Council on Information Technology Report
Dr. Kirt Simmons
The COIT met on December 10-11, 2004 in St. Louis. Dr. Rich Savage is our current Chair, having taken over from Brent Larson (who is the new chairman of the orthodontic program at Minnesota). COIT has been invited to contribute to the "Orthodontist as CEO" program to be held February 10-12, 2006. We are suggesting 2-3 speakers on the topics of digital security measures and the new interactive online practice promotion/communication programs (ala "Ortho Sesamee", etc.). We are also in favor of repeating the "Office of the Future" presentation at the 2006 AAO meeting in New Orleans.
COIT is also busy planning a Technology Conference in February of 2008, with the venue and topics to be determined in the near future. The venues being considered are resort type properties in San Diego, Miami and Puerto Rico and the AAO Research Family will be surveyed for their input on venues/topics. If you would like to provide your preferences and/or suggestions please contact myself or Dr. Rich Savage in the near future.
The updated AAO website is scheduled to be completely online by the end of January, 2005 (and so far we have been ahead of schedule on the update). Some of the new things that this update provides are online dues payments, an online AAO "store", online Annual Session abstract submission and meeting registration, ability to track your AAO CE credits, a centralized online "real time" AAO calendar, and new graphics, toolbars, discussion boards, and navigation menus. To be added soon are an online version of the AJO/DO, a "job bank" for doctors, staff and available positions for both, an AAO library database, the conversion of "classic" slide lectures into digital online presentations, a "classified ads" section to sell/trade/request equipment, and the ability to "personalize" your AAO website.
Also soon to come are online AAOF auctions and pledges and online AAO Insurance quotes and applications.
The AAO has also developed a website "template" for constituencies that is being offered for hosting by the AAO.
Finally, COIT, via Dr. Bill Harrell, is involved in the ADA's development of dental digital image (photographic and radiographic) standards, which hopes to provide one recognized standard for these images so different images obtained through different companies cameras/radiographic machines using various software companies would be compatible and (ideally) interchangeable.
If you have any comments or suggestions for the Council I encourage you to contact me.
Kirt Simmons
simmonske@archildrens.org
(501) 364-5350
SWSO COIT Representative