Making Changes Subscription-based Extranet

Client Introduction

Making Changes is the online arm of Dr Timothy J Sharp & Associates, an independent Sydney based chain of highly qualified clinical, consulting & coaching psychologists.

Project Overview

Following a number of successfully implemented projects, Making Changes approached Switch I.T. to consult on the possibility of moving some of the Making Changes services into the online environment.

There were 3 motivations behind the online strategy:

• The ability to service a broader client base
  
  Moving a range of services online meant that making changes staff could work with clients in less accessible areas, such as rural Australia, as well as other parts of the country where physical offices were not available.
  
  
• The provision of more cost-effective psychology services
  
  The cost of high quality psychology services can sometimes be a barrier for some individuals. By providing different levels of service online, making changes can deliver some services for a significantly reduced fee.
  
  
• A less intrusive environment
  
  Clients would now have the opportunity to work with a psychologist from the comfort and security of their own home at a time of the day or night that suited them.

Working closely with Making Changes staff, Switch I.T. developed a flexible, subscription based model that would provide a range of services to all clients online. Three subscription packages were developed, ranging from a cost-effective basic program to a fully comprehensive program, to cater for the varied requirements of the client base.

Clients have the ability to select the type and length of subscription they would prefer, and then pay for this subscription online by credit card or cheque. At any time, a subscriber can resubscribe, upgrade or downgrade to a different package.

Some of the key features of the system include:

• Private Messageboards
  A private discussion forum between a client and their psychologist.
  
  
• Group Chatrooms
  Pre-scheduled group chats on various topics, available for all subscribers to contribute.
  
  
• Private Chatrooms
  Private chats strictly between a client and their psychologist. The system provides a private chat scheduling system where times can be approved, rejected or modified between the staff members and clients.
  
  
• Web based Resources
  Specially developed web-based resources were designed to provide further support to subscribers.
  

Following an overwhelming initial response of volunteer testers, the system was made available to the public on July 12, 2002. Preliminary feedback has been tremendously positive, and the system was found to be so intuitive that no staff training was required to use the system.

What the client said...

"At all times Switch I.T. has been incredibly efficient and responsive, not to mention pleasant and fun to work with. Their work, in my opinion, is of the highest quality and just as importantly, their follow-up service amazingly helpful and fast."

Dr. Timothy J Sharp
Director, Making Changes

Technologies
Client Side	HTML, JavaScript
Server Side	ASP
Database	SQL Server 7
Platform/OS	IIS, Windows 2000
Switch I.T. Components
Community	SwitchBoard
Related Projects
e-Commerce System	View Case Study
Online Scheduling System	View Case Study