COVID-19
Beacon Helps Emergency Preparedness and COVID-19 Teams
Trek Medics was pleased to adapt the Beacon Crisis Response platform to fill the communication gaps between formal emergency responders and emergent volunteers and community groups during COVID-19
Overcome Communication
Challenges with Beacon
The Problem
- Formal emergency response networks were overwhelmed during COVID-19
- Emergent volunteers and other community groups self-coordinated to fill in the response gaps
- 9-1-1 call centers and emergency operations centers (EOCs) often had limited capacity to communicate with and between formal responders and emergent volunteers
- Crisis response groups needed a quality, affordable technology to coordinate their own response operations
The Solution
Trek Medics adapted the Beacon Crisis Response platform to allow community volunteer groups to manage custom response networks alongside formal responders during COVID-19
How the Beacon platform supports community groups during COVID-19
Crisis is reported
A witness identifies a need for rapid support (e.g., a house-bound person needing urgent supplies, a mental health crises, a welfare check, et al.)
Response Dispatch
A dispatcher receives the call from the witness, enters the incident location and other essential information into Beacon, and then can send it out to many responders or only to specific response units, offering multiple dispatching options.
Crisis Response
Crisis responders reply to the alert indicating their availability; Beacon determines the nearest and most appropriate resources and personnel, and instructs them to proceed to the location
Arrive On-Scene
Responders locate the victim and update the dispatcher through Beacon, ensuring accountability and maintaining open communications should more resources be needed
On-Scene Intervention
Once on-scene, community responders are able to provide specialized support and services (e.g., medication deliveries, access to shelter and counseling, referrals to specialized care, et al)
Resolution: Transport or Release
If necessary, responders are able to offer access to additional off-site services, counseling or transport to an appropriate medical facility
COVID-19 Features
Easy Setup
No computer science degree required. Follow the guide and videos to be ready to start dispatching in less than 30 minutes
Configurable Dispatch
Beacon’s flexible design allows organizations to dispatch responders manually or through automation; they can assign specific responders or crowdsource from a larger pool; and they can manage it all via the web app or the mobile app
Decentralized Response
No sophisticated call center required: Manager responders, create incidents and track operations through any computer or smartphone
Works with or without internet
Beacon functions on any mobile phone, via push notifications when Internet’s available or SMS when not
Scalable Volume
Whether you have 5 responders or 500, Beacon can handle your volume through automated workflows and real-time tracking.
Performance Reporting
Beacon offers a full-suite of reports, including responder reports, incident reports, historical reports and case reports (coming Jan 2023)
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