Although staffing shortages continue to be a major concern in senior living and care, one option being marketed to providers is tools designed to optimize scheduling.
Two software companies recently announced new solutions: Kevala, a smart-scheduling developer, released a new platform for healthcare companies, and OnShift, with tech targeted toward long-term care, unveiled its Schedule X tool, which the company touts as being able to provide “critical data and actionable insights.”
Both companies cited the need to address the tight labor market, which in turn adds stress to existing employees, as being the primary driver behind releasing the new tech.
“The healthcare labor shortage is quickly becoming a public health crisis,” Kevala CEO Todd Owens said in a statement. “We are totally committed to delivering innovative solutions that help healthcare operators do more with less.”
The concept behind the Kevala’s scheduling solution is to allow providers to fill in any shift gaps from both internal employee pools and local staffing agencies. Facilities can find the latter through Keval’s Agency Marketplace, which is designed to help provide workers on a short-term basis.
The concept also is to help minimize costs for providers by streamlining schedules to offer the “right number of shifts with the right person,” the company states.
Similarly, OnShift’s Schedule X platform is designed to simplify schedule creation and allow for more flexibility in accommodating staff availability and demand.
Results with 150 communities using it on a pilot basis demonstrated 300 hours of scheduling time saved over the course of a year, OnShift touted in a statement.
Since before the pandemic, organizations have desired tools — software and/or mobile apps — with the ability to automate scheduling, or streamline administrative tasks overall.
Recent analyses have highlighted artificial intelligence’s potential to fill these roles within the long-term care industry. One recent tool, iQueue Autopilot, combines AI and texting alerts to help address scheduling and staffing issues.
