A True NAID Update

Bob Johnson

SDB magazine has given me the opportunity to write the NAID Update for more than six years. I have used this column to give advice, do a little promoting and do more than a little preaching. It's occurred to me, however, that what I have NOT done very often is much actual "updating." Here is a real honest-to-goodness NAID update for a change.

NAID began a new round of free training on the Doctors' Office Marketing and Customer Employee Training Programs. Both programs stand to benefit greatly from the HITECH (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health) Final Rule, which should be out soon. NAID also will continue, and even expand, its current advertising campaigns in Practice Management and Connexions magazines to help drive traffic to members using those programs.

Many members are "kicking the tires" on the recently launched Downstream Data Coverage® insurance product, which actually protects members and their customers and also provides a significant marketing edge. The new brochure, available on the Downstream Data Coverage® website, explains how it protects customers better than other offerings.

Encouraged by the initial reception to the Certified Secure Destruction Specialist® (CSDS®) accreditation program launched last fall, the revised training and testing program, as well as the continuing education requirements for the first graduating class, were released in August.

Other initiatives include the launch of NAID-Asia, the "It's Not Fun" Workshops, four new videos, three new NAID Certification programs, a Web-based training program for members' employees, a new Lawyers' Office Marketing Program and international consumer attitudes and disposal habits studies.

As you can see, NAID has an ambitious game plan that reflects the dynamic industry it serves.

Bob Johnson is CEO of the National Association for Information Destruction. He can be reached at rjohnson@naidonline.org.