...well, not really. In the beautiful world of social networking and social media, you can live in infamy, for the rest of your earthly existence or beyond for that matter.

Facebook recently posted a blog about the need to memorialize an account when someone dies (and to think, life used to be so easy). Now, not only do you have to file a for a death certificate when a loved one dies, you need to make sure you memorialize their Facebook account (and if Facebook is doing it, others will most certainly follow, seeing that social media is like a good sheep).

According to the blog entry, when someone dies, their friends or family (that's how it is worded, not family and friends), can contact Facebook to request that a profile be memorialized. The blog post says that when an account is memorialized, Facebook also sets privacy so that only confirmed friends can see the profile or locate it in search. Facebook protects the deceased's privacy by removing sensitive information such as contact information and status updates. Even if the person has passed away, he or she is still alive online, right? If sensitive information such as contact information and status update is removed, then someone knows that the person is no longer with us, I'm guessing.

Memorializing an account also prevents anyone from logging into it in the future (really?), while still enabling friends and family to leave posts on the Wall in remembrance of the person.

As Facebook's post said, "if you have a friend or a family member (note that friend consistently comes before family, so who are the most important ones here?) whose profile should be memorialized, please contact us, so their memory can properly live on among their friends on Facebook."

And in condolences for the dearly departed, Facebook says that as time goes by "the sting of losing someone you care about also fades but it never goes away." And, neither does your Facebook page.

I posted a blog recently about Software Advice posting a survey on its site. Here's the results of their survey about whether stimulus money for electronic health record/electronic medical record (EHR/EMR) adoption was creating any buyers or just tire-kickers.

Software Advice said that Oct. 30 marked the close of the first reporting period for grants, loans and contracts awarded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Health care is one of several industries eligible to receive funds (Read, The Stimulus Bill and Meaningful Use of Qualified EHRs/EMRs).

Software Advice noticed a jump in the number of medical practices researching EHRs. But were these practices ready to make purchases, or has the stimulus merely reinvigorated research?

The recent survey was sent through Software Advice's favorite health IT bloggers and posted a few tweets to spread the word. And, the results are in.

Nearly half of all participants believe the stimulus bill has only reinvigorated research among doctors and health IT staff, creating a growing pool of "tire-kickers."

Twenty percent of respondents think more doctors are buying EHRs, while 19 percent think the stimulus bill has had no affect on purchasing decisions.

Any comments, based on experience at your facility or organization?

Maybe next week you'll go for the one with the "Winner: Best Foreign Language Film, 2008 Venice Film Festival" sticker on it. But tonight you're in the mood for a poorly acted and painfully predictable slasher film; the one where the band of promising, carefree teens head for a harmless weekend retreat at idyllic Camp Killmore.

And there's nothing wrong with enjoying the sugar high that comes from such cinematic junk food. But it's also common to feel a bit ashamed when the buzz wears off, and you may not want others to find out about the B-movie bender you went on over the weekend.

A little embarrassment aside, would you feel comfortable knowing that total strangers could find out what flicks you pick on Friday nights? Or worse, they could take a look at your sensitive health information? If recent research is any indication, it may not be that difficult to get access to either.

Netflix, the popular online DVD and Blu-Ray disc rental service, recently held a competition to improve its recommendation software. Contestants received a training data set containing the movie preferences of 480,000-plus customers who had been "de-identified," according to a recent New York Times article.

A pair of computer scientists at the University of Texas at Austin (UT) recently conducted a privacy experiment to see if it was possible to determine the identities of those supposedly anonymous film buffs.

By comparing the preferences of some unnamed Netflix customers with personal profiles on Internet movie database www.imdb.com/, the researchers said they "easily re-identified some people because they had posted their e-mail addresses or other distinguishing information online," the Times reported.

The Los Gatos, Calif.-based service disputed the study's findings, claiming that Netflix had altered the data set before sending it to contestants, according to the Times. The researchers, however, said they were indeed able to positively ID Netflix customers by analyzing users' public postings and connecting them to their Netflix preferences, the article said.

In any case, the study adds fuel to the debate over how private electronic data -- including electronic health records -- can truly be.

"As our research shows, pretty much any information that distinguishes one person from another can be used to re-identify records," Vitaly Shmatikov, associate professor of computer science at UT and co-author of the study, told the Times.

A scary thought. With ARRA legislation signed months ago, and billions of that money earmarked to encourage the adoption of electronic health records (EHRs), we could be well on our way to building a health care system where medical errors are fewer, costs are lower, and fraud, waste and duplication are greatly reduced.

Indeed, the potential of EHRs to improve the delivery of health care has been well-documented. As have the shortcomings of current laws governing the privacy of digital health records.

Regulations currently in place require that patients be notified if their personal medical information has been released without their authorization, and the selling of protected health records is prohibited.

But "de-identified" health care data? That's still fair game, and can be sold without the patient's consent to interested parties such as insurance companies and pharmaceutical marketers, for example, to target very specific groups of patients -- some with illnesses or conditions they'd prefer to keep as private as possible. Online patient records can also be viewed by any and all individuals within the health care system allowed to do so by law.

So, while EHRs may ultimately offer patients and health care providers greater access to vital data, questions of how to best protect that information clearly remain.

What questions do you have? In your opinion, what should digital privacy laws entail? How can health care providers ensure that their patients' information is adequately protected? Leave a comment below, and tell us what you think.

Software Advice is hosting a survey  on its blog until Oct. 29 about the impact the federal economic stimulus bill has had on EMR adoption rates. The article and survey to the link are located here:

http://www.softwareadvice.com/articles/medical/obamas-emr-stimulus-of-2009-creating-buyers-or-tire-kickers-1102709/

Software Advice gives advice for buyers of software buyers in medical, construction, retail and property management. Software Advice provides its services using a database with information on software.

Check back here on the ADVANCE Perspective blog for updates on results from this survey.

There I was on a recent afternoon searching for more details on the term "meaningful use of an electronic health record," when I started poking around YouTube to see if there were any videos by David Blumenthal, MD, MPP, national coordinator for health information technology. Maybe he presented in a public forum and his comments were posted in a video.

What I was surprised to find, instead, was a plethora of videos from numerous electronic medical record vendors; sales pitches, really, with catchy videos targeted at what appeared to be a physician audience, and which made me wonder, how would a CIO view these videos?

As the images crossed across my computer screen and I settled into my somewhat uncomfortable chair in my cubicle and began munching on some fat-laden potato chips (not really), I watched the videos much like I would a movie (hence the snack), and literally clicked on one right after the other. I'm still wondering how a CIO would view these. Does seeing such a video make the CIO more (or less) likely to purchase the system? How does the CIO watch such videos -- critically or with a sense of humor? Do such videos tend to lean the CIO one way or the other? How does he or she maintain objectivity to tell the people leading an EMR implementation (whether it's a doctor or another executive) that they need not get caught up in the glamour of the video presented before them?

Type "electronic medical record" or "EMR" into YouTube and see what you find. Then, send me an e-mail and let me know if you're buying the high-end sales pitch.

I found a 5-minute video, and in its entirety, there wasn't a single word spoken. The camera pans around the waiting room in a doctor's office, and there are numerous paper notes plastered around the waiting room and receptionist station. The paper notes talk about how many people have died because of medical errors, illegible handwriting, etc., and it ends with a catchy phrase about EMRs and going paperless.

I know it's a sales and marketing tool, but how does a CIO prevent him or herself from being swayed by such compelling footage? And, if you don't buy it, how do you as the organization's executive IT leader educate other executive leaders to not buy into it, as well?

Several CIOs I asked said that they take what they see on YouTube -- whatever it is -- with a grain of salt.

One CIO who admitted by his response to me that he wasn't taking time out of his day to watch the videos I referenced, said, "I'm just guessing here, but my thinking is that the videos are, hopefully, more aimed at (a) smaller practices and (b) hands-on people, not the decision-makers. 

"Watching a video might be something adjunct but certainly not central to my decision making. I also believe some of the YouTube video stuff is more ego-centric than at all useful," he said.

How things really work

Another CIO said that YouTube and the other video outlets often provide a good (albeit inexpensive) way for vendors to host material related to their solutions. "The posted videos will continue to be more ‘anticipated reality' than how things really work.

"I think the practicing clinicians can pick out specific process/procedure errors, and when they do, the credibility of the video will be diminished. And there will be videos that will set unrealistic expectations for some of the viewers," another CIO said. "I'm hoping that our clinical staff will not believe all they see on YouTube any more than they believe what they see in a cartoon on the Cartoon Network. Just because you can watch it, doesn't mean it's real."

Another CIO commented that it's "simply a new medium with which to saturate one's senses about the merits of this product or that product. I'm not sure that many of our executive leaders would be attracted by such videos."

The CIO continued, "Since we block YouTube from our network, I think these videos would mostly be seen by individual physicians while at home. It may certainly generate questions about a given product, but I'm beginning to think that many executives understand that a product -- any product -- is not really as important as the imminent resulting process change that follows."

Another added, "This is no different than the vendor hype which has been out there over the years. It just adds more glitz and glamour to the sales pitch. I believe, for the most part, that the vendors have come to realize that the conduit for marketing their products is the IS executive staff. If the appropriate process is in place to filter through the vendor marketing pitch vs. what does the product really do, then I see no negative repercussions with such approach to video."

I understand that it's part of a sales and marketing tool, but how does a CIO prevent his/her organization from being swayed by such compelling footage? E-mail me your thoughts at RMitchell@advanceweb.com

T-Mobile's statement explained, "Regrettably, based on Microsoft/Danger's latest recovery assessment of their systems, we must now inform you that personal information stored on your device -- such as contacts, calendar entries, to-do lists or photos -- that is no longer on your Sidekick almost certainly has been lost..."

The statement continued, "That said, our teams continue to work around-the-clock in hopes of discovering some way to recover this information. However, the likelihood of a successful outcome is extremely low. As such, we wanted to share this news with you and offer some tips and suggestions to help you rebuild your personal content."

The company directed customers to a Sidekick Contacts FAQ page.

Important: T-Mobile advised customers to not reset their device by removing the battery or letting their battery drain completely, "as any personal content that currently resides on your device will be lost."

If you've been affected by the Sidekick data loss, please share your comments below.

So, on a strictly sentimental level, it stings a bit when I hear talk -- however on target it may be -- about the impending, unavoidable end of newspapers.

When I saw the headline of a recent Newsweek blog, I expected yet another piece based on the well-worn premise that newspapers are dying a slow, self-inflicted death and should be put out of their misery already.

And the author certainly delivered, essentially offering to help dig print media's grave.

But what kept me reading were the paragraphs dedicated to the Newspaper Revitalization Act, a piece of legislation being kicked around in Congress that would attempt to bail out newspapers in much the same way as the crumbling automotive and financial industries.

The Newspaper Revitalization Act would allow newspapers to operate as non-profits if they choose, under 501(c)(3) status. Advertising and subscription revenue would be tax-exempt and contributions to support operations could be tax-deductible.

Some will argue that a bailout would simply delay the inevitable, with nimble online media outlets supplying information faster and in fresher formats as the lumbering print industry plods along to its demise.  

Others contend that print media clings more tightly to the tenets of real journalism, provides more in-depth, accurate reporting and offers a tangible product that readers enjoy holding in their hands.

Which brings me to my point. Our publication is like many others, in that we've had to rethink how we deliver content in recent years. And, like many other publications, we're still getting a handle on what content is best suited for print, the Web or both.

So, naturally, we want to know what our readers think. What format do you turn to for information on the latest developments in health care IT, or for news in general? Is there still a place for print media, or has your laptop permanently replaced the paperboy as the way you like your news delivered? Leave a comment below, and tell us what you think.

A recent report by Accountemps caught my attention as the survey revealed some of the most overused (and annoying) workplace words.

I have one that has reached the "annoying" level with me. It is the lovely two-letter word, "so."

The word is used to tie things together, really, not to start out a sentence. See this sentence? I walked down the street so I could buy some milk. It doesn't sound right to say, So, I walked down the street so I could buy some milk.

What do I mean by the word, so? I was recently conducting an interview for a story (and this has happened on several occasions with other people being interviewed, so it caught my attention after the fifth or sixth time). I asked the person being interviewed, "please tell me about the technology your company has developed."

"So, our product builds on the technology platform established in the mainframe environment..."

Okay.

"How many hospitals have deployed your technology?"

"So, we have about 100 hospitals deployed along the east coast..."

Pause.

"When you begin working with technology executives at a hospital, are there common issues that the hospitals are trying to address by adopting this new technology?"

"So, we have a number of hospitals who are trying to get their revenue cycle management under control."

Interesting.

You see the word "so" pops up at the beginning of every response.

According to The American Heritage College Dictionary (the one that's on my desk here at work), the word "so" has a number of meanings: In the condition or manner expressed or indicated; thus, Hold the brush so... To the amount or degree expressed or understood; to such an extent, She was so weary that she fell asleep...

Another definition for so is to be in good order, such as Everything must be exactly so.

But none of the definitions say that the word "so" should start out the sentence. "So, the uniqueness of our product is such that we are the top industry leader in information technology."

As for Accountemps' overused and annoying business words, executives were asked, "What is the most annoying or overused phrase or buzzword in the workplace today?"

Here are some of their responses:

• Leverage: As in, "We intend to leverage our investment in IT infrastructure across multiple business units to drive profits."
• Viral: As in, "Our video has gone viral."
• Game-changer: As in, "Transitioning from products to solutions was a game-changer for our company."
• Disconnect: As in, "There is a disconnect between what the consumer wants and what the product provides."
• Value-add: As in, "We have to evaluate the value-add of this activity before we spend more on it."
• Circle back: As in, "I'm heading out of the office now, but I will circle back with you later."
• Interface: As in, "My job requires me to interface with all levels of the organization."
• Cutting-edge: As in, "Our cutting-edge technology gives us a competitive advantage."

Accountemps conducted a similar survey in 2004. The following "Hall-of-Fame" buzzwords were cited in that survey and again this year:

• At the end of the day
• Synergy
• Solution (another of my personal favorites)
• Think outside the box
• On the same page
• Customer-centric (one that technology vendors love)

Maybe it's a new form of technology-speak; I'm not so sure. Drop me an e-mail with the business words that you think are overused or annoy you the most.

The latest public spectacle was President Obama's Sept. 9 speech in front of Congress, during which Congressman Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) -- perhaps channeling a disillusioned Dylan fan -- actually shouted "You lie!" as Obama claimed his proposed health care plan would not offer free care to illegal immigrants.

Yes, addressing the broader health care policy issue may take a while. But at this stage, there is at least one spot on the front lines of reform where policy makers seem to stand together: the adoption of electronic health records (EHRs).

Leaders from both sides of the political aisle, including Obama himself, have recognized the important role of health information technology in improving the delivery of health care in the U.S. Indeed, billions of dollars were included in the ARRA package to encourage EHR implementation.

Many large medical groups have already installed EHRs, but, generally speaking, smaller physicians' practices have been slower to embrace digital health records.

But that may be changing, as a handful of technology titans are leading a push to get smaller offices on board with EHRs.

According to a recent New York Times article, Dell has announced a plan to partner with hospital groups around the country to offer electronic health records -- hardware, software, consulting services and financing -- to their affiliated physicians. The personal computer giant "sees the big opportunity as being in offices with 10 doctors or fewer, where three-fourths of the nation's physicians practice medicine," according to the Times article.

Encouraged by ARRA, some other big-name companies have plans to target the same market. IBM, which doesn't currently offer EHR software, appears to be planning a move as well. While not divulging exactly what it has in store, IBM told the Times it intends to work with partners to provide a cloud-computing based service aimed at small practices.

Verizon, which started a health care unit earlier this year, plans to "work with many health technology partners to offer EHRs over the Internet in several months," a spokesman told the paper.

Early next year, GE will offer a data-center hosted version of its EHRs, delivered over the Internet, and "has recently done a lot of prototype work on how to make the shift to digital records easier and less costly for small practices," the Times reported.  

For many small doctors' offices, cost and degree of difficulty have been the biggest stumbling blocks in adopting EHRs. We'll see how successful IBM, GE, Verizon and others ultimately are in the small-practice market, but making EHR adoption less painful for the little guy seems like a good idea. Maybe both sides of the heated health care debate could even agree on that much.

While the temperature on the thermometer is registering summer (upper 80s and humid), there's no question that the summer is winding down. My daughter's summer camp just ended and we've already hit the supply aisle at Target for the best deals on back-to-school items for my middle schooler and high school sophomore.

But, where has the summer gone? For those of us along the mid-Atlantic region of the country, it really hasn't felt much like summer this year. I experienced some of the hottest temperatures of the season (upper-90s) when I was in Orlando in mid-June. Yes, it's gotten a bit hotter here in the mid-Atlantic these past few weeks, but not as some of the hottest summer's I remember in recent years.

Now, I'm not at all complaining. A colleague recently commented how this summer in our area of the country reminded him of summers in Maine when he was a child. Cool evenings, enough for a light jacket, with the crickets chirping in the background.

That image in my mind took me back to my childhood memories of summers in Connecticut, when without the comfort of air conditioning (how did we live without it?), I'd lie across my bed, as still as possible, with a low-light on, listening to the Boston Red Sox on the AM radio. What's that, the younger generation asks? It was a device that played top-quality music ("Summer Breeze" by Seals & Crofts or "Saturday in the Park" by Chicago come to mind) and all associated noises, such as when a thunderstorm was in the area on a hot summer's night and you could hear the crackle on the radio! Curt Gowdy's voice echoed from the small radio at times. If you were lucky, you could even hear the bat striking the ball..."High line drive into deep center field, it's off the Green Monster, Yastrzemski is on second with a lead-off double..." Well, actually my childhood memories have vivid reminders of the Red Sox almost always behind their opponent, but it was fun to lie across my twin bed and listen to the game, nonetheless. That was summer.

Summer was also a drive through the Connecticut countryside, on our way to Old Saybrook, Conn. -- our closest connection to the cool ocean on a hot summer day in August, even if we didn't go in the water on that particular day. It was summer as pleasure boats, yachts and sailboats dotted the Connecticut River where it fed into the Long Island Sound.

Children and families played miniature golf, people dined on seafood at the outdoor seating area at Dock & Dine at Saybrook Point, or we strolled along the docks at the Saybrook Point Marina.

So, it's back to reality now -- back to school, back to the work that never seems to subside and back to another of my favorite times of the year, autumn. While maybe not as symbolic of the fall season in New England, the Poconos of Pennsylvania offer quite an outstanding fall leaf coloring show in their own right.

Soon enough the snowflakes (my fingers crossed!) will drop from the sky, and we'll be again looking forward to another spring and summer.

I hope your summer was filled with much rest and relaxation. I know that I've enjoyed mine.

But the City of Brotherly Love isn't the only place where the "discussion" surrounding proposed health care legislation has turned ugly, as amped-up activists from around the country have joined the fray as well.

(Click here for news on related incidents in Florida, Missouri and Georgia)

Instead of engendering thoughtful debate, many public meetings to discuss health care reform have instead devolved into shouting matches and in some cases violence.

And -- not at all surprisingly -- opinions on the legislation are largely split down the political aisle. The health care issue is certainly complex, but in its simplest terms, the party lines generally go something like this:

From the left -- The current U.S. health care system is in dire need of an overhaul, and the proposal put forth by the Obama administration would ultimately mean more choices and more affordable care for more Americans, and would allow doctors and patients to make health care decisions that work for them, not the insurance companies.

From the right -- Obama's proposed legislation would be financed by cutting Medicare benefits, would hurt small business, would force many Americans out of their current insurance plans and ultimately send us down a slippery Socialist slope that ends with the federal government controlling individual health care decisions.

A true, complete picture of the Obama plan for reform has yet to emerge, as the legislation is still being drafted. But the argument becomes more contentious by the day, as both sides passionately plead their case for or against the presidential plan to revamp health care. And, as in many arguments, facts and logic have at times been obfuscated by rhetoric and bluster.

In an effort to clear up misconceptions about the proposed legislation, the White House has launched a Web site, www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/, aimed at providing visitors to the site with "the latest ‘reality checks' and tools to combat misinformation," according to a White House official.

The site features a variety of videos from White House officials and health care experts attempting to dispel claims that reform would amount to a "government takeover" of health care or that reform would encourage or even require euthanasia for seniors, for example.

The new site may be intended to bring the facts to the surface, but reform opponents have quickly countered that the White House is only muddying the waters further.  

The site is "full of errors, misstatements and falsehoods," House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) said in the Aug. 11 edition of the Los Angeles Times.

White House officials "don't know how many employers are going to drop their coverage altogether if their plan goes into effect," Boehner told the paper, adding that the White House is wrong to say that individuals would be able to keep their current insurance plans if they so desired.

As a rebuttal to detractors, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) penned an opinion piece that appeared in USA Today on Aug. 11. In it, they accused health care reform critics of engaging in an "ugly campaign" bent on drowning out opposing views and preventing members of Congress and their constituents from conducting a "civil dialogue" on health care reform.

And on it goes. However it happened, anything resembling a civil dialogue about health care reform seems to have been muted by the sound of an angry mob elbowing its way to the podium to demand its say, differing opinions be damned. And if that's the track we're on, what are the chances of the health care situation being adequately addressed anytime soon?

Vile. Nasty.

I have to hang my head in shame. The behavior of some of my neighboring Pennsylvania's residents who came to the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia recently to discuss, oops, yell about health care reform was unbelievable.

An IT executive from Pennsylvania, where I live, told me to watch YouTube to see the health care reform town hall discussions, oops, bad choice of word again...debacle. I wasn't at the health care reform meeting, but the Philadelphia media outlets had the reports, the newspapers had articles and op-ed pieces, and YouTube had the videotape.

Anger at and disrespect for the individuals who came wanting to discuss health care reform. My stomach was unhappily unsettled when I finished watching the many videos that have been posted from the event -- people yelling at the various speakers, interrupting Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, verbally lashing out at Senator Arlen Specter (D., Pa). I thought the audience was just hot because the senior Senator from the Commonwealth had changed political parties, but they were tackling Sebelius on every societal ill, including Cash for Clunkers, and dumping it at her feet, the senator's feet, President Obama's feet. Heck, I think they may have even dumped something at former President Bush's feet...everyone was in the line of verbal fire.

It wasn't a discussion from what I could see. Again, I wasn't there; I've read the newspaper accounts, heard the radio reports and watched the vicious video clips on YouTube. It was vile, nasty, repulsive and downright disturbing.

If this is what lies ahead for health care reform, it's doomed.

A few weeks ago I posted a blog about a new wave of microvolunteerism sweeping through cyberspace, and noted that I would be doing my own form of volunteering through Habitat for Humanity in the coming weeks. It was the first time I had undertaken such an activity in my 40-plus years of existence on this planet. And, I helped build two homes in West Chester, Pa.

I helped construct a wall on the second floor, helped frame-out another wall, hoisted sheathing to the second floor for said wall, moved some heavy lumber to a new location and held Tyvek in place while someone else on another ladder nailed it in place.

And, I met a lot of really nice people. One in particular was a computer programmer who works for Excelon who came from Ireland. He made his way across the pond a few years ago, finding odd jobs along the way, including honing the carpentry skills he had learned from his father in Ireland. He dedicates about two weekends a month to the West Chester project and taught me a few things along the way, especially about building “king” and “jack” studs from a blueprint. A king stud is the full length stud around a window opening or door and the jack stud is the one that supports the window or door header.

There were about 50 of us working on the new homes on that Saturday in July. And, thankfully the temperatures were in the upper 70s -- really nice to be working outside on the second story of a new home. While I always wanted to take part in such a project, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I was amazed, though, at how enjoyable doing carpentry, heavy lifting, talking with other committed individuals and being part of a project could be.

Gratifying is probably the best way to sum up the work. I slept really well that night and my arm muscles ached a bit the next day, but it was definitely worth the effort. Gratifying. It’s what being part of a community is all about. Neighbors helping neighbors.

Kudos the site supervisor, Shawn, and his lovely assistant, Bunny, a 90-year old woman from the area who worked inside the construction trailer where the various crews picked up our assignments and supplies for the day.

Another group from our church is set to return several weeks this fall, when the work will be inside.

I’m thinking of hanging some drywall.

But that's no longer the case, if it ever was. Social media sites have quickly become ubiquitous, and it's impossible to ignore their power to help users of all sorts communicate frequently and in real time with fellow users or members.

With millions viewing sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and reading and/or writing blogs every day, it was only natural that these networks would eventually expand to include organizations and individuals looking for networking and marketing opportunities. Actually, those who aren't active on one or more such sites by now run the risk of appearing archaic in comparison to their competitors. And, hey, viral marketing opportunities via free social networks are a pretty attractive option considering the current economic climate.

At this stage of the game, the biggest challenge for professionals looking to utilize these sites may be figuring out how to best do so. As a business tool, social networking is still relatively new. There are no ground rules, or even loose guidelines, for successfully connecting your organization -- or yourself -- with your target audience through online social media.

Twitter is the social networking service de rigeur, of course. One of the 50 most popular Web sites worldwide, according to Web information company Alexa, the free social networking and micro-blogging service has skyrocketed in popularity.

Some shrewd executives have already embraced Twitter as a way to market their organizations, encourage collaboration among employees, compare notes with C-suite colleagues and engage customers, among other uses.

Are CIOs among the execs taking to Twitter? Chris Curran, a partner at Diamond Management & Technology Consultants and the firm's chief technology officer, recently attempted to answer that question.

On his Web site, http://www.ciodashboard.com/, Curran details his "frustrating journey" to link with fellow CIOs through Twitter. CIOs are indeed entering the Twitterverse, but finding them there can be difficult, Curran concluded, after sifting through "hundreds of Twitter-related sites and applications" in search of professional lists and communities for CIOs.

He also offered suggestions -- browsing Twitter directories, searching Twitter profiles for "CIO" -- to help CIOs track down their professional peers online.

Curran, like many others looking to plug in to online professional networks, recognizes the potential of these tools, but seems to still be getting a handle on how to most effectively utilize them.

Questions abound for executives entering the social networking fray: Which sites should I use? How many do I need to use? How much time should I spend in a day, or a week, on Tweeting, "Facebooking" or updating my LinkedIn profile?

Here at ADVANCE, we've been asking ourselves these same questions. Our publication is now on Facebook, (click here), as well as Twitter, (click here), and we see the obvious promise of social networking sites as a means to interact with our audience on a more direct, immediate level. But we also realize that our efforts to connect more closely with readers through these channels are wasted if you're not there with us. With that in mind, we'd like to pose a few questions of our own:

Do social networking sites have value for health care CIOs? Do you use them? If so, what sites do you use, and what do you use them for? And have you found them to be worth your while? Have any social media tips to share with your fellow CIOs? Use this forum to share your thoughts and tell us about your experiences in the ever-expanding world of online social networking.

Volunteerism used to be something you did over the weekend for the overall good of society; however, now there's a Web site dedicated to "microvolunteerism." It kind of reminds me of the microbrews I enjoy. Not like the big conglomerate breweries, but a smaller, handcrafted batch of volunteerism.

The goal is to facilitate effective distributed volunteer work, which I guess is kind of like the church I attend organizing Habitat for Humanity workdays, which I will be participating in the for the first time this weekend. Ever since former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn worked on Habitat for Humanity projects in 1984, I have been interested in the work the organization does. Each year since, the Carters have given a week of their time to build homes and raise awareness about the need for affordable housing. Check back in the coming weeks for my blog about my experience in this volunteer effort.

The Microvolunteerism Project, according to its Web presence, aims to build communities of not-for-profit projects and volunteers who can mutually support one another.

The Project organizes regular meetings, both in physical spaces and on Skype. There are also several links on the Microvolunteerism.org Web site, including MediaMatic and bidnetwork.org

There's also a technology focus in one of the microvolunteerism opportunities, The RFID Guardian Project.

According to the RFID Guardian Project's wiki, as its name indicates, the RFID Guardian Project is a collaborative effort whose focus is to provide security and privacy to radio frequency identification (RFID) systems. The goals of the project are to:

• investigate the security and privacy threats faced by RFID systems;
• design and implement real solutions against these threats; and
• investigate the associated technological and legal issues.

The RFID Guardian is a mobile battery-powered device that offers personal RFID security and privacy management. One of the focuses of the project is to build an RFID Guardian prototype.

Not sure if this is true microvolunteerism, but I'll work with it. I'm not sure how it is helping one's neighbor in need like a soup kitchen volunteer, local food pantry volunteer, tutor to young people volunteer or building a house for someone in need volunteer, but I can see that it has its place in our society.

There's also another interesting microvolunteerism site, picnicnetwork.org, which brings together creative minds from all over the world, including a gathering planned for September in Amsterdam for the fourth edition of PICNIC. It's really a creative person's conference/festival.

PICNIC collaborates on ideas and knowledge from creators and innovators, through a conference, with ample participative sessions, interactive experience, matchmaking events wrapped in a festival experience. PICNIC 09's program includes three days of inspiration, fun and sensory stimulation in media, technology, entertainment, art and science.

Tell me about your volunteerism experiences from this summer and I will post them online over the summer. And, be sure to check back here later this summer for my report on my first experience with Habitat.