Author - wphungerford

Making an Impact
10Oct

Making An Impact

As we continue introducing our long-time employees, we would like to present to you someone who has had a major impact on making IMS (now Convergint) what it is today. Julie Hammond joined the team in 1991 as the Office Manager when there were only 10 employees to assist. Fast forward to today, and Julie assists 50 employees in six different states.

While that is a huge responsibility for one person, Julie handles all her work with professionalism and grace. She has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to insurance, company policies, payroll, and so much more. Basically, she handles all the nitty gritty, behind the scenes work at IMS. When I sat down recently with Julie, this is what I learned:

What brought you to IMS?

I was in my late 20’s and looking for a job at a growing company that would also challenge myself to grow. I had prior work experience in the health-related industries (hospitals, health departments, ambulance company, etc.), so I thought it would be a great fit.

What is your current position? How has it evolved or changed since you started?

Since I started working here in 1991, I have been the Office Manager. Not only has the number of employees changed, but major changes have been made in technology over the last 26 years. When I started:

  • We used a thermal paper (roll) fax machine.
  • We took phone messages and circulated them on “While You Were Out” pink message pads.
  • Correspondence was processed through a DOS based word processing system. We used DOT Matrix printers with printer ribbons (no toner).
  • I remember when the company purchased its first 5 MG windows based computer, and it came with a wired mouse (cool technology at the time!).
  • We used Lotus (spreadsheet) for processing payroll.

What is your fondest IMS memory?

This company is more than just coworkers; we are family. I have enjoyed watching the company change over the years. I have especially loved seeing the children of IMS employees grow from toddlers into adults, now with children of their own.

Why have you stayed working at IMS?

IMS has integrity, provides stability and opportunity, and is a comfortable atmosphere. Because of how long I’ve been here, IMS employees have become more like family. IMS Management has a proven track record for utilizing an individual’s ability and talents. And we empower employees in areas most suited for our customers, vendors, and staff.

“Our biggest strength is our ability to service, support, and respond to our customers in a quick, efficient, and timely manner.”

What do you think the biggest strength that IMS offers to its customers?

Our biggest strength is our ability to service, support, and respond to our customers in a quick, efficient, and timely manner. We treat our customers with fairness and honesty; we strive to treat our customers the same way we like to be treated.

What would you hope to see in the future for IMS?

I’d love to see us continue to bring products and services to our customers that help hospital staff streamline work processes and allow proven quality in patient care.

What are 3 fun facts about yourself?

  1. I have been married to my best friend, Mike, for 24 years. We have twin sons, Chase & Drew, age 20.
  2. We have 3 goofy dogs – a 15-year old Brittany Spaniel who thinks she’s still a puppy, and 2 Shetland Sheepdogs who think their job is to patrol the neighborhood.
  3. I have an immense passion for the outdoors ­– any season.

Julie’s behind the scenes work at IMS is immeasurable and makes an impact not only on each employee but on all our customers and vendors, as well.

Medical Equipment & Healthcare Solutions

Connect with Convergint at (800) 968-3135 to learn more about our commitment to delivering exceptional results to our customers through unparalleled customer service.

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Reducing Errors at the Bedside
28Sep

Reducing Errors At The Bedside

Creating a specimen label at the bedside improves patient safety by reducing errors and misidentification and satisfies HIPAA requirements. Printing labels immediately after taking a sample also improves clinician efficiency. But how do you add a label printer to your already-cluttered computer cart or wall mount worksurface space?

At Convergint we’re working with customers that use Zebra label printers, and we’ve custom designed multiple solutions to install Zebra label printers on mobile computer carts and/or wall arm mounts. These universal mounting solutions install anywhere with a display utilizing the 75 or 100mm VESA pattern.

These mounts allow the printer to be placed either directly behind the display within the footprint of your mobile computer carts or to the side of the display for easy access when installed. The side mount bracket is adjustable in length, so it accommodates a variety of screen sizes. As screen sizes continue to increase, our mounts will work. Even as customers upgrade to 17” laptops, we keep the screen completely visible and the work surface free!

“We’re working with customers that use Zebra label printers, and we’ve custom designed multiple solutions to install Zebra label printers on mobile computer carts and/or wall arm mounts.”

Other considerations:

  • Because customer preferences differ and hospital rooms vary in shape and size, our mounts are reversible and can be installed on the left or right
  • The mount can be installed angled toward the user for easier access
  • If there’s a need to access the Zebra barcode label on the bottom of the printer to pair it for printing, we’ve designed access slots for scanning
  • Need to mount a tethered or wireless barcode scanner alongside a label printer? It can be done
  • Mounting solutions can be mixed and matched to fit each department’s need
  • Our lineup of label printer mounts are versatile, cost effective, and work nearly universally across EMR computer carts and wall mount workstations.

Worried about installation? It’s easy!

To install your Zebra printer onto the mount, we provide thumb screws making installation quick and easy. By screwing into the mount and back of monitor, there’s no need to worry about infection control and workstation cleanability. There’s no Velcro or tape.

By consulting with our customers, Convergint has developed solutions that meet multiple needs and solve problems both big and small. We look forward to discussing these mounts with your team. Call us today to get the conversation started.

Medical Equipment & Healthcare Solutions

Connect with Convergint at (800) 968-3135 to learn more about our commitment to delivering exceptional results to our customers through unparalleled customer service.

CONTACT US

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Solving An Identity Crisis Medical Carts
20Sep

Solving An Identity Crisis

Several years ago, I was struck by how a single word could not only identify something—what it is—but could also describe where it is, how it is, etc. That moment came through a series of appointments and a surgeon who has a gift for describing a procedure using medical vernacular, with all its Latin terms, in a way that was very comprehensible to the lay person. Compared to his description, I would use many more words, even sentences to describe the same scenario. I gained a new perspective on how concise medical language really is.

Since then, while dealing with medical carts for various hospital departments I have noticed that the labels often used to identify their medical carts range from the very general type (such as Treatment, Procedure, Crash, etc.) to the more specific role (such as Nerve Block, Suture, or Cast, etc.). Some carts share aspects that are more or less universal. For instance, it’s almost universally true that crash carts are red or blue, anesthesia carts green and isolation carts are yellow.

Developing Solutions

However, very few are universal and specific in their color, configuration, contents and locking—like I referenced in the manner of my opening analogy. To resolve that identity crisis, Convergint has developed solutions that solve that identity crisis by working hand in hand with the clinicians on these medical carts:

For instance, a hemorrhage cart's name implies it use without a second thought. How about a cast cart? Or what about developing a cart that assists in a current workflow like a pre-anesthesia cart?

When seconds count to save a life, anesthesia and crash carts benefit from a universal nature. When it comes to treatment carts there are many variations throughout a healthcare ecosystem; including clinics, professional offices, surgical centers, acute care hospitals, extended care facilities and even correctional facilities.

“Workflow inefficiencies can ultimately lead to work arounds which can translate into greater cost of care delivery or, at an extreme, greater exposure to liability.”

Because of this general vernacular, treatment cart, the configurations may actually hinder work flow efficiencies because they are not specific to the needs of the cart. These inefficiencies can ultimately lead to work arounds which can translate into greater cost of care delivery or, at an extreme, greater exposure to liability.

Convergint strives diligently to work with customers by fully understanding the application and work flow of their medical carts. We guide customers to the most supportive configuration for their workflow needs. For example, we want to understand:

  • Cart size (height) – is the cart parked under a counter or does it need to be at an ergonomic height?
  • Drawers –number and sizes of drawers and their division of space.
  • Locking – what type of access, level of security, local or remote supervision.
  • Integration – the ever-increasing integration of patient monitoring, telemetry, charting and consolidating carts by eliminating roll stands, ring stands and/or bakers carts.

By answering these questions, we will help build the right cart for the right use that supports your workflow. We would love to hear from you.

Medical Equipment & Healthcare Solutions

Connect with Convergint at (800) 968-3135 to learn more about our commitment to delivering exceptional results to our customers through unparalleled customer service.

CONTACT US

Read more...