We started looking at some of these statistics when Google announced they will discontinue support of IE 6 on March 1.  To continue to use some of Google’s services, users will have to upgrade to at least IE7.  Recent cyber attacks, via a flaw in IE6, against Google and other companies have created this move from IE6, but there remain a high number of users continuing to use IE6.  Personally, I believe whatever browser you use, you should upgrade to the most recent version. 

Google set the baseline for other browsers; with Firefox 3.0 or higher, Chrome 4.0 or higher, and Safari 3.0 or higher. “…you may find that from March 1, key functionality within these products–as well as new Docs and Sites features–won’t work properly in older browsers,” Google said.  Google continues to drive a lot of how the internet is accessed and utilized.  This kind of gives me a flashback to my blog back on December 15^th, “When Will Google Take Over the World”. 

Stats for January 2010, from Net Applications, shows IE users make up 62.2% of internet browsers.  This is down from 62.7% in December 2009.  Firefox users are also down slightly from 24.6% to 24.4%.  Chrome continues to grow and is at 5.2% in January, and Safari is staying level at 4.5%.  IE 8 (22.3%) actually passed IE6 (22.1%) users during the month of January.  IE 7 users follow at 14.6%.   

This prompted me to take a look at what browsers MedicalGPS users access our website and tools.  Comparing January 2010 to January 2009, here’s what I found.

                                                  2010               2009

Internet Explorer                      68.09%            82.39%

Firefox                                     21.88%            11.90%

Safari                                         6.89%             4.57%

Chrome                                     2.38%             0.31%

Other                                         0.76%             0.83%

A further analysis of just IE users shows how the versions of IE have changed from January 2009 to January 2010.

                                                  2010               2009

IE7                                          46.19%           68.53%

IE8                                          27.63%             0.75%

IE6                                          25.85%           30.68%

Older IE                                    0.33%             0.04%

Internet Explorer will continue to lead the pack for the foreseeable future, but as other browsers become more sophisticated, secure and competitive we will see Internet Explorer Still No. 1…But Fading.

—Marty Hudson

MedicalGPS is proud to say our workload and our database just took a step towards getting a lot bigger.  We are privileged to announce two new opportunities with our M3-Patient Experience services.  

Effective January 1 Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) began implementing M3-Patient Experience with HCA Physician Services, one of the largest operators of Medical Practices in the United States with over 350 locations nationally and managing over 1700 providers.  We will also have the privilege of working with First Onsite, an HCA subsidiary providing onsite healthcare clinics for employees and their families. 

We also were fortunate enough to receive a continuation and an agreement to grow the use of M3 with LifePoint Hospitals Physicians Services division.  We have been providing M3 services to LifePoint employed physicians during 2009 and plan to expand those services to independent providers associated with LifePoint during 2010.

M3-Patient Experience captures patient feedback electronically, eliminating manual survey tabulation. Survey results are delivered real-time via GPSMapping^®, MedicalGPS’ business intelligence solution.  M3-Patient Experience surveys each segment of the patient’s experience, from beginning to end and provides continuous monitoring and notification to leadership, real-time, whenever patient feedback warrants follow-up.

We try not to use our blog as an advertisement, but we are too excited about this news not to share it with you.  MedicalGPS has high expectations for 2010 and see the expansion with LifePoint and the addition of HCAPS as a springboard for growth. 

Another feature of M3 is the ability to benchmark patient feedback by provider to the MedicalGPS database as a whole or based on a providers’ specialty; so, we are excited to say, “Our M3-Patient Experience Database Just Got Bigger!”

—Marty Hudson

There is really no way to tell what the death toll is in Haiti.  The infrastructure in Haiti was so poor before the magnitude 7 earthquake; what is left is totally devastated.  Estimates are all over the board and very broad ranges are quoted.  100,000 to 200,000 dead, 250,000 injured, 1.5 million homeless…no one knows, and won’t know for a long time, but these numbers tell the story, the pictures tell the story, and the stories are endless. 

The really sad part is the corruption.  Fears of looting and violence keep aid groups and governments from moving as quickly as they would like.  The Haitian government is invisible, nobody has taken firm charge, and one report said the police have largely given up.  Getting into Haiti is a huge undertaking with the airport overly crowded with trying to increase flights in, and the port is in shambles. 

The Haitians need food and water.  Without water diarrhea is likely. Children, the weak and elderly will die unnecessarily from diarrheal disease that would be easily treated with water under normal circumstances.  Another major risk is bacterial infections where they have open untreated wounds.  Injuries are massive which include crushed or amputated limbs, compound fractures and lacerations.  Without quick treatment, these wounds will become infected.

Nashville’s former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a heart-lung surgeon, is on a medical mission to earthquake-ravaged Haiti.  His office said in a news release that he arrived Monday at Port au Prince and will be stationed first at Baptist Mission Hospital.  He is working with the international relief agency Samaritan’s Purse.  Centennial Medical Center of Nashville donated both IV fluids and antibiotics among other critically needed medical supplies.

Haiti is a terribly corrupt country, but they need the world’s help.  Many innocent men, women and children are in dire need of food, water, shelter and medical help.  Do what you can to help.  Every community has something going on to collect supplies, food, water, clothing and money.  My only advice is, be careful when you give.  There are many reports of people taking advantage of this situation for personal gain.  Major organizations, Salvation Army, Red Cross, Samaritan’s Purse, and many more are legitimate ways to help.  Local churches are working together and with these organizations. 

Haiti needs our help.  For the Haitians, the worst is yet to come!

—Marty Hudson

As it comes down to the wire with the Healthcare Reform Bill being merged from the Senate and the House, cries of unconstitutionality of the bill begin.  Apparently several state attorneys general and trade associations have expressed concern.  It all comes down to the federal government ‘mandating’ insurance coverage.

Opposition states that the federal government has no authority to mandate health coverage or impose fines on those who don’t obtain coverage.  Supporters say it falls under the legislative power to levy taxes.

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum released a statement in December saying:

“I have grave concerns about the constitutionality of this mandate. Such a ‘living tax’ is worrisome because it would be levied on a person who does nothing, a person who simply wishes not to be forced to buy health insurance coverage. Upon initial review, this appears to be contrary to the freedoms we, as Americans, have enjoyed for the past 233 years … Given these concerns, my office will conduct a review of the constitutionality of the healthcare bill’s individual mandate, specifically in regards to the Commerce Clause and Taxing Power set forth in the U.S. Constitution, and will evaluate Florida’s legal options.”   

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has sent a letter to legislators in Texas stating that Congress’s power to levy taxes is “not unlimited”. 

South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster and other state attorneys general challenged constitutionality over what is called the “Cornhusker Kickback,” which has the cost of all newly eligible Medicaid enrollees in Nebraska be paid for by the federal government, apparently to obtain the vote of Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson.  Seems there is a U.S. Supreme Court case that states that Congress does not possess the right under the Spending Power to demonstrate a ‘display of arbitrary power.’  

Word has it that several trade associations will challenge the Healthcare Reform Bill as well, arguing that the federal government is beyond its scope of authority in passing the bill or that the bill violates the equal protection clause of the constitution.

If any of this is true; if the expectation is that lawsuits will start to fly as soon as the Healthcare Reform Bill is passed; all because the Obama Administration and the Democrats are trying to ‘hurry’ the bill along; doesn’t it make sense to take the time to do it right; get it right; and get support?  How will it possibly help the American people if we pass a bill that will be tied up in court for years?  Force this bill and all I can say is… Let the Lawsuits Begin!

—Marty Hudson

Of course we saw, or at least should have seen, some of this coming.  The healthcare reform bill now being voted on by the Senate would change Medicare physician reimbursements to include nationwide quality measurements, according to a release from the Minnesota Medical Association, who is in support of the quality measurements.  While the AMA opposes the Senate provision, the Minnesota Medical Association has campaigned for it, saying its members receive relatively low Medicare reimbursements even though they perform well on quality measurements.  The proposed Medicare value index, to begin in 2012, would incorporate quality measures into payment rates.

Now don’t get me wrong.  I believe in good, quality healthcare.  I also happen to believe the USA has the best, high quality healthcare on the planet.  I also believe when you have free choice patients are allowed to choose high quality healthcare.  I am somewhat concerned under the current proposal patients will be told where to receive healthcare, high quality or low quality will have little to do with the decision; however, low quality care won’t pay as much as high quality care.  I am a firm believer in that docking a physician’s pay will not make him a better doctor.

The Secretary of Health and Human Services would work to establish uniform definitions for quality that would form the basis for the index.  The proposal is budget neutral and would take into account justifiable differences in Medicare spending.  Hence the title of this blog.  Throughout this bill it reeks of robbing Peter to pay Paul.  Someone has to pay for all the changes that will take place.  A quote I read a while back; “A government policy to rob Peter to pay Paul can be assured of the support of Paul.”  So, there is the question of the day; are you a Peter or a Paul?

—Marty Hudson

Well here we are again.  We made it through Thanksgiving and Christmas, New Year’s Eve right around the corner and entering into a New Year.  Welcome to 2010!

So, do you have a New Year’s Resolution?  I don’t.  I kind of gave up on that after years of failure.  I have enough problems without setting myself up for one more.  Now that’s not to mean I don’t have intentions of exercising more, eating less, working smarter, growing my business and trying to spend more time with my family.  It’s just that I have determined all of these are journeys rather than goals.  If I set a goal one of three things typically happen.  One, I fail miserably.  Two, I reach the goal, for instance lose 10 pounds, and so I figure that’s it, done.  Of course then I gain 15 pounds which means I fail miserably.  Third, I work for the goal, I come up a little short, so I extend the time period for my goal, and I continue in that pattern until, once again, I fail miserably.  Do you see the pattern?  No more resolutions for me.

But I do need to improve.  I need to exercise more, eat less, work smarter, grow my business and spend more time with my family; however, resolutions won’t get it done; I need a lifestyle change.  With the help and encouragement from my wife I do indeed have a much improved lifestyle over what I had just a few years ago.  Years go by way to fast nowadays.  I can’t get it all done in one short year.  So I’m ok with exercising, and stopping and getting it going again.  I’m ok with eating healthier, but having a piece of cake.  I’m ok with not being able to sell my business for $100,000,000; at least I’m able to work. 

Most importantly I have figured out how to have more time with my family.  It’s simple really.  Just don’t get caught up in all that other stuff.  All it does is distract you from what is really important.  So, my New Year’s Resolution is not to have a New Year’s Resolution.  Best of all I reach my goal on the first day of the year.  So whether you choose to have a Resolution or not, I wish you the best of luck in the coming New Year!

—Marty Hudson

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a blog “Do You Tweet – Or is Twitter a Passing Fad?”  Well I got a few responses, but I have also talked to a number of people about what they think of Twitter.

A key point of the blog a couple of weeks ago is that 84% of those using Twitter are over 25 years of age.  Of course, this is business people, professionals and the buying public.  My conversations have confirmed the whole idea of tweeting, “I am heading to the mall to buy some socks,” has faded.  It was a novelty, but no one cares.  The idea that no one wants commercials invading their lives has been confirmed.  That’s why we have TIVO to skip commercials and satellite radio to avoid them altogether; however, it is not 100% true.

We, as a 21^st century consumer, want to select the ‘commercials’ we receive; technology allows us to do that.  We have turned commercials into information.  As I said, I don’t tweet, not yet anyway; however, I do rely heavily on the internet to find sales, specials, promotions, etc, on what I am looking for.  I just don’t want it coming to me until I am ready to receive it.  Some companies offer emails to promote what you are looking for; such as, Buy.com, Slickdeals.net, and Dell will send you emails on their specials.  Now these are available all the time, either email or web page, and sales typically last for a few days.  But still, Twitter brings something different.

Prime example; Kogi Korean taco truck, L.A.’s latest culinary obsession.  They send Tweets to let everyone know where they are going to be.  Taco trucks are nothing new, but you don’t always know where they are going to be and the truck has to rely on others not having other plans.  Kogi tweets where they are going to be and their customers have flocked to their location.  It’s a commercial, it’s information, it’s letting people know something they need to know right now.  By the time you look for it, it will be gone.  Maybe this is what will keep Twitter around.  We will see as it continues to transform into its most valuable use.  If it is truly valuable, it will hang around; if not, it will die.  Society will decide.

In the meantime, get on the bandwagon.  Forget the social media aspect of Twitter.  The real question is; how can twitter improve your business?

—Marty Hudson

Well, with all the buzz this week over Google’s blog about their Google Phone, I thought I might as well jump on the bandwagon too.  The buzz is that Google has provided their new Google phone, Nexus One, to their employees around the world for them to test and provide feedback to Google.

What’s so special about Nexus One?  For one it’s supposed to be an HTC phone (with no HTC branding, but a Google branded phone) that will be thinner than the Droid and the iPhone.  Secondly, it is to be sold direct to customers, not via a provider contract; it will be an unlocked GSM phone. In the U.S., that means service will come from T-Mobile and possibly AT&T, no Verizon.  Third, it will provide Google Voice, VoIP, allowing you to utilize wireless networks to talk utilizing Google Voice.  Not real sure how this will work, but it appears the phone will be able to switch between a wireless service provider to a wireless network when available.  It seems you may be able to reduce your cell phone plan to the lowest possible option and save money, especially if you are in hotspots to take advantage of Google Voice a majority of your time.  Question: Can you elect not to connect to a service provider at all and utilize the phone at home, in office, or wherever a hotspot exists; thereby costing nothing for service?

Of course this opens a whole other set of questions and potential problems.  Will that drive the cost of internet service higher?  Will the cost of internet service be based on usage, creating a set of ‘plans’ you will choose from when purchasing internet access?  Will that increased cost eliminate ‘free’ hotspots we have all been enjoying the last few years?  How will the FCC get involved in this? 

Obviously this presents a lot of interesting questions and even more opinions.  Of course, you can get all the information and opinions you could ever want simply by ‘Googling’ it.  There are articles and pictures of the Nexus One on the web; again, just ‘Google’ them.  

My point in all of this is Google itself.  Everywhere you look it seems Google has its hand in it, and the list just keeps growing.  Check out this website, www.googleworlddomination.com, which was actually authored in December 2004, about how Google will take over the world.  It includes a countdown clock to the ‘takeover’, which at the time of this writing was 5 years, 2 days, 10 hours and 51 minutes.  There is also a video link at the bottom of the page which is a fictional account of how Google will take over the world.  The video is several minutes long, but kind of fun to watch.  But it all comes down to one overriding question, “When will Google take over the world?”

—Marty Hudson

Do you tweet?  I don’t.  I don’t have a reason why I don’t tweet; I just haven’t found a reason to tweet.  I did a little looking around on who tweets and this is what I found.

Approximately 64% of those who tweet are between 25 and 54 years of age.  20% are 55 and up; only 16% are under 25 years old.  Now I was always under the impression that young people (teenagers) started this type of fad.  I viewed twitter as a type of social networking.  I don’t think that is necessarily the case.  Teenagers use Facebook, MySpace, etc, for social networking.  To them social networking is keeping up with the most important aspect of their lives, their friends.  They want to interact, share photos, personal characteristics, and leave comments.  Twitter is less about socializing and more about an overall conversation and allowing the ‘public’ to follow along.  Teenagers really don’t have anything to say on twitter.  They primarily use twitter to follow celebrities.

So, who uses twitter?  A large part of those using twitter are businesses; be it individuals or a company, it is being driven by business with the intent of promoting their business, products or services.  In other words, twitter is more of an on-gong commercial than anything else.  Even those teenagers using twitter to follow celebrities is nothing more than a commercial promoting the celebrities business.  As it is said, “any promotion is good promotion.”  Keep yourself in front of the customer. 

Now really, who do you know wants to follow someone tweeting things like, “I am going to the grocery store to pick up some bread.”  No one is going to follow that for very long.  Everybody wants something.  They want to know what company is having a sale, what celebrity is making an appearance; they want to know something about what they are interested in.  And if someone is interested, someone is going to figure a way to promote and profit. 

So, if we TIVO television shows so we can skip the commercials, how long are we going to invite commercials onto our phones and PDAs?  To me twitter is more of a promotional tool than social media.  The retention rate of twitter users is bouncing between 30% to 40% over the last few months.  That trend will not sustain twitter.  Twitter will need to find a better use beyond promotion.  Just my opinion.

Let me know yours.  Do you tweet, or is twitter just a passing fad?

—Marty Hudson

This week I thought I would go a little different.  I guess this is more of a leadership blog than anything else.  That said; I like quotes.  We use quotes in a lot of different ways and at different times.  Quotes are used to inspire, discipline, direct, or just to be funny.  They sometimes tell our personality and often times disclose our expectations.  Quotes give us the ability to tell what we do or don’t like about someone in a non-confrontational manner. 

If I am put in a position of speaking to a group, quotes come in very handy.  They can allow me to get a point across in a way that I am not capable.  They are great filler, especially if I am using slides.  One quote, one slide.  It’s good for at least 30 – 60 seconds.  

Here are a few of my favorites:

“There is no point doing well that which should not be done at all.”-Peter Drucker

“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”-Einstein

“Doing what is right isn’t always easy, but it’s always right.”-Anonymous

“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say; here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.”-Martin Luther King, Jr.

“If I were given eight hours to chop down a tree, I would use six hours to sharpen my axe.”- Abraham Lincoln

“Customers are like a force of nature: You can’t fool them, and you ignore them at your own peril.” –Herb Kelleher

“You can have anything you want in life if you just help enough other people get what they want.”-Zig Ziglar

“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”-Will Rogers

Let us hear back from you.  Leave us a comment – What’s Your Favorite Quote?

—Marty Hudson