Electronic Health Records for the Military
Military to Adopt Electronic Health Records
The new Joint Virtual Lifetime Record is expected to track individuals once they enlist, through their military service and beyond. The administration said the electronic system will help deliver health-care benefits to veterans and active-duty military members and could serve as a model for the rest of the U.S.
Categories: Online heath records
New Life in the Funeral Business
Entrepreneur breathes new life in the funeral business
At 28, St. Clair, Mich., resident and Internet entrepreneur _ known around town as "Joey" _ stands out in the tidy, riverside community where he's founded several dotcoms. They include FuneralOne, which brought in $2.8 million last year selling Disney-esque memorial video software and other services.
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Over the past five years, Joachim, a college dropout, has helped revolutionize the stuffy funeral business with software that helps funeral directors create high-quality videos that celebrate someone's life in grand, heartfelt fashion.
The first version of the software, launched in 2004, was called "Easy Tribute."
Basically, a funeral director uses the software to upload personal photos of a client, select their profession or hobby, add a few additional details, such as the date of birth and death, or the names of children.
Then, the software produces an emotional memorial video. Animated birds peacefully fly by scenic landscapes. The musical scores are symphonic. And, most importantly, the product feels deeply personal.
"We've got themes for virtually anything," Joachim said.
The videos are then shown during visitation.
Every time a funeral uses the software for a new client, Joachim receives $20, and it's safe to say that business has been good.
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Now, Joachim's expecting his FuneralOne business to explode, to an estimated $10 million this year, and he's eagerly seeking talented leaders to help him manage the growth.
In July, FuneralOne launched the next generation of its video software, called "Life Tributes," which represents a sizable strategic move in Joachim's plan to expand his enterprise through www.LifeTributes.com.
The new software, which was featured on the latest cover of the trade magazine "Funeral Business Advisor," offers improvements to the personalized memorial videos, which can now be burned to DVDs for guests, and will help create accompanying printed materials, such as prayer cards.
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But Joachim's vision for LifeTributes.com is actually much larger than the funeral business.
"The mission," he said, "is to be the largest portal in the world for helping people connect and share memories."
Categories: Holism, Life Story market | Categories: Niches
