Unscrewed Vol 3

Screwed: “Budgets Frozen and the Director of IT is out of a Job”

Unscrewed:  Workflow assessment identified that only 65% of equipment was really needed. 

 The question, “How can we help?”  Was met with a certain amount of hesitancy on the other end of the line. “Well, we have screwed up. Our budgets are frozen, and the Director of IT has been fired.” Two hundred wired printers had been delivered when the workflow called for wireless printers. It was the result of a “big box” vendor selling to a project manager who didn’t understand the needs of the Expanse mobility workflow nor the future needs of the later implementation of the larger Expanse project.

 We were able to complete an onsite workflow assessment and identify how some (not all) of the printers could be utilized at the nurse’s stations, while also providing mobile printers for the phlebotomist. It wasn’t a complete “unscrewing” but it was close, after we secured a partial rebate for the remaining wired printers.

 The workflow assessment was then used to reduce the projected need for handheld mobile computers for the rollout of MEDITECH Expanse Point of Care nursing. We walked with the project manager for each department through the successful implementation of Expanse in POC, PHH, and Materials Management. All of this had the blueprint of a workflow assessment as a foundation to follow.

 Lessons learned: 

•  Work with a vendor that can add value through increasing the return on your investment, patient care, and caregiver satisfaction. All through the initial workflow assessment. 

• Work with a MEDITECH preferred vendor that has 26 years of experience working with all sizes of healthcare facilities and systems.

• Work with a vendor that will be WITH YOU through the entire implementation of the project.

• Work with a vendor that will help you keep your budget and…your job. 

• Work with ACS MediHealth, we won’t screw you… and we may be able to help get you “unscrewed.”