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Frankford Hospitals and Main Line Health Are First in Philadelphia Region to Launch Online Scheduling Technology for Nurses to Choose Extra Shifts; BidShift Provides Visibility into Staffing Needs at Six Jefferson Health System Hospitals

Posted on: Wednesday, 16 November 2005, 09:00 CST

San Diego-based BidShift, a leading provider of web-based workforce optimization technology and services for healthcare providers, has implemented its online scheduling technology at Frankford Hospitals and Main Line Health, both affiliates of the Jefferson Health System.

BidShift's innovative technology provides anytime access to open shift scheduling, automating what traditionally has been a time and labor intensive manual process. The technology improves communication between management and staff, saves time in filling open shifts, and ensures patients receive the highest continuity of care from their system's nursing staff.

Using the Internet-based BidShift program, nursing staff across all Frankford Hospitals' campuses, including Frankford, Torresdale, and Bucks County, and the Main Line Health acute care hospitals of Bryn Mawr, Lankenau, and Paoli, can view open shifts across their respective health system and enter requests to work available shifts for which they qualify.

"BidShift will give our staff autonomy over their schedules, reduce our manager's time on scheduling, further advance our recruitment efforts, and fill open shifts in a more timely manner while also reducing the need for agency staff," stated Jan Nash, Vice President of Patient Care Services at Paoli Hospital and a nurse executive for Main Line Health.

Frankford Hospitals and Main Line Health, founding members of the Jefferson Health System, implemented BidShift as a means to reduce the administrative time spent by nurse managers, better utilize the combined nursing staff across their respective hospital campuses, help cut down on the costs of hiring agency nurses, and enhance patient care continuity.

"Over two thirds of our nursing staff has enthusiastically signed up to take part in this flexible staffing program, and they love the opportunity to work additional shifts and have choice over their schedules," stated Mary McAneney, Vice President of Patient Care Services for Frankford Hospitals. "BidShift provides us with an advanced technology for filling open shifts that helps us fairly distribute shift opportunities among our employees."

To create high visibility into staffing needs and easy sign-up for open shifts, the health systems have the option of using a variety of pay formats including the reverse-auction bidding features of the software, or regular pay and other incentives such as BidShift's automated, point-based ShiftRewards(TM). Currently, both health systems are using a regular pay format for awarding shifts.

"We applaud Frankford Hospitals and Main Line Health for recognizing the importance of early adoption of information technology to help lessen the impact of the nursing shortage," said Bruce Springer, President and CEO of BidShift, Inc. "We are impressed with their enthusiasm for the project and their vision for the technology. These health systems are building the nursing environment that many communities are striving for."

About Frankford Hospitals

Frankford Hospitals, established in 1903, are community teaching hospitals licensed to operate 544 beds. A member of the Jefferson Health System since 1998, Frankford Hospitals have three hospital and three outpatient locations serving Northeast Philadelphia and nearby Bucks and Montgomery counties.

About Main Line Health

Founded in 1985, Main Line Health is a non-profit health system serving portions of Philadelphia and its western suburbs. Bryn Mawr, Lankenau, and Paoli -- the acute care hospitals of Main Line Health -- are Magnet(R) designated and licensed to operate 805 beds. MLH also includes Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital; the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research; Main Line Clinical Laboratories; Great Valley Health, physician network; the Wayne Center, a skilled nursing facility; and Mid County Senior Services.

About BidShift

BidShift, Inc. is a workforce optimization technology and services company focused on helping healthcare organizations reduce labor costs and optimize use of existing resources. The company's innovative software and best practices empower healthcare organizations to attract and retain qualified staff and deliver cost-effective, high quality patient care. BidShift is a rapidly growing, privately held company headquartered in San Diego, California. To find out more about BidShift, visit www.bidshift.com.

Source: Business Wire

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