on the JW Modifier rule and E-prescribing also brought insight and value to the program.

Thank you Hardin Memorial Hospital for hosting the event, and Forward Advantage, Sedona Learning Solutions and Parallon Technology Solutions for sponsoring!

The MUSE Executive Institute

Perfect weather, a gorgeous backdrop, timely education, valuable interaction and re-energized executives ... this was the 2017 MUSE Executive Institute.

Hospital decision makers and vendor solution providers from throughout the US, Canada and England travelled to sunny Southern California, where they convened at the Resort at Pelican Hill January 15 -17.

The theme for the event focused on maximizing MEDITECH systems and fully utilizing the tools available, thus maximizing time and resources.

The program offered a palatable blend of education and networking sessions, punctuated by “reverse tradeshow” style meetings.  These meetings enabled CIOs and vendors to discuss possible collaborations and determine potential needs.

Education sessions explored topics such as EHR Optimization, Using MEDITECH to Enable Better Quality Patient Care, Evaluating, Selecting and Successfully Navigating a "Big Bang" Go Live and Project Planning Starts with Culture.

Plenty of interaction and relaxed networking time was also incorporated into the event through meals and a reception. 

Webinars, JAM Sessions and Virtual Product Showcases

The past several months in the MUSE virtual world have been a flurry of activity. With the offering of webinars, JAM sessions, and the newly created Virtual Product Showcases, members have had a wealth of convenient opportunities. In fact, during the last six months, 1,293 attendees have participated in virtual MUSE programs!

Plus, webinars (and some JAM sessions) are available for on-demand viewing. You can go here to view the past year of MUSE recorded sessions at your convenience: MUSE Webinar Library

These are some examples of the topics offered (not the full list):

• Presenting … the New Critical Care Module

• Order Sets: Bridging the Gap Between Personalization and Standardization
• JW Modifier Rule JAM session

• Battling the Insider Threat to Patient Privacy
• Safe, Smart, and Savvy Sepsis Surveillance

• Baby Steps to Change: Implementation of CPOE and Weight Based Dosing in the  Most Sensitive Patient Population

• Tackling the Complexity of Dictionary Synchronization - Maximize your Time and Resources

• 6.1 and Done?
• The Truth Behind Electronic Ordering with a Hold Queue

• Easy Ways to Improve Your Patient Identity Process

FORUM discussions

If you have not posted or read a post within the MUSE FORUM platforms, you need to become familiar with this tool. The MUSE FORUMS serve as an electronic space where you can post questions, share solutions, or participate in dialogue with your MUSE peers. This tool also allows you to upload documents, presentations and more.  Some recent posts include VTE Order Compliance, Clinical Decision Support Interventions, Physician Billing – Canada, Ordering IV Rate in mcg/kg/min and Queued Future Orders Routine.

You can visit the MUSE FORUMS by clicking the Resource Center tab on the MUSE homepage. Make sure you are logged into the website.

In addition, MUSE is accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) as a provider continuing nursing education. So, for designated sessions, nurses can also earn continuing education credits while learning about important topics.

Is MUSE your "smartphone?" If you have any questions about these program, or need help accessing them, please contact me at education@museweb.org.

Take Care!

Alicia