Managed attributes, not standards, lead to interoperability

Abstract

As emergency managers prepare for and then are called upon to direct recovery and response efforts for disaster events of any size, they are charged with ensuring that the response effort interconnects all responding personnel in a united effort “to ensure that each patient receives the most appropriate health care, at the optimal location, with the minimum delay.” (Committee on the Future of Emergency Care in the United States Health System, 2006) Managed attributes, not standards, ensure this essential interoperability, the foundation for providing the most skilled, most timely and most appropriate response to any size situation. Advanced Response Concepts was the first to apply identity management vetting practices to the verification of attributes (skills, certifications, licensure, medical records, etc) and created two discrete containers on a Smartcard. One in compliance with federal PIV standards and a second for the secure storage of attribute datasets. The result is a strong identity credential interoperable at multiple policy levels with additional accessible information for the protection of the responder and effective management of the responder as a resource. When combined with a IDM system, a strong attribute management system can be an invaluable tool in tracking available resources before an event occurs. Attributes (certifications, licensures and training programs) are associated with an individual and the IDM system provides the tools for geo-locating available resources. Now it is possible to identify resources by capability and use that information for advanced placement of responders to a known threat. The ability to allow the command authority to know when and where specific resources are located, what tasking assignments have been given and to whom, is paramount. Specific tasking assignments may be given in the field to respond to dynamic changes in the incident or nature of the response. Leveraging the reporting capabilities of the attribute management system allows for the visualization of the movement of resources thereby making the command authority aware of a change before it is reported formally. This ability to monitor movement can also serve as an early warning indicator pointing out assignments that may be using incomplete information or lacking situational understanding. Attribute management systems give command authorities trusted, verified, data on skills licenses and certifications held by responding individuals and teams in order to allow use of these human resources at the highest common denominator thereby making the most effective use of the resources available and providing the highest level of care and services to those in need during times of disaster of any scale.