Healthcare Working Smarter Blog

Trusting the Predictive Model is a lot like Trusting an Insulin Pump

02/08/2019Jackie Larson

This blog post is courtesy of a special guest contributor, Kendra Perley, an Avantas team member. She offers a unique perspective on how trusting new technology has impacted her life. Change is hard. Novelty can often feel scary and overwhelming. Change is something I’ve had to become well acquainted with...

If You Build It, The Millennial Workforce Will Come: Float Pools

12/20/2018Jackie Larson

With growing demands on the workforce, flexibility offers an attractive perk to job seekers. The millennial workforce is drawn to a lifestyle that allows them to fit their career into their personal lives, rather than living their life around their work. This is good news for hospitals and health systems...

3 Features of an Effective Healthcare Open Shift Program

11/26/2018Jackie Larson

In the world of inpatient nursing, there are times when core staff will not be able to fill all needs. It is at these times that contingency resources must be tapped into by posting open shifts. A tremendous amount of waste, in both time and dollars, has been tied to...

3 Overlooked Practices Worsening the Nursing Shortage

10/11/2018Jackie Larson

The nursing shortage is putting pressure on healthcare organizations across the country, and it’s only expected to pick up speed over the next several years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for registered nurses is expected to grow by 15 percent from 2016 to 2026, compared to...

Why Fall, Football, and Flu Season Derail Staffing Plans

09/20/2018Jackie Larson

You can feel it in the air – a crisp cool breeze rustling through burnt-orange leaves and the warm smell of pumpkin spice everything. Fall is near and it is a welcomed season for many. It’s particularly received with open arms by Husker Nation. With football season brings tailgating and...

Workforce Management Success is Not Available on Amazon Prime

08/14/2018Jackie Larson

For most of us – me included – Amazon Prime is a game-changer. And forget about the perks like access to Prime Video, I’m just talking about two-day free shipping! Order something from your sofa on a Saturday afternoon and you’ll have it by Monday. It’s awesome. It’s a funny...

The Overtime Tipping Point (is lower than you might think)

08/06/2018Jackie Larson

A workforce struggle that spans the ages, overtime has its time and place in nearly every industry. But excessive overtime is a pain point for many organizations, burning out employees and driving up labor costs. What constitutes an excessive amount of overtime? In general, a healthy overtime average for a...

The New Top Priority for Hospital CEOs in 2018

07/16/2018Jackie Larson

Every year Becker’s Hospital Review surveys CEOs to discover their current priorities; what occupies the forefront of their minds as they steer their organizations into a relatively uncertain future. This year, cost control initiatives took the top two spots, overtaking last year’s top concern, revenue growth. The actual verbiage of...

All About Nursing Show with Joyce Batcheller

06/12/2018Jackie Larson

In this week's episode, Dr. Joyce Batcheller speaks with Larry Punteney from Avantas on the complexities of nurse staffing and how predictive analytics tools can help organizations be successful. Click here to listen to the show. Interested in learning more? To experience a demo of the Avantas Workforce Planning Dashboard just...

Do Healthcare Leaders Need to be Workforce Data Experts?

05/24/2018Jackie Larson

Like nearly every other industry, healthcare has become increasingly interested in data and the insights that can be found when analyzed. And this obsession isn’t in vain. Data analytics have been proven to increase efficiencies and reduce costs. In healthcare, reducing costs and improving the delivery of care is invaluable....