An Exciting New Chapter for the Pacemaker Club!

spell check

by new to pace.... - 2023-12-26 19:39:31

For me Spell Check is quite important both in the forum and private messages.

new to pace

New Category listed under forums

by Good Dog - 2023-12-26 21:22:58

Another member (New to Pace) and I have discussed and agreed that it would be a very positive improvement to include a new category: "Leadless Pacemakers" under "Forums" that will facilitate discussions relative to one of the newest inovations in Pacemakers. There have been a small number of new members that have posted with questions and inquries that yieled only a minimal (if any) response. Obviously, these posts eventually (in a very short time) move down the page and out of sight of interested members when they roll in here. So that would be great improvement. We certainly understand; in due time. We are sensitive to the burden presented by many other upcoming changes that may be in the pipeline.

I have been hanging-out here for many years and I just want to add that this is perhaps the most exciting thing to happen around here during my tenure. It seems like this takeover by ForHearts Worldwide is consistent with their mission and will provide tremendous synergies that can make an already great forum......even greater! The credit for this being an already great forum goes to a handful of hard working, dedicated and selfless people like Gemita, Tracey and perhaps some others working behind the scenes. I am unsure about the "others", but those two have certainly been out-front doing  yeoman's work.

Sincerely,

Dave 

Comments

by piglet22 - 2023-12-27 05:10:15

Maybe I'm missing something, but the very important part of the club/forum by, i.e. the comment box, is not the easiest to use.

Perhaps I haven't taken the time to explore it, but something as basic as paste being implemented by CTRL-V isn't exactly intuitive.

Fair enough editing output from a serial monitor where contextual copy and paste doesn't exist and shortcuts are the order of the day, it shouldn't be necessary.

Spelling and grammar is hard work particularly on a mobile, and given how easy it is to lose text by going out of comments to say a biography, it becomes necessary to take your body of work offline to some other application like Word for safety and much better editting .

Of course, any work with text is difficult on a mobile.

I don't use laptop touchpads for the same reason, and always add a separate mouse.

Just as an aside, a lot of my work is on desktop PCs where mouse and full size keyboards are essential. Recently ditched two soft touch fancy keyboards and gone back to mechanical key Cherry items. Big and clunky but reliable.

My never ending Wish List

by Gemita - 2023-12-27 06:06:04

Thank you Admin for your encouraging post.  Before the Club was transferred to your care I was already in discussion with Blake Hunter and several members about some changes that might help to make our “search experience" more valuable.  I give my Wish List below and I apologise for its length:- 

Adding additional Categories under Forums.   Members have recently asked if we could have a new category under Forums for a Biventricular pacemaker used in Cardiac Rsynchronization therapy as well as a category for the Leadless pacemaker (already mentioned by Good Dog). As a moderator, I would dearly love to be able to add a new category to Forums from time to time.

FAQs under Learn.  I was in discussions with Blake Hunter about our FAQs which are immensely helpful to all members.  I reported that Device Information is currently empty and needs completing.  Blake mentioned this is the main category in the database and will not be a simple fix. Could your Web Developers please look into this required upgrade?  Several members have already suggested that manufacturer specific sub sections might be helpful either under Learn or Forums, since all manufacturers will have their own unique Settings descriptions. 

Web Links.  Under Learn, the Category Web links needs updating.  Some are not opening appropriately.  Members may wish to include some web links specific to their country of residence, since at the moment many of the links are for the benefit of US members.   For example member (Penguin) suggested the support organisations in the UK could be updated to include The Arrhythmia Alliance https://heartrhythmalliance.org/ and organisations on their website who support people with Atrial Fibrillation and Syncope disorders.  

Polls. Could we please consider setting up a new category under Forums or Learn for “Polls” since past and current Polls, when not active, cannot be accessed.  For example now that we have Gallery pics running, access to Polls is unavailable.

Links. When we post links to this site, most of these do not automatically open perhaps due to the Club's security restrictions?   Could this please be reviewed so that members can open with just one click, instead of having to copy and paste a link into their general browser to open?

Joining the Club. Would ideally like all New Members to provide a few extra Bio details to tell us what type of device they have (without giving their personal device ID).  For example whether they have a single, dual chamber, CRT or ICD device, the reason for their device (e.g. SSS, heart block, heart failure) and their country of residence?  At the moment this is not compulsory.  We all have very different health care systems and it would be helpful to know some basic information like this, to help answer posts.

Would like to have a new “bumping up of post” feature to the top of the New Message Board, like Lavender suggests, when a new comment is made to a post, regardless of age of original post, which can sometimes be in excess of 10 years!  

New members are often asking questions in their personal Bio or going to the Chat Room and leaving questions there that might never be seen.  Is there anything that we can do to help prevent this from happening?  I am currently having to scan ALL Comments frequently to pick this up and to contact members individually to ask them to post any questions to the main forum.

The future of PMC

by Tracey_E - 2023-12-27 13:36:25

I am excited to see where we go next! For Hearts is such an amazing organization.

Top of my wish list is newest comments at the top rather than newest post.

Feedback buttons?

by USMC-Pacer - 2023-12-27 13:44:26

I dunno if it's possible in this forum website type.. but lots of forums have a like, dislike, funny, etc buttons. The good thing about those is an acknowledgement that someone is reading / enjoying the post or finds it useful, or not. Lots of times a member will ask a question or look for opinions or experiences and I, and I'm sure others, spend lots of time researching and trying to help with a response. Then... nothing. The post goes unanswered and you don't even know if it was seen or read. Just my two cents...  

Couldn't agree more USMC-Pacer

by Gemita - 2023-12-27 14:30:32

I call these members non-responders.  I find it strange that they make the effort to post and sometimes at great length and then walk away without acknowledging the considerable efforts that some of us go to, to respond to their cries for help.  Call me cynical but I am becoming rather suspicious of "a few" of these posts.  It is a shame but I am afraid there will always be a minority of members around looking to disrupt this caring Club.

Please keep commenting USMC-Pacer.  Even if the original poster doesn't respond, your excellent contributions will be of interest and value to the majority of members.  That is what really matters.  And I agree, feedback buttons are a great idea, especially for those in a hurry!

Thanks Gemita

by USMC-Pacer - 2023-12-27 19:44:07

haha, not gonna take my toys and leave! I'm not bent out of shape over it. It is just odd. I know others read all these responses and appreciate them, I know I do. I've been thanked and inboxed enough to be thankful. It's a small thing, but it feels great to see a bunch of "likes." It doesn't look like it would be an option with this website design. Thanks once again for your kind response :)

USMC -Pacer / Yes.... a "like" button....

by Daedalus - 2023-12-27 19:52:16

That would be nice.  

And a "save this post" option, too. 

i agree also about no thank you for your help

by new to pace.... - 2023-12-27 20:19:15

Now i try to remember to check their bio before i answer.  If nothing there do not answer.

I just recently had someone PM me, just because i had written something in the forum. No other reason. An no bio for that person. I let Gemita know.

I think if they do not fill in there bio they should not be allowed to post. I know it could be a phony info.  Make, Model, and location(city,State, Country.  As we know our answers sometimes depend on their location.

Again maybe a welcome letter should be recieved before they post,  saying what is expected from them.

new to pace

Thank you!

by admin - 2023-12-29 17:20:06

Thank you to you all for your feedback- we are listening! We will be working over the next severl months to make modifications and enhancements to the forum and will do our best to include your suggestions.  Please keep them coming! 

We wish you all a Happy and Healthy New Year!