|
TimeSheet Professional Increases Efficiency at Los Angeles Hospital
In the modern medical world, technology assures the fastest and
most accurate treatment. From cutting-edge, micro technological
devices to the diagnostic assistance provided by specialized computer
programs, hospitals are as dependent on software and the latest
advances in hardware as any business. It is not uncommon, then,
for hospitals to employ full time Information Technology departments
to keep the computer systems running optimally.
Last year, one such hospital in the Los Angeles area discovered
that their IT department needed a more efficient way to track their
time. Clocking in and out on the same system used by the administrative
staff was no longer sufficient to meet the department's needs. It
worked to a degree, but the hospital's board needed a more concrete
breakdown of the department's activity. The board wanted to know
where in the vast hospital complex the IT department was performing
its duties as well as which pieces of equipment or software they
were working on at any given time. The board also wanted to be able
to track overtime because it was a well known fact that everyone
in the IT department worked long hours every day of the week.
On the recommendation of the Director of Administration, the hospital
implemented TimeSheet Professional. He had used the software in
his previous position. With this project-based time tracking software,
they could gather a great deal of information about the activities
of the IT department. By breaking down the hospital complex into
various divisions within TimeSheet to reflect the treatment focus
of the actual facility and by assigning equipment as components
under those departments, an analysis could be made as to where,
and in which divisions, the IT department was needed most. The board
could also determine if the salaries were justified and/or reflective
of the amount of time being spent on troubleshooting and maintenance
of the hospital's software systems. Staffing and budgeting decisions
could be based on these figures.
After implementing TimeSheet Professional and analyzing the detailed
information it provided, the hospital discovered that the IT department
was spread too thin. The one department trying to cover the entire
complex was resulting in delays in service. Often, one IT staffer
would be called out to the radiology wing, only to be called to
the children's unit immediately after. The two units are on opposite
sides of the campus in different buildings so the IT workers would
spend time in transit, when a more efficient deployment of the workforce
might have resulted in quicker responses and less time moving from
place to place.
After analyzing the data, the hospital decentralized the IT staff,
moving them into offices more evenly dispersed throughout the hospital
grounds. The results showed up in TimeSheet. The days became shorter
and the time spent on matters was compacted. Because the staff was
still averaging an hour of overtime a day per person, the hospital
began the search for another IT professional to ease the burden.
Additionally, they were able to alter the shift schedule to maximize
the staff they do have. At least two IT staffers must be on call
at any given time, with someone on site 24 hours a day. By changing
the shift schedule, they were able to increase the staffing during
the hours when equipment and software was most likely to break down.
Efficiency is important in a hospital. Patients require immediate
attention, and the delivery of treatment cannot be delayed because
of computer problems or equipment breakdowns. Because of TimeSheet
Professional, this hospital was able to increase the efficiency
of a vital component in its operation, which in turn increased everyone's
performance. Of course, the big winners were the patients whose
diagnosis and treatment has been made quicker and more reliable.
|
