Communicating in the 1990s: a technology update

With the variety of available technologies, choosing among them will be difficult at best. Waiting for integration and standardization among technologies may effectively eliminate a competitive edge and productivity improvements for health care organizations. Also, selecting which one communication technology is needed may not be the issue since several technologies likely are needed to solve different communication needs in organizations. One might begin to sort out options by performing an assessment of current communication patterns and deficiencies. Ideally, the assessment should be completed by someone who is able to assess needs over an entire organization, not just one service or one organizational level. The assessment should focus at least on some of the following questions. Are three major problems with staff or client communications? If staff-related, are primary needs interactive with routine communication needs? If they are interactive, time-sensitive, and inter-organizational then a form of video-conferencing may help. Short-term interactive needs might be met by leasing video-conferencing rooms. Long-term, time sensitive interactive needs might require PC-based video-conferencing, Non-time-sensitive, interactive, inter-organizational needs might be met with voice mail or e-mail, which allow some time-delayed but single-mode interactions. If communication needs are routine, one might examine how e-mail, or fax could help. If text-based paper traffic through the mail room is enormous or slow, e-mail may help. If communication among persons at any level of geographically separate organizations is needed, modem-based or public e-mail may be the answer.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)