API Signs Contract With Avera Health for Employee Scheduling/Staffing System; Integration With Existing API Time and Attendance System Will Speed Up Implementation and Reduce Maintenance Costs.Business Editors & Technology/Health/Medical Writers HARTFORD, Wis.--(BW HealthWire)--Nov. 29, 2001 Automating Peripherals Inc. (API) announced today that Avera Health Avera Health is a ministry of the Benedictine Sisters of Yankton, South Dakota and Presentation Sisters of Aberdeen, South Dakota. The network serves eastern South Dakota and surrounding states with hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and other health services at more than 100 , based throughout eastern South Dakota South Dakota (dəkō`tə), state in the N central United States. It is bordered by North Dakota (N), Minnesota and Iowa (E), Nebraska (S), and Wyoming and Montana (W). , has purchased the company's ActiveStaffer(R) scheduling/staffing system. This system simplifies the time-consuming, labor-intensive manual processes involved in scheduling employees, maximizing resources, controlling labor costs and retaining qualified staff. Avera is looking to ActiveStaffer to help handle complex staffing tasks more efficiently and better automate the scheduling/staffing process for as many as 7,000 employees at five of the larger Avera facilities. Once implemented, nurse managers will spend less time on scheduling tasks, which frees them up to deal with other employee, departmental and patient issues. Another benefit is that nurse managers can better determine appropriate staffing levels, so fewer dollars are spent on overtime pay and contract staff. "We looked at a couple of different vendors, but API had the product of choice functionality-wise, plus we already had their time and attendance product installed in four of our facilities," said Ronald A. Sandifer, vice president of Information Systems for Avera Health. "From a corporate standpoint, we try to stick to a few core vendors to provide all our applications. That allows us to avoid a lot of interfacing, plus we maximize our applications because the data flows between the systems, so we avoid redundant data entry, and can improve decision making with more real-time information." The Windows(R)-based ActiveStaffer application is easy-to-use, and quickly adapts to an organization's unique staffing environment. Nurse managers and schedulers can quickly determine the right employee for each position and shift. Staffing rules and policies, including complex holiday and weekend rules, are applied automatically. Healthcare organizations get real-time access to labor information, which helps managers and administrators make better-informed staffing decisions and control labor costs proactively. Employees will be empowered with the ability to request time off and check work schedules online. Morale is increased because employees know that the organization's automated scheduling system ensures enterprise-wide policy consistencies as well as fairness in scheduling across departments and facilities. This increased morale helps in terms of over-all employee retention. "API has continued to build upon the healthcare knowledge we've gained over the years to offer hospitals fully integrated employee data management solutions," said Luis Garcia, president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. for API. "Because ActiveStaffer is easily integrated with their API time and attendance and payroll system, Avera Health will find this product to be a powerful tool to manage costs, improve patient care and staff satisfaction." About Avera Health Avera Health serves the people of eastern South Dakota and surrounding states with hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and other health services health services Managed care The benefits covered under a health contract at more than 100 locations. The Avera Health partnership includes 21 hospitals, 15 long-term care facilities long-term care facility n. See skilled nursing facility. , 12 assisted living as·sist·ed living n. A living arrangement in which people with special needs, especially older people with disabilities, reside in a facility that provides help with everyday tasks such as bathing, dressing, and taking medication. facilities, 14 senior apartment complexes, 37 clinics with an additional 31 satellite locations and two medical supply companies. The resources and expertise of the region's largest health system support our caregivers. Management and other support services support services Psychology Non-health care-related ancillary services–eg, transportation, financial aid, support groups, homemaker services, respite services, and other services are provided through the Avera Health Central Office in Sioux Falls, South Dakota Sioux Falls (IPA: [su fɑlz]) is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the county seat of Minnehaha County.GR6 The 2007 city population is 148,000. , and its four largest hospitals, or regional centers: Avera St. Luke's St. Luke's or St Luke's can refer to:
This devotion is predominantly used in the Roman Catholic Church and also used in the Anglican Church. in Yankton, SD. About API API is a leading provider of payroll, human resource, time and attendance, education tracking and access control software for healthcare organizations. Founded in 1982, API has more than 350 installations in the United States, with customers ranging in size from 500 employees to more than 15,000 employees. The company has a strategic alliance with Microsoft Corporation and is a Microsoft Certified Solution Provider. The company's Web site address is www.api-wi.com. |
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