Challenge: Launch New e-Learning Center for Clinicians in the Operating Suite

Blitz + Associates, Inc. in conjunction with Intersites, Inc. has launched the BiosurgeryEducation.com web site, the health care professional's resource for high quality, easily accessible and nationally accredited online continuing education programs in the emerging field of Biosurgery. Developed under an educational grant from Baxter Healthcare Corporation, courses hosted on BiosurgeryEducation.com are available at no charge and provide convenient on-line post-testing and immediate test results. Upon successful completion of each course, a personalized certificate of completion will be provided as a PDF download for each learner's records.

BiosurgeryEducation.com has been designed for nurses, physicians and other clinicians working in the operating suite who are interested in:

• Furthering their knowledge about surgical adhesions
• Increasing their understanding of the challenges of tissue sealing
• Identifying strategies for achieving hemostasis and the control of bleeding in tissue repair in many surgical procedures

Personalized "My Course History"

BiosurgeryEducation.com provides each learner their own customized "My Course History" (a standard CMEConnect.org e-Learning platform feature) which furnishes a personalized record of their participation in learning modules and current course status. In addition, it enables the learner to download certificates of completion on an as-needed basis for accreditation documentation purposes as well as download courses in various file formats such as PDF.

For a demonstration of the BiosurgeryEducation.com e-Learning center featuring accredited print based and audio web cast courses contact: alan.blitz@blitzmeded.com

Challenge: Manage All Aspects of Continuing Medical Education Web Cast Event

Baxter Healthcare Corporation provided an educational grant to Blitz + Associates, Inc. and the American Burn Association (ABA) in support of a special continuing education web cast event. The program was launched in conjunction with the American Burn Association Annual Meeting through a joint sponsorship between the ABA and Blitz + Associates, Inc.

Blitz provided comprehensive project management services for all aspects of the project, including: content development with speaker, accreditation requirements, coordination of on site video-taping of web cast, promotional activities, CMEConnect.org branding, development and hosting of registration website and accreditation requirements, including post-testing, evaluation and issue certificates on line: View a demonstration of the webcast.

Physicians, nurses and burn care team members (ABA members) were invited to participate in the accredited web cast program, Wound Healing Concepts for the Clinician, offered as an ABA accredited Lunch 'N Learn series featuring a live question and answer session with the guest lecturer. After very well received Lunch 'N Learn series, the program is now available for “On Demand “Viewing as an accredited home study program for one full year.

Challenge: Establish Audio Web Conference Series for Healthcare Consulting Organization

Strategic planning in support of developing and executing a monthly series of live audio web casts targeting hospital and medical center high level executives. The series, Practical Insights and Effective Strategies for Managing Crucial Physician Relation Issues, is supported by Blitz + Associates, Inc. (project management) in association Intersites, Inc. (website management). To view the registration website, program descriptions and experience the navigation features, visit: www.healthcarestrategygroup.com and click on "Audio Web Cast."

The audio web cast events give participants the opportunity to hear a lecture with a PowerPoint presentation on key issues facing their organizations by national experts in physician relations consulting. Each event features an interactive question and answer session. The events are archived for On Demand viewing for up to one year.

Challenge: Launch and Maintain New e-Learning Center for Multi-State Pharmacy Societies

HealthSystemCE.org is a new e-Learning Center designed to meet the educational and practice needs of state health-system pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. It is a unique collaboration of state health-system societies supported by the Alliance for Professional Education (Blitz + Associates, Inc. (project management) , University of Illinois at Chicago, Drug Information Center (content provider), and Intersites, Inc. (website management).

The e-Learning Center has been developed by the Foundation for Continuing Professional Development, supported by the California Society of Health-System Pharmacists, the Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists, the New York State Council of Health-System Pharmacists and the Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

The mission of HealthSytemCE.org is to ensure the highest integrity of content and to facilitate ease of access to a comprehensive menu of ACPE approved continuing education home-study programs applicable to daily practice.

The e-Learning platform's functionality is comprehensive, including password protected registration, a personalized course history for each learner, and accreditation support through post-tests, evaluation forms and issuance of certificates of completion via the learner's personal computer. The administrative center provides for complete data base reporting to meet accreditation management requirements for all clinical disciplines.

To view the HealthSystemCE.org website homepage visit: www.HealthSystemCE.org.

For a demonstration of the entire website, contact: Alan Blitz: voice: 847-945-0101 or via email: alan.blitz@blitzmeded.com.

Challenge: Create Integrated Professional Education Programs

Developed peer-influence sales support materials for a national leader in automated pharmacy and supply distribution systems and e-commerce. These materials included articles for placement in pharmacy and nursing journals, and over a dozen case studies based on customer experiences and measurable outcomes with the systems. In addition, coordinated live continuing education seminars in conjunction with national conferences as well as launched its on-line continuing education web site for pharmacy and nursing professionals.

Challenge: Launch and Maintain New E-Learning Site for Healthcare Corporation

Developed and launched an E-learning site that provides nearly 50 accredited home study continuing education programs for pharmacists and nursing professionals. Services include creating the site plan, including interactive grading and transmission of certificates of completion, identifying and developing educational content with industry clinical thought leaders, obtaining accreditation for programs and promotional support. Since the e-learning site was established in 1999, more than 175,000 clinicians have earned continuing education credit through the completion of programs.

To view the e-learning website and the acredited content developed by Blitz + Associates, Inc. in conjunction with the University of Illinois at Chicago, Drug Information Center (and clinical thought leaders throughout the U.S.) visit www.baxter.com and click on the link on the home page cross bar: Training and Education.

To register or login to access Baxter's education programs (via the HealthStream e-learning center), click on the category of interest, specifically Medication Delivery, Nutrition, Pain Management or Nutrition.

Challenge: Launch and Manage Clinical Education Speakers' Bureau

Created a national speakers' program and companion CD Rom resource binder on clinical topics to a select group of nursing and pharmacy professionals. Work with a clinical advisory board on program content and secure accreditation for seminars that have been presented at facilities across the U.S. Developed and executed a national campaign to promote availability of the educational resources. Direct mail program received a 70% response rate requesting the educational materials and onsite speaking engagements were coordinated upon request.

Challenge: Establish Consulting Firm's Expertise in Physician Practice Management, Reruitment and Acquisitions

A comprehensive educational awareness program was developed and rolled out on a staged basis to reach hospital administrative decision-makers. Activities included seminars held in conjunction with major association meetings; clinical articles published in leading journals under a sponsored column “On Physician Relations;” a national study on physician recruitment and retention practices was co-sponsored with a national professional study and the findings released at a major conference, a newsletter was developed to showcase the expertise of the consulting team to targeted decision-makers; and a series of customized articles were written for industry publications and reprints circulated in the sales cultivation process.

Challenge: Coordinate Satellite Symposia for Selected Physician Specialties

Working under educational grants, developed and managed satellite symposia providing ACCME credit to physicians at selected national physician conferences. Comprehensive services provided include recruitment of speakers and coordination of educational content, management of accreditation process serving as Joint Sponsor of the CME activity, establishing website for registrations, promotional direct mail campaign and meeting planning services. Programs gained high visibility for commercial supporter and received high marks on seminar evaluation forms.

Challenge: Establish Leadership Position in Healthcare Quality

Designed an educational "Quality Network" to support a major pharmaceutical company's position as a value-added resource for information on quality assurance issues among hospital clinicians and administrators. This multi-faceted educational program included national case studies on quality assurance-related re-engineering programs, newsletters, and Network sponsorship of Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) programs on quality assurance for pharmacists, nurses and administrators. A national roundtable on quality in healthcare was developed and published in conjunction with the journal, Healthcare Executive.

Challenge: Launch New Medical Device in Rehabilitation Market

Created a public relations launch program for this manufacturer and marketer of a functional electrical stimulation medical device that helps paralyzed individuals stand and walk. Activities included coordinating national and local news media coverage and developing customized communications to educate key decision-makers (physiatrists, physical therapists, rehabilitation hospital administrators, and consumers) about the product. A national network of rehabilitation hospitals was established for access to the device. The product was eventually made available in European and Asian markets as well.

Challenge: Position Company as Leading Supplier of Health-Enhancing Ingredients

For nearly two decades, Blitz + Associates developed successful public relations programs for a global supplier of nutritional ingredients such as vitamin E, lutein esters, and phystosterols used to fortify dietary supplements and functional foods. Counseled top management on strategic issues, managed media relations programs, planned and executed educational events for trades shows. Today the company is recognized worldwide by customers, researchers and media for its science-based, high quality products.

Challenge: Create CD ROM ACCME Accredited Home Study Learning Module

The Clinics in Plastic Surgery CD ROM Accredited Home Study Learning Module features the branding identity of the journal, Clinics in Plastic Surgery and is scheduled for distributed to the universe of 7,000 U.S. Plastic Surgeons. The program, New Techniques for the Surgical Management of Post Massive Weight Loss and Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Patient., features educational content (enduring material) from presentations given by physicians at an accredited live symposium of the same name (supported by a grant from Baxter) at a recent American Society of Plastic Surgeons annual conference. Physicians will review the program’s PowerPoint presentations, including surgical video-clips, and link to an accreditation website to complete the home study requirements on line.