{"id":2097,"date":"2016-12-08T05:10:16","date_gmt":"2016-12-08T13:10:16","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2023-11-30T16:37:11","modified_gmt":"2023-12-01T00:37:11","slug":"engaging-citizens-through-azure-based-mobile-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newed.any0.dpdns.org\/en-us\/industry\/blog\/healthcare\/2016\/12\/08\/engaging-citizens-through-azure-based-mobile-solutions\/","title":{"rendered":"Engaging citizens with health and human services agencies through Azure-based mobile solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"DionaGraham Stubbs, CEO of Diona<\/a>, a Microsoft partner, has a great perspective on the primary challenges facing health and human services agencies and their employees today\u2014and how Diona\u2019s innovative mobility solutions can help: \u201cPeople expect the same level of service from government that they receive from their banks, their hotel booking websites and their Uber service,\u201d Graham said. \u201cAt the same time, governments around the world are under pressure to do more with less, improve outcomes and deal with the technology expectations of new employees. Diona was founded on the premise that we could help solve these problems through mobility.\u201d<\/p>\n

I met with Graham at the IT Solutions Management for Human Services Conference (ISM), which I wrote about here<\/a>. Diona was founded in 2012 by Graham and two other veterans of the health and human services (HHS) IT industry. The company has a clear mission and goal: to change lives by creating technology solutions that transform how people\u2019s health and human services needs are served; and, by 2020, make social program delivery though mobile solutions the norm for agencies around the world.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s an ambitious objective but well within reach, especially since Diona recently became a Managed Services Provider (MSP), which means they now offer the integration portion of their solution on our Microsoft Azure Government<\/a> cloud, providing the secure, FedRAMP<\/a>\u2013 and HIPAA<\/a>-compliant environment needed by HHS agencies. Here\u2019s a recap of my discussion with Graham:<\/p>\n

Andy Pitman<\/strong>: What are the main challenges related to delivering services through mobile solutions facing HHS agencies and their employees?<\/p>\n

Graham Stubbs<\/strong>: Mobile technologies change fast and requirements in HHS are constantly changing and adapting. So, how do HHS agencies keep pace and develop the skills to deliver transformative mobile solutions to their clients and employees that can be implemented with the least amount of risk and maintained over time? We believe the answer is in taking a configurable commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) product approach. Solutions should be designed specifically for the HHS market and cater to their unique and always changing needs.<\/p>\n

Pitman<\/strong>: What are the significant opportunities to help HHS agencies better serve their citizens and empower their employees?<\/p>\n

Stubbs<\/strong>: Mobility is transformational for HHS agencies. Mobility transforms how citizens engage with HHS and how agency workers get their work done. Mobility puts powerful capabilities into clients\u2019 hands, allowing those who can self-serve to do so without the need to wait in line or be placed on hold. Inefficient tasks previously undertaken by clients in engaging with government are made easy. For example, using a phone to take pictures of supporting documents to support a claim removes the need for mailing, scanning, faxing or hand delivering documents. With more self-service options for clients, HHS agencies also save on stationery, printing and mailing costs\u2014and that\u2019s before measuring call-center savings. Mobility tools also empower HHS caseworkers to leave their desks and spend more time out in the field, with their clients, doing the work that matters most. Caseworkers also can be more engaged and make better-informed decisions in the field, with access to essential information\u2014when and where they need it.<\/p>\n

Pitman<\/strong>: Can you describe the solution that you are offering, and how it helps agencies?<\/p>\n

Stubbs<\/strong>: Diona Mobility is a family of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) enterprise solutions that brings together devices with agency case management and eligibility systems:<\/p>\n