March 23, 2006

Technology: Can't Live With It, Can't Live Without It, What's a Manager To Do… Find Out at the 2006 OPEN MINDS Information Technology Institute

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania – Today's technology is changing so rapidly that even if an organization has state-of-the art technology, it may not be enough. And if an organization doesn't have the right technology, they could find themselves on the outside looking in. "Technology: Can't Live With It, Can't Live Without It, What's a Manager To Do" is the focus of the 2006 Information Technology Institute presented by OPEN MINDS, July 11-12, 2006, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This year's institute, "Leveraging Technology to Prepare & Perform in a Changing World," will assist behavioral health and social service executives in using technology to find new and untapped markets, negotiate transactions, support the decision making process, and streamline day-to-day operations.

Senior members of the OPEN MINDS consulting team and experts from the field of behavioral health and social services will bring the current technology issues to life with a combination of "how to" models and examples of what does (and does not) work in the field. These experts will present a variety of "Best Practice Management Models" and "Executive Case Studies" sessions, including:

• A Look at How Information Technology & Telecommunications are Changing the Financial & Delivery System Landscape in Behavioral Health & Social Services, by Monica E. Oss, CEO, OPEN MINDS

• Managing Information Technology Costs: ROI Analysis & Your IT Budget, by Joseph Naughton-Travers, M. Ed, Senior Associate, OPEN MINDS

• How to Develop the Functional Specifications for Choosing an Information System, by Joseph Naughton-Travers, M. Ed, Senior Associate, OPEN MINDS

• How to Link Your Technology Plan to your Strategic Plan, by John Talbot, Ph.D., Vice President, OPEN MINDS

Attendees can earn up to 11 continuing education hours for their attendance to this event. For more information and a complete agenda of the 2006 OPEN MINDS Information Technology Institute, call toll-free 877-350-6463 or go to http://www.openminds.com/educ/omi2006it.htm. Registrations received before May 12, 2006, will receive a $100 discount off the regular institute price of $795.

The American College of Addiction Treatment Administrators accepts all OPEN MINDS institutes and seminars for full credit. Attendance can also be applied towards the non-credit certificate in Health and Human Service Management from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.

OPEN MINDS is a national behavioral health and social service industry market research and management consulting firm. Founded in 1987 and based in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the more than 75 associates of OPEN MINDS provide information services, executive education, market research, and management consultation services. The firm's mission is to provide behavioral health and social service payers, consumer associations, and service providers with the management knowledge needed to improve their efficiency and effectiveness in order to better serve consumers.