DPCI Teams with Cabengo to Design CWPS for NYU's Medical Center
The New York University (NYU) Department of Pathology is one of the largest departments at NYU Medical Center, with physicians practicing at Tisch Hospital, Bellevue Medical Center, the Hospital for Joint Diseases and the VA Medical Center. The department, devoted to establishing a scholarly community for the creation and dissemination of knowledge related to pathology, is widely regarded as a leader in immunological research, molecular oncology, and experimental pathology.
To support its goal of providing and promoting the latest education, research, and patient care information, the Department of Pathology, led by Chairman David B. Roth, M.D., Ph.D., needed to upgrade its Web site. It worked with New York City-based agencies Cabengo and DPCI to redesign the Web site, http://pathology.med.nyu.edu/, and implement new technologies to simplify the publishing process.
The Challenge
As leading universities and medical programs increasingly publish research and promote programs on the Internet, the Department of Pathology realized the need to rethink its current Web site strategy in order to maintain its prominence in the field. It required the ability to keep different constituencies - clinicians, researchers, outside physicians, patients and students - informed on various pathology-related topics.
The Department of Pathology's existing Web site (and the process to publish new information on it) was information-poor and required technical knowledge to maintain it. This made it costly and cumbersome to keep the Web site timely.
The Department of Pathology envisioned a new Web site that would both provide a broad range of dynamic content and serve as a resource to engage each visitor type. It first worked with Cabengo on concept, content strategy, site architecture, functional specifications, and design, then enlisted DPCI to deliver the underlying technology platform that would support the Department of Pathology's growing Web publishing needs.
"We want to attract the best and the brightest to our growing programs by highlighting the strengths of our diverse department - today, the most cost-effective way to reach outstanding students and researchers is through a strong web presence." Dr. Roth said.
The Solution
Based on the Department of Pathology's needs, DPCI integrated Cabengo's designs with Drupal Content Management System (CMS), an easy-to-use Web publishing solution. With Drupal, members of the department who do not have technical Web-editing expertise can have the ability to publish content and update their personal profile pages, meaning more than 160 faculty members have the potential to participate in maintaining the site.
DPCI also customized the Drupal CMS with an enhanced search capability. This allows visitors to find people, publications, and other material on the site with ease. Additionally, DPCI implemented a "Wiki" collaboration tool that allows glossary content to be revised and edited by authorized faculty and staff.
"After working with Dr. Roth and his team as well as the group at Cabengo, we were able to build the technology infrastructure that will enable the Department of Pathology to take their Web site to the next level," added Tracy Gardner, Vice President Client Services at DPCI. "The Drupal-based solution provides a user-friendly environment for the different users and groups to update information, publish new works, and deliver more compelling content in a timely manner."
The Results
The Department of Pathology now has a dynamic Web publishing platform to showcase its research and scholarly works and deliver all types of patient information to its various audiences. Authorized staff members now have control of the site's maintenance, including updating and editing content, without needing technical expertise in HTML. As a result, updates and new information are published more quickly, and more members of the department are engaged in producing content.
Perhaps the greatest value of all is that the new Web site can expand and grow as the program does. The Drupal-based solution gives the Department of Pathology the ability to promote its triple mission of education, research, and patient care, as well as the individual needs of the people who are instrumental in the evolution of the department and the field of pathology.
"Working with Cabengo and DPCI has enabled us to utilize cutting edge technology without complexity and empowers the entire team at the Department of Pathology with new tools to deliver insightful research, patient information, and educational programs," Dr. Roth added. "The new site rocks."
"The Department of Pathology's new Web site is useful and usable for key audiences as well as for those responsible for its maintenance and growth. Cabengo's clean, contemporary experience design coupled with DPCI's flexible and scalable Web publishing solution not only distinguishes the Department of Pathology among its peers but also demonstrates its forward-thinking approach," explained Hillary Leone, President of Cabengo LLC.