2014 AHCA Convention: My Confessions

I’ve got to come clean.  Something happened at the AHCA Conference in D.C. that I have not been ready to share.  Or admit.  Until now. Here goes…

I became emotionally attached to two of the most absolutely positively gorgeous puppies that you have ever seen – Staffer and Sniff – who joined the OnShift team in our booth for 2 days at the AHCA Convention last week. Staffer and Sniff, I really, really, really miss you!  There, I said it. I’ve come clean. Phew – what a relief! I should feel better now, right? I do? Yes, I do.

But, this blog isn’t all about me (wait, is it?!). Ok no, it’s not all about me. It’s about two adorable puppies and the hundreds of attendees whose smiles were wider and days were brighter because they had the chance to meet Staffer and Sniff.

This was so much more than a pet project. You see, Staffer and Sniff became part of the OnShift team to help us share our story at the AHCA Convention. Here’s how…

For those of you who are spending hours upon hours every day and every week writing up employee schedules with pen and paper, handling time-off requests with sticky notes, and begging staff to pick up last-minute shifts when someone calls-off – shame on you!  There are so many risks in managing your greatest asset, and your largest expense – your workforce – with manual, pen-and-paper schedules. 

Have you considered that one of the risks in using paper schedules is that your furry little friends at home can very easily chomp, chomp, chomp on a paper schedule? Next thing you know, one of your caregivers has missed her Thursday evening shift because she didn’t realize she was scheduled (yes, that’s the schedule that for now is resting nicely in the belly of her beloved Bailey).  And now that she’s missed her shift, the rest of your staff is scrambling to cover as your Director of Nursing and administrator hit the phones looking for the replacement, and as Mrs. Jones in 4C continues to look up at the clock waiting for her favorite caregiver to come in and say hello for the day, which is just not going to happen today, all because she missed her shift.  All because a playful pup couldn’t resist the tasty delight of a paper work schedule. Yummm. Punishing Bailey really shouldn’t have to happen, should it?!

OK, I admit this scenario is a tad extreme, but hopefully you get the point. Paper schedules? No. Puppies? Yes! Oh, there goes my heart panging again for Staffer and Sniff, their tiny noses, waggly tails, puppy breath….

For those of you who stopped by the OnShift booth at the AHCA Convention and had the chance to meet Staffer and Sniff, we hope you not only enjoyed your time with the pups, but also walked away with a better understanding of why online scheduling is so important in today’s environment. Employee scheduling and labor management software can help you achieve major benefits in long-term care and senior living, including greater efficiencies, cost savings, and higher staff and resident satisfaction. 

I feel so much better now that I’ve shared my little secret about my emotional attachment to the puppies (they were so cute, to die for cute, have I said that yet?!). See, that wasn't so ruff! And to my colleague Drew who I discreetly admit was in much worse shape than me when we said our tearful goodbyes to Staffer and Sniff, please know that S&S (oooh, pet names!) are being adopted. And Drew, it gets better with time – the first step is letting go.

I have to give a huge shout out to the Last Chance Animal Rescue who was kind enough to partner with OnShift for this event. And while I really, really, really miss Staffer and Sniff, I am thrilled that they both are being adopted and are on their way to becoming man’s best friend for some wonderful families.