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The AcuStaf Academy is pleased to announce that this course has been rolled into all VA implementations and will be presented this Spring at VAGLAHS.


Prerequisite:  AcuStaf Basic User Training

This edition of the AcuStaf Newsletter is tailored to the needs of VA facilities.  You are receiving this newsletter because you are at a VA facility that is a current client or you expressed interest in AcuStaf.

This newsletter is meant to keep you apprised of software enhancements, process improvement projects, and installations throughout the VA. 

In the coming year, the VA will be releasing an enhancement to the PAID software for VistA.  Timekeepers will be required to enter employee float hours in VistA, so time can be charged to the float unit.  This will help with DSS data calculation.

Another PEV requirement will be to designate when a direct employee is working in an indirect capacity for at least two hours of the shift.

AcuStaf users already capture float and indirect time.  Timekeepers are being trained on a new AcuStaf report (#49) that monitors shift entries in AcuStaf to correlate with data entered in VistA.  This new report ensures accuracy to reduce the number of corrected time cards.

Both floating and indirect time impact Staffing Methodology compliance and are utilized in all Nursing Hours per Patient Day (NHPPD) reporting within AcuStaf.

As VA budgets become more decentralized, strict accounting for hours occurring on each unit will facilitate compliance with budgeting guidelines. 

Please contact your AcuStaf representative for more information.

As all nurses know, Nursing Intensity levels fluctuate throughout the day.  Staffing Methodology looks at the "average" intensity for a specific unit and translates it into NHPPD.  However, every unit has outliers - patients that need more resources than "average".  AcuStaf has developed a quick way to capture this information.

On the Patient Assignment screen (where the Charge Nurse assigns staff to the patients), there will be a drop-down menu, specific to the unit, that has patient needs which would increase the intensity of caring for that patient.  Some examples might be extreme obesity, multiple drains, multiple drips, blood products, etc.

These patients not only increase workload for their caregivers, but often effect the rest of the unit as staffing resources are pulled.  An example would be an increase in falls because call lights are not being answered in the normal time frame because staff is not available.

With focus on improving quality of patient care (Staffing Methodology), while struggling with hiring freezes and budget constraints, it is vital to document Nursing Intensity outliers and demonstrate their impact on Unit staffing.  Standard scorecards within AcuStaf will be able to show the impact of Nursing Intensity and guide you toward minimizing its impact on patient outcomes in the future.

We would like to thank all of our current and prospective VA clients for believing that AcuStaf is the product to meet your needs today and in the future.  You have been instrumental in the development of key features to improve scheduling, staffing, timekeeping, and patient outcomes.

We now have Level One interfaces to PAID for employee HR data and an HL7 interface interface for patient data and real-time ADT (thanks to OI&T Region 1).  This will make all future implementations easier!

More data fields have been added to the HR interface and a special screen will be built to display this information.  These are fields specific to the VA and will assist managers in validating data for VistA, VANOD, and DSS.  Please join the AcuStaf LinkedIn Group to participate in discussions to advance a VANOD interface and explore other pertinent staffing topics.

AcuStaf is working with clients on process improvement for Proficiencies.  In the near future the system will alert the manager and staff member when the Proficiency is due and a screen has been developed to track due dates, sign-ff dates and scores.

AcuStaf is working with the Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) group Caring International Research Collaborative (CIRC) and leading the staffing group.  If you are a member of STTI, please go to the  CIRC Website and click on Sharing Groups on the upper right, then Staffing Sharing at the bottom of the list.  We would love to have your join our group!

For more information on the features of AcuStaf that will assist with Staffing Methodology compliance, please visit our website at www.AcuStafSoftware.com.  Our website has been enhanced to recognize when you are accessing it from a VA facility and you will have the option to be directed to a white paper and additional information specific to your compliance needs.

We are looking forward to assisting as many VA facilities as possible as you strive to meet the Staffing Methodology guidelines and your goals for Continuous Quality Improvement.