Alameda County Medical Center in Oakland, Calif., has implemented a Web-based staffing service to help the hospital system manage nursing shifts across its three campuses.
The hospital deployed technology from San Diego-based Concerro, a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provider of staffing services.
The technology allows the hospital to match open positions with qualified nurses, gives nurses an opportunity to manage their own schedules and reduces the need for costly contract agency personnel or extra incentives to fill slots.
ACMC covers 475 licensed beds on three campuses and is the 15th largest employer in Alameda County, with 2,800 employees.
Nursing staff at ACMC, including RNs, LVNs, CNAs, medical clerks, mental health specialists, LPTs, scrub/OR techs, medical assistants and respiratory therapists, who want to work extra open shifts can self-schedule on any unit at Highland Hospital, Fairmont Hospital and the John George Psychiatric Pavilion for which they are qualified to work and which meet the specific parameters of ACMC's collective bargaining agreements.
"We looked at a variety of key staffing management enhancements to help ACMC balance the need for effective staffing practices that ensure quality patient care and satisfaction," said Arlene Kiepek, chief nursing executive for ACMC. "Concerro has proven to be an essential component of our staffing strategy that makes it easy and convenient for staff to self-schedule extra shifts. Use of the Web-based program has strengthened the utilization of our internal workforce, improved communication and satisfaction, reduced reliance on external contract labor and helped us recruit and retain nursing staff. It is an indispensable asset to us."
ACMC is the first in San Francisco's East Bay area to implement Concerro's technology; officials say the network has increased its capacity to fill shifts from its existing workforce by 122 percent, contributing to reduced contract labor costs of more $10 million, or 44 percent.
"Concerro has helped ensure the highest continuity of care for ACMC's patients in a cost-efficient way," said Graham Barnes, CEO of Concerro. "We are very pleased to help our customers create work environments that improve staff and patient satisfaction, reduce labor costs and improve quality in care delivery."