Healthcare BI Summit – Theme Announced!
By 
We are pleased to announce the theme for this year’s Summit:
From Strategy to Execution:
How Healthcare Organizations Can Deliver on the Promise of Data
With all the activity around ACO’s and Meaningful Use, increasing demand for analytics, ICD-10 implementations, and HIPAA updates, healthcare organizations need a strong strategy to deliver against these often competing and always difficult tasks.
Bring real-world perspective to your business intelligence efforts!
Seats are limited.
Reserve your complimentary conference pass today!
Tech Tip: Disabling Grid Options in Your Dashboard
Some of you may have a multitude of MicroStrategy Web-based dashboards and do not require the right-click options on your data grids. For example, the grid on your dashboard might look like this:
Lucky for you, there is a super simple solution for hiding this feature.
- Open your dashboard in MicroStrategy
- In MicroStategy Desktop, navigate to:
File > Page Setup… > Document Properties > Document- If you’re using MicroStrategy Web, navigate to:
Home > Page Setup… > Document Properties > Document
- If you’re using MicroStrategy Web, navigate to:
- Uncheck the ‘Enable sorting and pivoting on grids in Express and Flash Modes’ option
- If you wish to keep those options but hide all the extra options, uncheck the ‘Enable additional interactivity on grids in Flash Mode’ option instead
- If you wish to keep those options but hide all the extra options, uncheck the ‘Enable additional interactivity on grids in Flash Mode’ option instead
- Click OK, save and run the dashboard to test your changes
That’s it! I told you it was super simple!
Healthcare BI Summit – SAVE THE DATE!
Healthcare Business Intelligence Summit
September 20, 2012
McNamara Alumni Center
Minneapolis, MN
The Healthcare Business Intelligence Summit is quickly approaching. This year’s Summit underscores the importance of strategic planning in business intelligence and data management initiatives. No other industry has experienced such a dramatic shift towards technology and data as healthcare. Now more than ever we need to articulate a strategy and deliver value quickly to demonstrate the key role data can play in healthcare’s transformation.
Hear from industry leaders who are delivering value to their organization every day through business intelligence.
Seats are limited.
Reserve your complimentary conference pass today!
Conference content includes:
- Different approaches to solving the data problems of ACO’s
- The role of BI in lean initiatives
- Advanced analytics
- How to get started with an enterprise data warehouse
- Leadership for BI programs
Bring real-world perspective to your business intelligence efforts.
National Nurses Day, Sunday May 6, 2012
Today kicks off a week to celebrate those that care for us. According to the Department of Labor Statistics, registered nursing jobs are growing faster than average at 26%. Beyond the statistics, though, are the personal stories that nurses become a part of every day.
Nurses are not only an integral part of the care team, but the faces to most of us as we navigate the health system and try to understand the clinical terms that we are presented with. Some nurses will never leave your memory, so engrained in an experience that will forever change your life. I remember Cindi as clearly as if I had seen her yesterday. She held me as I lost my mother. She had been there every day, caring for my mother, and us, as we walked the path of grief. I remember Barb, my OB nurse. She kept me calm and focused, and when the doctor told me I needed a C-section urgently, she came to me, took my face in her hands and told me in no uncertain terms that everything was going to be just fine.
Many of us have gotten lost in the rush for healthcare improvement. The flood of criticism and demands has obscured the reality of what it means to provide healthcare. A nurse’s job is not easy, and it can’t be glamorized (by TV) or categorized (by statistics). Its long hours on their feet; demands for their time from administration to interact with machines instead of people. Their days are filled with stress but they still find it in themselves to care for us, their patients.
I ask each of you this week, to find a way to thank a nurse. Make sure they know that they are appreciated not just today, but every day.
Tech Tip: When Count Distinct doesn't work.
Trying to get distinct counts to work in an Intelligent Cube is frustrating.
We found a workaround that involves getting dynamic aggregation to do the work for us – attached is the process we used:
- Create a new Custom Subtotal and add it to the Project ObjectsSubtotal folder.
Make sure you set the Count function’s Distinct parameter to True. - Create a new metric, but use the Max() function instead of Sum() in its formula:
Note that we set the Max() function’s FactID parameter to refer to a fact housed in the fact table we are reporting against.
Be sure to set the Dynamic aggregation function to use the new Subtotal you created in Step 1. - Now you can add the metric to your cube and publish it.
Note: make sure your metric join types (Report Data Options) are set as you want them. - Notes about the usage of this metric in various report scenarios:
* In a standalone report, the attribute you’re counting has to be in the report objects and not on the visible grid.
* In a report based on a cube, the cube will have the attribute in it, but it can’t be on the visible grid.
* In a cube-based document, the attribute you’re counting can’t be in the grid or graph objects, although it IS in the cube.
* In a document based on one or more datasets, the attribute you’re counting must be in the same dataset as the Max() metric, but the attribute can’t appear in any grid or graph objects.
References:
a) MicroStrategy Tech Note TN35923.
b) MicroStrategy Discussion Forums thread:
https://resource.microstrategy.com/forum/replylistpage.aspx?id=15023
Lancet Taps MicroStrategy Alum to Lead New West Coast Practice
Keith Reynolds Brings Supply Chain, Online and Digital Media Experience
When you ask Keith Reynolds about Business Intelligence, be prepared for some enthusiasm. A lot of enthusiasm. The leader of Lancet’s new West Coast practice brings a clear passion for big data to his work.
“BI is all about empowering people,” Keith explains. “I love the constant changes and the problem solving it requires, and most importantly, the opportunity to surprise and delight the business. It’s rewarding to help individuals realize the true insights within their data and really leverage the power of their BI platform.”
In his new role, Keith oversees the growing MicroStrategy population in the western U.S. with a dedicated Lancet practice for the region. He is based in Los Angeles and will work directly with clients all along the west coast, as well as companies in Arizona, Idaho, Montana and Nevada.
Keith brings more than a decade of hands-on and strategic BI experience, including stints at Starbucks Coffee Company, NBC/Universal Home Entertainment and the internet division of Walt Disney. While at Edmunds.com, he was a key contributor in monetizing the company’s data warehouse. He began his career working side-by-side with Lancet founder Randy Mattran at MicroStrategy, and holds both an MBA and a master’s degree in management information systems.
“Keith’s combination of project leadership, MicroStrategy skill and diverse BI experience makes him a great asset to Lancet and to our customers,” states Randy Mattran, Chief Operating Officer for Lancet. “We’re excited to have him establish a larger Lancet presence in the western U.S.”
Keith can be reached at 310.745.2470 or kreynolds@lancetsoftware.com.
Chris Holtan Recognized with Exceptional Businesswoman Award
Congratulations to our own Chris Holtan, one of eleven recipients of this year’s Dakota County Exceptional Businesswoman Award. The award honors CEOs, successful local business owners and nonprofit leaders for their contributions to the business and community. Chris joins a high-powered roster of 2012 honorees that includes leaders from Delta Airlines, Thompson Reuters and the Minnesota Zoo.
As one of Lancet’s five original “flounders,” Chris has been instrumental in establishing Lancet’s open book culture, which emphasizes employee strengths and teamwork, and has led to six “Best Places to Work” designations. As Vice President and Consultant, she serves on the management team driving business strategy, and works hands-on in the field designing and implementing Business Intelligence systems for Lancet customers.
“I’m most proud of choosing entrepreneurship–and sticking with it,” Chris says. “It consistently provides scary moments, because so many people are counting on you, but the reward is creating a company from scratch, based on principles I believe in. I love being part of a true team and seeing Lancet not only survive, but thrive.”
Community and volunteer contributions also play a significant role for Chris. The award recognizes her work supporting activities from cycling and healthy living to student entrepreneurship and end-of-life care, as well as facilitating volunteer opportunities among Lancet employees.
“I am truly honored to be on a list with these tremendous women and to be recognized for the role Lancet plays in Dakota County,” she says. “It’s a great jolt of confidence, and reinforcement that we really are doing good work for our clients and the community.”
MicroStrategy World Keynote Address
In case you missed it, here’s the Keynote Address from MicroStrategy World, 2012. Michael Saylor, MicroStrategy CEO, discusses four major technological forces: big data, mobile, cloud computing, and social media. Watch it now!
New Award for Lancet – MicroStrategy's "Value Added Reseller of the Year"
Lancet Software named MicroStrategy’s Value Added Reseller of the Year
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Lancet®, a leading provider of Business Intelligence (BI) strategy, design, analysis and implementation services, has been named the 2011 MicroStrategy® Value Added Reseller of the Year. In making the selection, MicroStrategy, a leading worldwide provider of BI software, cited Lancet’s tenured relationship with the company as well as Lancet’s success in collaborating with the MicroStrategy sales and services organizations.
“The MicroStrategy Value Added Reseller of the Year award honors Lancet for their outstanding work in ensuring the success of our joint customers’ business intelligence initiatives,” said Sanju Bansal, MicroStrategy chief operating officer. “This award recognizes Lancet’s hard work and dedication in supporting enterprise-class business intelligence deployments, and we congratulate the entire Lancet team for this well-deserved recognition.”
According to Thomas Niccum, Lancet co-founder and president, the award comes when Lancet has seen 63% year-over-year company growth and has nearly tripled its MicroStrategy license sales over the past year. Strong demand for Lancet’s Dashboard and Mobile Services, LancetCare platform administration and healthcare BI solutions also contributed.
“This honor is especially meaningful to Lancet this year as we celebrate our 15th anniversary,” said Niccum. “I extend sincere thanks to all of my colleagues within Lancet and to MicroStrategy. We look forward to continuing our work with MicroStrategy to help organizations harness the power and value of BI.”
JUST ANNOUNCED! Gartner's 2012 Magic Quadrant for BI Platforms
Here is a recent press release announcing MicroStrategy’s leadership position in the “Leaders” quadrant in the 2012 “Magic Quadrant for Business Intelligence Platforms” report. Read more.
About the Magic Quadrant
Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product, or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advice technology users to select on those vendors with the highest ratings. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
Congratulations MicroStrategy!