Integrated Technology Enables Community of Hope to Grow Gracefully

When Kelly Sweeny McShane first arrived at the Community of Hope as executive director in 2001, there was no website and only a few staff members had computers or email accounts. A shared dial-up account for the whole building meant there wasn't real access to the internet. When Community of Hope obtained Federally Qualified Health Clinic status in 2006, the organization's growth blossomed, and McShane knew she needed help implementing the right technology to keep pace with expanded staff and new clients. The organization's staff doubled in the past two years, going from 35 to 70 people working at four sites throughout the District to provide health and dental care, housing, and education programs for the underserved. The medical clinic treats 1,000 patients each month, and the dental clinic sees 150 per month.

Community of Hope now relies on its network of updated computers, designed and set up by NPower, to do business. NPower helped Community of Hope to:

• Understand its technology needs;
• Order appropriate hardware and software;
• Install and network computers;
• Leverage donations of software from Microsoft;
• Negotiate a discounted rate with Dell for computers and other accessories;
• Keep dental records electronically;
• Schedule appointments and bill clients electronically; and
• Create computer labs for residents of Community of Hope apartment buildings.

It is easier for doctors and nurses to stay on top of developments in the field as they now have their own computers, which they can use to research symptoms and treatments online. Having a shared drive provides a central place to log and look up patient referrals to specialists. A spreadsheet is used to tracks care for patients with HIV. These new functions save time for the staff and improves coordination, which in turn saves money for Community of Hope.

At the computer labs in Community of Hope's Girard Street NW and 2nd Street SE apartment buildings, children and adults use computers to do homework, write resumes, find jobs, pay bills, and explore opportunities for their families. Volunteers staff the computer labs to help residents learn to navigate the internet. Hope Apartments on 2nd Street SE also has an internet hook-up in each unit. Residents can earn donated computers for their families once they've reached certain milestones of independence in Community of Hope's programs.

"NPower's work has changed the culture of our organization. Before, we were not even on the technological ladder. Now we use technology to help our work every day. We have an online HR system, we send out an e-newsletter to staff, we conduct satisfaction surveys online. All our employees rely on technology to help them in their jobs. Now that we're working in four locations, technology helps keep staff connected and communicating with each other."

Kelly Sweeney McShane, Executive Director, Community of Hope