Articles by Tom_Ziemba

Every Certified Legal Nurse Consultant who reads my Tech Tips knows I’m a keyboard guy and not a mouse guy. I’ve confessed this in the past. Every time a CLNC^® consultant reaches for their mouse you may as well be reaching for a cup of healthy green tea for all the time it will save you. Those precious seconds off the keyboard are billable hours lost forever. End of story.

That being said, sometimes looking through a long Word^® document, like that legal nurse consulting case report you just finished for your favorite attorney-client, can take a long time too. Repeatedly hitting Page Down like an OCD patient makes you feel like you’re slogging through a document. Even using the Find button to look for a particular word, like a name, can be cumbersome when the physician’s name is repeated every couple of lines.

Legal nurse consultants who want a quick way to look through a Word doc (or docx) can use the thumbnails view. Simply click View on your top toolbar and then check the “thumbnails” box. A series of thumbnail images of your pages will then appear on the left side of your page and you can drag the scroll bar on the left side of the page to quickly browse through your thumbnail pages.

This will save you loads of time and it works in PowerPoint^® too!

One more freebie while I’m in a good mood: the next time you’re in a Word doc, click the View tab then on Zoom and set your document view to Page Width. This will make it much easier to edit (and easier on the eyes) by viewing the document at (are you ready?) the width of your screen. If you have a big monitor, it’ll feel like you’re at the movies (watching a case report being typed). If you want to check your formatting, you can set the view to Whole Page instead and you will see how the page will look when printed.

In an earlier blog I gave a few other keyboard shortcuts. Here’s one more you can add: hitting Ctrl and the a key (Ctrl+a) will select all the text in a document or a complete URL in a web browser (after you’ve clicked in the URL box). Then you can Ctrl+c (copy), Crtl+v (paste) to put it in a document and Crtl+p (print)!

If you have a favorite keyboard shortcut, I’d love for you to share it here with your legal nurse consulting colleagues.

Keep on techin’ (with your fingers on the keyboard, not the mouse!),

Tom

We get a lot of email here at Vickie Milazzo Institute. I know Vickie’s blogged about the quality of the email. While most of the Institute’s email is legitimate and comes from Certified Legal Nurse Consultants seeking mentoring or from nurses seeking new careers as Certified Legal Nurse Consultants, some is from the good and most trusted friends we’ve never met asking us to help transfer a 3-million dollar inheritance out of some small African nation. We have a pretty strong spam filter but we still get a small portion of harmless “spam” promoting whatever someone thinks we need – machine tools from China, cheap pharmaceuticals or proposed business relationships. Whatever it contains, as with all email, we’ve got to slog through it, answering and deleting until the email box is empty (it never is).

One of the more dangerous bits of email we get comes from Internet fiends who, in an act of shameless self-promotion, will create an alarming email (sometimes about themselves) and link it to a “poisoned” website. Well-intentioned people with an unhealthy interest in gossip will actually fall for the trick, visit the site to read about the fiend, infect their computer JUST BY VIEWING THE PAGE and become a part of the fiend’s “zombie army.” If and when you get one of these emails, delete it immediately.

Even worse though than email from fiends in my opinion my CLNC^® amigos, is the occasional email we get from legal nurse consultants indicating that the sender’s computer has either become a “zombie” or has been infected with a self-replicating virus causing it to send out copies of itself to hopefully infect others. Sometimes the email simply indicates that a friend’s Gmail or Hot Mail account has been compromised and a spammer is happily spamming away with their account.

In past Tech Tips, I’ve blogged about dangers of “bots” and “botnets” and given legal nurse consultants (as well as civilians) tips on how to avoid becoming part of a botnet or catching a virus outside the hospital. But, until today, I’ve never tipped on proper etiquette for letting your friends know they’ve been infected.

Take a moment and think about it. Let’s say your computer has become a zombie and part of a botnet or your Gmail password has been hacked. While you work on making phone calls for your legal nurse consulting business, your computer is sitting there sending out email after email asking your friends, family or a generated email list “Is this really you in this hot video?” or simply sending an email with nothing but a web link in the body (hopefully pushing people to a poisoned website that when viewed will add the clickee to the botnet). People are getting your botnet email and deleting it because they know better than to click on the link or try to view the video (I’ve seen it – it’s not that hot and it’s not me). But, do they tell you? Probably not because they just deleted your spammy, botty email!

How do I know that’s what they’ve done? It’s because that’s what I do – or did. Yesterday, just after I finished going through the Institute’s email boxes and triaging messages, I told Vickie I’d deleted a huge string of messages (I sort by subject for massive deletes and was inordinately proud of myself) from people who’ve been infected.” Vick asked me whether or not I’d emailed them to let them know and I said, “No. I just delete them.” In response she asked, “Wouldn’t you want to know if you’d been infected with a virus or lost your mailbox?” and I told her… well, I didn’t say anything because she was right. I would want to know and I’d want someone to tell me.

That’s the point and purpose of this blog. If you get one of these emails from a friend, family member or Certified Legal Nurse Consultant colleague, let them know! Simply hit reply, cut the text out of the email (so they don’t click on the link) and tell them that you received this from them and you think that either their email account has been compromised or that their computer is infected. It’s just common courtesy. Now, they may get lots of these notices but think about it, as a nurse – wouldn’t you rather get the diagnosis of an infection as soon as possible so that you can take corrective measures and save the patient’s life (or legal nurse consulting business’s data)? I would and I hope you would too. With your timely warning, your CLNC^® colleague can take proper actions like changing their email account’s password or updating their antivirus software or anti-spyware software and cleaning their machine. One day, they may return the favor (but I’m hoping that they’ll never have to).

Keep on techin’ and practicing safe surfing!

Tom

All Certified Legal Nurse Consultants know I’m a fan of dual monitors. I can’t live without them and when I’m saddled with my laptop’s single monitor, say when I’m traveling or sitting in the back pew in church, I feel the pain. It’s funny. Once you go to dual monitors you never want a single monitor again. Just ask any of the staff members here at Vickie Milazzo Institute.

That being said, the more monitors you have, the more programs you open. The more programs you open, the more difficulty you have keeping track of what’s open. The more difficulty you have, well, you get the idea.

I’ve often wished for a way to install the handy Microsoft^® Windows^® Taskbar at the bottom or side (yes, you can move it to the side) on both my monitors. Recently I learned that the kind people at MediaChance heard my wish and made it come true! If you follow this link to MediaChance’s MultiMon download page, you too can get a free copy of their simple MultiMon, multiple taskbar program. Once downloaded and installed on all the dual-monitor-enabled computers you use in your legal nurse consulting business, it will imbed itself in your Windows start-up menu so every time you start your computer, MultiMon will start automatically with no fuss and no muss!

Once running, it will keep track of the files you have open on each monitor and display them just like the Windows taskbar. If you want to spring for $28, you can get the “Pro” version which is customizeable and does some neat tricks, but I think the free version is more than enough for most legal nurse consultants. In fact, this is one of the best freeware programs I’ve run across. MultiMon will reduce your Windows-related headaches and save you all that time you spend fishing around those cool dual monitors. Now my CLNC^® amigos, as Vickie says, you can get some real work done.

Keep on techin’,

Tom

Some time ago I blogged about privacy concerns for legal nurse consultants and using a frameless privacy filter on your CLNC^® business’s laptop screen. A privacy filter keeps people (like your spouse or some other nefarious villian) from looking over your shoulder while you’re working (or not) and seeing what you’re working on (or not). I spend a lot of time on airplanes and am amazed at the things I see on people’s computer screens, things that make me blush!

I’ve noticed that more and more people use iPhones^®, BlackBerrys^®, Droids^® and other phones to view video, html email, etc. Studies show people spend more time texting and emailing from their cell phones than they do talking. The result? Now, while I’m waiting in the checkout line at Walmart^®, I can often see what a person is doing on their phone and sometimes even read what’s on the screen! 3M^®, maker of the nifty privacy filters for computers, now makes a Mobile Privacy Film for Blackberry and iPhone phones.

Yes Virginia, I did say iPhone phones. Because of the amazing ability of the iPhone to display on either a vertical or widescreen frame, you’ll actually need two different Mobile Privacy Films! Using your iPhone as a phone (and who really does?) requires a phone film and using your iPhone in horizontal mode, requires a different film.

As your ace tech tipper, my advice for Certified Legal Nurse Consultant iPhone users is fuhgeddaboudit! CLNC^® consultants using a BlackBerry, could give one of these filters a try, or, keep your money and just check your immediate area for rapscallions, miscreants and other blackguards (like insurance defense attorneys) before you use your phone, then use it discreetly.

Keep on techin’ (under cover),

Tom

I’ve been working with and around Certified Legal Nurse Consultants for a long time and one of the things I’ve learned is that nurses are generally germ-o-phobics. Vickie tells me nurses don’t sit on toilets – they squat. I’ve seen nurses walk out of restrooms with their hands mummy-wrapped in paper towels so that they don’t have to touch the door handle. All CLNC^® consultants know that there are a lot of scary germs out there and they do their best to avoid the obvious ones.

But, here’s something I’ll bet you didn’t know. According to a study by Dr. Charles Gerba from the University of Arizona, there are more germs on your cell phone than on a toilet seat. Healthcare workers’ cell phones carry more germs than those that belong to us mere tech-types. (We have our own issues with dirty keyboards and mice.) Now, not too many of you will walk or drive around town talking to your attorney-clients with a toilet seat pressed to your ear but you’re doing much worse when you talk to them using your cell phone. I suppose a wireless headset might keep the germs at a distance but you’re still transmitting them back and forth every time you handle your phone. The good news is that as long as you only use your own phone, whether it’s for your legal nurse consulting business or anything else, you’re probably not at too much risk (unless you’re in healthcare).

For the real germ-o-phobes, instead of wiping down your phone every time you unholster it, consider purchasing a “skin” for your phone from iSkin. They make a variety of products for iPhones^®, BlackBerries^® and more that contain Microban^® antimicrobial protection. This won’t be a fail-safe, but at least it will make your cell phone a little safer (unless you drop it into the toilet). Check them out for yourself!

Keep on techin’ (germ-free),

Tom

Every Certified Legal Nurse Consultant has changed mobile phones at least once in the course of their CLNC^® business. If you’re still carrying a brick-phone worthy of Gordon Gecko – it’s time. I’ve gone through a couple of BlackBerry^® models myself and I am getting ready to move to the new 4G iPhone^® this summer. I decided this is one time when it is indeed better to wait.

During my BlackBerry time, I’ve accumulated a plethora of wall chargers, car chargers, headsets, charging bases, etc. Not all of which work with each other, even within the same family of products. My new BlackBerry won’t fit in the old BlackBerry stand which frustrates me to no end. So, to keep some order on my desk, my sanity and in expectation of that new iPhone, I purchased a pair of Seskimo’s Crabble iPhone stands, one for each of my desks.

These inexpensive, folding plastic stands slip into your wallet, purse or computer case for transport and can be set up in seconds. Its legs allow me to use it with different devices and its silicon rubber feet keep it firmly in place on my desk allowing me to charge my BlackBerry upright. If you watch movies, video or Facebook on your iPhone, you’ll love this same feature which allows you to turn your iPhone horizontally.

This is one of the best, cheap stands I’ve ever seen and it fits a variety of mobile devices. Certified Legal Nurse Consultants looking for a Tom-tested phone stand couldn’t do much better than a Crabble. Consider one today.

Keep on techin’,

Tom

As all Certified Legal Nurse Consultants know, I’ve written myriad tech tips that will save you valuable time for your legal nurse consulting business. Now I’m letting you in on more timesavers I regularly put to good use. For instance, if you want a little more screen depth when you’re researching medical literature for your legal nurse consulting business, you can get an extra 1/4” or so of visible screen (or just as much screen as you can get) with only a few clicks. Just right click the Windows^® XP Start button, then left click Properties. You’ll see a variety of options for the taskbar. Click in the box beside “Auto-hide the taskbar” to make the taskbar disappear until you mouse over it. Now you have the maximum amount of visible screen.

While you’re there uncheck the “Lock the Taskbar” button and click Apply. Then add a check in the “Show Quick Launch” box. It will give you a place to put shortcuts for the programs you use the most. Using Quick Launch, you don’t have to minimize your desktop or navigate through your Start menu to find a program you use on a regular basis. Instead, you simply right click the shortcut you want to place onto the Quick Launch bar and drag and drop it there (select “Create shortcut here”). This only works if your taskbar is unlocked, so once you load the taskbar with shortcuts, you should then re-lock it.

Once you’ve loaded your taskbar with shortcuts for the programs you use the most in your legal nurse consulting business, all you have to do is mouse over the taskbar and left click on the appropriate shortcut to start a program. This sure beats minimizing all your programs or sorting through your Start menu. Remember, seconds wasted build up into minutes and then into hours lost, so the more time you save, the more billable hours you’ll have as a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant.

Keep on techin’,

Tom

I’ve got a confession to make. I love unique applications, so long as they aren’t malware (Remember the flying toasters screen saver?). I’ve updated my Windows^® XP machine to mimic Apple’s^® Dock and added emulations that give me some Windows 7 functionality. I’ve loaded add-ons to my Firefox^® web browser that tell me the weather, allow me to share websites on Delicious, trust a site or not with WOT, save a site with iCyte and use a cool program I’ve never shared with anyone else called FireShot to snag images of websites that even include Flash^® animations. In short, I could be a tech support nightmare, but I’m not because I only download my tools from well-known sites (like CNET.com) and only after I investigate their reputations on the web at large.

It’s with this love of quirky apps in mind that today’s Tech Tip is written. If you’re a hard-working Certified Legal Nurse Consultant you may not lift your head from your work for hours at a time. In fact, I’ve seen Vickie go an entire day without looking out a window because she’s fully engaged in a project. I’ll even confess that sometimes I get like that.

As CLNC^® consultants, you know what I mean – you get so caught up in writing a report or doing research for your favorite attorney-client that you forget to eat lunch, go to the restroom and do anything except grab another cup of your favorite caffeine-containing beverage (hot or cold). Or maybe your office is a cubicle, or in a room that doesn’t have a window to the world or perhaps you’re just so caught up in Second Life, Farmland or Spacebook that you forget what’s going on in your real life or at least out there in the great wide open.

Well for those of you who need a reality check, reality reinforcement or just don’t have a window handy, check out a program called “YoWindow.” This is an easy-to-use screensaver that will show you the weather outside your own window (or at any other location in the world you choose) in real time. It sets the weather against a rather bucolic farm scene and realistically renders snow, rain, night and day, etc. and even reflects the season! Here’s the weather in Houston when I wrote this blog:

This is one fun little weather tool that is almost as cool as the “1-ClickWeather” Firefox add-on from Weather.com (which I really like).

YoWindow even allows you to scroll forward and see the forecast so you’ll know if you need to take an umbrella to an interview with your hot attorney-prospect when you go to show how your legal nurse consulting business can help him win his cases.

I’m an old-school tech-type and tend to use the Windows “Starfield” for my screensaver because it doesn’t put a strain on my processor or video card like some of the 3D screensavers used to (such as the floating, rotating, reflective “3D Text” saying “Tom Rocks!” that I put on Vick’s laptop this morning). YoWindow is different in that it seems to be fairly simple, if you’ve got a decent computer the clouds and weeds will blow in the wind and the effects will render nicely. The developers promise more backgrounds in the future but in the meantime you can substitute your own photo or background of your choice and the weather will lay over it.

If you want a quick weather app, YoWindow is fun and easy to install and use. Give it a try.

Keep on techin’,

Tom

Every Certified Legal Nurse Consultant has experienced the joy of finding a website with the exact material they need for the report they’re working on for their attorney-client. Those same CLNC^® consultants have experienced the frustration of clicking on the bookmark for that webpage and seeing a “page not found” error message. How do you find that webpage once it’s lost in the Internet? Easy, there’s a free service called “iCyte^®” and it does a great job of saving a webpage so you can view it later, even if it’s removed or changed.

Simply visit iCyte.com, register for your free account and get started. It lets you “freeze” a copy of just about any webpage, and then it stores that “page” for you as a “project” on the iCyte system so that you can access that saved “original” page at any later time. You can even compare the past and current versions of the saved pages to see if there are any changes since you last visited.

Here’s the best part for savvy Certified Legal Nurse Consultants. If you’re using the Firefox^® browser, it has an add-on that allows you to highlight text on the page! Also, you can annotate the stored sites you saved as well as tag them and use iCyte’s free-form notes field to write comments about a page.

If you’re working with legal nurse consulting subcontractors, you can “invite” them to join your projects. This allows them to view and comment on them also. It’s an efficient way to review or add to your CLNC^® subcontractors’ citations.

The iCyte service is a great addition to any legal nurse consultant’s useful collection of website tools. Try it today!

Keep on techin’,

Tom

Many of you will recognize that phrase from Vickie’s Wall Street Journal Bestseller Inside Every Woman. As a CLNC^® consultant you need to be agile. The same need extends to your computer accessories. Here’s something new. It’s the Targus 4-port USB Bend-a-Hub.

If you regularly charge your smart phone from a USB port on your computer, you know that those ports on your legal nurse consulting business’s laptop or desktop get used up pretty quickly. This octopus-looking device plugs into any available USB port on your laptop or desktop computer and has one standard-boxy USB port at its base and 3 tentacled USB ports on flexible wires, one of which can double as a mini-USB port for your camera, BlackBerry^® or other mini-USB device. The tentacles make it cool because, as you well know, USB connections, like nurses at a buffet, quickly get in each others’ way and cause congestion. The tentacles allow you to move them about for maximum connectivity and flexibility. Every CLNC^® consultant should have one of these small, handy devices in their bag of tricks.

Keep on techin’,

Tom