Written by researchers who have helped found and shape the field, this book is a definitive introduction to geometric modeling. The authors present all of the necessary techniques for curve and surface representations in computer-aided modeling with a focus on how the techniques are used in design. They achieve a balance between mathematical rigor and broad applicability. Appropriate for readers with a moderate degree of mathematical maturity, this book is suitable as an undergraduate or graduate text, or particularly as a resource for self-study.

Sustainability for SMEs offers a comprehensive introduction to sustainable business for small and medium-sized enterprises. It offers: the first ever guide to sustainability reporting for SMEs, including tips for using sustainability reporting to gain customer loyalty and build a brand; a collection of airtight arguments and business cases for putting sustainability at the heart of an SME; and a practical guide to lowering environmental impact through improved energy usage, sourcing or generation.

Better Corporate Reporting outlines the latest frameworks for enhancing non-financial and sustainability reporting. It includes guides to: the International Integrated Reporting Council's new framework; the Global Reporting Initiative's G4 framework; and a detailed look at the concept at the heart of both of these new frameworks, materiality.

Should you or your clients report using the new G4 sustainability reporting framework? What's the significance of the changes and how do they affect you? What is the right reporting level for your company? What should you do next...? Sustainability reporting is here to stay and expanding its influence. The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G4 Sustainability Reporting Framework was launched in May 2013, with the publication of two manuals, adding up to 300 pages of technical guidance. Since then thousands of reporters have been hoping for a short and definitive guide to this new reporting paradigm. This is it! In this expert guide to G4, Elaine Cohen cuts to the chase, presenting an easy-to-follow review of everything any company needs to know in order to decide whether to use the G4 Framework and if so, how. If you want to know what G4 means for corporate reporters, whether they are first-timers, SMEs, experienced global companies or existing GRI reporters at any level, this book is for you. It will give you the answers you need to make decisions, in a user-friendly format, and help you deliver greater value to your own company or your client companies. This book will also help users of reports know what to expect from the new generation of G4 sustainability reports and reporting consultants, as they advise clients on reporting process, content and disclosure.

Sustainability reporting can help companies make more money. Sustainability Reporting for SMEs shows you how. Reporting, done well, requires a company to make public a set of promises that bind the company to its sustainability commitments. By adopting a transparent approach to both business practice and reporting, SMEs can gain significant business advantage, both in terms of more effective internal processes and in terms of reputation and business-building. Elaine Cohen provides guidance and tools for actual actions that will improve the sustainability impacts of your company, and a process for reporting that adds value which is much greater than the printed or online report itself. This book will help SMEs develop 'the transparency habit' so that they both make more money and contribute more proactively to the sustainability of our society and economy. It is vital reading for SME owners and managers, entrepreneurs, business and sustainability students and teachers, and consultants. Sustainability managers in larger organisations will find this book helpful in assisting their organisations manage their supply chains which undoubtedly include several SMEs.

Written by researchers who have helped to found and shape the field, this book provides an introduction to geometric modelling. The authors present a broad base of fundamentally important techniques for curve and surface representations in computer-aided modelling with a focus on how the techniques can be used in design. In achieving a balance between mathematical rigour and broad applicability, they show how theoretical properties can be harnessed to practical algorithms, how a somewhat more abstract treatment can occasionally provide unifying elegance and implement a rational advantage.

This classic resource offers complete coverage of nursing case management - from theoretical background and historical perspective to practical applications and how the field is changing to meet the challenges of today's health care environment. It focuses on the implementation of various case management models used throughout the United States and abroad. Key topics include the impact of public policy on health care; understanding the effects of health care reimbursement and its application at the patient level; throughput and capacity management; the impact of the revenue cycle; compliance and regulatory issues; and principles needed to improve case manager-client interaction. This helpful resource is designed to help nurse case managers assess their organization's readiness for case management, prepare and implement a plan to achieve necessary improvements and evaluate the plan's success. Includes numerous proven case management models currently being used in institutions across the country Organized to take the nursing case manager on a journey from the historical development of nursing case management to the successful implementation of a case management program Offers detailed guidance for planning, implementing, and evaluating a case management program Outlines the planning process with information on key topics such as analysis of the organization, the role of the organization's members, selection criteria for new case managers, case management education, credentialing, and partnerships Features guidelines for implementing a case management program with information on ethical issues, technology, compliance, and regulatory issues Addresses the evaluation component of developing and implementing a case management program by presenting information on outcomes, research, documentation, continuous quality improvement, measuring cost effectiveness, care continuum, and evidence-based practice Presents acute care and community based models of case management Highlights the evolution of collaborative models of case management, addressing key elements of joint decision-making, shared accountability, and interdisciplinary systems of care Addresses health care delivery through case management and public policy by presenting current legislative issues and their affect on both health care reimbursement and the application of care at the patient level Presents the insights, experiences, and advice of nursing administrators who have researched and successfully implemented nursing case management programs in various facilities A new chapter, Telehealth Applications for Case Management, introduces the concept of telehealth; provides examples of telehealth usage in women's health, chronic disease management, and mental health; and summarizes the evidence that supports telehealth and identifies existing issues and challenges. Case Management: Life at the Intersection of Margin and Mission, is a new chapter that highlights strategies case managers and others can use to optimize their organizations' financial outcomes while simultaneously improving clinical outcomes for their patients. It emphasizes the work of case managers in the financial arena of health care, including revenue cycle management. A new chapter, Maximizing Reimbursement through Accurate Documentation and Coding, provides tips and strategies on maximizing reimbursement by designing and implementing programs focused on improving the physician's documentation. Effective Management Tools for Case Management Leaders: Strategy Maps and Balanced Scorecards, A Case Study is a new chapter that discusses strategy maps and balanced scorecards and their role in transforming an organization's mission and strategy into a management system and a comprehensive set of performance measures. Features updated information on HIPPA regulation (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), patient safety and confidentiality issues, case management for Medicare patients, Medicare legislation, and utilization management.