PATHWAYS COMPASS Updates and Issues

The Pathways Systems Team is continually working to enhance and improve the PATHWAYS COMPASS Community Information Sharing System. Here's a list of the new features that will be available in the next few months, and the system bugs that the team is working to resolve:

Upcoming Releases
v6.0 - New Navigation, updated database connection scheme, Outcomes 2.5 (available 9/30/09)
v6.1 - HPRP Rapid Data Entry/ID Card Scanning (available 10/29/09)
v6.2 - Dashboards, Care Management Pathways, new data center servers (available 12/10/09)
v6.3 - HMIS data standards update/all remaining elements (available 12/31/09)

As always, we will provide full details on everything included in each release as each new system version is made available to you. Just look for information on the right side of the PATHWAYS COMPASS Log-in Page.

The Pathways Systems Team is also at work addressing the following technical issues:

• Service Records sometimes fail to save if no homelessness information exists
• Agency Program Page reflects the wrong number of enrolled clients
• Services are automatically entered on initial residence record creation
• Inaccurate "disabling condition" warning
• Multiple issues with zip code input
• Agency admin cant activate medhelp permissions in user profile
  

Work on the following issues was completed recently, but we must finish testing our work before we can make it available to you.

• Inconsistant/incorrect results - HUD APR and Program Profile reports

Thank you for supporting Pathways and letting us know how we can better serve you. Contact us anytime with your suggestions and requests. You can reach our Technical Assistance and Training Team at 866-818-1032 option 2, or at support@pcni.org.

PATHWAYS COMPASS Release V5.12.1

PATHWAYS COMPASS
Release V5.12.1
Pathways has Released V5.12.1. This release merged the Goals under the Goal Command with the Goals under the Progress Command. Additional details are outlined below:


System Enhancements:

Goals that had previously been entered using the Goals Command in the Client Visit menu has been merged with the Goals entered using the Progress Command, which is also under the Client Visit Menu. The Goals command has been unassigned for all users and should no longer be used.

To conform to the new Goals page users will be required to fill in additional fields the first time they edit the most current merged Goal. These fields are Goal Domain, Goal Type and Achievement Level.

Previously entered Goals will display with the value “Inactive” for Goal Domain, Goal Type, and Achievement Level under the Show History Link. The most recent Goals under each Goal Domain also displays in the Summary Area and can be edited from there.

If there are additional question, contact the Support Team at 404-639-9933 option 2 or 866-818-1032 option 2.

Benefiting from PATHWAYS COMPASS

As I become more familiar with PATHWAYS COMPASS as a new employee, I realize the more benefits it has to communities and agencies. Features such as “Funds” to maintain program balances and “Beds” to assign housing facility rooms and beds can help you serve clients more accurately and efficiently. Agencies can also run a number of reports to get a clear reflection on how their organization is operating, and what services are being utilized more than others.

It is a pleasure to meet people in the communities we serve, and I look forward to continue to speak with and support Pathways systems users.  

Kory Boone, Technical Assistance/Training Specialist

Technical Assistance and Training Team

Password Hints

As a member of the Pathways Support Team, I have observed that many users seem to experience "password blocks" when creating their PATHWAYS COMPASS password.  

Below you will find a series of suggestions that may help:

1. Your password needs to be 8-14 characters long
   
2. It should include at least 1 number
   
3. You cannot use your User Id, your name or your agency's name in your password choice
   
4. Use a password that is personal and unique to you, and hard for others to guess; i.e., dream destination or vacation location, etc.
   
5. As opposed to creating a brand new password every 60 days, when your password expires, try moving the number.  For example: bahamas77 can be changed to 77bahamas
   

We don't suggest passwords, but whatever you choose...Please don't forget it!  

April Lockett, Technical Assistance/Training Specialist

Technical Assistance and Training Team

Pathways Systems and Your Internet Connection

Recently we discovered that intermittent problems that some PATHWAYS COMPASS users had been experiencing for more than a week had been caused by serious issues at an Internet service provider that connected them with our data center. Those problems have now been resolved, but we're on the lookout for similar problems should they occur.

If you have a problem while using Pathways systems, please contact our support team at 866-818-1032 Option Two, or by clicking the blue help button within PATHWAYS COMPASS. We'll check first to see if we're having a technical problem, and if so we'll address it as quickly as possible. If we think the issue may be Internet related, we may work with you to check your connection using the following Internet sites and tools.


Internet Traffic Information

The Internet Traffic Report monitors the flow of data around the world. Use links on the site's main page to drill down and see whether there are problems with Internet providers in your area.

Visit DSL Reports to see how your Internet provider rates when compared with others in your area. Visit the site's forums to find out if other customers are currently reporting problems.


Internet Testing Tools

The following tools allow you to test the quality of your Internet connection. Problems with Internet connections between your computer and our servers can cause our systems to appear to hang or fail to save data you have entered.

If our support team thinks a problem you are having while using our systems might be caused by issues with your Internet connection, we may ask you to perform one or more of these tests and share the results with us.

Ping Plotter. The download links for the free edition are at the bottom of the page. Ping Plotter is an easy to use network troubleshooting and diagnostic tool that collects Internet connection data (over a period of hours, days or weeks) and then graphically shows problems in a way that shortens the time it takes to pinpoint the exact cause of an issue.

DSL Reports Online Tools. The most helpful tests here are the speed tests and the line quality test.


Earlier this year, Pathways contracted with WebSitePulse, a testing firm, to continuously check our servers and immediately notify us of any service interruptions. Click here to see the firm's latest report on our servers, which is updated every three minutes. We are proud to serve our users and we are committed to providing them with up to date information that helps them do their jobs. If you have any questions or concerns about our work, please contact us at 866-818-1032.