Gathering accurate information about the technical aspects of any new solution may be the hardest part of the purchasing process. This Technical Overview offers a centralized location for the most requested and up-to-date CareAnyware technical details and information.
What's the big deal about SaaS?
SaaS – also know as "Software as a Service" – can be defined as "software deployed as a hosted service and accessed over the Internet." CareAnyware hosts the application and data centrally—deploying patches and upgrades to the application transparently, and delivering access to end users over the Internet through a browser or our clinical point of care application. Examples of SaaS vendors includes Salesforce.com, SAP Business ByDesign and Google Apps.
How does SaaS lower my startup costs vs. traditional Client/Server solutions?
First, CareAnyware's SaaS solution does not require you to buy expensive servers for storing your data and running the applications. CareAnyware can bring your operational website "live" shortly after signing an agreement. Your servers will already be provisioned in a world class hosting facility with all the required connections – to payors, with web services interfaces to other vendors, and communication support for synchronization of tablets – in place. You simply need to provide desktop or laptop computer hardware for your team, and, if needed, we can help with that process too.
Second, CareAnyware helps eliminate the costly delays and unproductive starts and stops in a complex software implementation process. Instead, your organization will be able to focus on learning the application and to how best configure it to take advantage of powerful new functionality. We'll handle the complex technical setup issues, deliver a faster implementation, and greatly shift the odds in your favor to achieve early automation benefits/cost savings and organizational buy-in.
When evaluating the CareAnyware's web-based delivery approach against alternative solutions – including traditional client/server technologies – it’s important to consider a wide range of cost factors if you want a true estimate of total economic impact. Our informative fact sheet "What's the Total Cost of Ownership? Demystifying the Acquisition Costs of Web-Based Technology" details the obvious, and not-so-obvious, costs of aquiring new technology.
How does it lower my on-going costs?
You have lower IT costs because application maintenance and support is handled by the software professionals at CareAnyware. In addition, the multi-tenant capability of the SaaS model allows us to spread the cost of developing new features across our entire customer base simultaneously which results in less costs per customer - which CareAnyware can pass along to our client base in our subscription-based pricing.
Why is a SaaS solution more reliable?
Our centralized hosting environment provides redundant hardware, power, cooling, and internet bandwidth. If one internet connection, server, generator, disk array, or firewall dies the system can still continue to be operational and available for your use. When there are changes to software, these upgrades can be centrally deployed to a staging area, and following automated testing can be redeployed to a production environment in an automated fashion to improve quality are reliability. Testing automation is also used again to help validate that all new code was installed successfully. And all of this work is typically done in off hours so that operations are not impacted. We also provide automated real-time server monitoring 24 hours x365 days/year. This infrastructure is virtually impossible to duplicate cost effectively for an individual client/server implementation within an individual agency or organization.
Why does CareAnyware offer faster response to regulatory changes?
The SaaS model allows CareAnyware to maintain a single version of the software for all clients. Therefore we can deliver updates to all clients simultaneously and with less effort. Hence, we are able to provide more frequent updates whenever there is a change in regulations so your software is less likely to put you out of regulatory compliance. But rest assured, nothing will ever change in your software that is a surprise to you or your team. We pride ourselves on our communications that make you aware of upcoming upgrades and updates to the CareAnyware solution.
Do I need an IT department?
You do not need anyone to manage your mission critical home health and hospice data storage and application systems. However, you will need someone (contracted or on staff) to manage basic computer and local network problems, general corporate email, and other business applications. Many of our organizations have a person who wears several hats with whom we partner with to provide seamless support. Elements of this hardware support can be provided by CareAnyware on a fee basis.
How is accessing data over the Internet secure?
CareAnyware uses the same technology as the major banks like Citibank and Bank of America. Access using a web browser is secured and encrypted using SSL(Secure Sockets Layer) certificates. Synchronization between clinician’s tablet and CareAnyware servers is also encrypted using SSL certificates. CareAnyware security has been designed by security experts. In addition to SSL encryption, we use secure username and password for access control and provide agency configurable privileges to define who has access to which data.
Isn’t it more secure to keep the data within my agency office?
No, it's not. Your data is safer with CareAnyware just like it is better to store your money in a bank instead of your home. The bank has security designed by security experts and can afford to provide more expensive security measures because they are securing all their customers' money using the same infrastructure. CareAnyware security engineers have experience building highly secure systems at Microsoft, Nortel, Hotmail and Cisco. Your data is a safe with us.
How does SaaS support HIPAA?
All CareAnyware transmissions are encrypted so as to comply with HIPAA regulations for confidentiality.
How do users access the system?
The CareAnyware system can be accessed from any computer connected to the Internet using a secure user name and password.
What is synchronization?
Synchronization is the process which is used by the clinical point-of-care software sends any changes entered by the clinician and receives any updates from the central database in the CareAnyware data center. Synchronization is built into the CareAnyware software and does not require any additional purchase.
How are system upgrades done?
Upgrades are delivered automatically without involvement from your IT department using the same synchronization process as application data. Whenever a clinician synchronizes their computer, the CareAnyware application is automatically updated with new functionality.
What do I have to do for each system upgrade?
Upgrades are automatically delivered when the tablets are synchronized and do not require any IT involvement.
Do you provide Anti-virus software?
We do not provide anti-virus software for your local network and tablets– this is the responsibility of the organization. CareAnyware provides anti-virus software protection for the data center and the CareAnyware application.
Is the data on the clinician tablets encrypted?
The data on the clinicians' tablets is protected by a user name and password. an organization is interested in encrypting the data, they can purchase optional third party software which has been tested by CareAnyware to encrypt all the data on their tablets.
Can the tablets belong to my network domain?
Yes. They can be centrally managed just as any other computer.
Can I manage the tablets using my standard IT practices?
Yes. However, in order for our application to work, the clinician must have “Power User” access.
How do you set up tablets?
We use an imaging process to set up tablets quickly with all the needed software and settings.
CareAnyware databases and application servers live in a high performance data center managed by Peak 10, who provide highly skilled technical personnel 24-hours a day, seven days a week.This state-of-the-art data center is engineered with multiple levels of security, uninterruptable power, redundant HVAC systems, fire suppression and around-the-clock monitoring and management. Our network utilizes multiple tier-one Internet carriers with a fully meshed backbone consisting of multiple OCx connections that provide reliable connectivity and fast performance. In addition, our data center facility deploys between three and five carrier agnostic SONET fiber connections for maximum dependability and redundancy.
Uninterruptible Power
Each Peak 10 data center is engineered with an uninterruptible power system and backup generator to deliver seamless power. In the event of a commercial power failure, our isolated UPS system will provide immediate backup power until our diesel generators take over the load and continue operation of the center.
Redundant HVAC
Peak 10 utilizes best-in-class environmental units to control and monitor the temperature and humidity in each data center facility. Our redundant HVAC system keep the average temperature in each data center at 70 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure a consistent operating atmosphere for your mission critical technology infrastructure.
Fire Suppression
Peak 10 data centers utilize dry-fire suppression systems that can be deployed manually, or by a sequence of three failures anywhere in a data center zone. Each Peak 10 facility is also fully equipped with smoke and heat detection sensors as well as fire doors and handheld gas-based fire extinguishers.
Minimum point-of-care specifications for mobile devices on which POC Software will be installed:
CareAnyware recommends the use of Tablet PC’s or Convertible Pen Units such as Fujitsu P1630, T2010, T1010,T5010, Dell Latitude XT, Motion Computing LE1700 and Lenovo x61 computers all with a minimum of 1Gb RAM, 40GiG Hard Drive, 1.2GHz or higher Centrino Duo processors with Internal & Wireless LAN. Note: (HP 2140, P1630, T1010, and Dell Latitude XT are Vista only units)
The following laptops are also acceptable: Dell Mini 10v, Dell Latitude E5400, HP2140, HP Mini 1000 & Panasonic CF-F8 (please call for detailed hardware specifications on these systems)
If running Windows Vista, CareAnyware supports Windows Vista Business SP1 with tablets that have 2 GB of memory or more.
Minimum desktop PC specifications:
- Windows XP or Vista
- Computer/Processor: AMD/Intel® Core TM 2 Duo 1.8GHz or Higher
- Memory: 1 GB of RAM or more
- Internet Explorer 7.0 or above
- Microsoft .Net Frameworks 3.5
- Adobe Acrobat Reader 8.0 and one computer with a full version of Adobe Acrobat 8.0 or higher.
- 17” Display monitor with min. 1024x768 resolution
If running Windows Vista, CareAnyware recommends 2GB or more of memory.
CareAnyware recommends that you consider a larger display monitor for Billing and QA users to take advantage of feature allowing two windows open side by side for quick comparative analysis.
Minimum Internet access specifications for clinical point-of-care devices:
The client is responsible for Internet access for the purpose of connecting the clinical point-of-care device to the Internet.
Minimum Internet access specifications for desktop PC’s:
CareAnyware recommends “high speed” internet access such as DSL, Cable, or T-1 with an minimum internet bandwidth of 756kbps for 1 to 10 users and 1500kbps (1.5Mb) or higher for 11 users. A T-1 line is not required for our product but can be used if in place and shared by others (minimum bandwidth requirements still apply).
To test bandwidth, please go to http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest, select the city closest to your location and note the Download and Upload kbps speeds.