Opt-In Features

Clients can opt in to enable new features for managing contacts, sharing files, and sending notifications. If your organization has not opted in, these features are not enabled and do not affect you yet. Eventually, all clients will gain access to these features except for Ad Hoc Alerts, which is a premium feature.

If you are not sure if you have opted in, check the main menu in eICS. If it displays the Accounts, Groups, Organizations, and File Library options, then you have opted in.

The following sections briefly describe the opt-in features and how they interact with other features. If you are interested in using these features, contact your Client Success Manager (CSM).

For a video overview, see this Opt-In Features demo video.

Accounts

Accounts are used to track and manage people. Your existingContacts will be imported into accounts. When you create an account, eICS automatically creates a corresponding contact to use with other features. Likewise, any edits to an existing account automatically sync to the corresponding contact.

Going forward, you will create, edit, and manage accounts, and then those changes will sync to the corresponding contacts. Contacts are still used with other features, but you cannot directly create or modify them.

Organizations

Organizations represent official entities, like public health authorities, healthcare agencies, and corporations. Organization networks are groups of associated organizations. Organizations and organization networks are used with other opt-in features, such as the File Library and Ad Hoc Alerts.

All ICS Structure and Facilities will be imported into organizations, and all facility groups and Coalitions will be imported into organization networks. When you create a new domain, facility, facility group, or coalition, eICS automatically creates a corresponding organization or organization network. You cannot directly edit these automatically generated organizations and organization networks. Instead, you must edit the corresponding domain, facility, facility group, or coalition. These edits are automatically reflected in the corresponding organization or organization network.

Going forward, you will still directly work with domains, facilities, facility groups, and coalitions for the features you have already been using, but you will also need to work with the organizations and organization networks when you use these opt-in features.

Groups

Groups are used to organize and connect people across different organizations. Groups are most useful alongside Ad Hoc Alerts, helping you send notifications to specific groups of people. Groups do not replace or interact with the features you have already been using; groups only interact with other opt-in features.

File Library

The File Library is used to share files with other users. Unlike the Library feature, the File Library supports any file type and integrates with other opt-in features. However, the Library is still important for associating documents with ICS positions and IRGs. You should use both features as needed.

Profile

Your profile is a collection of information that identifies and defines you in the solution. This fully replaces the previous Profile feature.

Ad Hoc Alerts

Ad Hoc Alerts is a premium feature used to send notifications. Normally, eICS only sends notifications automatically in relation to incidents. Ad Hoc Alerts allows you to send notifications at any time, and it is integrated with the other opt-in features.

Ad Hoc Alerts will replace Ad Hoc Notifications, which was also a premium feature used to send notifications at any time.