Software Update:
What's Being Designed For Your Facility
Aspirin for Staffing Headaches
Virtual Staff Scheduler PRO from Atlas Business Solutions is a
shift-scheduling system that is ideal for 24/7 operations.
"VSS PRO saves time, ensures proper staffing levels and shift coverage,
and eliminates scheduling and time-off conflicts," says Dana Sande, vice
president of the Fargo, ND-based company. "Once shifts have been defined,
VSS PRO allows a user to select shortcuts to assign shifts, jobs, locations,
time off, on-call status, etc., to each person on the schedule. The 'copy
multiple' feature is designed for duplicating shift rotations as far into the
future as the user chooses, which eliminates redundant data entry and allows for
better time-off planning."
Another timesaving feature is VSS PRO's "schedule multiple," where
users can select individuals or a group of individuals and make changes to their
schedules.
VSS PRO ensures the right people are scheduled to work at the right time and
place. Its "coverage watch" feature automatically displays totals as
information is being entered into the schedule. For operations that must
maintain minimum staffing levels, VSS PRO's "requirement rows" can be
used to specify the minimum number of people needed. Combined with the coverage
watch area, these features can be used to visually indicate over-staffing and
under-staffing. VSS PRO does not allow a user to enter conflicting schedule
information.
VSS PRO is a perpetual scheduling system, which allows a user to pre-schedule
information far into the future. As events such as time off, meetings, and
training are entered into the schedule, an explanation indicating when a request
was made can be entered, thus preventing staff conflicts and promoting better
staff planning.
Federal Regulations? No Sweat
Seven product categories make up the integrated clinical and financial
management information systems provided by Health Care Software Inc (HCS). One
of those categories is nursing information systems, which lays claim to
integration, flexibility, and regulatory compliance.
"Nursing systems must communicate with other applications such as
admissions and billing," explains Morgan Fahey, the company's regional vice
president of sales. "Any re-entry of resident data hinders workflow and
system acceptance by the users. Since the HCS system is fully integrated on the
financial and clinical sides, pertinent resident information flows from one
application to the other."
The nursing system's flexibility lets the clinical information system adapt
to capture resident-specific data, and authorized users can create
resident-specific service plans and assessments.
"Some states are requiring some type of resident assessment," says
Fahey. "As assisted living becomes more regulated, a flexible nursing
system becomes more important for state and federal compliance. Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance standards are also looming
over assisted living providers. Nursing systems must have audit trails and
checks for every function of the application to ensure resident
confidentiality."
What You Need, When You Need It
User-Defined Assessments software from Keane Care in Bellevue, Wash.,
improves accessibility of resident data, provides valuable management
information, and improves care delivery by providing documentation tools.
VistaKEANE computerizes worksheets, surveys, and assessments that many
facilities complete with paper and pen. It improves accessibility and usability
of resident data by:
- Standardizing forms and responses
- Eliminating handwriting, especially for notes
- Displaying instructions and policies as responses are entered
- Ensuring necessary data is collected through required fields
- Scoring assessments automatically, if appropriate
Generating due-date reports to help keep information current
"The software provides valuable management information and generates
reports showing resident information, such as birthdays and location," says
Zoe Bolton, the company's managing director. "Additionally, it shows a
resident's improvement or decline in a graph; indicates trends in customer
satisfaction surveys; provides statistics on referrals; and collects incident
report data by resident."
VistaKEANE uses level-of-care assessments to identify resident assistance
needs and areas of risk, such as falling. It enables planning for assistance
with independent activities of daily living.
When the plans are entered in Care Plan software, reports are generated that
direct-care staff can use to document assistance provided. To keep track of
medication delivery, medication administration records can be printed using
Physician Orders software.
The Need For Speed in Scheduling
Madrigal Soft Tools' ResSched software makes resource scheduling of rooms,
equipment, staff vehicles, and other items easier and more effective for public
and private sector organizations. The software lowers costs, improves service,
increases resource utilization, and reduces staff frustration.
"ResSched WEB is faster than many other web schedulers," says Casey
Rippon, the company's president. "It displays a standard window from the
server instead of presenting a series of web pages. As the program returns
keystrokes and mouse input to the server, only the components that need to be
refreshed are passed between the server and the client, often making ResSched
WEB much faster than a standard HTML interface."
ResSched looks and works the same as Madrigal's desktop versions. New users
will find that using ResSched WEB is easy, fast, and convenient.
"As we expand the flexibility and functionality of our software, we are
diligent in maintaining ResSched's ease of use and affordability," says
Rippon. "We continue to improve features our customers have loved since the
program's inception, such as conflict checking, flexible repeat scheduling,
resource groups, and graphic displays for booking information."
ResSched WEB runs on the customers' servers or the Internet service provider
(ISP) of their choice. It eliminates monthly payments to application service
providers (ASPs), gives users full control of their data, and protects the
significant investments organizations typically make in facilities, equipment,
and people.
Additional features and benefits include: graphic and text schedule output,
availability and conflict checking, unlimited view-only users options, pooled
resources, and default and routine entries.
A corporate edition is available for organizations that need to integrate
resource scheduling with other systems and business processes.
Compiled by Michelle Gardner
Links to Software Providers
http://www.abs-usa.com
http://www.accu-med.com
http://www.advancedanswersondemand.com
http://www.carecomputer.com
http://www.healthmgttech.com
http://www.healthtech.net
http://www.idealsoft.com
|
