Category: Handbooks

On September 6, 2016 | By Maryellen Lazzaro | Clients, Design, Editorial, Extended Care, Handbooks, Hot Off the Press, Project Management

Hot Off the Press: New Patient Handbook

In 2007, Lazzaro Designs created for The Silvercrest Center an original, 6 x 9″, 20+-page handbook with essential information for patients and families, such as about the care team, telephone and television services, visitors, and meals, among many other topics. Silvercrest needed to editorially update the handbook and wanted a way to tweak copy themselves as the need arises.

Voice: The original editorial voice continued to work well and was little changed beyond content updates and some fresh reorganization of topics. The title was rewritten to better reflect new branding messages.

Vision: For the cover, Maryellen picked up the theme of the new logo color (the NewYork-Presbyterian red; Silvercrest is affiliated with the medical network) and opted for a clean, modern design that fits in well with the body of new work we are doing for Silvercrest. The format lends itself well to both print and digital, too. The 24 all text, interior pages were prepared in MS Word, which makes it easy for Silvercrest staff to edit with the regular changes that happen within the facility. However, since MS Word is not a layout program and the handbook measures 9.5 x 11.25″ in order to house loose correspondence in the handbook’s interior pockets, providing Silvercrest’s printer with a MS Word 8.5 x 11″ document was not an option. As such, Maryellen created an .eps file of each handbook page. She then re-created the handbook in a layout program based on a 9.5 x 11.25″ page size and placed each .eps page into the layout in order to provide the printer with a suitable file.

Getting it Done: Maryellen facilitated a smooth process for the project, from approvals to working with the printer. In addition, Maryellen provided the master MS Word file to Silvercrest staff for their future updates along with instructions on what to provide their printer. Likewise, she provided Silvercrest’s printer with the current handbook’s layout file and support .eps files along with instructions on what they need to do when they receive updates to the handbook from Silvercrest.

> If you need help creating a manual or handbook, give Lazzaro Designs a call or shoot us an email.

On June 21, 2016 | By Maryellen Lazzaro | Clients, Design, Editorial, Extended Care, Handbooks

New Project: Handbook Update

We are pleased to announce that Lazzaro Designs will be updating a resident handbook for The Silvercrest Center. In 2007, we created the original, printed 20+-page handbook with essential information on “Life at Silvercrest” for patients and families, such as about the care team, telephone and television services, visitors, and meals, among many other topics. Silvercrest wants to editorially update the handbook but within a new format (MS Word) that makes it easy for them to edit with the regular changes that happen within the facility, as well as print-ready and electronically accessible.

On June 2, 2015 | By Maryellen Lazzaro | Design, Editorial, Handbooks, Tips

Handbooks: Beyond the Employee Newsletter

There are lots of topics to communicate to your staff beyond those that can be covered in a regular employee newsletter. Several of our clients have turned to us to produce cogent, attractive and easy-to-read handbooks on a variety of things, such as ethic codes (as shown here for a health insurance company), or the ins and outs of big facilities (holidays, payment procedures, cafeteria hours). Instead of Human Resources issuing a slew of photocopied loose sheets that get easily lost, an employee handbook can be a cost-effective way to make sure your staff knows what’s what. In one case, we produced a manual that was contained in a pocket-size, three-ring binder for hospital House Staff (resident physicians). The often updated information was easily replaced page by page. In another case, a bound book with a back pocket for updates served the employees of an extended-care facility. If an organization has the ability to use a digital system that all employees can access, even better; guides can be created in digital form.

> If you need help creating a handbook or guide, give Lazzaro Designs a call or shoot us an email.