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Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
This list of Frequently Asked Questions should address most questions regarding the Alliance training, program and systems. If you have any questions not addressed here, please feel free to use our Comments and Questions form. Your message will be forwarded to the appropriate individual for response. Your question and its answer may also be added to this page for the information of future visitors.
Will
any additional training be provided?
Answer: The Alliance expects to be able to send trainers back on site
for at least one more day of training. This training will be for the purpose
of dealing with specific issues after individuals have had the technology
and software in place for awhile. The Alliance will also provide additional
training while the trainer is on-site at a reduced "Alliance price."
This training can cover any aspect that the facility would like addressed,
including using Microsoft Office. The Alliance will continue to emphasize
training in future grants and projects.
When
will the grant end?
Answer: The TIFB Request for Proposal stated that the grant would end
on May 31, 2000. The Alliance has requested and been given permission
of the TIFB staff to extend the grant until October 31, 2000. This will
allow more time for facilities to utilize the network and Internet access
and give the Alliance the time it needs to do Needs Assessments and bring
applications and services to its members over the network.
How
much will it cost to continue using the network after the Grant ends?
Answer: The ongoing charges associated with the continued operation of
the Alliance and network are: line charges, ISP fees and an Alliance membership/administration
fee. These costs vary by location. The goal of the Alliance is to minimize
these costs to its members through a number of strategies. They include:
1. Increasing the size of the Alliance; the greater the number of members
the less per member it will cost. 2. Cost sharing with the companies and
other service providers that will provide services over the network; thus
reducing costs to the facilities; and 3. Providing services that will
either increase revenue or reduce costs to Alliance members so that the
Alliance's ongoing costs would be more than offset by savings or increased
revenue received.
The
Alliance's objective is that cost will not be an issue in whether or not
facilities choose to participate in the Alliance and its activities.
Why
did the Alliance select FirstClass as its e-mail groupware?
Answer: FirstClass is an affordable and scalable communication and collaboration
software that provides e-mail and real-time discussion tools as well as
provides the reliability that the health care profession requires. Even
more important FirstClass is secure so that you can communicate between
other Alliance members with out concerns about anyone else reading your
messages. The product is cross-platform compatible and works with all
major Internet browsers. The included groupware allows for group discussions,
schedule management and resource "calendaring" as well as seamless
connections into and out of the Alliance network for e-mail communications.
You can learn more about this product that is rapidly growing in users,
now over 4.5 million, at the companies web site (http://www.softarc.com/)
and even download users manuals that will help you learn to use all the
features of FirstClass.
Can
I add workstations to this network?
Yes, The Alliance encourages each facility to add workstations to their
network. The addition of workstations will enhance the use and value for
each employee in your facility. The Alliance would like to see network
workstations used by administrative and medical providers at your facility.
The Alliance plans to institute discussion forums among people with similar
responsibilities (chief administrator, physicians, directors of nursing,
purchasing manager, etc. It also is working with the Texas Department
of Health to institute medical alerts to each facility through the Alliance
desktop.
Each workstation that is set
up on the network must have the Alliance "desktop" on their
computer. This is the picture that you see each time you turn on the computer
(i.e. Internet Medical Resources, E-mail, Alliance News & Information,
and Alliance Alerts and Updates). This must be installed with each and
every computer that is added to the network as a condition of adding a
computer to the network. The Alliance will supply the desktop and an additional
e-mail license for each computer added to the network. The costs involved
will be the responsibility of the facility. These include the computer,
monitor, network interface card (NIC), cable installation, software, etc…
How
can I add workstations to this network?
Run CAT 5 cabling between the new workstations and the Network Ethernet
Switch. You will need a 100 MBS Network Interface Card (NIC) installed
on the computer. The installed Ethernet Switch has either 12 or 24 ports
so that you can attach up to 12 or 24 computers or network printers to
it. You will then need to add a new user to your LAN at the Server by
using the NT Server software. This is done by Clicking on start, select
Programs, select Administrative Tools, then select User Manager. Once
you have opened the User Manager box then choose user, click on new user
and a new user dialog box will open. You will now enter the information
requested, Username (this will be the users network login name), full
name, description (describe the person by job title or any description
that may be useful in identifying the user), password and confirm the
password. You will now have some options to select and this will determine
how the user initially logs on.
- User must change password at next login.
- User cannot change password.
- Password never expires.
- Account disabled.
After choosing the options that apply to the User, select OK and this completes User setup. This will enable the user to log on to the network from anywhere on the LAN.
Can
I add a Printer to this station?
Yes, installation
of a printer is approved by the Alliance. Please make sure that the printer
is compatible with your operating system before purchasing or installing.
The NT Operating System will crash if you connect hardware to it that
is not compatible.
If it is compatible with NT, all
you need to do to add a printer is simply connect it to a Parallel printer
port of the workstation and add the printer driver by selecting start,
select control panel, select printer. The printers box opens and select
add printer. The add printer wizard will open and ask if you want to connect
it to you’re my computer or if it is a network printer.
Select my computer, then choose the
port usually LPT1 because most printers are hooked to this port. If you
printer is to be connected to another port then select the correct port.
The add printer wizard will now ask you to install your software for the
printer.
At this point choose the manufacturer
from the list provided, then select have disk and insert either the floppy
or the CD that came with the printer. The add printer wizard will ask
you to choose the name of the printer. Choose whether you want to use
this printer the default printer.
The add printer wizard will ask you
to select whether this printer will be shared or not, if you share this
printer then you must select the operating systems that apply to the shares.
Select Print a test page. Now select finish and the printer is setup.
Can
I add software to this computer?
Yes,
the addition of software is quite commonplace for most facilities to function
on a daily basis. The computer that was installed uses the Windows NT
4.0 operating system and may or may not be compatible with the software
you want to install. Please check with the software vendor to confirm
operating system compatibility. The initial purchase of the workstation
from the Alliance includes Helpdesk support for the equipment and all
original software that came installed on the computer. If any additional
software is installed on the computer, it could cause the computer to
stop working or not function correctly. The Helpdesk will try to resolve
your issue but may suggest you contact the software vendor from which
you purchased the added software to resolve any issue regarding additionally
installed software.
How
do I deal with multiple e-mail accounts?
FirstClass
E-mail is an excellent groupware e-mail It has the ability to import e-mail
from 5 different POP3 e-mail addresses into the First Class e-mail account.
If you have existing POP3 e-mail accounts, you can forward all of your
existing e-mail accounts to the First Class e-mail account. FirstClass
can also forward all of your FirstClass e-mail to another e-mail account.
Either of these methods is great for you when you want to consolidate
your e-mail into one e-mail account for your convenience.
How
can we get a link added onto the Alliance website?
If you have found a link to a resource or information site that is of
value to you and you want to share it with others on the Alliance network
send an e-mail to Admin, the Alliance FirstClass administrator. Include
the site URL and the name of the site. He will forward the message on
to the individual that updates the web site.
You can also contact the Alliance by e-mail or telephone at the following address. Our thanks for participating!
Larry
Krupala
President/CEO
Texas
Rural Hospital Telecommunications Alliance
361.275.3595
Fax: 361.275.5575
lkrupala@nodial.net
