Archive for the ‘The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)’ Category
Maybe It’s Time We Do an “Energetic” Reality Check
Monday, January 9th, 2012
By Dennis Powell, e-Management
The Department of Energy through research and development at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is working to improve renewable energy technologies such as wind power that could lead to energy independence for the USA and job creation.
Pretty much everyone knows what the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) do. But how many of us really understand the role of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)? Recently, one prominent political figure talked about abolishing the Department. What’s interesting is the lack of protest from voters regarding the prospect of a country without DOE. Why am I so emphatic about the Department? Well, because the agency is here “to ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions.” In other words, DOE is responsible for energy policy including clean energy innovation, energy conservation, nuclear weapons program management, radioactive waste disposal, and so much more. Did you know that DOE developed the nuclear space power systems which powered NASA’s mission? But wait, there’s more…
Are you sick of the increasingly higher cost of fuel?
Well, I am and guess what? DOE is actually helping to make high energy cost a thing of the past. Did you know that DOE oversees the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)—the only national lab for the advancement of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. Renewable energy is clean and unlike other forms of conventional power, it never runs out. Renewable energy is great for the economy because it creates jobs and reduces our national dependencies on international sources of energy such as oil. Simply put, the work at NREL leads to commercial applications that may mean more sustainable, green energy that could save all of us money
Are you comfortable with radioactive waste being dumped in your backyard?
Probably not. It’s a good thing we have DOE’s Office of Environmental Management (EM) to keep us safe by cleaning up “the environmental legacy of the Manhattan Project and the Cold War.” Since the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the Stimulus Bill or ARRA) by Congress, there has been a rigorous debate on whether the Stimulus worked. Well not only is EM’s disposal of radioactive materials vital to our safety, the program office has been highly successful in the implementation of Stimulus projects. According to EM, the program office advanced its “mission to clean up the waste generated during the Cold War, by reducing that footprint by 613 square miles.” Plus, EM ARRA-funded projects put thousands of Americans back to work while giving them new skills that may be leveraged in the future. Did I mention EM completed its ARRA-funded projects ahead of schedule and way under budget!?
Extending a helping hand to low income families.
Last week, DOE’s Weatherization Assistance Program announced how the Department is helping families save energy and money. Through this program, DOE has supported the weatherization of more than 750,000 homes of low-income families across the country. According to an article by April Saylor, online content producer, DOE Office of Public Affairs, the program reduced energy consumption up to 35% resulting in an average savings of $400 during the first year.
High-Powered Awareness Check.
DOE’s mission may be murky to some. But from where I stand, the Department’s activities are commendable and relevant. But this blog posting isn’t all about me; what do you think? Should DOE stay or go? How important is energy independence to the future of the USA’s economy? What are you doing to conserve energy?
Tags: clean energy, Dennis Powell, Department of Energy, DOE, , energy efficiency, EPA, IRS, NASA, NREL, Office of Environmental Management, Ola Sage, renewable, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Posted in Corporate, Dining, Economy, Energy, Entertainment, Events, Family, Gadgets, Government, Green Computing, Healthcare, Information Security, Internet/Intranet, IT Infrastructure, IT Strategy & Management, Leadership, Lifestyle, Risk Management, Social Media, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), Uncategorized | 18 Comments »
Is Health IT Good Medicine?
Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010
by Dennis Powell, e-Management
 Information technology (IT) has helped to transform the way we conduct business and our lives. Fifteen years ago, many of us hadn’t ever purchased anything over the Internet. As a matter of fact, because of technology, there’s no need for many of us to rush out to the record or bookstore to purchase the latest U2 album we’ve been anxiously awaiting; we simply go to iTunes or Amazon.com, click, and download our favorite music within minutes. Think about how easy technology has made banking. We can now move money from our savings to checking accounts, or pay our bills using our mobile phones. And what about e-learning? Busy business professionals or stay at home parents can attest to the convenience of taking accredited courses online at their own pace toward a trusted degree.
How did we get so lucky?
For many, technology is truly a gift from the Gods. But there may be one area where the verdict is still out regarding whether technology is a gift or a curse, the healthcare industry. Health information technology (IT), or HIT, is the use of innovative software, products, or systems to provide services throughout the healthcare industry. Specifically, HIT uses computer systems to share, store, and retrieve healthcare information. In very basic terms, the same way computers have helped us in shopping, research, education, word processing, and the like, HIT can do the equivalent with our healthcare or healthcare information. HIT draws on healthcare information innovations such as electronic health records (EHR) and healthcare informatics.
In general, IT has helped create efficiency in so many parts of our lives; so why not healthcare, which by many accounts is plagued with cost overruns, fraud, and mistakes (sometimes fatal). As a way to improve on an old system, HIT is supposed to give us information we need to make more informed decisions about our well-being.
A HIT against privacy?
HIT on the surface seems to be a “hit” idea. But like anything new, there are serious concerns—especially in the areas of privacy. Arguably, the one thing that Americans hold dearer than their right to free speech is the right to privacy. A recent report released last month (February 2010) by the Ponemon Institute seems to reinforce this assertion by revealing that most Americans are worried about privacy issues surrounding healthcare—at least when it comes to the government. For instance, more than 73 percent of 883 adults surveyed by the Institute flat out said they don’t trust the government to safeguard their medical records. What may come as a surprise is that the same sample overwhelmingly (more than 71 percent) said they place more trust to healthcare providers in protecting their privacy. Interestingly, 84 percent of those surveyed didn’t even know the federal government is considering developing a national database of medical records. Seventy-five percent think the government is wrong for even contemplating such a data bank. Enough with the statistics, clearly privacy is a concern for many Americans.
So should we be suspicious of the government and HIT?
Like it or not, the government is leading the way with HIT. Back in 2004, President George W. Bush put forth an executive order and a plan that would drive the evolution of health IT. He saw HIT as a way to lower costs, improve efficiencies, reduce medical mistakes, and improve overall care for patients. Today, President Barack Obama has also shown his commitment to HIT by funneling nearly $20 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) or stimulus funds toward HIT. A portion of the Recovery Act funding for HIT is for the development of a health IT infrastructure, the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN), which allows healthcare to share secured (encrypted) information on patients electronically. Since the current president loves timelines, the deadline for the national system is 2014. *grin*
ARRA has put in place additional security measures for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996. The Obama administration sees the changes within the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act) as necessary in light of security and privacy breaches (e.g., Veterans Administration) of the past. Ultimately, the consumer is promised more peace of mind under the new law. On the surface HITECH is comprehensive, addressing consumer privacy in areas of protected health information (PHI), reporting security and privacy breaches, and rules on the use of information for marketing. Even more, HITECH enforcement of protected health information is stricter with steeper penalties for noncompliance. There are even incentives in place for persons to report violations.
HIT will be a “hit” with consumers.
With the proper security measures in place to safeguard consumer health information and the adoption of best of breed IT systems, HIT should be a hit with consumers, the healthcare industry, and the government. The HIT benefits are many. A 2006 RAND Healthcare report asserts that we could save upward of $81 billion every year if HIT were the standard in the healthcare industry. Plus, we have already discussed HIT can help to improve the quality of healthcare by reducing errors (sometimes fatal) linked to outdated paper-based systems. In fact, a 2006 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality report agreed with RAND Healthcare, concluding that HIT is a safer, more efficient, and more effective way to do business.
Since the federal government is the relevant buyer of healthcare products, it is uniquely positioned to help the acceleration of HIT adoption in the USA. HIT holds the promise of improved research because of the ease of sharing information. What’s more, HIT has profound public health implications such as the ability to identify outbreaks of diseases faster. Plus, according to RAND Healthcare, HIT would allow seamless scanning of consumer data to determine possible risks that could promote infections; such information may help in providing information to the public for prevention measures.
Health IT, hit or miss-take?
In usual form, we want to hear from you. What’s your take on HIT? Are you one of the 73 percent of Americans who don’t trust the federal government to protect your health information? What are the risks associated with a modernized HIT network? On another note, what is your take on the government’s role in healthcare generally? We look forward to your comments and your help to advance this topic.
Tags: Add new tag, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, ARRA, Barack Obama, Cyber security, disease, EHR, electronic health records, fraud, George W. Bush, health, health IT, Healthcare, hi-tech, HIPAA, informatics, information technology, malpractice, Nationwide Health Information Network, NHIN, outbreaks, PHI, Ponemon Institute, prevention, protected health information, RAND Healthcare, Stimulus Act
Posted in Economy, Government, Healthcare, Information Security, Internet/Intranet, IT Strategy & Management, News, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) | 9 Comments »
What’s So ‘Smart’ about the Smart Grid Anyway?
Thursday, January 21st, 2010
Satellite image shows the Northeast Blackout of 2003, which affected more than 55 million people in the USA and Canada. Will smart grid tech make blackouts a thing of the past?
by Dennis Powell, e-Management
By most accounts, the smart grid will be the best thing since Seinfeld ruled Thursday nights back in the 1990s. Okay, maybe not that good. But really, what’s so “smart” about that grid anyway? Well, it’s a modernized electricity delivery system, which uses two-way digital technology that can monitor, track, and control energy used by appliances and devices. The smart grid promises to save businesses, governments, and consumers money; reduce energy consumption; and be less susceptible to brownouts and blackouts. Sounds smart.
Even the sometimes hard-to-please environmentalists are on board with the smart grid. They say the smart grid will help reduce global carbon emissions, and integrate other forms of sustainable energy production. Unsurprisingly, President Obama also says the modernized electricity system is smart for America. His administration has led the way to at least $4.5 billion to help smart grid technology become a reality in the U.S.
But is the smart grid an intelligent solution for all of us? Are there any hidden threats that would leave us feeling like: “Is this really better than what we had?”
What about Those Smart Hackers?
Since the smart grid is a computerized system, this opens you, business, and government organizations to cyber attacks. A smart grid is supposed to make blackouts less likely, but some experts are saying not so fast. According to them, smart grid technology has vulnerabilities that must be addressed in order to protect us from terrorist plots. For instance, a savvy hacker or terrorist organization could hack into the grid and shut it down causing massive blackouts. The results of such an attack could be devastating, especially if they were accompanied by coordinated physical security threats. The cyber experts are recommending that before a smart grid is built, cyber security safeguards need to be put in place.
What about Smart Costs?
The smart grid price tag to consumers is another real concern under the modernized system. Case in point, a pilot payment program led by a Massachusetts utilities company recently came under fire when the energy provider proposed a pay-in-advance plan for nearly 800 low-income households. Another proposed plan would charge a premium beyond basic energy usage such as laundry, heating, and cooking needs. According to the utilities company, the rationale is to promote and introduce energy efficiencies to consumers. The fear from opponents, however, is that such plans could leave low-income households without energy if they were to run out of credits, and the proposed payment plans could even circumvent state laws designed to protect consumers from being left in the dark because of slow payment or lack of payment. Nevertheless promoters across the U.S. of pay-in-advance programs cite that consumers actually use less energy than others who have traditional plans. Still, there is evidence that is only the case for more affluent users.
What about Smart Benefits?
Is it possible the sheer benefits of the smart grid outweigh the concerns of some its detractors? In addition to cool things to come from the smart grid discussed earlier, proponents say consumers will use less energy because the technology promotes consumer choice and greater efficiencies. Arguably, consumers currently use more energy than they need. In contrast, the smart grid may give the consumer more awareness of their total consumption in real-time, which may lead to “smarter” energy usage. Since power outages are theoretically less likely under a smart grid system, low-income consumers and others who are especially vulnerable if there is a loss of power can sleep easier at night during extreme weather conditions.
According to a 2006 study by the Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory, power outrages costs the U.S. $80 billion every year. So there is also an obvious financial benefit for business and government organizations that must deploy resources under duress to deal with power failure, and its immediate fallout (e.g., public health issues, national security issues, downtime of financial systems, additional pay for overtime).
Another “cool” benefit, which may resonate with consumers, is that the smart grid really is “smart.” During times when there is less demand for energy, the grid could automatically activate a home heating system. Likewise, at peak hours, the smart grid could turn off less essential appliances or devices such as an mp3 charging deck or lamps.
Is There a Smart Future?
Clearly, there are a few people who have some reservations regarding smart grid technology, and others who are all for it. If the modernized grid is to be successful, industry and government must plan ahead to address issues of cyber security safety as well as to ensure scalable systems. Additionally, legislative bodies may have to reconsider pricing and payment enforcement practices that safeguard consumers from big utilities, and if necessary enact laws to protect the mutual interests of users and providers.
Looking Forward to Your Smart Comments…
We want to hear from you. Smart grid: cool idea or just plain dumb? Is implementing smart grid technology worthwhile? Are we rushing into it? Once in place, how do you think pricing will play out for consumers? Will cost savings realized by electricity companies trickle down to you? Will our government organizations be ready for cyber terrorists’ plots to take advantage of the network vulnerabilities of the modernized grid?
Tags: appliances, ARRA, blackout, carbon emissions, consumers, Cyber security, electricity, Energy, ENERGY STAR, Going green, Government, Government Spending, green IT, Hackers, national security, power, smart grid, sustainability, technology, terrorists
Posted in Corporate, Economy, Energy, Government, Green Computing, IT Infrastructure, IT Strategy & Management, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), Uncategorized | 10 Comments »
The Future Is Bright or Is It?
Monday, January 4th, 2010
by Dennis Powell, e-Management
2010 is finally here and some of us are still fighting to stay true to our New Year resolutions. The annual predictions are in and some experts are forecasting: (1) consumers will find it difficult to secure higher lines of credit; (2) education institutions will continue to benefit from 10 percent jobless rate; and perhaps most important, (3) American Idol ratings will continue to plummet with the absence of celebrity judge Paula Abdul. ::: smile :::
But seriously, there are certainly no shortages of industry forecasts going around and we wanted to get you in on the fun. What are your predictions for 2010 in the following categories? [We have a little something for everyone].
Category 1: Cyber Security
Government has said it’s more vigilant in its cyber security policies and execution, and has pumped billions of dollars into cyber initiatives. Do you think government will win or lose the War of Cyber Terrorism in 2010? Will there be any successful online attacks against local, state, or federal government agencies by foreign “enemies”?
Category 2: The Stimulus/Economic Recovery
The recession has had a devastating impact on families, workers, small businesses, and financial institutions throughout the country. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is supposed to “stimulate the economy.” Will recovery dollars help or hurt us in 2010?
Category 3: Healthcare in the 21st Century
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and the President say they are for healthcare reform. If a healthcare reform bill becomes law, will there be a greater push toward drawing on health information technology (HIT) to improve the successes of healthcare reform? What’s your take on the future of HIT? Maybe we are getting ahead of ourselves; will there actually be healthcare reform in 2010?
Category 4: Cloud Computing
Information technology research and advisory firm Gartner predicts that by 2012, 80 percent of Fortune 100 companies will be taking advantage of the benefits of cloud computing. With the injection of “new blood” (i.e., CIOs, new administration priorities) into the way the federal government views IT, will the federal government follow an accelerated approach to adopting cloud computing? Do you think virtualization applications such as Google Docs will replace mainstay applications from Microsoft? Is cloud computing a waste of taxpayer money?
Category 5: Pop Culture
So Paula Abdul is out and Ellen DeGeneres is in for the next season of American Idol, which starts in just three weeks. Will Ellen be well received by viewers and critics? Will the new season be the end of the top-rated reality talent showcase’s position as America’s favorite TV show?
The Time is Yours
Those are a few of the hot topics the pundits are drumming up for 2010. Now is the time to let your predictions be known. How will cyber security, stimulus spending, healthcare/health IT, cloud computing, or pop culture (e.g., music, film, fashion, TV, games, catchphrases etc.) play out in 2010? What are your general predictions for the New Year? Please check back from time to time throughout the year to see how well you did with your forecasts. In the meantime, we would like to thank you for supporting our inaugural year for blogging; sharing our postings with colleagues/friends; and adding your thoughtful comments to drive our discussions.
Season’s Greetings and Happy New Year from the e-Management Blog Team.
Tags: 2010 prediction, American Idol, ARRA, cloud computing, Cyber security, , , Ellen DeGeneres, Gartner, , health, health IT, Healthcare, jobless rate;, Kathleen Sebelius, Microsoft, Obama, Paula Abdul, pop culture, prediction, recession, Stimulus Act, unemployment, Virtualization
Posted in Corporate, Economy, Entertainment, Government, Green Computing, Information Security, Internet/Intranet, IT Infrastructure, IT Strategy & Management, Lifestyle, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), Uncategorized | 13 Comments »
Are You Prepared for Business Continuity When Disaster Strikes? (Part 1)
Wednesday, July 29th, 2009
By Douglas Pitcher, e-Management
The following thread is the first of a new three-part blog series on Disaster Recovery.
Dependence on information vis-à-vis information technology (IT) is greater than ever, and its impact on government even larger, should systems be unavailable. From the largest multinational corporation down to the humblest mom and pop business, organizations everywhere are facing explosive demand for storage.
According to a poll conducted by an IT services group, while IT and business decision makers share the same views on the importance of information availability to business, survey data reveal a split in how to achieve the goal of minimizing downtime when an unplanned IT outage occurs. Both IT and business decision-makers say information availability is important to the success of their business (83 percent of IT, 78 percent of business). Fewer than half of business executives, however, say disaster recovery and business continuity are important to business success compared with a large majority of IT executives (74 percent of IT, 49 percent of business).
Most technical operations now have 24/7/365 expectations due to the growth of Internet-enabled applications, and yet, even after Y2K, 9/11, and Hurricane Katrina, managers of IT still struggle with disaster recovery problems, which range from funding to knowing what is really mission critical. Despite numerous studies that demonstrate the importance of planning for emergencies, many businesses and government agencies still give a low priority to actual spending for an effective disaster recovery plan.
So what does disaster recovery planning actually mean?
First of all, it is imperative to recognize the intent of a disaster recovery plan in that it is to provide a written and tested plan directing the computer recovery process in the event of an interruption in continuous service from an unplanned and unexpected disaster. So, the purpose of a disaster recovery plan is to establish defined responsibilities, actions, and procedures to recover information systems in the event of an unexpected and unscheduled interruption, and structured to attain an established list of objectives acceptable to the user community.
What are the biggest myths about disaster recovery planning?
One of the biggest myths is that only large businesses with huge amounts of capital can adequately plan and prepare for a disaster. That might have been true 15 years ago, but it’s no longer the case. Since the costs of storage and bandwidth have decreased so much in the past 11 years, backup and disaster recovery are options that all businesses can implement. Another tell-tale in disaster recovery is that disaster planning is too complex to be worthwhile if an organization isn’t in a disaster hot spot. The fact of the matter is that disasters can take many different forms and can happen anywhere. While planning ahead might require some effort now, the actual work involved with early preparation is dwarfed by the effort required to recover after a disaster takes out 90% of an agency’s data. Not only can disaster recovery planning save you time after the fact, but the steps involved in creating a plan can often help streamline existing business processes. The concept of what the plan should incorporate forms the nucleus (central point) of a disaster recovery plan.
The next installment will discuss: How do you go about creating a disaster recovery plan? Plus, what are critical issues to watch for when creating a disaster recovery plan?
Remember, this is one of three installments of a new Disaster Recovery blog series. We may address many of your key issues throughout the series; so, please feel free to comment before the next installment.
Here are a few of questions to get you started: Do you think there is a significant disconnect between IT and business executives? Do you have a disaster recovery plan in place at your agency or organization? If so, how prepared are you with it? If you do not have a plan in place, what are you waiting for?
Tags: Accountability, business continuity, continuous risk management, disaster, Disaster Recovery, downtime, emergencies, emergency, federal, Federal government, Government, high stake, IT outage, project failure, thought leadership, unscheduled interruption
Posted in Corporate, Government, Information Security, IT Infrastructure, IT Strategy & Management, Risk Management, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) | 18 Comments »
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