The product of that mission is a stunning bundle of technology, including smart cards, 42-inch flat-panel plasma displays, and bedside Gigabit Ethernet. It's also an extraordinary access point into a world of learning and play called the Explorer Network. Weisman built the system in 18 months for less than $3 million. His experience suggests three critical lessons.
Make It Personal: Customization and feedback are built into every aspect of the portal. When you log in at any of the hospital's 120 stations, your age and preferences dictate the content. Parents can restrict their child's access to information about his illness or to certain video games. The smart card used for log-in lets patients bookmark their work. Whether they come back in 15 minutes or 15 weeks, the system remembers where they were. "It's about the patient's ability to control his environment," says Weisman.
Build to Innovate: Weisman chose to build the Explorer Network on an open-source platform -- not only because it was free, but also because the network is now instantly adaptable and extendable. Most important, the open-source architecture is flexible enough to invite continuous innovation. Weisman's next move is to extend access to the 30-plus health centers in the Montefiore network and, ultimately, to kids' schools and homes.
Remember: Performance Is Everything: In addition to setting up a responsive help desk, Weisman has developed an Explainer Program to ensure smooth functioning of the system -- a top priority. When a 12-year-old cancer patient called Weisman's help line in distress about the malfunctioning of her smart-card reader, he had a stark realization: "You can't get it wrong with these kids. You just can't."
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