|
For the past few years, VNSNY has been using an innovative automated time and task system for their home health aides (HHAs). Santrax, as the system is called, is designed to record a home health aide's arrival and departure time as well as the tasks that the home health aide performed while on a patient visit.
Here's how it works. When an HHA arrives at a patient's home, the HHA calls the Santrax toll-free telephone number. Santrax then records the HHA's social security number, time of visit, and location of the call. Before departing from the patient's home, the HHA again phones Santrax and the system records the HHA's departure time. In addition, the HHA enters specific codes to indicate the tasks he or she completed during the patient visit. Santrax has the capabilities to provide instructions in English, Spanish, Russian, and French.
The system used prior to Santrax was much less efficient. The HHA had to fill out a duty sheet, which then had to be mailed or dropped off at a designated location. Then a VNS data entry operator had to enter the information from the duty sheet into a computer. Handwriting on the forms was often difficult to read. In some instances, the duty sheet was lost in the mail. Santrax not only dramatically speeds up the data entry process, it eliminates any possibility that an HHA may not get paid due to a lost duty sheet.
After an HHA calls Santrax, Santrax automatically transfers the information to the billing department for review and reconciliation. This information is then transmitted to the payroll department and a paycheck is issued to the HHA.
Partners in Care, a subsidiary of VNS, is the first licensed home health care agency in New York City to be using this new system. Santrax significantly speeds up the data entry process. It records arrival and departure times, plus the tasks that the home health aide performs.
|
