Introduction
CAREFUL operates on separate instances to keep real patient data secure whilst providing safe environments for training and testing. Understanding which instance you're using ensures you enter patient information in the correct place.
The Two Main Instances
CAREFUL has two primary instances:
Production Instance
The Production instance is where all real patient data is stored. This is the live environment used for actual clinical work. Every change you make here is permanently recorded in the audit log and affects real patient records.
Access: https://app.careful.online
Key characteristics:
- Contains real patient information
- All actions are permanently logged
- Changes affect actual clinical records
- Used for day-to-day patient care
Demo Instance
The Demo instance is a training and demonstration environment. No real patient data should ever be entered here. This instance is used for:
- Staff training and onboarding
- Testing new features
- Demonstration purposes
- Practice workflows
Access: https://app.demo.careful.online
Key characteristics:
- Contains only test data
- Data may be reset or deleted at any time
- Safe environment for learning
- No real patient information stored
How to Tell Which Instance You're Using
CAREFUL makes it easy to identify which instance you're currently using through visual indicators. For more details, see How to tell which version of CAREFUL you are using.
Desktop
Look at the bottom-right corner of your screen:
- Orange badge reading "DEMO SITE" with an orange border around the screen → You're in the Demo instance
- No badge or border → You're in the Production instance
The instance indicator remains visible throughout your session on all screens.
Mobile
On mobile devices, the text badge is hidden to save screen space, but the coloured border remains as a visual reminder:
- Orange border around the screen edge → Demo instance
- No coloured border → Production instance
For more information about using CAREFUL on different devices, see Using CAREFUL on Different Devices.
Additional Instance Types
Your organisation may also use:
Sandbox Instance
A Sandbox instance provides an isolated testing environment for specific organisations. It works similarly to Demo but may contain organisation-specific test data.
Visual indicator: Reddish-orange "SANDBOX SITE" badge and border
Important Safety Notes
- Never enter real patient data in Demo or Sandbox instances — these environments are not secure for clinical information
- Always verify which instance you're using before entering patient details
- Production data is permanent — all changes are recorded in the activity log and cannot be easily reversed
- Demo data is temporary — information in Demo may be deleted without notice
Free Trial Indicator
If your organisation is on a free trial (unverified organisation status), you may also see a yellow "FREE TRIAL" badge in the bottom-right corner of the Production instance. This is separate from the instance indicator and shows your organisation's verification status.