M&G CI Template
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The ultimate goal of FacEasy.com is to create an Internet-based environment in which summarized information can be moved from the Ceding company to its Reinsurers quickly and effortlessly. One of the primary summarization channels for FacEasy.com is the Electronic Summary channel and its three-tiered approach to moving electronic summarized data: : Electronic transfer of text : Image file transfer : Direct summarization of individual impairments via Dropdown impairments The Image file transfer area of the Electronic summary channel is in some ways the most powerful and by its' nature, the most complex of the summarization methods. The attachment and transfer of an imaged file is actually quite easy and intuitive. Not unlike attaching an electronic file to an email, FacEasy.com's Image Transfer process allows the user to 'browse' their network or hard-drive, select the file(s) they wish to attach and upload that file with the summarized data. Although only a single file can be attached on any browse, the process can be repeated for multiple files. The 'Browse' button allows the user to select any individual file on the individual drives or network and attach that file for transmission to FacEasy.com by selecting that file and clicking the 'Open' command. At that point, the attached file will appear in the box to the left of the 'Browse' button. FacEasy.com only allows for the attachment of one file at a time, although the user can continue to attach additional files by repeating the process. When the desired file(s) are attached, the 'Upload' button moves the file to the next section of FacEasy.com's electronic summary process. Fac Easy.com Page 1 of 5 The pre-attachment process is somewhat complex, as it, involves preparation and knowledge of locations and even manipulation of imaged file information. Emphasis is made on the file being an Imaged file. Actually, any type of file that resides on the user's hard drive or network can be transferred using FacEasy's file upload. Using FacEasy, you can easily and securely transfer a selected file(s) to the FacEasy.com secure website where the file(s) can then be accessed by the reinsurers you select. Moving electronic files in this fashion allows you to avoid the time and expense of mail delivery and fax. FacEasy.com is a summarized facultative site. We ask that ceding company clients restrict their Imaged file transfers to only portions of their case that act as summaries of pertinent case data (EKG tracings, pathology reports, sections of APS reports, etc.). Sending non- summarized information jeopardizes the superior time service goals created by FacEasy.com. Working with and transferring Imaged files necessitates some background on the imaging process and imaged files. Scanning of documents is becoming more and more common in the work environment. Many companies have moved to imaging of their paper files and storage in that medium. Imaging can take place either on the 'front-end' (prior to underwriting review) or the 'back-end' (after the underwriting review). Although many scanners allow quick and easy scanning of paper and conversion into imaged files, the final format is often limited to a single image. Files like BMP, GIF and JPG are single-page image files. More complex scanning and imaging of multiple-page files normally requires more complex image file formats called 'multi-page' imaged files. Commonly seen are the non-proprietary TIF or TIFF format (TIFF is an acronym for Tag(ged) Image File Format) and the proprietary PDF files created using Adobe Acrobat. The major strength of the TIF format is a highly flexible and platform-independent format which is supported by numerous image processing applications. There are numerous software programs available to view multi-page TIF files. Incorporated into Windows 95 - 98 - NT are image viewing programs like 'Imaging for Windows'. This software which is routinely included with Windows software allows easy access and viewing of multi- page TIF files. A more robust edition, Imaging for Windows (Professional Edition) is also available from Eastman Software. An interesting note - Tiff files can by nature be either single-page images or the more complex multi-page image format. On occasion, Windows may have an existing 'file association' which causes a Tiff file to be opened in a less sophisticated image viewer than those noted above. In this instance, only page one of the multi-page image may be viewable. This can easily be remedied by having one of the Imaging for Windows programs noted above, be the new 'file association' for Tiff files. Viewing PDF files requires specialized software from Adobe called Adobe Acrobat Reader. Fortunately, this software is freely downloadable over the Internet at the Adobe site. One challenge in using FacEasy.com's image transfer capability is the creation and manipulation of a summarized imaged file. The majority of ceding companies will fall under two main categories. : Companies who use image technology and already have imaged files and scanning capabilities available. : Companies that are not using image systems and do not readily use scanning to create imaged documents. Imaged underwriting shops For companies that are already using imaging systems, the challenge lies in finding creative methods to produce imaged files of only the key pages needed to summarize the salient factors of a case (EKGs, pathology report, etc). Most image shops tend to use Filenet-type solutions like Filenet's Panagon. These systems are proprietary and handle varied aspects in the imaging process including workflow services, content management, and high-volume digital image storage, retrieval and management. FacEasy.com recommends a close examination of your individual imaging system and perhaps discussions with your IT department or vendors as to the easiest way to generate imaged files containing only select pages of your existing imaged content. Non-imaged underwriting shops Finding different methods to create imaged files is limited only by the creativity of the user. Variations range from simple scanning to create image files to creating 'screen shots' of key electronic data with pasting to formats as basic as Microsoft Word to using Fax servers to create multi-page imaged Tiff documents. Each client's internal systems are unique and each lends itself to differing approaches as the easiest, most effective and least time consuming method of creating an imaged file. FacEasy.com can recommend a variety of approaches to creating and moving imaged files. There is little doubt that new, more creative methods will be discovered with the advent of new technology. The following are some basic ideas for creating imaged documents: Screen shots - Some companies keep detailed underwriting notes on their own underwriting system. These notes may adequately summarize a case or some component of a case. In most instances, the actual text can be harvested and copied to FacEasy.com's Electronic Summary channel. On some mainframe systems, users may not be able to copy text. In this event, the creation of an imaged document including screen shots may suffice. Hitting the 'Print Screen' key in the upper right hand section of the keyboard, creates an image of the user's screen. If the underwriting notes are onscreen at that time, a simple paste to a new empty Word document will deposit the screen shot in that document. Depressing the Ctrl + V keys simultaneously with the cursor in the Word document will 'paste' the screen shot to the document. The documents can then be saved and transferred to the reinsurers using FacEasy.com's image transfer capability. Scanning and creation of Imaged files - Most basic scanners now allow for quick and easy scanning of paper documents. The most basic format of scanner is the 'flat bed' scanner. In many instances, the major drawback to using this type of scanner is its inherent inability to create multi-page image files such as the Tiff files mentioned above. Scanning of more than one page of a file would require creation of individual single pages images. This is workable but unwieldy. An improved option is a 'sheet- fed' scanner that allows the scanning of multiple pages with a corresponding creation of a multi-page imaged file. This process is probably one of the easiest ways to generate an imaged file of the key pages required for a summary. It is potentially less time consuming than copying the complete file for multiple reinsurers. In situations where a complete multi-page imaged file exists of the complete case, most image viewer programs, like the Imaging for Windows program noted above, allow editing of the page content of a multi-page imaged document. It is a relatively easy process to, edit an imaged document down to certain key pages by deleting non-pertinent imaged pages and then re-saving the file to then send as a summary imaged file. The more effort that is placed into creating a quality summary the greater the chances of getting a sound offer from reinsurers. Faxing and Faxcom servers - Creating a Fax document is synonymous with creating a multi-page scanned image. Most often, this scanned image is digitized on the sender's end and materializes on the recipient's end. In the majority of instances, the faxed document is printed out by the recipient. Ceding companies that have either stand-alone Fax machines with PC interconnectivity or more advanced Faxcom servers can use this equipment to fulfill many of their basic multi-page scanning requirements. Faxing pages to your own Fax server creates a multi-page document which in turn can easily be saved as a Tiff file and transmitted as part or all of your summary using FacEasy.com.