Austin Health and Kronos® Deliver HealthSMART Project - Major Benefit for Public Healthcare in Victoria
SYDNEY, Australia — April 29, 2008 — Austin Health and Kronos® Incorporated announce completion of the first phase of their workforce planning and management system, undertaken as part of the Victorian Government's HealthSMART program, on time and within budget. The project, based on the Kronos for Healthcare solution, has achieved a significant milestone by establishing a standardised and streamlined platform for award interpretation, time and attendance, employee pay conditions and rostering. With this initial HealthSMART implementation of Kronos, Austin Health now leads the State in the areas of HR rostering and payroll. Austin's success is a sign of impending major benefits to public hospitals across Victoria.
The solution, which was first piloted in May 2007, is currently being used by 400 employees. Over the next few weeks Austin Health will commence the second phase of the project with automatic roster generation. The generation process will take into account both employee requests and skills to meet clinical and patient care requirements.
"The system has significantly improved our processes and the quality and accuracy of data. This system reduces the amount of time taken by line managers to prepare and manage rosters and by payroll staff to process the pay," said Leslie Bell, HR Systems Project Manager, Austin Health. "Our staff have found it easier to manage than our current rostering systems. It provides them with a high level of transparency and with improved information to manage their areas."
The system has reduced the time required to enter the data required for payroll processing by 70 percent, and reduced the errors and warnings by delivering accuracy in excess of 99.5% - something previously unheard of. "All the payments made to employees in the pilot areas have been checked and verified, with the Kronos system exceeding all expectations," said Bell.
Austin Health is continuing to measure the key benefits that have, and will result from the system implementation and sees this new system as a key tool to assist us in dealing with the severe workforce pressures the public health sector is facing.
"Kronos is very pleased with the completion of this first phase of the project and integration with other HealthSMART systems. The fact that we have achieved that in such a short timeframe, while also realising tangible benefits for Austin Health, is testament to the great fit of the chosen solutions," said Sharon Lowry, Manager Asia Pacific Healthcare Division, Kronos.
"The successful completion of this phase demonstrates how management of Victoria's healthcare workforce can be done. Employees are provided with flexibility and autonomy while at the same time allowing the organisation to ensure that staffing profiles are appropriate for their patients. Workforce planning can now be undertaken effectively," Lowry continued. "We're helping to deal with the wider issue of skills shortage and staff retention within the healthcare industry. National interest in this project is evidenced by the ongoing request for both Public and Private Healthcare organisations to visit the Austin and look at what they are doing."
About HealthSMART
HealthSMART is the program established to implement Victoria's whole-of-health information and communication technology (ICT) strategy. The HealthSMART Programme is a wide reaching programme including projects across Human Resource Management Systems, Finance and Materials Management Systems through to Clinical Systems that are being progressively implemented into health services across the State. These new systems will provide health care agencies with the tools they need to continue developing the health care system to meet the growing demands expected in the future.
About Austin Health
Austin Health is the major provider of tertiary health services, health professional education and research in the northeast of Melbourne. Austin Health is world-renowned for its research and specialist work in cancer, liver transplantation, spinal cord injuries, neurology, endocrinology, mental health and rehabilitation.
Austin Health comprises Austin Hospital, Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital and the Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre. During 2006-07, its 6,400 staff treated a record 85,887 inpatients and 149,971 outpatients.
About Kronos Incorporated
Kronos Incorporated empowers organisations around the world to effectively manage their workforce. At Kronos, we are experts who are solely focused on delivering software and services that enable organisations to reduce costs, increase productivity, improve employee satisfaction, and ultimately enhance the level of service they provide. Kronos serves customers in more than 60 countries through its network of offices, subsidiaries, and distributors. Widely recognised as a market and thought leader in managing the workforce, Kronos has unrivaled reach with more than 30 million people using a Kronos solution every day. Learn more about Kronos at www.kronos.com.
