Transcript Introduction to the Pika Case Management System Aaron Worley <>

Introduction to the Pika Case
Management System
Aaron Worley
<[email protected]>
Tuesday February 3, 2003
What is Pika CMS?
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Pika is a case management system (CMS) for
legal services programs
Pika is a website-based system
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It's not a Windows application
It's a website that provides case management
functionality
Background
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Former Statewide Technology Manager at
the Michigan Poverty Law Program
Installed and supported software across the
state
Saw the need for a cheap, centralized,
easy-to-use CMS
A web site meets all these criteria
Advantages of Website-Based
Software
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Your entire organization can share a single,
centralized system
Available anytime, anywhere
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At the office
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At home
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On the road
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No special software required
Advantages of Website-Based
Software (2)
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It's a well-established technology that's here
to stay
Runs over your existing Internet connections
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No additional, expensive equipment required
No VPN, WAN, Citrix or database replication
necessary
Advantages of Pika CMS
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Easy to use
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Intentionally kept as simple as possible
Interface refined through testing with actual
legal services staff
If you can surf the web, you can use Pika
Optimized to run well on old computers and
slow Internet connections
Advantages of Pika CMS (2)
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Compatible with “Open Source” software
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Avoid “hidden” costs of licensing expensive,
proprietary database and operating system
software
Features
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Case intake and eligibility screening
Integrated calendar, time, tickler and case
notes system
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Automatic conflict of interest checks
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Scalable screen text size
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Configurable security levels
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Report generation, including LSC reporting
requirements
Features (2)
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Document generation (form letters, court
documents)
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Word, WordPerfect, Open Office and Adobe
Acrobat Forms/XFDF
Document Management
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Search the text of stored Word, WordPerfect,
PDF documents
Access stored documents via Pika or via shared
network drive
Features (3)
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Modular Design
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Warning flags
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Normalized database structure
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Compatible with third party reporting
software (Microsoft Access, Crystal Reports,
etc.)
Security Features
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Password protection
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Encryption
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All data is encrypted
Uses same technology that Amazon, Ebay and
others use to secure credit card transactions
Not vulnerable to Nimda, Code Red, etc.
Who is Using Pika Now?
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6 programs, comprising 43 offices
4 additional programs, comprising approx.
15 offices, are in the process of switching
Implementation Options
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Hosting
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In house
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Commerical hosting service
Server
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Red Hat Linux
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Windows 2000
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Should run well on any UNIX or Windows server
Implementation Options (2)
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Network Access
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Can run over the Internet
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Can also run over a private Intranet, if available
Customization Options
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Contract work
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In house
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Screens can be modified with any web page
editor
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Easy, 3-step process for adding new fields
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Full source code is provided
Third party
Data Conversion Options
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Contract work
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In house
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Third party
Subscription Benefits
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Pika is subscription-ware
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Subscription provides...
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Licensing
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Tech support
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Free upgrades
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Documentation in electronic format
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Hosting Service is available
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Priority Tech Support is available
What is a Pika anyway?
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from Webster's Revised Unabridged
Dictionary (1913):
Pika Pi"ka, n. (Zo"ol.)
Any one of several species of rodents of the
genus Lagomys, resembling small tailless
rabbits. They inhabit the high mountains of
Asia and America. Called also calling hare,
and crying hare. See Chief hare.
Pika Photo