Community Corner

Nursing Department Turning to Town, Berlin VNA for Solution to Rising Technology Costs

Growing costs and "an unworkable system" have left the department with growing costs to meet service needs, but a grant from the Berlin VNA and partnership with the town many be the solution.

Costs are rising for the Berlin Nursing Department, but the answer may lie in a change in technology and partnership with the town and grants from the Berlin Visiting Nurse Association.

Members of the Berlin Town Council on Tuesday will determine whether to move forward with a motion that would allow for a system conversion and training, waiving the town’s bidding procedures and approve a one-year medical software contract with Brightree Software in an amount not to exceed $34,119 for the 2014-2015 fiscal year and accept a donation of $13,397 from friends of Berlin VNA for training.

“The Nursing Department is requesting to change medical software companies from McKesson to Brightree. McKesson is implementing several mandatory updates in 2014/2015 that will add a tremendous financial burden to our agency,” Berlin Town Manager Denise McNair said in memo to council members.

“The homecare staff have struggled with this software for years, it is a difficult system to learn. It is a system more for hospitals than homecare nursing. With our current cost we are provided the basics and any extra options are an extra charge,” she said.

One of the major changes is requiring every staff member including per diems to be on laptops, a stipulation that comes with no exceptions. If maintained, the current system and provider would require costs in the range of $97,642, according to Linda Colella, Berlin VNA Administrator.

For more, see the complete agenda item by clicking the link.


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