CAREPlus™ FEATURES

  CAREPlus™ system access is client defined and completely dynamic; updates are immediately effective. Authorization is controlled at a group or individual level and at both functional and data maintenance levels. Inquiry, Update, Add and Delete capabilities are authorized independently. Access to the system is designated at the Group Level and then individuals are assigned to one of the Groups. The Groups can be defined by function, such as Hospital Coordinator, by department such as Risk Management, by organization such as Red Cross or by individual such as System Administrator. A single User ID can be designated as its’ own group. Individuals assigned to any predefined group instantly have the same access as others within the group. A user’s complete security access can be established, and/or changed, at the click of a mouse.

  CAREPlus™ provides each client the ability to set values used throughout the application. All options are easily maintained by the client and can be updated as business needs expand and/or change. No other system affords as much control and flexibility to emergency response professionals while maintaining absolute referential data integrity.

Client defined core values, such as divisions, geographic regions, craft manufacturers, incident severity levels, team classifications, even fields that are of a more general nature such as Nationalities, Titles, Race and Religion, are all client defined and maintained. CAREPlus™ offers clients extensive options that are easily maintained without cost or the involvement of technical support staff.

Additionally, CAREPlus™ supports hyper-linking to client designated URLs (Universal Registered Locations). URLs can be added or deleted at anytime by an authorized client administrator. This feature provides the flexibility of multiple Web sites being immediately available to users from within CAREPlus™ , without illegally hard coding (deep-linking) the sites.

  At the discretion of the client, Internet access to CAREPlus™ information is available without negatively impacting the efficiency required of an emergency call center and afforded by a LAN based application. Selected data is instantly transmitted and received via an NT server to which your company allows authorized access outside its firewall.

Data transmitted and received via the Web requires only that users have Internet access and a browser that supports 128-bit encryption. There are no restrictions on the number of users or requirements for specific hardware platforms or network communications. As with all Web enabled applications, data transmission and receipt using the Web Interface is dependent upon available bandwidth, type of connection, network integrity and supporting network availability.

  A self-contained ODBC compliant database comes standard with CAREPlus™. This internal database fully supports all system functionality and provides complete independence when communication networks are compromised. The internal database provides ‘grab and go’ capability when needed, and serves as the ideal training compliment. It also makes CAREPlus™ the most scaleable of all applications.

  Data from other systems can be imported using CAREPlus™ file import utilities. Existing Response Team personnel information can be imported into the system at implementation. Then, in the event of an incident, reservation system data can be imported creating an immediate, but un-verified list of victims from which call center personnel can begin immediately working. The CAREPlus™ system saves time and effort when it’s needed most.

  CAREPlus™ safeguards against conflicts presented when multiple users access the same record for update. ALERTS and REFRESH functions prevent secondary updates, notify users and direct subsequent actions.

  To protect the integrity of your data, CAREPlus™ records are logically eliminated by the system but not physically deleted. Response Team Members, Service Providers, Incidents, Emergency Resources, etc. that are ‘archived’ are displayed only when the View All Status option is used. Records are easily archived and retrieved.

  CAREPlus™ is delivered with several pre-defined and ready to run standard reports. Online summarization is available on numerous screens. Additionally, CAREPlus™ has a custom built, user-friendly Query and Report Wizard. Data is easily extracted from the database to create customized reports. These custom query and report definitions can be used once and discarded or saved and rerun at any time. Minimal training is needed to use the Wizard.

  Instant messaging facilitates communications among system users. Several rapid select options are available for message distribution and a current user list is perpetually present. Target recipients who are active in the system receive instant notification of arriving messages. Those not logged into the CAREPlus™ system receive instant notification when they next log into the system. Senders of messages can enforce a ‘reply required’ status on the messages they send.

  Documents, files and/or photographs created by external applications (a.e. Excel, WORD, Lotus, etc) external to CAREPlus™ can be linked (attached through directory path reference) to any Person Directly Affected (PDA), Response Team Member (RTM), Incident, Claim or Reference Library entry. Once linked, the files can be viewed and updated from CAREPlus™. This is one of the most popular features of the system. It allows clients to use and maintain existing forms and/or create new ones for inclusion in the system. Attachments, such as photographs of Response Team Members or Incidents, copies of official documents (i.e. Passports, Visas, immunizations records, IATA charts, fingerprints, etc.) further supplement information needed for emergency response.

  Complete online HELP text supplements the ease of CAREPlus™ usability for minimally trained or infrequent system users. Great care has been taken to insure that within CAREPlus™, the process of adding, deleting and updating information is straightforward. Multiple windows can be open at the same time for quick reference between screens and as information is entered, appropriate buttons are activated.

Incorporating standard Graphical User Interface (GUI) techniques enhances familiarity and ease of use.

• Lists can be sorted by clicking on headings
• Drop Down Lists eliminate repetitive entry of like information, promote consistency, reduce spelling discrepancies, prompt users and expedite data entry.
• Data displayed in red cannot be updated (Required fields have a yellow background.)
• Scroll Bars indicate availability of information outside screen boundaries.
• Freeze points lock and keep specific data constant as additional information is scrolled.
• Speed Keys perform progressive searches to expedite locating information in lists.
• Symbol icons afford visual alerts and availability of commonly used functions such as calendars.
• Hotkeys facilitate capturing ‘questions’ versus ‘answers’ in documented conversations.

  A fully dynamic and customizable reference facility is delivered with

: client defined index and sub-index topics.

Online access to information placed in the reference library is immediately available to everyone on the system. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), forms, photographs, maps, press releases, company regulations, calendars, conference call notes, incident updates, training material, etc. are accessed using the FAQ and Quick Reference Library. Indexes defined by the client organize the material in accordance with their own business practices.

Coupled with media attachments, this feature allows consolidation of all emergency response information. The material can be incident or non-incident specific. Incorporating existing documentation with new material accessible through the application eliminates copying, e-mailing and faxing data between command centers and makes all forms available when and where they are needed.

PRESS RELEASE - Virginia Beach, VA - 15 JUNE 2002
PowerResource announced today the formation of CAREPlus GLOBAL®. The newly formed division has been created in response to the demand for CAREPlus™, the Emergency Information Management System developed last year by PowerResource. CAREPlus™ provides comprehensive information management for all types of emergency incidents and is fully scalable for use by all organizations regardless of size. 

CAREPlus GLOBAL® is the result of a collaborative effort between PowerResource and a number of principals involved in the initial design and development of the system as well as emergency response professionals from throughout the global community of crisis management. 

PRESS RELEASE Virginia Beach, VA 4 April 2002
PowerResource announced today the completion of the relocation of its home office from Spartanburg, SC to Virginia Beach, VA. 

PRESS RELEASE Spartanburg, SC 15 January 2002
On September 11th four U.S. planes, hijacked by terrorists, crashed in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania, killing more than 3,000 people in a matter of hours. Emergency response personnel around the world put forth unprecedented efforts in assisting those affected. In the aftermath of those tragic events, the CAREPlus™ crisis information system was used to gather and distribute information. As far away as Sydney, Australia, CAREPlus™ helped provide assistance and support to the families of those among the thousands killed that day.

CAREPlus™ Release 2.0 offers real-time access using a Web interface that allows organizations to share information among decision makers around the world.

PRODUCT RELEASE Spartanburg, SC 10 October 2001
PowerResource today announced a 1 November 2001 release date for the emergency response system CAREPlus™, the only fully functional, relational database system for managing all aspects of assistance provided to those directly affected by incidents involving injuries and/or fatalities. The CAREPlus™ system has been used primarily within the airline industry; however, the product is designed to manage volumes of detailed, time sensitive and confidential information generated in the aftermath of any type disaster.

The volume of information generated following mass casualty accidents is daunting. The task of sifting through the data is grueling. Historically, such data has been manually and redundantly captured, converted and reproduced using a variety of non-compatible tools. The net resulting data is often incorrect, contradictory, confusing, difficult to summarize and impossible to effectively disseminate. CAREPlus™ resolves problems related to data collection, verification and distribution by combining extensive functionality with stand-alone, LAN and Web operations.

CAREPlus™ currently provides for:

• Profiling incidents and controlling emergency response efforts.
• Recording and tracking inquiries and interactions with victims and families.
• Monitoring the changing statuses, locations and requests of those affected.
• Detailing interactions and disbursements made with or on behalf of victims, families, friends and response team personnel.
• Tracking location, condition and custody of personal belongings and property.
• Managing response teams, as well as other emergency resources.
• Documenting claims and settlement information for risk management.
• Instant messaging between designated system users.
• Report summarization of all aspects of the response.
• Online accessing of client emergency response reference material.
• Sharing access to specific information for authorized response partners.

The release date for CAREPlus™ coincides with the signing of a multi-year contract between Qantas Airways and PowerResource following months of extensive development, evaluation and user acceptance testing. Qantas conducted a series of full product evaluations on all available emergency response systems prior to contracting with CAREPlus™. Only CAREPlus™ met all of Qantas' functional requirements. It is the only commercially available system designed, developed and tested by emergency response experts from throughout the world.

CAREPlus™ was introduced at the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) Emergency Response Planning and Co-ordination Conference, 7 November 2001 in Rome, Italy.

Existing Client - Incident Service Option (ISO)
In the event of an incident, CAREPlus GLOBAL® can dispatch CAREPlus™ system experts wherever necessary to assist in the support of data collection, distribution and/or data management using your CAREPlus™ system. 

Non-client Incident Service Option (ISO)
In the event of an incident, CAREPlus GLOBAL® can dispatch CAREPlus™ system experts wherever necessary. CAREPlus™ system experts that can setup, manage and operate single workstation environments or establish a remote local area network (LAN) configuration to assist in the support of data collection, distribution and/or data management using a standard CAREPlus™ system; certain restrictions apply. 

CAREPlus GLOBAL® can also provide emergency management consultants for assignment as required.

For information on licensing fees and consulting services contact CAREPlus GLOBAL®

  The difficulty of capturing caller information in the immediate wake of an emergency incident is complicated by a number of factors: the volume of calls to the ratio of persons directly affected (PDAs), the number of family or group members about whom a single caller inquires and the probability of the persons about whom calls have been received being validated as victims. CAREPlus™ resolves these problems and more. 
Instant cross-referencing of callers and potential victims provides seamless communication with family, friends and next of kin. Probability can be defaulted or assigned by Call Center personnel and subsequently incorporated into either the manual or auto-load transfer to the working incident victim list. As victim verification or statuses warrant, the process can be repeated until all are accounted. The CAREPlus™ Call Center supports arbitrary access to per client directive and Call Center personnel have the option of reviewing all calls or just those they have received. 
Dynamic cross-referencing consolidates names, relationships, profiles, family and travel groupings, as well as initial requests and inquiry details.

  Company, division, event ID and incident date establish a unique incident identifier that fully supports working multiple concurrent events. Training incidents can be set up in CAREPlus™, without affecting actual Incidents, for ongoing training or drills.

The Incident Profile and Incident Control modules in CAREPlus™ give the user the most comprehensive tool for managing information about:

Incident Profiles

  During the initial hours following an incident the ability to accurately collect and manage victim information is paramount to the activities that follow. The ramifications of conflicting or unverified information causes additional confusion, adds to the frustration of everyone involved and puts the company at even greater risk to allegations from plaintiffs by suggesting intentional or negligent emotional distress.

The Persons Directly Affected (PDA) modules (Profiles and Assistance) are the means to collect and report all information about those affected, their belongings and property, the interactions of response team members, goods, services, travel, lodging and disbursements made for and on behalf of PDAs.

Call Center Inquiries – all calls and callers received during the initial stages of the activation are readily available for immediate reference once transferred to the working incident victim list. 

Contact List - is used to prioritize the order in which family, friends and Next of Kin are to be contacted and identify those who need a Call Back as additional information becomes available.

Family Group - allows quick identification of PDAs traveling together as a family group and provides the names of the other family members, their position within the family, gender, date of birth, etc. 

Organized Group - allows you to quickly identify PDAs traveling together as part of an organized group. It displays the Group Name, PDA name, gender, and date of birth, position within group, the PDA Control numbers for all others in the Organized Group, etc.

Activity and Location Tracking – retains the details of PDA statuses and all levels of support given to a PDA in chronological order. The activity lists, like all lists within

  Administration of Response Teams is supported using multiple criteria. Qualifying, selecting and activating team members are managed in conjunction with dozens of options that can be customized by the user at any time. CAREPlus™ supports response team members from within your organization, contractors and service providers, officials from outside agencies and those from humanitarian organizations.

Activations can be done in stages. Command center leads are easily designated, duty rosters created and activation summaries maintained. Activation histories, photographs of team members, the ability to associate external files to team members, such as expense statements, letters of commendation, copies of passports and immunization records are all features available only with CAREPlus™.

Response Team profiles provide comprehensive views of individuals including business and personal contact details, supervisors, skills and training, etc. The Select and Activate functions encompass the entire process of qualifying and selecting response team members on a variety of criteria such as:

• Category (i.e. employee, contractor, vendor, etc.)
• Skills and Training (i.e. language, computer, medical, activation experience, etc.)
• Geographic Location
• Nationality, Religion
• Gender, Marital Status
• Passport and Immunization
• Pre-Assigned Roles
• Assignment Station/ Category
• Employee Group
• Port Assignments

  Property inventories and tracking of the custody of items belonging to PDAs. Cataloging is managed using user-defined categories such as baggage, cargo, real estate, vehicles, etc. Using the File/Media attachment option, IATA Bag Charts and or photos of items are available to help with identification and the repatriation of goods. 

  Retain and secure the names and contact information for company, government and agency personnel as well as emergency service providers. Authorization to view and/or update resource and contact information is granted at one of five access levels. Optionally, designated Resources can be flagged for inclusion on an automated incident call list.

  The Risk Management module is maintained as an independent function accessible only to personnel with specific authorization. Offers are recorded, date/time stamped with the offer details and when applicable, the date and settlement information. Claims adjuster, Warsaw Convention applicability, plaintiff names and addresses, counsel involvement, attorney names and firms, file status, court where suit has been filed, reserve amounts, demand amounts, settlement amounts and total costs incurred. Settlement associates multiple Claim Types, Claim Settlements and Settlement Actions with corresponding dates to each victim. 

LICENSE and TECHNICAL ENVIRONMENT

  There is a single one time cost for an organization's license: no additional charges are imposed for the application residing on multiple servers or computers that belong to the licensed client and operated on their behalf. PowerResource allows use of the client’s licensed system by independent contractors, service providers and/or authorized agencies in the performance of duties solely on behalf of the licensed client, upon receipt by PowerResource of a signed non-disclosure and non-compete agreement from said third parties. 

Clients that elect to use an Application Service Provider (ASP) may do so under a duly executed ASP non-disclosure/non-compete contract received by PowerResource.

Note: CAREPlus™ source code is escrowed on behalf of all clients. 

CAREPlus™ is a client server application that runs under Windows95®, Windows98®, Windows2000®, Windows NT® and Windows XP® on any Microsoft® supported network. It is fully ODBC compliant and supports Sybase Adaptive Server Database®, Oracle Database®, MS SQL Server Database®, or any ODBC compliant database. Source code for Release 2.0 is PowerBuilder 7. The compiled executable code for the complete application resides in just under 38 Meg of hard storage. 

The optional web interface for CAREPlus™ uses Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS) and requires only that users have a compatible browser. 

  Incident-based architecture supports working multiple concurrent incidents. Incidents are either Active (in progress) or Inactive (complete or suspended). At the conclusion of activity for an incident, all related information can be archived simply by changing the incident status within the system. The incident status can subsequently be changed back to active at any time and then reset as needed. Access to incident data can also be established and controlled at the incident status level. 

CAREPlus™ is easily attached to different databases for purposes such as training and testing.


www.aercare.org
www.customs.gov
www.faa.gov
www.fbi.gov
www.fema.gov
www.iata.org
www.immigration.gov
www.ntsb.gov
www.powerresource.com
www.redcross.org
www.salvationarmy.org
www.state.gov

© Copyright 2002 - 2006 CAREPlus™ Global