KY Neurosurgeon Wins 2005 Dell/NFIB Small Business Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Contact: Tom Underwood
	                                                          (502) 223-5322
                                                                                or Mandy Minick
                                                                               (614) 221-4107

Local Neurosurgeon Wins 2005 Dell/NFIB Small Business Award
Doctor combines new technology with old-fashioned patient care in traveling medical practice

LEXINGTON, December 12, 2005 – The National Federation of Independent Business and Dell Inc. today recognized local business owner Dr. Timothy Kriss with the 2005 Dell/NFIB Small Business Excellence Award. Dr. Kriss is a neurosurgeon who travels between three Kentucky communities – Versailles, Frankfort and Maysville – to provide specialty medical services to patients near their homes. 

As an alternative to the many large medical practices in operation today, Dr. Kriss started his own mobile medical practice in order to offer patients convenient, personal service without sacrificing accessibility to necessary medical equipment and information. Dr. Kriss uses two laptops that he takes with him as he travels between clinics. The computers hold electronically stored medical records for more than 5,000 patients. He has also integrated voice-recognition software to generate notes, orders and diagnosis in order to bypass the need for traditional transcription services.  

“Before I started my own business, I did not even know how to close a window, open a browser or send an e-mail,�?? said Dr. Kriss of Versailles.  “But I knew that a smart use of technology could help me run a more efficient practice and let me be the kind of doctor I wanted to be. This mobile technology enables me to have a very different business model – a low-volume, low-overhead, efficient practice that allows me to be an old-fashioned doctor who takes his time with his patients.�??

“Dr. Kriss is a perfect example of the entrepreneurial spirit that built this country and continues to drive our economy today,�?? said NFIB/Kentucky State Director Tom Underwood. “NFIB is full of men and women like Dr. Kriss who have combined creativity, ingenuity and hard work to turn an idea into a business. I salute him for his accomplishments and I’m proud, although not surprised, that the 2005 Small Business Excellence Award winner is from Kentucky.�??

As the 2005 winner, Dr. Kriss will receive $30,000 in Dell technology and services, a lifetime NFIB membership, and will spend a day at Dell’s headquarters to learn best practices from Michael Dell and other senior Dell executives.  

Established in 2004, the Dell/NFIB Small Business Excellence Award honors small businesses that represent a spirit of innovation in applying information technology to improve the customer experience.  

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The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is the nation’s largest small-business advocacy group.  A nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded in 1943, NFIB represents the consensus views of its 600,000 members in Washington, D.C. and all 50 state capitals.  For more information on NFIB/Kentucky, visit www.NFIB.com/KY.