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

I love email and the efficiency of communicating by email. My staff teases me that they often receive succinct, one- or two-word email messages from me (Yes. No. Thanks! Do it!). I receive more email than most people in my office and quite frankly, some of it is simply horrific. (I can’t put in writing what comes to mind when reading some of it.) It’s often hard to believe that it was composed and sent by a professional.

With this in mind, I’d like to offer you my top 9 tips for communicating clearly and effectively with your attorney-clients. These tips will keep you from hitting “horrific” status with any of your attorney-clients or prospects.

1. Have a proper email address. Email is a business communication and your email address is part of your marketing. PinkBunny1969@whatever.com may be appropriate for your online dating profile but sends the wrong message to attorneys. Go to GoDaddy.com and register your legal nurse consulting business’s name, or a derivative of it as a domain name. Then follow GoDaddy’s simple steps to create an email account. Now you’re JesseCook@JMC-Consulting.com – much better plus it helps brand your business every time you send an email.
2. Use a clear subject line. Many people scan their email box by subject to determine not only the priority of the communication but also whether to classify it as spam or to file it. If you get an email with a subject such as “You need my services,” “A question for you” or “Re: Additional Issues in the Smith Case,” which one do you think you’d open first, if at all? If you don’t know the answer, you’ve got some homework to do. Address your subject clearly and succinctly. Your attorney-recipient should know just from the subject line what your message relates to, its priority and where to file it for later review.
3. When possible, keep it short. If it’s a longer communication consider putting it in a letter on your legal nurse consulting company’s letterhead and attach it as a PDF or Word^® document so that the attorney-client can print it for the file. Email is great for shorter communications but remember, many people read email in their preview window on their screen or on a cell phone. Shorter messages are easier to comprehend (that’s why the webpages of news organizations are short). If someone has to print your message to understand it, you may as well brand it on letterhead. If I have an important email I’m working on, I’ll often compose it in Word and then cut and paste it into my email. This allows me more control over my thoughts.
4. Compose sensitive and important email before filling in the “To” field. Have you ever accidently hit Send before you were ready or before you completed composing your important missive? I know I have. To remedy this, I recommend adding the recipients’ email addresses for the to, cc or bcc fields only when you’re sure you’re ready to send your final email.
5. Take a deep breath before replying. Not every email requires an immediate reply, especially one that raises your blood pressure. This is especially important if you haven’t yet cooled off before firing off that terse reply letting the recipient know exactly what you think. Remember, there’s not really an “undo” button and this tip combined with #4 above will help to keep you on good terms with all your attorney-clients and colleagues.
6. Don’t use text-messaging slang such as IMHO in a professional communication. Save them for Facebook, Twitter and texting. Remember you’re communicating professionally, not personally.
7. DON’T TYPE IN ALL CAPS – that’s still the Internet equivalent of shouting. It’s hard to believe in 2010 I still have to remind people of this. If your “Caps Lock” key is stuck, it’s time to buy a can of air and blow the brownie crumbs out of your keyboard. Here’s a link to Tom’s Tech Tip on cleaning your computer.
8. Proof your work. Yes, it sounds too simple but often, due to the perceived informal nature of email, people don’t proof it. I’ve often received email that contains incomplete sentences and thoughts that aren’t fully developed. This is simply because the sender was in a rush to click Send. If it’s an important email, I’ll print it and hand proof it prior to sending. Adhere to basic grammar rules. In today’s world you don’t have to be perfect, but likewise, you don’t want someone labeling you a grammar-barbarian.
9. Use a spell checker. Just about every email program has this capability. Make sure you turn it on. What is an attorney going to think of someone who can’t spell simple words or who sends their communications full of typos?

Every day I get email that breaks these rules – some even break all 9 at once! Email is probably your typical form of communication as a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant. Make yours a reflection of your professionalism and your email will help you gain attorney-clients, not lose them at “helllo.” Yes, that typo was intentional.

Success Is inside!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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