Wednesday, November 27, 2019

History of Mutiny on the Bounty

History of Mutiny on the Bounty In the late 1780s, noted botanist Sir Joseph Banks theorized that breadfruit plants which grew on the islands of the Pacific could be brought to the Caribbean where they could be used as a cheap food source for slaves working on British plantations. This concept received support from the Royal Society which offered a prize for attempting such an endeavor. As discussions ensued, the Royal Navy offered to provide a ship and crew to transport breadfruit to the Caribbean. To this end, the collier Bethia was purchased in May 1787 and renamed His Majestys Armed Vessel Bounty. Mounting four 4-pdr guns and ten swivel guns, command of Bounty was assigned to Lieutenant William Bligh on August 16. Recommended by Banks, Bligh was a gifted sailor and navigator who had previously distinguished himself as sailing master aboard Captain James Cooks HMS Resolution (1776-1779). Through the latter part of 1787, efforts moved forward to prepare the ship for its mission and assemble a crew. This done, Bligh departed Britain in December and set a course for Tahiti. Outbound Voyage Bligh initially attempted to enter the Pacific via Cape Horn. After a month of trying and failing due to adverse winds and weather, he turned and sailed east around the Cape of Good Hope. The voyage to Tahiti proved smooth and few punishments were given to the crew. As Bounty was rated as a cutter, Bligh was the only commissioned officer on board. To permit his men longer periods of uninterrupted sleep, he divided the crew into three watches. In addition, he raised Masters Mate Fletcher Christian to the rank of acting lieutenant in March so that he could oversee one of the watches. Life in Tahiti This decision angered Bountys sailing master, John Fryer. Reaching Tahiti on October 26, 1788, Bligh and his men collected 1,015 breadfruit plants. The delay off Cape Horn led to a five-month delay in Tahiti as they had to wait for the breadfruit trees to mature enough to transport. During this time, Bligh allowed the men to live ashore among the islanders. Enjoying Tahitis warm climate and relaxed atmosphere, some of the men, including Christian took native wives. As a result of this environment, naval discipline began to break down. Attempting to control the situation, Bligh was increasingly forced to punish his men and floggings became more routine. Unwilling to submit to this treatment after enjoying the islands warm hospitality, three sailors, John Millward, William Muspratt, and Charles Churchill deserted. They were quickly recaptured and though they were punished, it was less severe than recommended. In the course of events, a search of their belongings produced a list of names including Christian and Midshipman Peter Heywood. Lacking additional evidence, Bligh could not charge the two men as aiding in the desertion plot. Mutiny Though unable to take action against Christian, Blighs relationship with him continued to deteriorate and he began to relentlessly ride his acting lieutenant. On April 4, 1789, Bounty departed Tahiti, much to the displeasure of many of the crew. On the night of April 28, Christian and 18 of the crew surprised and bound Bligh in his cabin. Dragging him on deck, Christian bloodlessly took control of the ship despite the fact that the most of the crew (22) sided with the captain. Bligh and 18 loyalists were forced over the side into Bountys cutter and given a sextant, four cutlasses, and several days food and water. Blighs Voyage As Bounty turned to return to Tahiti, Bligh set course for the nearest European outpost at Timor. Though dangerously overloaded and lacking charts, Bligh succeeded in sailing the cutter first to Tofua for supplies, then on to Timor. After sailing 3,618 miles, Bligh arrived at Timor after a 47-day voyage. Only one man was lost during the ordeal when he was killed by natives on Tofua. Moving on to Batavia, Bligh was able to secure transport back to England. In October 1790, Bligh was honorably acquitted for the loss of Bounty and records show him to have been a compassionate commander who frequently spared the lash. Bounty Sails On Retaining four loyalists aboard, Christian steered Bounty to Tubuai where the mutineers attempted to settle. After three months of fighting with the natives, the mutineers re-embarked and sailed to Tahiti. Arriving back at the island, twelve of the mutineers and the four loyalists were put ashore. Not believing that they would be safe in Tahiti, the remaining mutineers, including Christian, embarked supplies, six Tahitian men, and eleven women in September 1789. Though they scouted the Cook and Fiji Islands, the mutineers did not feel that either offered sufficient safety from the Royal Navy. Life on Pitcairn On January 15, 1790, Christian re-discovered Pitcairn Island which had been misplaced on British charts. Landing, the party quickly established a community on Pitcairn. To reduce their chances of discovery, they burned Bounty on January 23. Though Christian attempted to maintain peace in the small community, relations between the Britons and Tahitians soon collapsed leading to fighting. The community continued to struggle for several years until Ned Young and John Adams took control in the mid-1790s. Following Youngs death in 1800, Adams continued to build the community. Aftermath of the Mutiny on the Bounty While Bligh was acquitted for the loss of his ship, the Royal Navy actively sought to capture and punish the mutineers. In November 1790, HMS Pandora (24 guns) was sent to search for Bounty. Reaching Tahiti on March 23, 1791, Captain Edward Edwards was met by four of Bountys men. A search of the island soon located ten additional members of Bountys crew. These fourteen men, a mix of mutineers and loyalists, were held in a cell on the ships deck known as Pandoras Box. Departing on May 8, Edwards searched the neighboring islands for three months before turning for home. While passing through the Torres Strait on August 29, Pandora ran aground and sank the next day. Of those on board, 31 crew and four of the prisoners were lost. The remainder embarked in Pandoras boats and reached Timor in September. Transported back to Britain, the ten surviving prisoners were court-martialed. Four of the ten were found innocent with Blighs backing while the other six were found guilty. Two, Heywood and James Morrison, were pardoned, while another escaped on a technicality. The remaining three were hung aboard HMS Brunswick (74) on October 29, 1792. A second breadfruit expedition departed Britain in August 1791. Again led by Bligh, this group successfully delivered breadfruit to the Caribbean but the experiment proved a failure when the slaves refused to eat it. On the far side of the world, Royal Navy ships relocated Pitcairn Island in 1814. Making contact with those ashore, they reported the final details of Bounty to the Admiralty. In 1825, Adams, the lone surviving mutineer, was granted amnesty.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

How Graduate School Is Different From College

How Graduate School Is Different From College The first days of graduate school go by in a blur for most new students. Even if you attend the same university as you did as an undergraduate, the graduate school experience is very different from being an undergrad. Is grad school harder than college? Definitely. Coursework Is Just the Beginning Classes are a big part of masters programs and the first couple of years of doctoral programs. But grad school entails more than completing a series of classes. You will take courses during the first couple of years of your Ph.D. program, but your later years will emphasize research (and you probably wont take any courses during those later years). The purpose of grad school is to develop a professional understanding of your discipline through independent reading and study. The Apprenticeship Model Most of what you learn in grad school will not come from classes, but from other activities such as  conducting research and attending conferences. Youll choose  and work closely with a faculty member on his or her research. As an apprentice of sorts, youll learn how to define research problems, design and carry out research projects to test your hypotheses and disseminate your results. The end goal is to become an independent scholar and devise your own research program.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Graduate School Is a Job Approach grad school as a full-time job; its not school in the undergraduate sense. If you soared through college with little studying, youre in for a big culture shock as a grad student  The reading lists will be longer and more extensive than youve encountered in college. More importantly, youll be expected to read and be prepared to critically evaluate and discuss it all. Most grad programs require that you take initiative for your learning and demonstrate a commitment to your career.   Graduate School Is a Socializing Agent Why is graduate school so different from undergrad? Graduate training teaches you the information and skills that you need to be a professional. However, being a professional requires more than coursework and experiences. In graduate school, you will be socialized into your profession. In other words, you will learn the norms and values of your field. Relationships with faculty members  and other students are important to your career, and youll make them in grad school. Most importantly, you will learn to think like a professional in your field. Graduate school shapes the mind and leads students to think in new ways. You will learn to think like a professional in your field, whether a scientist, historian, educator, philosopher or practitioner. It truly prepares you to immerse yourself in a specific field - especially if you choose to become an academic professional in the long run.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

An Ethical Approach towards Developing the Student Workload Project Essay

An Ethical Approach towards Developing the Student Workload Project - Essay Example As the paper outlines, the ethical issues may also involve the role of the developer of the system concerning the objective of the information technology system. The following analysis aims to identify the ethical issues surrounding a class project concerning intellectual property and reliability of the project. The case study for the analysis is based on the student workload tracker project. The student Workload tracker project was developed under the oversight of two administrator and nine project members who contributed towards the development of the project. The student workload tracker project was aimed at developing a computer system that would enhance the scheduling process of student’s assignments in school. In an ordinary learning environment students attempt to struggle balancing assignments, academic studies and social life. Subsequently, this makes the students to be overwhelmed since especially when they lack proper time management skills. Therefore, the student w orkload tracker project was aimed at developing a time management schedule based on the analysis of students’ routine activities and the normal time spent on completing a specific activity. Consequently, the system would use the data to present a trend based on various analytical tools such as graphs and charts. In addition a user interface would be used to enhance the appearance of the data in order to provide a clear view of the students’ task performance trends. Therefore based on the portrayed trend by the system, the students would be in a position to create a reliable schedule based on sequence of assignments and the anticipated time for completing relevant tasks. The implementation of the Student Workload tracker system was assessed on the basis of functionality and achievement of the deliverables by the group members.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Financial Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Financial Analysis - Essay Example They will have to use some money and time before recovering and making sales. Barriers to entry are conditions that stop or obstruct a potential competitors ambition to participate in the market. Several barriers to entry exist in other industries that allow certain firms to operate as a monopoly. Legal restrictions and licensing requirements from the government can restrict domestic or international competition (Dilek and Colakoglu, 2013). In addition, brand loyalty provides a barrier to entry, for instance, through product differentiation. It is difficult for people to compete with a valued brand like Coca Cola. The ability to control natural resources is another barrier to entry that facilitates a monopolistic market (Dilek and Colakoglu, 2013). For example, diamond-mining companies, such as De Beers, keep the value of diamonds high because they allow only limited mining of the natural resource. Fortunately, the barriers are contestable because other players in the market see the potential in the market and can fight for a place. Market forces are dominant enough to break a monopoly (Dilek and Colakoglu, 2013). Normally, a monopoly enjoys government protection, and for the case of Forrest, he have no protection, other than the fact that there are no boats. A perfectly competitive market results from a less contestable market. Even so, at times it these barriers are not contestable. A good example is the use of application software like Microsoft Word. Most people will use it simply because they want to enjoy compatibility with other users and face fewer challenges in its use. In such a case, the barrier to entry is not

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Poetic Reflections on Mortality and Ephemerality Essay Example for Free

Poetic Reflections on Mortality and Ephemerality Essay Have you ever hypothetically pondered the details of your own fatality? Everyone covets a bit of certainty that not many realities allow, but mortality -while a glum concept- is a definite fate we will all ultimately encounter in our respective lifetimes. â€Å"Nothing is more predictable than death. Each of us will die without any need to take adventuresome risks. † (Kelly, 1986). This is likely the reason prolific poets Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost have created quite similar themed poems using dissimilar imaginative slants in which they optimistically convey the topic of human transience. Death is a disheartening, tragic matter that not very many individuals readily wish to discuss. Because ephemerality is, however, an extremely ordinary notion to countless expressive artists, it is vital to notice the literary elements these renowned authors applied which set such works apart from less potent pieces. The symbolism, tone, assonance, rhythm, and other literary techniques behind the elegies â€Å"Nothing Gold Can Stay† (Frost, 1969) and â€Å"Because I could not stop for Death† (Dickinson, 1893) fervently beg for further exploration. No matter which approach authors apply to such deviations, one truth remains; the amount of life contained in the works by Frost and Dickinson is somewhat ironic to say the least. If you envision the scenery described in literary pieces you read as if you are a participating, fictional character, you exceptionally possess â€Å"The human power that shapes artistic expression † (Clugston, 2010 a). Put in simpler terms, you clearly have a vivid imagination! Prodigious writers can and will effortlessly incorporate such imagery into their work by imploring the implicit values of society and culture(s). Nothing Gold Can Stay† by Robert Frost (1969) is unquestionably far from the exception as he connects the way leaves grow, change, and die to our eventual demise with ease. Frost wrote, â€Å"Natures first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. † (Frost, 1969). With the introduction of this allusive writing technique, he develops a clear yet slightly ambiguous mental picture for his readers to envisage. Of course, we know nature is not a person nor does have hands in which it could literally grasp a color. Hence, the meaning of Robert’s words is symbolic and figurative. Sure, Mr. Frost could very well have written something resembling â€Å"Beings age like leaves change colors. † Instead, this brilliant poet was aware of the fact that generating embodiment versus the aforementioned simile delivers the most enticing reading experience to the audience. In â€Å"Because I could not stop for Death† (Dickinson, 1893), the author similarly dishes out a full serving of powerful metaphors making this another comparable aspect to personification found in Frosts’ poem. At the very beginning, Emily Dickinson refers to unescapable, human cessation as a chivalrous gentleman when she states, â€Å"Because I could not stop for Death, He kindly stopped for me;† (Dickinson, 1893). The author is actually being extremely facetious as a deliberate, artistic maneuver in order to give life to the darkest of subjects. She selects to represent passing away in a more graceful process. It is a steady flowing motif continuing throughout the body of this work to form a concise, elucidating theme. From centuries beyond the grave, the narrator describes the peaceful process of her passing, in which Death is personified and escorts her in his carriage. During the leisurely ride, she passes many ordinary sights: a school house, fieldsbut finally realizes that the ride will last for all eternity. † (Chen Aull, 1993). Dickinson’s apparent intention in this poem is depiction via exemplification. Her language is a quintessential representation of an all egory with more thought provocation than verity. Again, readers should prepare themselves to observe a nonliteral or rhetorical scenario and focus on ascertaining the seriousness hidden behind a much more abstract meaning. Symbolism is another conceptualized, literary element featured in both stories despite being more prevalent in â€Å"Nothing Gold Can Stay† (Frost, 1969). Frost used the typical colors of nature (green and gold) imply symbols of spring, that progress as the remaining cycles of nature seasonally occur. Furthermore, he hints at a deeper meaning behind death— a period of transformational change. In order to appreciate this impression, â€Å"Recall Socratess argument: ‘the state of death is one of two things: either the dead man wholly ceases to be and loses all consciousness or, as we are told, it is change and a migration of the soul to another place’. † (Deppman, 2000). He picked the color gold to symbolize the fragility and eventual insignificance of even our most valuable physical and emotional possessions. By his statement, â€Å"Then leaf subsides to leaf, So, Eden sank to grief. † (Frost, 1969), Frost selects to demonstrate the sorrow felt after loss of life as well as depicting an analogous allusion to the biblical Creation story. Whereas in â€Å"Because I could not stop for Death† (1893), Emily Dickinson poses a more unconventional attitude toward her own demise. In lines five through eight, she writes, â€Å"We slowly drove, he knew no haste, And I had put away, My labor, and my leisure too, For his civility. † (Dickinson, 1893). When the speaker refers to ‘his’ â€Å"kindness† and â€Å"civility†, she is articulating death as a slow, patient, and compassionate. â€Å"She progresses from childhood, maturity (the gazing grain is ripe) and the setting (dying) sun to her grave. The children are presented as active in their leisure (strove). The images of children and grain suggest futurity, that is, they have a future; they also depict the progress of human life. † (Unknown Author, 2009). Thus, the carriage ride actually symbolizes the act of abandoning her life and the memories it contained. She humbly revers death as the calm, quiet finally of incarnation. Dickinson even insinuated the harsh reality of visiting of her own grave when she wrote, â€Å"We paused before a house that seemed, A swelling of the ground; The roof was scarcely visible, The cornice but a mound. (Dickinson, 1893). Aging to the point of loss of life does remain the central theme inside both poems, but representations are a tad more distinct in Frosts’ than in Dickinson’s symbolic approach. Have you ever witnessed one’s mood shift completely? Authors generally try to maintain the same theme throughout one work. It is equally as important to discern the how t he author’s tones contribute to the clarity of each piece. Sometimes, whether done by the author accidentally or with intent, we observe a change in the mood(s) of a motif. While Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost mutually demonstrate the qualities of human temporariness, their tones are also diverse. By writing, â€Å"Nothing Gold Can Stay† (Frost, 1969), the permanent state of leaving this world is denoted in a matter of fact way. Frost does not truly elude to his personal outlook on an afterlife, but focuses more on the cycle of life itself. Dickinson not only utilizes the same facet, but also takes it a step further when she states, â€Å"Since then tis centuries, and yet each, Feels shorter than the day I first surmised the horses heads, Were toward eternity. (Dickinson, 1893). She began her countenance with succinct tenor that later becomes a bit clouded. Dickinson’s audience receives a definite resolve rather than experiencing the need to imply ideals she holds about her faith. Each of these poems is incredibly whimsical, but Frost concisely manipulates the setting of nature giving his work the currency of application to any period i n time. Sound patterns are another inspired technique both composers have exposed us to in the intricacy of their work. We automatically follow the rhythm these superb authors display. For instance, Frost uses alliteration in â€Å"Nothing Gold Can Stay† when he writes, â€Å"So dawn goes down to day. † (Frost, 1969). The repetition of words that begin with a â€Å"d† is a strategy meant to make the thought stronger and more emphatic for readers. His rhyme scheme is comprised of modest, consonant couplets (non-alternating). Dickinson actually used the complete opposite effect. In her poem â€Å"Because I could not stop for Death† (Dickinson, 1893), she integrated the repetition of vowel sounds by presenting an alternating pattern of words known as assonance. Again, an example is unmistakable in the lines, â€Å"We slowly drove, he knew no haste, And I had put away, My labor, and my leisure too, For his civility. † (Dickinson, 1893) and more specifically the poetic harmony of the words â€Å"away† and â€Å"civility. † With the rhythm in this poem, there is rhyme, but it has a much greater reliance on pronunciation. She may have started a trend in literature as, â€Å"Assonance is frequently substituted for end rhymes in modern poetry. † (Clugston, 2010 b). The authoring style Frost exercised was extra simplistic, yet multidimensional as well. Is it not an astounding conception to think of the distinguished artistry that must have went into two ostensibly austere compositions about the matching theme of impermanence? The fact that we cannot artlessly disregard the scholarly adeptness and literate gifts of Dickinson and Frost is surpasses distinction. Even more significant than the expiry themes both versifiers applied is the presence of underlying secondary themes. Frost hints life as being â€Å"golden,† leading one to surmise he is ‘saying’ to â€Å"Carpe Diem† or â€Å"Enjoy the day. (Online Etymology Dictionary, 2010). Therein, he selects to show life has precious intrinsic worth. Even though there are purity and a biblical reference in Frost’s â€Å"Nothing Gold Can Stay† (1969), his nature theme additionally highlights environmental/scientific characteristics. Syntax expended by Dickinson in â€Å"Because I could not stop for death† (Dickinson, 1893), in fact, alludes to a compassion and sympathy being felt for the persona. A prime example is her statement, â€Å"The carriage held but just ourselves, And Immortality. † (Dickinson, 1893). If the dramatic concentration of this author was to deliver a graceful reflection on her evolution, she was unequivocally efficacious. Some find it helpful to get an outsider’s opinion of the depressing conversational topic of human immortality. While our passing lingers as a fully common subject for individuals to contemplate spiritual principles, authors have written pieces that include a plethora of other beneficial notions worth uncovering. â€Å"Because I could not stop for Death† (Dickinson, 1893) is exquisitely illustrated by Emily Dickinson and venerated as an allegoric requiem with assonance that produced solid imagery. Likewise, Robert Frost impeccably regulated â€Å"Nothing Gold Can Stay† (Frost, 1969) to communicate symbolism with a classic form of consonance that is painless to identify. Both literature icons fine-tuned those components with figures of speech, personification, and tone and themes, rhyme schemes, and other literary techniques all requiring immense, prior critical thought in â€Å"Nothing Gold Can Stay† (Frost, 1969) and â€Å"Because I Could Not Stop for Death† (Dickinson, 1893). They expel an aura of chirpiness that renders as a refreshing and unique outlook encompassed in positivity. These poetic mavens wanted their audience(s) to derive a deeper message about making the most of our lives. Two notorious, inspirational pieces of literature are calling upon us to take some risks and make an impression before we take our last breathe.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Theory Of Varied Consume Choice Behavior And Its Importance :: essays research papers

Theory Of Varied Consume Choice Behavior and Its Importance For decades, scholars and practitioners have been frustrated by the very limited capacity of either psychological or marketing models to predict individual choices on particular occasions. This paper discusses a theory which explains the degree to which the extant models omit important influences that produce varied individual choice behaviour. The focus of this paper is on the sequences of product purchases. Discretionary actions and activities are also covered. THE THEORETICAL AND APPLIED RELEVANCE OF VARIED BEHAVIOUR The assumption that consumers make rational, utility-maximizing choices has played an important role in economic thought. As long as preferences remain unchanged, the consumer is expected to choose the most preferred of the available products. Thoughts about consumers' behaviour towards substitutes hold a similar position. If a consumer's preference for the most preferred alternative product declines or the product is currently unavailable, the consumer is expected to choose a close substitute. From the firm's strategic point of view, this means that the marketer of a secondary brand should make its brand similar to the most popular brand. Careful consideration of the preceding description of consumer choice behaviour and the firm's selection of a strategy immediately leads one to question the general applicability of these assumption / thought. Although consumers often display stable preferences, sound choice behaviour seldom remains constant. Instead, consumers frequently change their choices of products or brands. Furthermore, the choices made on different occasions often involve two very different products or brands. In summary, changing, varied behaviour is the rule. Managers often avoid the use of simple "me-too" brands, recognizing that consumers are seeking more than simple substitutes. This tendency is seen directly in a number of product categories in which successful products are seldom replaced with highly similar products. Instead, a degree of product newness is viewed as being essential to maintain consumer interest. The theory of consumer choice behaviour that is presented in this paper is designed to explain the typical degree of variability that consumers exhibit in a series of related choices. Should this theory more accurately describe individual choices, than the meaning and predictive power of many models must be questioned. For example, the results from all preference-based mapping methods, such as MDPREF (Carroll, 1972) and the Schonemann-Wang (1972) models, should be interpreted with great care. In these cases, the analyst must resist jumping to the conclusion that the choice objects that appear close to each other have similar characteristics. All simple attribute-based choice models, such as the widely used conjoint method, must also be interpreted carefully. Here one must resist the assumption that the set of most preferred items will necessarily have

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Record Retrieval System Essay

Chapter 1 The Problem and Its Scope Introduction Technology plays an important role in retrieving patient records in the lives of every patient, an office staff and a medical hospital because of the big boom of technology across the globe it enhanced the services of health institutions. Big, small hospitals or even clinics use the advantage of technology that gave ease to every transaction made especially on important document stored and released for patients. Every record is important just like birth certificates that every parent will retrieve from a hospital for future use of their children, a medical record or laboratory results needed by doctors for medical purposes. For the past decades, medical hospitals all over the world are using a paper system in the retrieval of patient’s records. Patient Record Retrieval is the process of getting the patient records back from a repository or a place where records are stored. Such as, an outpatient record is stored in the deck of folders, envelopes mostly sorted by family names, and there are hundreds or thousands in one of the corner of the office. Patients come and will retrieve records if needed anytime and does not have the assurance that a record will be able to retrieve in a short period of time. Medical centers in the country, it maybe prestigious or not, has also encountered the same problems as other countries encountered, scattered records are everywhere and occupied the whole space of the office, adds manpower for processing transaction and waste of office supplies and most especially retrieval services are slow. Government hospitals have many patients most especially poor people from rural areas and retrieving patient records in the hospital is the common problem. Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital is a government health agency intended for the poor and one of its services is to retrieve records of patients. One problem that clients lost their patience is because of turtle-like services of the agency in retrieving records. Factors that the hospital has a slow service in retrieving patient records and it is because records are very hard to locate that consumes couple of minutes in retrieving for a specific record being requested. In addition to the problems of Negros Oriental Provincial Records Department is that the paper  system consumes the office space, waste of paper materials and additional personnel for locating records. Thus, with all problems encountered by Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital Records Department in retrieving records, the researchers came up a solution to have a new computerized patient records retrieval system. Review of Related Literature, Studies and Systems Review of Related Literature Patients record a collection of documents that provides an account of each episode in which a patient visited or sought treatment and received care or a referral for care from a health care facility. The record is confidential and is usually held by the facility, and the information in it is released only to the patient or with the patient’s written permission. A problem-oriented medical record also contains a master problem list. The patient record is often a collection of papers held in a folder, but it may be computerized. Retrieval of medical record has been a significant means of communication between the Provider, Payer and Legal community. For decades it has been an extremely manual driven, paper driven process and time consuming process. With the advent of technology, issue of regulatory guidelines of PHI security and confidentiality such as Privacy Rules or HIPAA, Medical Record Retrieval and Release of Information is an industry which has undergone and is going through a lot of transformation. Earlier being done by the organizations themselves, this service is now being outsourced to specialists with the end goal to reduce retrieval time by process automation, reduce paper usage, and abide by the stringent HIPAA and Privacy rules. Retrieving medical records isn’t overly difficult, but it is a process with specific requirements. For example, medical records aren’t always stored at a physician’s office. First, the medical provider needs to be contacted and asked about where the medical records request forms should be sent. Once the correct mailing address has been obtained, the record request forms as well as a HIPAA authorization form and a check for copy charges needs to be sent. In a perfect world, the provider would receive the request and fill it right away. However, it’s not unusual for a request to sit in a pile on some clerk’s desk making follow-up calls an absolute necessity. Lehnart et al. defines a patient record management system as a system that stores demographic, and medical information from ancillary services such as registration, lab, radiology, pathology, pharmacy, consultation and transcription.They state that a record management system is not simply automated updates of paper based charts, but rather a dynamic system used to help health care workers make better informed dragonesses. According to Gaillour et al. a record management system is only effective at achieving the goals of increasing quality of care and lowering costs if the organization re†designs it’s current workflow and practices. Hence a very user† friendly system needs to be created to mitigate the risk of user dissatisfaction towards the new system. Fromberg et al. claim the clinical benefits to such a system includes easier, more rapid access to patient data charts; Improved clinical decision making and disease management; More educated patients about their own ailments; An increase in time to spend consulting with patients; An increased perception of patient care and theoretically a better working environment. All these benefits overall translate to better patient care. More benefits include a more efficient workflow, as duplicate tasks would not be performed as the need to re gather information would be eliminated as all data pertaining to the patient is readily available at all times. Time taken to execute administration functions, such as capturing patient demographics, drop dramatically. According to Dassenko and Slowinski, an average of up to 15 minutes was saved per patient on the patients first visit and further 20 minutes on each subsequent visit as a result of implementing a computer based patient record. Fischer and Bloude (1999) states findings that the retrieval of paper records was time consuming and finding the required information amongst many documents for certain patients could be a lengthy process. Wellen et al (1998) emphasized the advantage of EPR because it enables information be Time is saved by EPR in not requiring the whole patient file to be used to find to available quickly about specific requirements perhaps just one piece information. Coiera (2003) EPR added that information instantaneously drugs though many documents. with EPR instead of requiring a search such as allergies to particular could be obtained information strategy states that in the EPR system the patient records should be secure, accurate, and legible. They can be easily accessed by authorized staff and in addition to use for individual patients can be incorporated in research. Data can also be available for the improvement of quality. Bush (2002)recommended introducing and using an appropriate EPR system since it helps to reduce costs and ongoing expenses in providing multiple users access to faster. Distance is information, data protection and backups. An EPR backup system is more economical than the manual system since it saves space, time to locate and access information and maintenance costs. Abdellhak et al (1996) and Young (2000) state that physical control of a file are not always available, EPR data can be accessed at any provides adequate security. However, sometimes as many as 30% of which is not possible with paper records. Englebardt and Nelson (2002) and Reynolds (2003) agree that an increasing number of paper records approved workstation are authorized difficult more Robert(2002) one the information for the right reason. Especially Friedman (2005) considered security for confidentiality must be ensured this is and relevant with EPR systems even if it makes authorized access access patient record especially in emergency cases. Kirshna and authorized person. Where as a paper based system is available to only one person at a time to point out that an EPR system can  be used simultaneously by more than Amatayku (2004) drew attention to access policy which needs not only a ban sharing passwords but also a reminder of the possible legal consequences. Schmitz (1979 p.74) described an early EPR system at a time when â€Å"there is as yet no such thing as a fully electronic medical record†. The benefits were then seen to be â€Å"timeliness, accuracy, completeness and availability† resulting from†having physicians interact directly with an electronic management information system† (Schmitz 1979, p.75). He seems to have been one of the pioneers in anticipating the potential of EPR, and the benefits from professional input. Kovner (1990), who considered the use of electronic records for patient history and current treatments. The availability of computer systems from 1990 onwards further helped to prove the arguments raised by the two authors above. This availability changed medical record keeping to electronic methods, which were beneficial in many ways. methods of recording have reduced the size of records despite the fact that they contain very much more information. By using computers, doctors can easily access information from more than one source. The organization of records for ease of access is essential for efficiency and the importance of the service is recognized by supervisors in charge. Good organization and management requires good leadership to ensure efficiency and co-operation and a constant improvement performance. In addition to the above observations, Meijden et al (2000) measured the attitudes towards electronic patient record among physicians and nurses. The researchers noted that the experienced physicians and nurses were move positive, whereas the inexperienced ones found EPR to be more time consuming for data entry and retrieval, and they were concerned about their familiarity with computers and the need for training. This study implies that one has to be experienced in making the optimum use of EPR systems. Furthermore, an EPR system proves to have more effect on improving quality of patient care. Bickford (1995)noted the in as a restriction potential that EPR systems have for improving patient health costs, adding satisfaction for providers, researchers and administrators. Dick and Steen (1991) argued that patient records should include more information than just treatment details for as proposed by earlier researchers such as Kovner (1990), example, guiding problem solving, decision analysis, reminders, and risk assessment ,an do the relevant details(Dick & Steen1991,p.37). The system could prompt staff about additional considerations not available in paper records. The system would be accessible at all times. Similarly, a report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM 1997) helped to argue further that an electronic patient record is to be as the one that is specifically designed to support users through of complete and accurate data, practitioner reminders and alerts, clinical understood availability decision support systems, links to bodies of medical knowledge and other aids. Novak(2005) considered EPRs as time saving which can be life saving, transfers to cost other physicians history, effective whilst maintaining confidentiality and, making easy and immediate. However A personal EPR can contain a total medical complicated. EPR systems have to a greater extent improved patients records and facilitated  the selection of the most appropriate treatment. Amongst these advantages, Burton et al with the patient’s input can be created when records are retrieved much Lane & Hayward (1999) investigated the value of electronic patient records make adequate and legible records has been reduced to take only a few minutes per patient, when physicians’ time is tightly scheduled. However, Soper (2000) observed that more time to see a patient, together commented that the time taken to. Furthermore, the above author noted that accessibility of record sat a made possible. Electronic records are more legible and can resolve the problem of misplaced documents and the opportunity to show parents the records of their children if required. For  GPs and found them to be considerable, but there were doubts about the system on a larger. Furthermore, (Atkinson 1997; British Medical Association 2002). The training of users on EPR scale in hospital use. Mansoor (2002) Training the users in manipulating EPR systems has proved to be easier them to familiarize themselves with other aspects of computer supports the observation in that physicians use systems motivates applications. Computers for administrative purposes as well as EPR systems, and are keen to acquire computer skills and knowledge to enhance their clinical practice. They learn how to access computer based information and to how to make the best use of such resources. Svenningsen (2003) found the advantages of EPR included no loss of records, ease of access for all medical staff, some reduction in professionals. The same was the case for Smith, (2003) who considered good medication errors, better documentation, and more co-ordination between leadership and supportive staff were essential for a planning, strong successful EPR system. Benefits include accurate medication lists, legible notes and physician. Having experienced EPR he would never revert to paper records. Seems to summarize the general point of view of those who have experienced prescriptions. This the change from manual to electronic systems. Amatayakul (2005) emphasized the value of EPRs providing reminders to alert hospital staff to particular problems which may arise, and improve decision making, in addition to reducing errors. At the same time much information is still being handwritten in many hospitals and the electronic records do not necessarily include information which would assist decision making. Also it was helpful to have systems which work similarly in different places e.g. surgeries, clinics and hospitals. The benefits of EPR as outlined by Ginneken (2002, p. 115) included Flexibility in content and use, integration and adaptability to change. Once consensus is reached on terminology, architecture, and legislation, the EPR  will become as established as the Hippocratic Oath record has been for centuries†.It seems from the literature that benefits have been obvious in all the countries that have adopted the system, and even those who originally had difficulties in making the changes now express no regrets, because they have experienced the great advantage of electronic systems. There was a reported reluctance to change which needs to be overcome by a good training programme, and some people under-estimate their capabilities to cope with different systems ( Loomis & Ries 2002). As Huston (2004) noted, to such a change would require an agreed standard procedure and provision for the transition period. Faber(2003)draws attention to the fact that several authors new and implement argue that the implementation of EPR can fail if the assumed nature of the medical work being considered does not match the real aspects of that work. Related Studies and System According to the study of abdullah, f. Epr system in hamad medical corporation   Qatar that it greatly resolved the dissatisfaction with the existing manual patient  Record system expressed both doctors and nurses referred to many defects of the  Present manual system which caused irritation and potential exposure to reducing  Patient safety. Such obstacles can affect the improvement of patient care and delay Important treatment. From the findings the major problem of the traditional paper  Based record system appears to be misfiling of records causing difficulties in obtaining   Information quickly in emergencies. Thus the newly EPR system benefited the   Hamad medical in terms of the accuracy,legibility, confidentiality and time saving  in the patient records. Another study from Droma, Fahad et al. in automation of the patient record management sytem in St Francis Hospital Nsambya that Patient record management systems in hospital today necessitate a competent administration when handling patients, generating reports from cashier, patient details which serves as a key factor for the flow of business transactions in St Francis Hospital Nsambya. Unfortunately the current Record management system leads to misplacement of drug details, payment details, and late release of reports and insecurity to records. This research project is aimed at computerizing all the records about patients, staff and drug suppliers. In order to achieve this goal, a thorough System Study and investigation was carried out and data was collected and analyzed about the current system using document and data flow diagrams. The concept of report production has been computerized hence, no more delay in report generation to the hospital manager. Errors made on hand held calculators are dealt out completely The method used to develop the system include iterative waterfall model approach, dataflow, logical and entity relationship diagram were used to design the system and finally the language used were MySql, php, HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Atkinson (1997), whilst seeing the benefits of EPR systems, also that they could change clinical practice, and that there could be problems of controlling access to them. His research also reported anxieties that were expressed regarding the possibility of computer failure. The argument shows that the electronic record system has a â€Å"back up† scheme for computer failure patient which automatically prevents information from being lost. In addition, even if the benefits of EPR are recognized,found that the time taken to learn procedures was an obstacle to their use. A software engineering consultant, Sam Simple was hired to design a Computerized Patient Record system for a hospital. Each patient’s record in the database consists of a patient’s name, address, age, phone number, next of kin, name of parents, phone number, birth date and place, social security number, occupation, marital status, religion, military service, treatment history, family background, lifestyle information such as drug history and sexual  preferences, diagnostic and testing information, and insurance information. At the initial meeting held to discuss the project requirements, a hospital representative indicated to Simple that the hospital had conducted research on CPR systems prior to hiring him. Based on the report produced from the hospital’s research, it considered that user authentication to verify users’ ID and password at login was sufficient for their system, as far as the system security was concerned. However, Simple learned from a study that 85 percent of the passwords on a typical computer system were guessable. According to Dr. Marie Sy, CHITS, an electronic medical record (EMR) specifically designed for the community health centers in the Philippines, was developed through a collaborative and participative process involving health workers and the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) community, using the primary health care approach and guided by the open source philosophy. â€Å"The development of CHITS that the paper record retrieval time was decreased from 2.41 minutes to less than 5 seconds,† has resulted in increased efficiency of health workers, allowing them to spend more time for patient care, improved data quality; streamlin ed records management; and data-guided decision-making, both operationally and strategically,† Dr. Sy added. The development of EPR in most countries has been rapid in recent years with some differences to meet local requirements. Beaumont (1999) noted the advantage of electronic records in the UK, including simultaneous access from multiple locations, legibility, ease of exchange of data, and confidentiality. He compares the advantages with those of paper records which are: easily transported; easy to read; require no training and are never â€Å"out of order†. According to Beaumont’s personal experience, electronic records are an improvement on medical handwriting which is often illegible. In addition, he noted a need for training in the details of categories which the manual records should contain, just as computers may be â€Å"down†, so misfiled patient records can be equally frustrating. Frolick, (n. d. ) noted that electronic patient records in USA are of great benefit to patients, because they are not subject to loss, illegibility or inaccuracy, and assist in guiding patients’ daily treatment. In addition, the records would be readily available for research and accessible directly on the users’ screen. Furthermore, Madison(1997) reported Dr. Paul King’s opinion that the ability to create, and retrieve  charts quickly was of importance and time saving. The choice of the best EPR in USA for a particular department as important and there should be a wide range of availability of a system for selection. By the immediate accessibility of the right technical information lives could be saved, and this is the most important consideration of all. In addition to aspects such as time saving and quality of care, Kowalsky (2002)observed that, to make the system comprehensive and cost effective was a large task and integrating existing systems was difficult. Much as the EPR systems are suggested to provide the best solutions to improve patient record keeping, several authors have observed a number of challenges to them. For example, Fields & Duncker (2003) mentioned that although EPR systems are planned to be universal in UK by 2008, there were doubts about this. The complexity of the task and the need to complete it rapidly caused concern after previous NHS computerisation problems. There was anxiety and the need to convince staff of the benefits of the system. Bishop (2003) referred to availability, as being able to use the information or the source desired i. e., hardware, software or networks. The same issues were discussed by Singh et al. (2004) who noted that primary care in USA is complex and includes safety problems, with no two providers being alike. EPR imposed on any health system can have unpredictable effects, reducing or increasing safety. To some extent EPR could distract a GP from properly recording observations, but, if used correctly, would greatly assist in providing immediate and accurate information. In practice it is essential that all staff are familiar with EPR systems, if these are to be used effectively, and all aware of hazards and how to avoid them. Similarly, Pizziferri et al (2005) considered one factor which inh ibits the use of EPR in USA was the concern that it may take more time than paper records. A study of 20 physicians’ use of time at primary health centres was recorded, before and after the introduction of EPR, and a decrease in time was noted. This was also the case with dictating notes, reading, and writing; however searching for data was much faster than before. The researchers concluded that EPR took less time than manual records but that there was a need to identify EPR users who had difficulty with the system. Mikkelsen & Aasly (2005) of the neurology department at St Olave’s Hospital, Norway analysed electronic patient records and how the system affected performance, e. g. the ability to access information. Records for a neurological department were of variable accuracy because of lack of precise definitions, and were a potential threat to the safety of the system. Strict procedures are required to ensure accuracy and sufficient relevant information. The Steiermà ¤rkischeKrankenanstaltenGes.m.b.H. (KAGes), the governing body of the Styrian hospitals. Out of a new MIS, termed OpenMedocs, has been conducted. This system shall simplify the management, the access to and the exchange of health-related patient information. It is a centrally managed system at the headquarter of KAGes in Graz. The core of OpenMedocs is an electronic patient record (EPR) system. All documents concerning patients are stored in this system. Thus, it is possible to receive documents from a patient which have been generated in different hospitals ’at the push of a button’. Since almost all medical information of the hospitals concerning patients is managed in the ERP system, it is possible to avoid various disadvantages of ’traditional documentation’, like multiple medical attendance or local constraints of usage of retrieval possibilities, and user-oriented presentation of data should help, among other things, to speed up and to improve the quality of the medical decision-making process of physicians. Since the roll-out of OpenMedocs, the amount of these patient-related documents increased continuously. Thus, the efï ¬ cient storage and the timely retrieval of documents in the EPR system have gained considerable importance. The Problem Statement of the Problem This present study tries to analyze, design, develop, test and implement a Record Retrieval System for Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital. This study attempts to answer the following questions. 1. What is the current retrieval system used by Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital Records Department in retrieving records? 2. What are the problems encountered by retrieval section employees in the retrieval of patient’s records in NOPH Records Department? 3. What are the requirements needed for the development of the Computerized Retrieval System for Negros Oriental Records Department Retrieval Section? 4. How secure and manageable is the Computerized Retrieval System for NOPH Records Section? 5. How beneficial is the Computerized Retrieval System for  Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital Records Department Retrieval Section. Hypothesis H0: There is an existing problem with the current retrieval system of Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital Records Department. H1: Negros Oriental Hospital Records Department is in need of a new system that will help them improve their service. Technical Background Design Concept Input Data Captured Process Working with records Output Showing results by print outs Storage of the patient records Figure 1 It shows the input, process and output of the patient record retrieval system that in input in order to retrieved such records they need a personal information and the records they want to be retrieved in a system. In Process it is where the records has been process in order they could release the record and in output it is where the records have been already retrieved and ready to release to the authorized person. Design Method Figure 2 Agile Approach The methodology that use in developing the system is agile the researcher use  agile since it promotes adaptive planning, evolutionary development and delivery; time boxed iterative approach and encourages rapid and flexible response to change. A conceptual framework promotes foreseen interactions throughout the development cycle. There are five phases in this methodology the requirements, design, implementation, test and deployment. In requirements phase in which the requirements for the software are gathered and analyzed. This is equivalent to researching and brainstorming what the product requires. Examples can include general features, architecture discussions, workflow discussions and general product discovery. Design phase this is which will have all the requirements defined for the product. Implementation phase during the development, needed to test the code as well as get feedback from the customer on progress. Feedback from the customer can include mockups, front-end designs, and usability. Testing phase bugs and defects are always a constant in the software development process. It is important that there are good quality assurance standards to eliminate general issues. Deployment the software application is finally deployed and live. Once this occurs, a support plan needs to be in place for maintenance and general support on potential future issues. Significance of the Study Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital Record Department.The study will serve as a new instrument for the technological advancement that greatly benefits for Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital. This computerized system is intended to lessen the manpower which will lead to a faster and more accurate record retrieval process which will lead to profitability of the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital. Employees. The job of the employees will become more accurate and efficient through the use of the proposed system. This leads to less error which saves time and energy on the side of the workers. Employees can also focus on other tasks assigned that will make them more productive. Patients. The service of Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital to the patient will become more convenient. Less time will be consumed during the retrieval process. This will also lessen time for patients to wait for their records to be release. The study is also expected to increase the satisfaction of the patients to the services of the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital. Researchers This study is a great achievement for the researchers because it  will improve their skills in technical writing. The experiences while doing the research build up their characters and teach them values like creativity, working hard, team building and responsibility and time management. It also builds friendship and camaraderie among the co-researchers. It also gives them an overview of the IT industry and trains them to prepare to the competitive professional field. Questionnaire Directions: Please put a checkmark on the selected choice. Name (Optional):____________________________________ Age:______ Gender:____________ Department:______________________ I. The current system that NOPH are using in retrieving records: 1. What is the present system used by Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital Records Department Retrieval Section? __ Manual Retrieval __ ComputerizedRetrieval If manual, what are the tools or things used in retrieving records or how a single record is retrieved according to its arrangement? _By folders _By logbooks _By envelopes _By family names _By cabinets _By disease/injury Others (Specify):______________________ If computerized, what are the applications used? _ Microsoft Excel _Microsoft Word _Microsoft Access _Others(Specify):_____________________________ II. The problems encountered by employees in retrieving records: 2. What are the problems encountered by Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital Records Department in retrieving records? _Unarranged Documents _Difficulty in finding records _Lost Documents _ Mountainous Stocked Files _Crowded area Others(Specify):______________________________ III. Particular documents that Negros Oriental Hospital retrieve. 3. What are the common documents that hospital clients retrieved mostly? _Birth certificates _Death certificates _Laboratory results Others(Specify):___________________________________ References: Related Literature http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/patient+record http://www.wipro.com/industries/healthcare-segments/medical-records-retrieval.aspx http://www.sunbeltreporting.com/sunbelt-blog/bid/45059/Benefits-of-Outsourcing Medical-Records-Retrieval) Fischer, J. S. & Blonde, L., 1999. Impact of an electronic medical record on diabetes practice workflow. Clinical Diabetes, 17(2), 10-12. Wellen, D. et al., 1998. The electronic medical oncology record: misconceptions, barriers, and benefits. Cancer Management, 3 (5), 6-8. Coiera, E., 2003. Guide to health informatics. 2†³d ed. London: Arnold. Bush, J., 2002. Looking for a good electronic medical records system? Family Practice Management, 9(1), 50-51. Lenhart, J. G., Honess, K., Covington, D., and Johnson, K. E. â€Å"An Analysis of Trends, Perceptions, and Use Patterns of Electronic Medical Records Among Family Practice Residency Programs.† Family Medicine, February 2000, 32: 109† 114. Gaillour, F. â€Å"Rethinking the CPR: Is Perfect the Enemy of the Good?† Healthcare Management Technology[serial online], May 1999, 20: 22†25.32 Fromberg, R., and Amatayakul, M. â€Å"CPRI and the Future of Computer†based Patient Records.† Healthcare Financial Management, July 1995, 49: 48 Dassenko, D., and Slowinski, T. â€Å"Using the CPR to Benefit a Business Office.† Healthcare Financial Management, July 1995, 49: 68†70, 72†73 Abdelhak, M., et al., 2001. Health information: management of a strategic resource. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders. Englebardt, S. P. & Nelson, R., 2002. Health care informatics an interdisciplinary approach. USA: Mosby. Friedman, B. 2005. Health Records get personal: a technology outlook for consumer access to personal health information. Journal of American Health Information Management Association, 76(1), 42-45. Amatayakul, M., 2004. Electronic health records: a practical guide for professionals and organizations. USA: AHIMA. Schmitz, H. H., 1979. Hospital information systems. London: Aspen Systems Corporation. Kovner, A. R., 1990. Health care delivery in the United States. New York: Springer Publishing Company. Meijdan, M. J. V. et al., 2000. The user in the design process of an EPR. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics. 77,224-228. Bickford, C. J., 1995. The concept model of the electronic health record development of the CPR and CPRs concept models. Toward an electronic patient ecord? 95 Proceedings. 0 ed. IL, USA: Kelvyn Press. Dick, R. S. & Steen, E. B., 1991. The computer-based patient record, an essential technology for health care. Washington D. C.: National Academy Press. Novak, K., 2005. Reducing costs through electronic health records and services. Benefits and Compensation Digest, 42(10), 40. Burton, L. C. et al., 2004. Using electronic health records to help coordinate care. The Milbank Quarterly, 82(3), 457-581. Lane, V. & Hayward, P., 1999. Medical records. The Lancet, 353 (9149), 330. Soper, W., 2002. Why I love my EPR. Family Practice Management Journal, 9(9),1-7. Mansoor, E., 2002. Computer skills among medical learners. Journal of Ayub Medical College (JAMC), 14(3), 13-15. Svenningsen, S., 2003. Electronic patient records and medical practice, reorganization of roles, responsibilities, and risks. PhD thesis, Department of Organization and Industrial Sociology, CBS- Copenhagen Business School. Ginneken, A. M. V., 2002. The computerized patient record: balancing effort and benefit. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 65(2), 97-119. Amatayakul, M., 2005. Are you using an EHR-really? Healthcare Financial Management, 59(11), 126-128. Loomis, G. A. et al., 2002. If electronic medical records are so great, why aren’t family physicians using them? Journal of Family Practice, 51(7), 636-641. Huston, J. L., 2004. The need for mandatory clinical recording standards. Clinical Medicine, 4(3), 255-257. Faber, M. G, 2003. Design and introduction of an electronic patient record: how to involve users? Methods of Information in Medicine, 42(4), 371-375. Related Studies Abdullah, Foziyah., August 2007.Electronic Patient Records System in Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar: Perspectives and Potential Use. Droma, Fahad. et al.,An automated system for patient record management: a case study of St. Francis Hospital Nsambya. http://dspace3.mak.ac.ug/xmlui/handle/10570/443 Atkinson, C., 1997. A case study on development an electronic patient record in the UK. Requirements Engineering, 2(1), 1-14. Kibbe, David, MD, MBA, and Bard, Mark R., MHA, MBA. (1997). How Safe Are Computerized Patient Records?. Journal of Family Practice Management, May 1997 Vol. 4 No. 5 . Retrieved April 2, 2002 from American Academy of Family PhysiciansWebsite: http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/dental/Dental_Informatics/AOFC_Course/DI_Clinical/CPR.html http://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/index.php/2012-05-23-07-46-36/2012-05-24-00-01-11/5111-electronic-medical-record-system-chits-can-retrieve-patient-record-in-five-seconds-expert Beaumont, R., 1999. The electronic patient/healthcare record (EPRIEHR). 8 `h ed., [accessed 5.4.2004]. Frolick, M. N., [n. d. ]. Using electronic medical records to improve patient care, , [accessed2 6.03.2004]. Madison, D., 1997. Breaking away from paper. Healthcare Informatics, 14(10), 4-6. Kowalsky, C. A., 2002. The computerized patient record. Journal of Medical Education, 3(3), 1-6. Fields, B. & Duncker, E., 2003. The impact of electronic health records on crossprofessional healthcare work,

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Carribean Internet Cafe

Assignment #1: Caribbean Intern Cafe Date: November 14, 2012 1. There are many issues that Mr. Grant should consider before proceeding with the CIC. There are several things that Mr. Grant should examine before even looking at the projections given to him. Total capital is $2,250,000, $1,000,000 in investments and $1,250,000 in the form of a long-term loan. $1,573,000 is immediately spent leaving $677,000. If he has no customers, he can afford to remain open for 3 months.As well, they are not attractive to individuals who seek to use the Internet for longer periods of time and the customer base that they are attempting to attract is the more affluent and educated of the population. They are also the most likely to either already own a computer or will be purchasing a computer in the near future. Mr. Grant must have a business plan that is either for the short-term or able to readily adapt to future circumstances as he expects private usage to increase in 3 years. Mr. Grant should als o examine factors external to his business.These issues include his mention of the relatively low demand for coffee in Jamaica as well as changes in levels of private Internet usage. His management plan should include contingencies to replace coffee if it is not making a profit as well as plans for the computer area when future demands for Internet cafe’s start to decrease. A final issue that Mr. Grant should also examine is the terms of agreement for the long-term loan. If CIC is very profitable they may want to pay off the loan as quickly as possible instead of incurring unnecessary interest. 2.The fixed costs remain constant within a relative range of finished products produced. The fixed costs amount to an annual rate of $2,479,400 and the break down of each fixed cost is shown in Appendix 1. The fixed costs include the manager, employees, rent, telephone and utilities, link to Internet, insurance, advertising, interest on loan and miscellaneous administration and mainten ance fees. The start up costs amount to a one-time fee of $1,573,000 and the breakdown of each cost is shown in Appendix 2. It should be noted that in all cases start-up costs were amortized in the first ear. The variable costs are those that are accrued on a per customer basis and are shown in Appendix 3. This amounts to a weighted average Variable Cost of $104 per customer. 3. The costs of the first customer may be calculated by adding the fixed costs, start-up costs and variable costs for the first customer. The variable cost was calculated using a weighted average of based on the estimated usage of the Internet. Assuming that the fixed costs are calculated on an annual basis and are set for the entire year then the cost for the first customer will be $4,052,504. . The contribution margin may be calculated for each customer as: C/M = R – VC. A weighted average was used because it is estimated that 40% of the customers will use the computer thereby increasing variable profi t by $60 ($120 revenue, $60 variable cost). A breakdown of the variable costs and revenue are shown in Appendix 4. The contribution margin is $144 per customer. 5. In order for the CIC to break even they must cover their fixed costs, variable costs and start-up costs. This can be solved using the formula: B/E Pt. (Fixed cost + Start-up cost) / contribution margin B/E Pt. = (2479400 + 1,573,000) / 144 B/E Pt. = 28,142 Therefore, they will need to have 28,142 customers that at minimum meet their average consumption expectations of computer usage, food and beverages in order to reach their break even point in the first year. 6. Using the same formula as question 5, except that there are no longer any start-up costs but fixed costs ($2479400) and contribution margin ($144) remain the same so Mr. Grant will require 17,219 customers in order to reach his break-even point for the second year. . Based on the projected given to him we can calculated the expected contribution from each scenar io (Table 1). Scenario| Customers| Net Contribution (Revenue–Variable costs)| Optimistic| 50000| $7,200,000| Realistic| 24,000| $3,456,000| Pessimistic| 12,000| $1,728,000| As Internet usage becomes more common competition will increase and his business plan will most likely have to be reviewed. Therefore, in the first three years Mr. Grant should expect to make a significant profit in these years for the project to be worthwhile.Projected net profits (losses) for each scenario are shown in Table 2. Scenario| Year 1 ($)| Year 2 ($)| Year 3 ($)| Total ($)| Optimistic| 3,147,600| 4,720,600| 4,720,600| 12,588,800| Realistic| (596,400)| 976,600| 976,600| 1,356,800| Pessimistic| (2,324,400)| (751,400)| (751,400)| (3,827,200)| Table 2 shows the net profit (loss) for the first 3 years based on each scenario. All start-up costs are paid for in full in the first year only. Based on this these scenarios Mr. Grant would have a very difficult decision to make.Firstly, the net profit does not take into account the $500,000 investments that were made by both Mr. Grant and JTL. Secondly, the terms of the long-term loan are not made clear nor did the negotiations include an amortization schedule. As well, a long-term plan has not been made based on expected increases in private Internet usage. Finally, the probability of each scenario being realized is a very important tool to determine the expected value of Mr. Grant’s decision. If each scenario is equally likely to occur than Mr.Grant will have an expected profit of $3,372,800. 01. Although simplistic, we can determine that the CIC has made an expected $1,122,800 in three years if the loan is fully paid off years and all investments are recuperated. If the CIC were to then dissolve, each investor would make a profit of $561,400 a return on investment rate of 28. 52% compounded annually as well as revenue generated from sale of capital (excluded from further analysis for simplicities sake). In conclusion, based on the information available, unless Mr. Grant can find another investment hat will provide a greater return on investment than 28. 52% compounded annually for the next 3 years, he should give the CIC the green light. Appendices Appendix 1: Fixed Costs Expense| Cost per year ($)| Manager| 480000| Rent| 360000| Telephone and utilities| 180000| Link to internet| 120000| Insurance| 120000| Advertising| 120000| Employee Wage| 374400| Misc. admin and maintenance| 600000| Interest on loan| 125000| Total| 2479400| Appendix 2: Start-up Costs Expense| Cost ($)| Telephone and utilities| 7,000| Advertising| 20,000| Other up-front costs| 120,000|Equipment costs| 1,426,000| Total| 1,573,000| Appendix 3: Variable Costs Expense| Cost ($ per customer)| Food| 50| Beverages| 30| Internet Usage| 60| Total Average Variable Cost*| 104| *Calculated using a weighted average based on the assumption that 40% of customers will use the Internet for 1 hour Appendix 4: Variable Revenue Revenue| Revenue ($ per customer)| Food| 60| Beverages| 140| Internet Usage| 120| Total Average Variable Revenue*| 248| | | *Calculated using a weighted average based on the assumption that 40% of customers will use the Internet for 1 hour.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Robby Gamble Essays (1075 words) - Automation, Factory, Free Essays

Robby Gamble Essays (1075 words) - Automation, Factory, Free Essays Robby Gamble Professor Kelly EH1102-024 9 March, 2017 Is a robotic takeover upon us? Would you believe me if I told you in the near future 70 percent of the occupations American youth are aspiring to fill will be replaced by automation? As outlandish as this claim may sound, history has proven it to be true. In the early 19 th century the majority of the American workforce was centered around farms . As time progressed and the Industrial Revolution came along, a plethora of new jobs were generated in factories, and based around the machinery produced in theses factories. Thus , many Americans left their jobs on farms and flocked to factories . "Today automation has eliminated all but 1 percent of [farmer's] jobs, replacing them, (and their work animals) with machines (Kelly 299)." This concept is the premise of what Kevin Kelly, an author, founding member, and senior maverick at Wired , discusses in his article "Better than Human: Why Robots Will-and Must- Take Our Jobs". Kelly believes that an automation takeover is unavoi dable, and through this takeover , humans will be further advanced as a species. While I do believe Kelly ' s argument holds truth and validity, I do no t necessarily believe this takeover will be completely beneficial to the human race, the time period in which this takeover supposedly will happen is up for debate . Kelly begins his article by discussing the various methods by which automation and artificial intelligence has and is already being integrated into the American work force. He gives an example of an AI name d B axter. There are three things that separate Baxter from different forms of automation; Baxter has eyes, so he can sense his surroundings making him less hazardous than other machinery; Baxter can be easily programmed, so it does not take a higher level of education to program him , it does not take long to program him , and he will consistently preform whatever task he is assigned; a nd finally, Baxter is less costly than AI that is similar to him . As Kelly moves forward in his argument, he shifts his focus from different forms of automation to the actual relationship humans have with automation. Kelly uses a visual aid to convey the human robotic relationship. His visual aid can be broken down into four quadrants: Jobs today that humans do-but machines will eventually do better, Current jobs that humans can't do but machines can, Robots jobs that we can't even imagine yet, and Jobs that only huma ns will be able to do- at first. His visual aid serves as an excellent method to explain his idea that robots will take over the jobs we currently have, and they will force us to create new jobs. This continuous cycle will allow humans to focus on art, music, and other creative outlets that define the essence of being human. Finally, Kelly closes his argument by giving his readers something similar to the five stages of grief, but it is seven stages long and focus on accepting robots replacing humans in the workplace. While I do support Kelly's claims I do not do so whole heartedly. Kelly fails to i nclude the fact that people from every day citizens to the president of the United States are already arguing that jobs are being shipped across seas and taken over by robots. With that being said, I do not believe it will be easy to further integrate artificial intelligence into the workplace on a large scale swiftly. I truly believe that survival is something that comes natura l l y to humans, so its unlike ly that robots have the potential to wipe humans off the face of the planet, however I do question the human ability to maintain a high level of creativity and innovation. Kelly is very optimistic about this cycle of creation; however, it is hard to determine how long originality will last. An example is found in modern music. Major artists, such as Kanye West, are guilty of sampling music created in previous generations to create new music. While some may argue that looking to the past for inspiration can

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

All About the Genre of Character Writing

All About the Genre of Character Writing A brief descriptive sketch of a class or type of person (such as a city slicker, a country bumpkin, or a grumpy old man) rather than of an individual personality. Character-writing became a popular literary form in England following the publication in 1592 of a Latin translation of Theophrastus, an ancient Greek writer of similar sketches. Characters eventually became more individualized and were integrated with the essay and the novel. Also Known As: character sketch Examples of Character Writing The Character of the Man in Black, by Oliver GoldsmithA Definition of a Gentleman, by John Henry NewmanGood Souls, by Dorothy ParkerThe Landlord, by Henry David ThoreauMr. Barlow, by Charles DickensThe Plumber, by Anthony TrollopeThe Satirist, by Robert Louis StevensonStatus Details in Tom Wolfes DescriptionsThree Characters by John EarleThe True Friend, by Joseph Hall Etymology From the Latin (mark, distinctive quality) from the Greek (scratch, engrave) Observations and Examples: The 17th of a Character: The AnchormanHe graduated from drama school and looked for parts in television. Because he had prognathous jaws like a cowboys and every cilium of his light-brown hair seemed to be nailed into his skull for keeps, he was steered into the news department. At first, like all beginning newscasters, he had to leave the building...He would stand in front of the building and hold a microphone covered in black styrofoam and recite AP or UPI copy about [an] event. He could do this without skipping a beat, and he maintained his head of hair nearly intact, and soon he did not have to leave the building anymore. He was promoted to the anchor desk of the stations six oclock news broadcast, where he reads the AP and UPI copy from the Teleprompter. Only two things stand in the way of his goal of reaching the network news desk. One is the Anchorwoman, a fireproof blonde who is so aggressive, such a nutcracker, that she terrifies him. His on-air Happy Hour Chitchat with her sounds as if it is being extracted by water torture. The other is the ever-so-imperceptibly widening part in his hair.(Tom Wolfe, Success Stories: The Anchorman. In Our Time, Farrar, 1980) The Theophrastian CharacterTheophrastus (c. 371 of a Character: The Penurious ManThe Penurious man is one who, while the month is current, will come to ones house and ask for a half-obol [a silver coin]. When he is at the table with others he will count how many cups each of them has drunk; and will pour a smaller libation to Artemis than any of the company. Whenever a person has made a good bargain for him and charges him with it, he will say that it is too dear. When a servant has broken a jug or a plate he will take the value out of his rations; or, if his wife has dropped a three-farthing piece, he is capable of moving the furniture and the sofas and the wardrobes, and of rummaging in the curtains. If he has anything to sell he will dispose of it at such a price that the buyer shall have no profit. He is not likely to let one eat a fig from his garden, or walk through his land, or pick up one of the olives or dates that lie on the ground, and he will inspect his boundaries day by day to see if they remain the same. He is apt, also, to enforce the right of distraining, and to exact compound interest. When he feasts the men of his parish, the cutlets set before them will be small: when he markets, he will come in having bought nothing. And he will forbid his wife to lend salt, or a lamp-wick, or cummin, or verjuice, or meal for sacrifice, or garlands, or cakes; saying that these trifles come to much in the year. Then, in general, it may be noticed that the moneyboxes of the penurious are mouldy, and the keys rusty; that they themselves wear their cloaks scarcely reaching to the thigh; that they anoint themselves from very small oil-flasks; that they have their hair cut close; that they take off their shoes in the middle of the day; and that they are urgent with the fuller to let their cloak have plenty of earth, in order that it may not soon be soiled.(The Characters of Theophrastus, edited and translated by R.C. Jebb. Macmillan, 1870)

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Fine art in the age of mass media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Fine art in the age of mass media - Essay Example Instead of using the necessary creativity and innovation which is often attributed to beginning artists, the work of Hirst has begun to work with the celebrity status expectations that are a part of the artwork. Biography of Hirst Hirst was born in 1965 in Bristol, England where he began to study art. His first exhibition was in 1988 while studying at Goldsmith College. The student exhibition, known as Freeze, led to immediate recognition and still remains in an exhibition in London. The concept was associated with contemporary artists forming a group to show the main ideologies of what it meant to be a part of the modernist styles of visual arts. His first solo exhibition was held in 1990 and 1991 at Woodstock Street Gallery, called In and Out of Love. This led to different groundbreaking feature showings, such as the 1992 Young British Artists exhibition at Saatchi Gallery. This exhibition led Hirst into fame with gaining the Tate Gallery Turner Prize as well as the coveted award i n 1995. The recognition has now allowed Hirst to move into international recognition with showings in Soho New York as well as in locations such as Hong Kong, Rome, Athens, Geneva, Paris and Los Angeles. He is known for spot and spin paintings as well as medicine cabinet sculptures and glass tank installations (Hirst, 2011). The instant recognition of Hirst and the movement into specific types of paintings has also led into areas of fame which continue to push Hirst forward with his known works. He has been featured not only in a variety of galleries but is also continuously being noted in the press for his innovations and new works. Some leading areas of recognition include his interview with Charlie Rose, features in the New York Times and recognition by established artists in various network communities. The recognition is also continuing to extend with the press releases and different statements being based on Hirst being one of the most recognized contemporary artists, specific ally because of the conceptualism and the developments which are associated with his different pieces of art. The concepts which are often affirmed to Hirst are his innovation, unique approaches and the realism that is in the artwork created. Each of these are continuing to gather him press and recognition among contemporaries that are based in different locations globally (Jones, 2011). Today, Hirst is one of the most recognized and controversial artists of Britain. The question being raised is not only based on the fame and recognition that continues to steer the career of the artist and the works which he continues to create. The techniques, implication of craft and the development of works by Hirst are also raising questions about where art begins and ends. Many contemporary critics are stating that the works of Hirst are only for popularity and recognition in the name while lacking the intricate qualities of modern art and developments which are required. This is combined with the questions of whether it is art or only for popularity, specifically because of the continuous similarities in themes and the lack of innovation which most believe is a part of the work. Hirst is continuing to be controversial because of republishing the

Friday, November 1, 2019

Intercultural comm of Japanese Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Intercultural comm of Japanese - Essay Example However, despite the oddity in his questions, I understood most of them because we belonged to the same class. The aura around the interview room was casual since he is my longtime friend, the interview was therefore not formal and we could not make any more organized than it already was. Additionally, the friendship made it possible for me to ask any type of question without appearing patronizing. Kanemoto is friendly and highly likable, this explains our long friendship and my freedom to ask him any type of question. He is also funny and tries to make everyone around him feel comfortable and relaxed. Throughout the interview, he kept distracting me without some of his hilarious outburst. On more occasions, he could sing in his native Japanese language, which sounded funny enough. He translated the wording of his songs and I could not help laughing since they sounded funny but meant much to him. Besides the interview with my friend, I have also taken part in a number of other Japane se’s cultural activities such as the dance with my other Japanese friend Soran Bushi. Despite the fact that they had practiced for more than a month, I played a role in the dance thereby earning myself relative exposure on the culture. From the interactions with the Japanese, I learned a lot about their culture that differs with other cultures as elaborated in the discussion below. Introduction Culture refers to the way of life of a particular society or group of people. Culture therefore encompasses such pertinent issues as the way, in which people eat, dress and worship among other important social practices. For a long-time, global regions were secluded which therefore resulted in the development of definitive cultural practices. It was therefore easy to distinguish a group from their cultural practices, which would differ greatly with those of others. However, through such concepts as urbanization and globalization, the world successfully became a global village one in wh ich people easily interact with others. This resulted in faster communication and exchange of ideas through the modern telecommunication technologies such as the internet and mobile phones (Bradley, 2003). Currently the intense interaction among people has eliminated a number of cultural practices making people behave similarly. However, it is possible to differentiate people in terms of their cultural practices as each community even in the modern society still treasures a number of their indigenous cultural practices. One such community is the Japanese. Through an interview with a Japanese living in the United States of America, it became evident that the Japanese just as any other foreigner in the country exhibits unique cultural behaviors some as primary as the difference in their languages to other more essential personality differences arising from their unique culture. Such validate the claim that culture is an important aspect of life since through culture people determine t heir spiritual belief a key component of humanity from where people learn social values. Additionally, culture determines the food for a society (Berns, 2013). Different societies eat different types of food, which they handle differently in accordance to the dictates of their cultures. Japanese differ greatly with American, even those living in the country exhibit different behavior patterns from the Native Americans and other people from other parts of