INARF held its second annual Technology Summit on September 12, in collaboration with the Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities (IARF) and the Ohio Provider Resource Association (OPRA).
As the first conference coordinated by provider trade associations from three states, it was a very effective means to view the topics from different angles and learn of positive practices occurring outside of Indiana.
The day opened with a panel discussion featuring the three association CEOs, with a lively discussion of the dramatic changes that technology has brought to the industry and the impact of service quality and convenience that has resulted.
INARF President/CEO Kim Opsahl stated that while Indiana provides funding for some services such as remote monitoring, she would like to see greater access to technology for the individuals we serve. A poll of the audience indicated that technology has improved the way providers do business, but has not had a similar impact on service delivery.
After the opening panel, attendees were offered a wide range of concurrent educational sessions, covering such topics as website compliance, implementation of new technology, and overviews of products now available to the provider community. With 116 attendees and over 20 vendors in attendance, the 2013 Technology Conference proved to be an exceptional networking opportunity for professionals from all three states.
One theme was evident: the use of technology by providers will only increase over time. As noted by Dr. David Mank of the Indiana Institute on Disability & Community, "in a few short years, technology has gone from mysterious, to interesting, to convenient, to pervasive." INARF is committed to staying abreast of new developments, and will continue to provide opportunities to learn about exciting new ways to use technology to enhance service delivery.
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