Email
Etiquette
Email today is one of the most
convenient, fast and efficient ways to communicate. ACT would like
to have all our employees use email.
Obtaining and using an ACT e-address will allow ACT employees
to send and receive information both internally within the company
and externally for business purposes.
Confidential information is secure, meeting HIPAA encryption
requirements, when it sent within the ACT network (from an ACT
e-mail address to an ACT e-mail address).
Many of us send personal emails and when at work, we send business
emails. However, most of
us do not know the rules of etiquette for business emails.
Our personal email style tends to be too casual for business
use. We often use
incorrect language and punctuation including abbreviations and the
use of "happy faces" in our personal emails.
In business, this just isn't appropriate.
A business email sent to other employees or to other
businesses reflects on you and ACT.
Employees must realize that an email is a document;
therefore, it should be concise and well written.
All employees should strive for the following in each email
sent:
·
Professionalism
·
Efficiency
·
Protection
from liability
Getting
Off To A Good Start
-
The
"To" Line: The
person you are responding to and/or the people who need to
respond to your e-mail should be listed.
-
The
"cc" Line: People
who have a need to know the information should be listed.
·
Numerous, unnecessary emails tend to be the norm in our
electronic world. In
many cases this happens because we are on someone's
"Mailing" or "Group" List, which often includes
everyone in a department or company. Please tailor your email
"To" and "CC" lines to include only the people
who need to receive the information you are sending.
·
Similarly, when responding to email, do not Reply to All.
Only respond to the necessary parties.
-
The
"Subject" Line: This
is one of the most important parts of the email.
A subject line that identifies the contents of the email
will help the receiver to prioritize, file and find the email.
-
Don't
overuse the "high priority" or "urgent"
options available within e-mails. Use
these flags when messages are truly urgent or important in
relation to everyday communication.
It will be more meaningful to the receiver.
Dos and Don'ts
of Effective Emails:
·
DO NOT USE ALL CAPS. USING
CAPS MAKES IT LOOK AS IF YOU ARE ANGRY.
IT IS ALSO MORE DIFFICULT TO READ. DO NOT USE ALL CAPS IN
BOLD. USING BOLD CAPS IS
THE SAME AS SHOUTING.
·
Do not write anything you wouldn't say in public.
Email messages tend to get forwarded. Make sure that whatever
you put in an email could not result in your being put in an
embarrassing position. Do
not divulge personal or confidential information.
·
"Smileys" are typically used in personal emails and are
not considered appropriate for business.
·
In a business email it is courtesy to your recipient to include
your name at the bottom of the message even though your name is in
the "Send" line. It
also helps to identify who is writing and who is responding when you
receive a "Thread" email, which is one email sent back and
forth to different parties. In
many cases, this option can be “turned on” so that the signature
line is automatically inserted.
·
Do not attach unnecessary files.
How
to Improve your Emails
-
Be
concise and to the point: Just
as we have learned that the longer a written piece is the less
likely it will be read, the same applies to email.
Recipients of long emails tend to ignore all or part of
these long messages.
-
Answer
all questions, which should pre-empt further questions and
emails. If you
do not reply to the question(s) being asked additional emails
will be generated regarding the unanswered questions and seeking
further clarification. This
is a waste of your time and the sender's time.
Format
-
Using
proper spelling, grammar & punctuation will show the
importance of the email and reflect more positively on you and
ACT.
·
Many people do not enjoy reading from a computer screen.
Punctuation helps the reader focus and there is less of
chance of misunderstanding your message.
·
Keep your sentences short.
·
Keep your paragraphs short. Blank
lines should separate paragraphs.
When making a point, use numbers or bullets for emphasis.
·
It is often useful to end the email with a summary or list of
action items highlighting the name of the person who is responsible
for the action.
Contents
of an Email
-
Do
not use language or remarks that are libelous, defamatory,
offensive, racist or insulting.
Since many people do not abide by email etiquette rules,
your email may be sent to any and every one.
If a person receives a defamatory or discriminating email
even though he/she was not the person to whom the original email
was addressed, you and ACT may find yourself named in a lawsuit.
With a little effort we can make
the use of business email more professional.
With proper addressing we should be able to cut down on
sending and receiving unnecessary emails.
Properly written emails using proper "Netiquette"
will result in a positive, professional image for you and ACT.
The
End
Prepared by K. Carlough (10/25/04)
|
Meet
the Clinicians
Clinician
Michael Lefaive, NP
Michael
Lefaive is a Gerontological and Adult Nurse Practitioner certified
in mental health. He
was born in Canada and in August of 1988, moved his family to North
Carolina to accept a Registered Nursing position in the psychiatric
unit at Moses Cone Hospital in Greensboro.
While working weekend option at Cone Hospital, he graduated
from A&T University with a Bachelor Degree in Nursing in 1995
and in 1997 graduated with his Masters Degree in Nursing from the
University of NC in Greensboro.
Michael has been a psychiatric nurse for 23 years and enjoys
the Geriatric population and the challenge of psychiatry.
With
your love of the Geriatric population what made you decide to
include the specialization of Adults?
The
addition of the Adult Nurse Practitioner Degree allowed me to branch
out more and work in private practice and not be regulated to only
the older patient. There are obviously different needs and treatment
modalities which have benefited me in my present practice.
You
have been with ACT for almost 3 years and were actually the first NP
hired to provide psychiatric care.
What do you feel has been the most significant change/growth
to the ACT delivery of service?
There
have been many positive and significant changes over the past 3
years since I joined ACT. We have certainly grown in numbers of
patients served and clinicians as well as support staff. Our growth
has been well planned and calculated and the introduction of Primary
Care was both needed and welcomed by all. Our delivery of service by
our company is second to none and we continue to be the leader in
our state.
Who/what
has impacted you the most in your career?
My
goal for the year 2000 was to have my BSN but my wife Judy , son
Scott and daughter Nicole convinced me to stay in school for 2 more
years and attain my MSN. I doubt without their support this would
have been possible.
What
do you see for the future in long term care?
I
think the future of long term-care is evident. The elderly have
become the fastest growing segment of the population. From 2010 to
2030, the number of baby boomers age 65 to 84 will grow by 80% and
the need for long-term care will increase tremendously.
What
do you feel is the most challenging obstacle to care?
The
stigma of mental illness still remains an issue and an obstacle to
care but in recent years has become more accepted. The public has
become more educated and in general is more aware of medications and
modalities of therapy. Personally, it has been quite a challenge
convincing the older individual that they may indeed be suffering
from depression when for years they were told they were weak and
to” get over it”.
How
does your career fulfill you?
I
have found my career very fulfilling. I enjoy the contact with
people, both the elderly in the nursing homes as well as the
individuals we care for in the rest homes. I find this position both
challenging and satisfying and the attempt and hopefully success in
making a difference in peoples lives is quite rewarding.
What
about time away from your career? What do you enjoy doing for leisure?
Judy
( whom most of you know as an ACT employee in business development )
and I love to travel whether it is to the mountains, beach or Europe
where we visited last fall. We enjoy the outdoors, we bike and walk
as much as we can. I have always been a sport fanatic, played most
sports but now prefer to observe although I do golf but not well
(Ask Jeff!!!). Of course we enjoy being with our son Scott and
daughter-in-law Amanda who are in their first year of marriage and
he in his second year of studies at Bennington College in Vermont.
He will complete his Masters in Creative Writing in June of 2005.
Our daughter Nicole, who graduated from ECU with her Bachelor of
Fine Arts Degree last winter, is presently working with Lindley
Habilitation here in Greensboro with autistic children. She too
plans on commencing a Masters Degree in the near future!
Anniversary Dates:
v
Mary Gallagher 1 year
v
Gail Kissner 1 year
v
Florence Thompson 2 years
v
Scottie Harrell 4 years (I missed her
last month)
v
Karen Carlough 6 years
Birthdays:
v
Doris Moore 11/2
v
Jan Fogleman 11/3
v
Dawn Allen 11/5
v
Angela Smith 11/9
v
Jean Patel 12/7
v
Tracy Carstarphen 12/16
v
David Cook 12/25
New Hires:
v
Rhonda Feldman, PA 9/1/04
v
Brad Dent, LCSW 9/22/04
v
Catherine "Kate" Brown, NP
10/29/04
v
Lacy Miller, NP 11/1/04
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