Pine Tree Society
PTS Webtracker - Opening Foxpro to the Web Via Custom C Sharp .NET
Founded in 1936, Pine Tree Society provides direct service programs statewide to people with disabilities. Each year, the Society's many quality
programs help thousands of individuals with disabilities. Despite budgetary limitations, the Society continues to meet the many and varied needs
of Maine people through innovative direct service programs, creative funding strategies and cost-conscious spending. In doing so, Pine Tree
Society has become one of Maine's most well-respected providers of services for people with disabilities. Established in 1976, the Interpreting
Services Program is a nonprofit statewide interpreter referral service sponsored by the Society. The program's pool of professional interpreters
consists of both staff and private practice interpreters who adhere to the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID) Code of Ethics.
Business Challenge:
- Internet-based scheduling. In order to supply interpreters to their hearing-impaired clients, the Deaf Services Agency must accept requests and arrange for an interpreter to fill that request. Coordinating schedules of clients and the Society's pool of interpreters is a challenge to say the least. Most scheduling applications are challenging. Pine Tree Society's local custom software provider, Simply Computing, had originally developed a multi-user desktop scheduling application based on a FoxPro database. The Society has been using the desktop application effectively for several years.
- Scheduling was still time-consuming, with internal staff communicating with interpreters to log schedules into the FoxPro application. The Deaf Services management team recognized the potential of the internet to streamline the process by eliminating much of the communication burden between staff and interpreters.
Solutions:
- As an experienced e-commerce application developer, Information Age Technologies was selected as a sub-contractor by Simply Computing to develop and implement the web interface for the FoxPro scheduling application.
- The new web interface, based on Microsoft's .net technology and written in C#, provides secure internet access to Pine Tree's registered interpreters. The interpreters are able to view available assignments, accept or decline assignments, and designate their dates and times of availability. The only software requirement is an internet connection and a web browser.
- As an additional enhancement, the Web-Tracker application enables the interpreters to log their completed work hours to be processed by the Deaf Services Agency.
Customer Results:
- Pine Tree Society has improved their service to their clients by more effective scheduling.
- Pine Tree Society has reduced administrative overhead involved in the communication between interpreters and staff.
- Pine Tree Society has enhanced their image with interpreters by providing a very convenient system for reviewing and accepting assignments, as well as designating availability for new assignments.
