Here are some of the many reasons why we believe Risk Manager
deserves your consideration.

Industry Standard Development Tools
ERIC Systems has chosen to use industry standard development tools, including Microsoft Visual Basic, .NET, and Microsoft SQL Server to develop its applications. The industry standard Crystal Reports was selected for use for both standard and ad hoc reporting to ensure widest possible acceptance and to leverage the existing skills base of our clients.

Open System Architecture
The Risk Manager database is a completely open system. Program modules are provided to allow users to maintain every aspect of system operation and keep their systems up-to-date. Clients may create their own database views for custom reporting purposes. The database is available for query using Crystal Reports, Microsoft Access, Excel, Word, or any other ODBC compliant program. Our automated procedure for importing claim related E-mail into the electronic record uses the "save as text" function supported by all popular E-mail applications. Source files are provided for all standard reports and "QuickPrints".

Affordability
Risk Manager is offered in several versions. The single difference between them is the number of organizational levels supported. Otherwise, all versions have the same set of features and capabilities . Our lowest priced single-employer version is ideal for self-administered, privately held businesses and non profit organizations. The single enterprise multi employer version is well suited to the needs of cities and counties where the enterprise is defined as the city/county and departments are defined as "employers". Installation assistance, on site training, custom reports, custom check designs, administrator training, training for use of Crystal Reports to create correspondence items, and one year of unlimited technical support (including remote desktop support) are all offered as part of the basic system price. Advanced features and capabilities that are not needed by every site are broken out into optional modules, so clients do not need to pay for features they don't need or won't use. Unlimited telephone technical support is offered at a fixed annual rate. We never charge hourly or "per incident" fees to support our products.  Remote desktop support, where we can view your screen while talking on the phone is our preferred method to answer questions and solve problems.

Special Program Extensions Expressly for User Designed Reports
Since reporting is one of the most essential aspects of a claims administration system, the structure of the Risk Manager database maintains two special tables intended expressly for ad hoc reporting. These are the Claims Totals table that summarizes financial transactions by reserve category and the Claim Coverages Totals table that summarizes financial transactions by coverages within policies. Both tables are easily linked to the Claim Information table that contains detailed information about the claim and the claimant providing unprecedented ease of access to key data, without the necessity to understand structured query language (SQL). Existing skills with a spreadsheet are likely all that's required to generate sophisticated reports for any purpose.

Customer Service the Way it Should be Done
Our approach to marketing Risk Manager is straightforward and based on our desire to provide the best possible support. Simply stated, all clients use the same program. This allows us to provide a level of customer service second to none. We believe response times should be measured in minutes and hours, not days and weeks. Our preference is to provide technical assistance using remote access to client desktops so we can see exactly what is happening, understand the question, and respond as quickly and efficiently as possible. Unlike our competitors, we do not charge extra fees for remote desktop assistance via the Internet. The President of the company really answers the phone.

File Server License
TPA's and larger organizations having multiple locations will appreciate that Risk Manager includes a file server license. This means that there are no "per seat" or "per user" charges added to the basic price of the program. One production database and one demonstration database may be maintained on a single server and any number of users may be given access to these databases. We encourage clients to provide remote access to the claims management process, especially the ability to print reports and to enter First Reports of Accident/Injury from remote locations. Licenses required by Microsoft for networking and/or access to SQL Server are still required.

Easy to Install, Configure, and Maintain
With a network and SQL Server in place, the first workstation installation of Risk Manager can be accomplished in less than an hour. Subsequent new installations can be performed in approximately 15-20 minutes per workstation. New workstations are setup using a simple installation program. The Administrator can easily configure optional parameters in a few hours. Database backups are done using existing hardware and software. There is only one database to backup, all claim information is stored in the database, there are no links to external files used. Once setup, our AutoUpdateRM utility checks for newer programs each time Risk Manager is executed and will automatically copy those files to user workstations

Access to Two Databases
HIPPA privacy compliance is only one reason why ERIC Systems provides the ability to maintain two Risk Manager databases and to be able to switch between them with only three (3) mouse clicks. Other reasons for maintaining a test database include:

• To provide a new user training environment
• As a platform for developing and testing of new reports, check layouts, and correspondence items
• For testing program update scripts.

When a user changes databases, everything changes. Standard reports contain data from the test system, not the production database. Security and permissions are uniquely defined for each database, so users can be given a different set of rights for both.

OSHA Compliance
Risk Manager includes the ability for collect data to print the Form 300 Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, Form 300A Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, Form 301 Injury and Illness Incident Report, and the Sharps Report.

Updates and Enhancements Without Extra Fees
The program update policy for Risk Manager is also simple and straightforward. We do not subscribe to the "new version for an additional charge" model. Risk Manager is constantly being enhanced and new features being added, so ALL updates and new program versions are provided at no additional cost as part of our standard technical support agreement. The availability of updates are announced periodically by E-mail and may be obtained via download from our FTP site.

Custom Programming and Reports for Free?
Our policy for development of new program features and standard reports is based on client suggestions. If a new or existing client requests a program enhancement and if, in our sole judgment, that enhancement would benefit a majority of our clients and/or add significantly to the marketability of Risk Manager, we will do the programming necessary to implement that suggestion at no cost to the client making the recommendation. The revised program will then be distributed to all clients as part of a regularly scheduled update.

Unparalleled User Access Control
One of the ways increased Internet access is changing the business landscape is that clients are demanding a more hands-on role in the administration of claims. The security module of Risk Manager offers over 475 security items representing more than 1,100 individual security attributes that may be enabled or disabled individually for each user login account or security profile.

Import Data from Other Applications
The over 4,000 unique data fields maintained in the Risk Manager database together with our 20+ years of experience, means we can capture virtually every data item provided when importing historical claim information provided by a third-party using a different application. Data conversions are billed separately because of the variability of effort required to complete this task.

Integrated Medical Fee Adjusting
Reducing claim costs is the primary reason for being self-insured. Every version of Risk Manager provides the ability to:

• Adjust provider invoices
• Generate Explanations of Benefits (EOB) to send with checks
• Easily review claimant medical payment history
• Create multiple preferred provider networks (PPN's). Providers can belong to one or more networks at different discount rates
• POAC support for hospitals
• Import of payment data from bill review companies is an option
• PPN memberships can be assigned at either the employer or enterprise levels for maximum flexibility.

Extensive Configuration Flexibility
ERIC Systems recognizes that our clients have clients of their own, even if they're self-administered. The design of Risk Manager includes a wide variety of options for configuring business rules, integrating custom reports, creating client-specific organizational structures, user defined data entry fields, and user-defined coding schemes to classify data for a wide diversity of needs.

Flexible Check Printing, ACH, Fund Accounting, and Bank Account Capabilities
Risk Manager supports the definition of up to six different check formats, one for each reserve class, at the Enterprise and/or Employer levels plus unique formats for bundled (combined payments to a single payee) and special (non claim related payments) checks. Alternatively, checks may be issued from two different bank accounts (client and carrier) based on an evaluation of an SIR balance which is calculated immediately prior to printing.

Any number of bank accounts or funds can be defined and assigned to one or more employers (departments) or made available to all employers/departments in the enterprise. Bank accounts or funds can have sub accounts for separation of checks for easier reconciliation. 

ACH transfer information is defined by bank account and, if a claimant, dependent, other payee, or vendor also has ACH information defined, the check processing module will automatically create an ACH file for transfer to the bank.

Time and Expense Billing (T&E) and Invoicing//AR Modules
For TPA's, Risk Manager includes the capability to generate and summarize time and expense billings for management functions for claims and occurrences (events triggering multiple claims). Billings may be entered in one operation, reviewed, then released for approval at the end of an accounting period. Invoices can be generated for employers and/or enterprises. 

Integrated Document Imaging
There are eight (8) document imaging modules incorporated within Risk Manager. Each document module allows the collection of scanned materials, photographs (JPG, BMP, FRX), spreadsheets (XLS), word processing files (DOC), and Adobe PDF files to be added to the electronic record of claims, occurrences, litigation dockets, employers, enterprises, property items, employer policies, and at the system level for storing blank forms.

Property Schedule Module (Optional)
For organizations administering P&C claims, Risk Manager provides an optional property schedule module for tracking descriptive information about vehicle fleets, buildings, and personal property for easy access during claim setup. An Excel spreadsheet template is provided for collecting information from departments and/or clients.

Extended Support for Remote Data Entry
Risk Manager offers a collection of small, self contained modules that may be deployed separately from the main program to allow remote users and/or clients to complete First Reports of Accident/Injury, property loss/damage reports, and incident reports that need to be tracked for OSHA reporting compliance.