Decision Critical's Shift Bidding Technology Helps Medical Center Effect ROI in One Month, Not Eight.

AUSTIN, Texas -- After thoroughly researching the market to find a shift bidding vendor that could help reduce the $600,000 they spent every month on contract labor, Rio Grande Regional Hospital's choice of Decision Critical Inc. (DCI) turned out to be a "no brainer."

DCI, which provides Web-based systems to support various work processes of healthcare organizations -- principally learning management and continuing education, developed StaffBid to help such organizations dramatically reduce their need for agency staff. Underpinned by DCI's unique Education Data Repository, StaffBid boasts an on-line "reverse-auction" functionality, enabling managers to specify the qualifications needed for a vacant shift and notifying qualified individuals within the organization with just one Internet posting.

"Not only did their senior management demonstrate that they are highly accessible, flexible and responsive to customer needs, but with their help we were able to implement StaffBid in under a month. We found that `ease of use' applies as much to the system as to its developers. Our staff requires only 20 minutes training on StaffBid, after which time they're able to use it competently and problem free," reports Rio Grande's Chief Nursing Officer, Kathleen Dassler.

"Most importantly, given our focus on cost savings, the pricing of StaffBid compared to other shift bidding systems means that we will see a return on our investment in four weeks as opposed to the usual eight or nine months.

"In the first two weeks of housewide operation our overall cost savings are greater than $14,000, representing replacement of over 1,277 agency hours," continues Dassler. "Our staff has been very responsive to this alternative approach to staffing and they -- indeed, our entire organization -- are reaping the benefits of StaffBid."

About Decision Critical

Decision Critical Inc. (DCI) specializes in providing a Web-enabled learning management system to healthcare organizations across the United States. Customers who have implemented DCI technology to deliver, track and maintain up-to-date records on the continuing education of their healthcare professionals include The Texas Children's Hospital System, MedCath Inc., and Huntington Memorial Hospital. DCI's system serves over 100,000 healthcare professionals in more than a hundred healthcare organizations from Alaska to Florida. The company is headquartered in Austin, Texas.