Dan Mowery, who was the 14th employee at HBO, introduced the author to another HBO pioneer, Dan La Benne. La Benne headed the addition of nursing modules to MEDPRO to meet client needs. MEDPRO was very successful for HBO, achieving 44.7% growth from 1979 to 1980. However, HBO faced financial challenges adding new products and services. This led them to seek funding from banks, where a young loan analyst named Larry Gerdes was so impressed that he later joined HBO as CFO. HBO struggled with name confusion with the television network HBO and later became known as HBOC.
Generating a custom Ruby SDK for your web service or Rails API using Smithyg2nightmarescribd
Have you ever wanted a Ruby client API to communicate with your web service? Smithy is a protocol-agnostic language for defining services and SDKs. Smithy Ruby is an implementation of Smithy that generates a Ruby SDK using a Smithy model. In this talk, we will explore Smithy and Smithy Ruby to learn how to generate custom feature-rich SDKs that can communicate with any web service, such as a Rails JSON API.
Transcript: Selling digital books in 2024: Insights from industry leaders - T...BookNet Canada
The publishing industry has been selling digital audiobooks and ebooks for over a decade and has found its groove. What’s changed? What has stayed the same? Where do we go from here? Join a group of leading sales peers from across the industry for a conversation about the lessons learned since the popularization of digital books, best practices, digital book supply chain management, and more.
Link to video recording: https://bnctechforum.ca/sessions/selling-digital-books-in-2024-insights-from-industry-leaders/
Presented by BookNet Canada on May 28, 2024, with support from the Department of Canadian Heritage.
JMeter webinar - integration with InfluxDB and GrafanaRTTS
Watch this recorded webinar about real-time monitoring of application performance. See how to integrate Apache JMeter, the open-source leader in performance testing, with InfluxDB, the open-source time-series database, and Grafana, the open-source analytics and visualization application.
In this webinar, we will review the benefits of leveraging InfluxDB and Grafana when executing load tests and demonstrate how these tools are used to visualize performance metrics.
Length: 30 minutes
Session Overview
-------------------------------------------
During this webinar, we will cover the following topics while demonstrating the integrations of JMeter, InfluxDB and Grafana:
- What out-of-the-box solutions are available for real-time monitoring JMeter tests?
- What are the benefits of integrating InfluxDB and Grafana into the load testing stack?
- Which features are provided by Grafana?
- Demonstration of InfluxDB and Grafana using a practice web application
To view the webinar recording, go to:
https://www.rttsweb.com/jmeter-integration-webinar
Elevating Tactical DDD Patterns Through Object CalisthenicsDorra BARTAGUIZ
After immersing yourself in the blue book and its red counterpart, attending DDD-focused conferences, and applying tactical patterns, you're left with a crucial question: How do I ensure my design is effective? Tactical patterns within Domain-Driven Design (DDD) serve as guiding principles for creating clear and manageable domain models. However, achieving success with these patterns requires additional guidance. Interestingly, we've observed that a set of constraints initially designed for training purposes remarkably aligns with effective pattern implementation, offering a more ‘mechanical’ approach. Let's explore together how Object Calisthenics can elevate the design of your tactical DDD patterns, offering concrete help for those venturing into DDD for the first time!
Accelerate your Kubernetes clusters with Varnish CachingThijs Feryn
A presentation about the usage and availability of Varnish on Kubernetes. This talk explores the capabilities of Varnish caching and shows how to use the Varnish Helm chart to deploy it to Kubernetes.
This presentation was delivered at K8SUG Singapore. See https://feryn.eu/presentations/accelerate-your-kubernetes-clusters-with-varnish-caching-k8sug-singapore-28-2024 for more details.
Essentials of Automations: Optimizing FME Workflows with ParametersSafe Software
Are you looking to streamline your workflows and boost your projects’ efficiency? Do you find yourself searching for ways to add flexibility and control over your FME workflows? If so, you’re in the right place.
Join us for an insightful dive into the world of FME parameters, a critical element in optimizing workflow efficiency. This webinar marks the beginning of our three-part “Essentials of Automation” series. This first webinar is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills to utilize parameters effectively: enhancing the flexibility, maintainability, and user control of your FME projects.
Here’s what you’ll gain:
- Essentials of FME Parameters: Understand the pivotal role of parameters, including Reader/Writer, Transformer, User, and FME Flow categories. Discover how they are the key to unlocking automation and optimization within your workflows.
- Practical Applications in FME Form: Delve into key user parameter types including choice, connections, and file URLs. Allow users to control how a workflow runs, making your workflows more reusable. Learn to import values and deliver the best user experience for your workflows while enhancing accuracy.
- Optimization Strategies in FME Flow: Explore the creation and strategic deployment of parameters in FME Flow, including the use of deployment and geometry parameters, to maximize workflow efficiency.
- Pro Tips for Success: Gain insights on parameterizing connections and leveraging new features like Conditional Visibility for clarity and simplicity.
We’ll wrap up with a glimpse into future webinars, followed by a Q&A session to address your specific questions surrounding this topic.
Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your FME expertise and drive your projects to new heights of efficiency.
GDG Cloud Southlake #33: Boule & Rebala: Effective AppSec in SDLC using Deplo...James Anderson
Effective Application Security in Software Delivery lifecycle using Deployment Firewall and DBOM
The modern software delivery process (or the CI/CD process) includes many tools, distributed teams, open-source code, and cloud platforms. Constant focus on speed to release software to market, along with the traditional slow and manual security checks has caused gaps in continuous security as an important piece in the software supply chain. Today organizations feel more susceptible to external and internal cyber threats due to the vast attack surface in their applications supply chain and the lack of end-to-end governance and risk management.
The software team must secure its software delivery process to avoid vulnerability and security breaches. This needs to be achieved with existing tool chains and without extensive rework of the delivery processes. This talk will present strategies and techniques for providing visibility into the true risk of the existing vulnerabilities, preventing the introduction of security issues in the software, resolving vulnerabilities in production environments quickly, and capturing the deployment bill of materials (DBOM).
Speakers:
Bob Boule
Robert Boule is a technology enthusiast with PASSION for technology and making things work along with a knack for helping others understand how things work. He comes with around 20 years of solution engineering experience in application security, software continuous delivery, and SaaS platforms. He is known for his dynamic presentations in CI/CD and application security integrated in software delivery lifecycle.
Gopinath Rebala
Gopinath Rebala is the CTO of OpsMx, where he has overall responsibility for the machine learning and data processing architectures for Secure Software Delivery. Gopi also has a strong connection with our customers, leading design and architecture for strategic implementations. Gopi is a frequent speaker and well-known leader in continuous delivery and integrating security into software delivery.
GraphRAG is All You need? LLM & Knowledge GraphGuy Korland
Guy Korland, CEO and Co-founder of FalkorDB, will review two articles on the integration of language models with knowledge graphs.
1. Unifying Large Language Models and Knowledge Graphs: A Roadmap.
https://arxiv.org/abs/2306.08302
2. Microsoft Research's GraphRAG paper and a review paper on various uses of knowledge graphs:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/blog/graphrag-unlocking-llm-discovery-on-narrative-private-data/
Securing your Kubernetes cluster_ a step-by-step guide to success !KatiaHIMEUR1
Today, after several years of existence, an extremely active community and an ultra-dynamic ecosystem, Kubernetes has established itself as the de facto standard in container orchestration. Thanks to a wide range of managed services, it has never been so easy to set up a ready-to-use Kubernetes cluster.
However, this ease of use means that the subject of security in Kubernetes is often left for later, or even neglected. This exposes companies to significant risks.
In this talk, I'll show you step-by-step how to secure your Kubernetes cluster for greater peace of mind and reliability.
2. Another HBO Pioneer
• Thanks once more to Dan Mowery at McKesson for
introducing me to HBO’s 14th employee on the right:
“Vince,
You may not remember me but we have met a few times at different
industry functions like HIMSS, etc. My first recollection of you goes back to
SMS days when you taught the installation training classes I attended in
King of Prussia. I was an Installation Director working for Fred Abel in
Atlanta, shortly after the SMS acquisition of American Hospital Supply's
ISD division, which included the HCC (Hospital Computer Center) out of
Flint Michigan. That company was founded by Bob Gillowand David Wright
who were well known competitors to Jim Macaleer and Harvey Wilson. I
attended those classes with Lloyd Koenig and others. After training we
returned to ATL and converted all of the old Georgia Hospital Association
hospitals to the SMS system. In 1976, I left SMS and went with a little
known start-up out of Peoria: HBO and Company. I believe I was the
14th employee. This was just before Larry Gerdesjoined the
company, but after Dennis Crean, John Lawless and Rae Bell.
- Dan La Benne”
3. First “Headquarters”
• Dan sent me a treasure trove of pictures including those on the
first slide which are the original trailer Walt, Bruce & Dick worked
out of in 1973, vs. HBO’s 1989 headquarters in ATL. Other gems:
Left = Walt’s first desk
Right = Four Phase mini in
the other end of the
trailer – no monster
mainframe wouldfit!
Left = Hard at work on
the Four Phase mini
Right = John Lawless,
HBO’s first President
under Walt Huff,
Chairman.
4. HBO Is Born
• Walt Huff continues his story of how HBO was originally a
partnership among he, Bruce and Dick, started with $30K in
capital out of their own pockets. They agreed to work together for
one year with no salary and see just how things would go...
• Bruce Barrington made great progress programming MEDPRO,
and they soon gave a demo to their first prospect hospital:
• Galesburg Cottage Hospital - about an
hour away from Peoria, who loved the
demo and couldn’t wait to buy it. Walt
came up with an ingenious sales plan:
he leased the hardware & software to
them for 7 years, rather than a sale.
• Sounds like IBM’s leasing-only policy prior to their 1960’s consent
decree, and an excellent business model for a start-up firm as it
guaranteed a steady cash flow during those tight early years…
5. Key to MEDPRO’s Success
• A prime reason for MEDPRO’s popularity was in recovering the
≈3% of lost charges that most hospitals experienced in those days
of paper charge tickets. Only large hospitals could afford inhouse
mainframe clinical systems like TDS, NadaComand DataCare that
computerized the Order Entry process (aka data collection) and
automatically posted charges to patients’ billing accounts.
• What would your hospital lose today if
every patient test, procedure and
medication had to be manually stamped
with an addressograph plate with
(hopefully) the correct patient’s number,
priced (eventually) by some clerk in the
ancillary department, and then keyed into
the billing system in the Business office to
the (possibly) correct patient’s account?
6. How Well Did MEDPRO Sell?
• Small and mid-sized hospitals had turned to shared systems like
McAuto and SMS for their financial system needs, but sharing
offered very in the mid-1970s for order entry (data collection)
systems, so MEDPRO had a perfect “shared” target market!
• MEDPRO sold so well that SMS
licensed it as ACTIon (episode
103 at hispros.com), and
Waltalso sold marketing rights
to Source Data Systems (SDS)
in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, that was
eventually bought by Keane.
• To see how well MEDPRO sold,
check out HBO’s market
dominance in Sheldon
Dorenfest’s 1982 Guide:
7. MEDPRO’s Market Share
• In case you can’t read the small print on the preceding chart,
that’s a growth rate of 44.7% for HBO, from $19M in 1979 to
$27.5M in 1980 – hot stuff! Below is another chart from Sheldon’s
1982 Guide that shows the number of hospitals on each vendor:
• SMS was almost all
ACTIon 1100 (DEC
PDP) and 1500
(DEC VAX) by now,
as their deal with
HBO ended c.1978
• IBM was mostly
self-developed.
• McAuto was their
Four Phase/DEC
combo of HDC.
8. HBO Product Growth
• Dan La Benne points out that MEDPRO was relatively thin by
today’s standards, comprised of ADT, Census and Order Entry. Dan
personally headed up the addition of nursing modules to assuage
the needs of early progressive clients like Providence in Portland
OR, Concord in NH, and United in Minn. Dan was very proud of
the ADL (Activities for Daily Living) reports for nursing diagnosis.
• And the very same Dan Mowery, who introduced me to La Benne,
added RX functionality, being a former Pharmacy Technician.
• HBO’s biggest gap was financial systems,
which most minicomputer HIS competitors
offered by the mid-70s, like Dynamic
Control, Saint, JS Data, etc. This would be a
huge project, requiring mucho dinero!
• As well as a move to Atlanta that Walt & Co.
were contemplating in the Peoria winters…
9. Financial Challenges
• Adding new products, expanding the staff and moving that trailer
down to Hot-lanta cost so much money that Walt & Co. had to
turn to banks to get funding for all this growth. HBO’s local bank
in Peoria had a 22-year old financial analyst who was tasked with
researching this nearby start-up company asking for a $1M loan.
HBO had a number of MEDPRO clients at the time, and he called
several and got such glowing reports that he convinced the bank
to approve the loan. And who was this young banker?
• Larry Gerdes, who was so impressed by the
start-up that he left the bank in 1977 to join
Walt as HBO’s CFO. Larry grew up on a farm
in nearby Walnut, IL, and earned his MBA at
the U. of Illinois. He subsequently helped
HBO get additional loans from banks in
Chicago & NY, and led their IPO in 1981.
10. HBO’s Biggest Competitor?
• An old friend from SMS named Charlie Covinonce told me an
hysterical story of when he worked for HBO’s NJ office in those
early days and received a call from an irate customer complaining
that their screens only worked on their first floor, not the 2nd.
Charlie had her turn screens on & off, etc., only to eventually
figure out she was talking about Home Box Office!! He adds:
“IDX had a similar problem; originally named Interpretive Data Systems
(IDS), they were confused with American Express' Investors Diversified
Services. They lost because Amex had more lawyers and deeper pockets.”
• Larry Gerdes adds how his HBO actually called Ma Bell’s directory
assistance line to correct the error for both companies, who were
receiving many of each others’ calls. They even negotiated an
$800K price tag with a senior VP at the “other” HBO for rights to
the acronym, but the offer later got rescinded. So, “our” HBO
became known as “HBOC” to try to end the name confusion…
11. Next Week…
• So there it is, right from the horses’ mouths: the earliest days of
HBO. Next week we’ll pick up the inside story from Walt, Larry &
Dan about how they grew HBO’s product line to include a minibased financial system and more from their photo collections.
• But first, more feedback from HIS-Talk readers about Bill Childs
picture portrait puzzle – starting with another HBO veteran:
– “Vince, I just checked out Episode #112 on McKesson. I worked there for
23 years, from MediFlex Systems to HBO & Company to HBOC to
McKessonHBOC to McKesson. The person in picture E is John Kerr. He was
the President of MediFlex Systems when they were acquired by HBO &
Company. Also in Walt’s feedback on the C-Suite Timeline, he stated that
in 1990 Robert Murrie was named President of MEDILEX. It was actually
MediFlex and in addition to Facilities Management, the division was also
responsible for the mainframe Patient Accounting System called
MediPac. The division changed their name to HealthQuest shortly
thereafter. Great stories, keep them coming!”
– Gary B Gerber, CPA, Logicalis, Inc. (no relation to Urban…)
847-748-2521
gary.gerber@us.logicalis.com
12. Updated
Portraits
Mark Gross Rosenletter
John Kerr
Art Randall
Steve Huseing
Frank Russo
Steve Macaleer
Peter Marsh Ford Phillips Shirley Hughes Mark Fidler
• So here’s how things
stand identifying these
faces in Bill Childs’
challenge from an article
in his Computers in
Healthcare magazine from
the late 1980s.
• Surely someone in our
industry today recognizes
these few remaining unnamed faces? We might
still get Bill to cough up
that $250 Savings Bond…