Summary of ORTEC Selected as Finalist for GBCs 2011 Awards for Business Action on Health
ORTEC was named a finalist for the 2011 Global Business Coalition Business Action on Health Awards for developing COMETS, a free electronic health registration and passport system. This software supports North Star Alliance's Roadside Wellness Centers in East and Southern Africa, enabling mobile truck drivers to access continuous healthcare across borders by exchanging patient data between clinics.
Parts used in the North Star Alliance Health Initiative:
- COMETS (Customized client health registration system)
- Electronic health passport system
- Roadside Wellness Centers
- Truck stops
- Ports
- Rail junctions
- Border crossings
Atlanta, GA (Vocus/PRWEB) April 06, 2011
ORTEC, a leading provider of advanced planning and optimization software solutions and consulting services, announced today that it has been selected as a finalist for the 2011 Global Business Coalition (GBC) Business Action on Health Awards. ORTEC was nominated for its contribution to optimizing the logistical processes of North Star Alliance, an organization established in 2006 to unite members of the transportation industry in responding to the AIDS pandemic in East and Southern Africa.
The GBC Business Action on Health Awards honors companies and organizations that commit themselves to the fight against HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria. According to the GBC, this year’s awards competition involved a record-setting number of entries and demonstrated the outstanding breadth of business engagement on global health.
We are very excited to be among the distinguished list of companies selected as finalists. Our involvement in North Star Alliances mission to provide long distance truck drivers and surrounding communities with sustainable access to basic healthcare and safety has been extremely rewarding. Recognition as a finalist for GBCs 2011 Awards for Business Action on Health is truly an honor, commented Geerhard de Vries, VP Global Business Consulting for ORTEC.
On its website, GBC acknowledges ORTEC’s outstanding contribution to the business fight for global health. The group of finalists also featured on the site have delivered exceptional programs in each awards category, combining solid intervention design, strong commitment to achieving results and a focus on long-term sustainability. The 2011 Finalists span five continents and myriad industries. All Finalists now progress to a rigorous assessment phase by GBC’s external panel of expert judges, from which one winner and one to three commended companies will be chosen to be honored at GBC’s Tenth Anniversary Conference and Dinner, June 1-2 in New York City.
North Star Alliance works to establish a network of drop-in health clinics, called Roadside Wellness Centers, at truck stops, ports, rail junctions and border crossings in low-income countries. The Wellness Centers offer information and healthcare to mobile populations and corridor communities who are often unable to access conventional community or in-company-based health services due to their itinerant working conditions. ORTEC provides invaluable support in this area with a customized client health registration system and passport system, called COMETS, which the company developed for North Star free of charge. COMETS creates an electronic file for each visiting client enabling each persons information to be exchanged between the various centers, so treatments can be continued across different locations.
We are very pleased with the development of the application, says North Star Alliance Executive Director Luke Disney. An electronic health passport system allows treatment information to travel with patients, while also enhancing service monitoring and evaluation capability. Furthermore, the exchange of information between the centers allows transportation employees to continue working while being treated for HIV and other illnesses, such as malaria and tuberculosis. This safeguards their income so they can continue to provide for their families.”
In 2010, North Star Alliance has seen 175,000 clients visit the clinics for essential counseling, treatment and information. By 2015, North Star aims to provide access to health care to 85% of cross-border traffic in sub-Saharan Africa (100 Centers), impacting over 1 million people. The clinics are conveniently located and open in the evenings when mobile workers have time to seek health services.
About the Global Business Coalition (GBC)
The Global Business Coalition is at the heart of a movement thats closing gaps and increasing impact in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and malaria. For more information, visit: http://gbcimpact.org/
About North Star Alliance
The non-governmental organization North Star Alliance is building networks of roadside health clinics at transport hotspots in Africa so that long distance truck drivers and surrounding communities have sustainable access to basic health care. North Star Alliance works with over 60 partners locally and internationally including five core partners: the International Transport Workers Federation, ORTEC, TNT, the World Food Programme, and UNAIDS. Website: http://www.NorthStar-Alliance.org
About ORTEC
ORTEC is one of the largest providers of advanced planning and optimization software solutions and consulting services. Our solutions result in optimized routing and scheduling, vehicle and pallet loading, workforce scheduling, delivery forecasting and network planning. ORTEC provides best-of-breed, custom made and SAP
- What is the purpose of the COMETS system?
It creates electronic files for clients to enable information exchange between centers so treatments can continue across different locations. - How does the project support long-distance truck drivers?
The system allows transportation employees to continue working while being treated for illnesses like HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, safeguarding their income. - Where are the Roadside Wellness Centers located?
They are established at truck stops, ports, rail junctions, and border crossings in low-income countries. - Why were ORTEC selected as a finalist?
They were recognized for optimizing logistical processes and providing a customized health registration system free of charge to North Star Alliance. - Does the GBC award focus only on one disease?
No, the awards honor commitments to fighting HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria. - Can patients receive treatment at multiple centers?
Yes, the electronic file enables each person's information to be exchanged between various centers for continued treatment. - When do the clinics operate to help mobile workers?
The clinics are open in the evenings when mobile workers have time to seek health services. - What is the goal for North Star Alliance by 2015?
The aim is to provide access to health care to 85% of cross-border traffic in sub-Saharan Africa with 100 centers.
