Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) platforms are foundational to modern 911 centers, centralizing incident response and coordination. When automated welfare check or reassurance call programs are introduced—such as ConfirmOk—integrating with CAD can streamline operations, but it's important to understand that full CAD integration is not the only way to deploy ConfirmOk effectively. Agencies can benefit from ConfirmOk whether it's tightly integrated with CAD or used as a parallel, standalone platform. This checklist will help you evaluate, plan, and optimize your implementation for both integrated and non-integrated approaches.
1. Confirm Stakeholder Requirements
- Dispatch supervisors: real-time incident creation, unit recommendations, and priority flagging.
- Program coordinators: visibility into roster status, call results, and escalation metrics.
- IT and GIS teams: secure interfaces, data validation, and uptime SLAs.
- Records division: standardized incident types for accurate reporting.
Holding a kickoff workshop that maps each requirement to a specific CAD field prevents surprises later. If ConfirmOk runs as a complementary solution rather than fully integrated, it's especially important to define manual notification workflows and reporting responsibilities upfront.
2. Identify Your CAD Interface Method
| Interface Type | Typical Use Case | Data Direction | Standards to Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web services / REST API | Modern cloud or hybrid CAD systems | Bi-directional | APCO/NENA CAD-to-CAD standard (2023) |
| Message bus (MQ, JMS) | Enterprise ESB environments | Bi-directional | NIEM 5.2, CJIS guidelines |
| File drop (XML/CSV) | Legacy on-prem CAD with limited API support | One-way (to CAD) | Agency-defined schema |
Tip: If direct integration is not feasible or desired, ConfirmOk can operate as a standalone platform. Notifications and escalations can be relayed to dispatch via secure email, SMS, or manual entry into CAD, maintaining program effectiveness without code changes or IT projects.
3. Map Data Elements Early
ConfirmOk data elements you will most likely pass to CAD or to dispatchers when operating independently:
- Unique subscriber ID
- Name and contact details
- Location (validated street address and geo-coordinates)
- Last check-in timestamp
- Check-in result (Checked in, missed)
For non-integrated deployments, create a clear workflow for how and when these data fields are transferred or referenced—whether via email, printed report, or user portal.
4. Define Incident Logic
- Trigger rule: Missed ConfirmOk check-in for longer than X minutes.
- Incident type: Welfare Check or Reassurance Call Follow-up (use your agency’s official code if integrating with CAD).
- Priority assignment: Based on predefined risk profiles (living alone, medical alert, previous incidents).
- Narrative auto-fill: Include last successful contact, date, and any caregiver comments.
- Unit recommendation: Integrate with AVL to select the closest available patrol or community officer (if supported by CAD).
When ConfirmOk is used separately from the CAD, ensure that criteria for notification and handoff to dispatch are well-defined and communicated to all stakeholders.
5. Build Security and Compliance Controls
- TLS 1.2+ encryption for data in transit
- OAuth 2.0 or mutual TLS for endpoint authentication
- Field-level encryption for PII at rest
- Daily audit log exports to your SIEM
- CJIS and HIPAA alignment for mixed law-enforcement/health data environments
6. Establish Test and Staging Environments
Scenario tests to include:
- Successful check-in (no CAD record created)
- Missed check-in during business hours
- Missed check-in after hours (different priority or on-call workflow)
- Subscriber cancels alarm while unit en route
- CAD outage failover (retry queue on the ConfirmOk side)
For non-integrated workflows, simulate the handoff from ConfirmOk to dispatch to validate manual response processes and documentation.
7. Train Dispatch and Patrol Staff
- 15-minute roll-call briefing with flowchart of automated or manual welfare-check incidents
- Cheat sheet of new incident codes and radio dispositions
- Demo of the ConfirmOk dashboard and notification process
- Quarterly refresher paired with your existing CPR or de-escalation training calendar
Whether ConfirmOk is connected to CAD or not, staff should feel confident handling welfare check escalations triggered by the platform.
8. Monitor Key Performance Indicators
| KPI | Baseline (manual) | Target (with CAD link) | How to Measure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incident creation time | 2-3 minutes | < 45 seconds | CAD timestamp diff |
| False alarm rate | 18% | < 10% | ConfirmOk analytics vs CAD closure codes |
| Average officer on-scene time | 22 minutes | ≤ 20 minutes | CAD unit status logs |
| Subscriber satisfaction | N/A | > 90% | Post-incident SMS survey |
Dashboard these KPIs for your command staff. For non-integrated deployments, ConfirmOk offers reporting and CSV export capabilities, supporting manual tracking or integration with business intelligence platforms.
9. Plan for Change Management
- User feedback loop: Add a CAD disposition code such as “Process Improvement” so officers can flag data-mapping issues (if integrated).
- Scheduled reviews: Monthly IT–Dispatch meetings for the first six months.
- Version control: Document workflow or integration changes in a shared repository with semantic version tags.
When using ConfirmOk as a supplemental tool, establish a clear contact for user feedback and a change log for any adjustments to manual procedures.
10. Document Disaster Recovery
- 24/7 NOC contact list for both systems
- Data replay procedures if either platform (ConfirmOk or CAD) is offline longer than 5 minutes
- Alternate contact method (secure email or SMS) for high-risk subscribers
- Annual tabletop exercise that walks through a combined CAD and ConfirmOk outage scenario
Sample Integration Timeline
| Week | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1 | Stakeholder kickoff and requirements gathering |
| 2-3 | Data mapping and security design |
| 4-5 | API or message-bus development (integration, if applicable) |
| 6 | Staging environment testing |
| 7 | End-user training and SOP updates |
| 8 | Go-live and KPI tracking dashboard launch |
Flexible implementation allows most midsize agencies to complete production rollout in under two months when internal resources are available one day per week. Operating ConfirmOk in parallel with CAD can further accelerate deployment by reducing technical dependencies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does ConfirmOk support CAD-to-CAD mutual aid? Yes, because ConfirmOk exposes REST endpoints that follow best practice standards, partner agencies can receive the same incident data if your primary CAD is federated. If ConfirmOk is not integrated with CAD, relevant data can still be shared with partner agencies through export and manual processes.
Can ConfirmOk be used effectively without CAD integration? Absolutely. ConfirmOk is designed to function either as a tightly integrated CAD module or as an independent welfare check/reassurance program. Agencies can manually escalate missed check-ins for dispatcher review, track participant status in the ConfirmOk dashboard, and generate reports or notifications for rapid action—without requiring technical modification of existing CAD infrastructure.
Next Step: See ConfirmOk in Action
Ready to put this checklist into practice? Schedule a live demo with our public-safety integration team and receive a personalized CAD gap analysis for your agency. Whether you're looking for seamless integration or prefer to operate ConfirmOk as a stand-alone solution alongside your CAD, visit https://www.confirmok.com/organizations or reach out to [email protected] to get started today.