BidShift Launches Flexible Workforce Management Technology at Carondelet Health; Ascension Health Hospitals First in Missouri to Offer Web-based Open Shift Management for Nurses

Business Wire, March 13, 2006

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego-based BidShift, the leading provider of web-based flexible workforce management technology for healthcare providers, has implemented its online staffing effectiveness system at Carondelet Health, Kansas City, Missouri, to provide an automated approach for filling open shifts at its two flagship hospitals -- St. Joseph Medical Center and St. Mary's Medical Center.

BidShift's innovative web-based software for filling open shifts transforms what traditionally has been a time- and labor-intensive manual process and reduces reliance on expensive contract labor. Healthcare organizations currently using BidShift across the United States are experiencing substantial payback and annualized cost savings ranging between $400,000 and $3.2 million per hospital.

Carondelet Health, a member of Ascension Health, is the first in the state of Missouri to offer BidShift's popular workforce management technology for enabling staffing effectiveness, and has internally branded the capability "myTime." Carondelet Health is the third Ascension Health hospital to implement BidShift's software following Middle Tennessee Medical Center and Saint Thomas Hospital, both affiliates of Saint Thomas Health Services in Nashville.

"myTime replaces our manual paper-based extra shift signup sheets posted on each unit and centralizes access so staff can view open shifts across all units and easily request to work those shifts," said Karen Lee, RN, Vice President of Nursing for Carondelet Health. "myTime uses the power of the Internet to improve efficiency and effectiveness in filling open shifts, helping support the interests and needs of our nurses. Ultimately, myTime will help with retention and recruitment of nurses."

Nursing staff use the technology to log on from work or home, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to identify available shifts and make online requests for shifts that match their skills, experience and lifestyle interests. In the first week of implementation, more than 450 nursing staff enrolled to participate in the cutting-edge program, and 1,887 shifts were posted for staff. Float pool, PRN, relief and unit PRN staff will schedule all of their shifts through the new program.

"We are pleased that our easy to implement subscription-based workforce management technology will play an integral role in Carondelet Health's approach to ensuring staffing effectiveness while creating an environment that improves nurse retention and satisfaction," stated Bruce Springer, President and CEO of BidShift.

BidShift is currently is used in more than 75 hospitals across 18 states and the District of Columbia.

About Carondelet Health:

Carondelet Health is a member of Ascension Health, the nation's largest Catholic and nonprofit health system with more than 100,000 associates serving in 67 acute care hospitals and dozens of related facilities in 20 states and the District of Columbia. Ascension Health provides clinically excellent care with an emphasis on innovation and a focus on transforming the healthcare industry. Ascension Health, headquartered in St. Louis, MO, is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, four provinces of the Daughters of Charity and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Nazareth.

About BidShift

BidShift is the inventor and trusted expert of flexible workforce management, providing healthcare organizations with the tools and insights needed to implement effective staffing practices for the next generation healthcare workforce environment. By aligning incentives and dynamically matching the organization's needs with the workforce's availability, BidShift successfully positions organizations to retain and attract qualified staff, deliver high quality, cost-effective health care, and cultivate a world-class workforce and work environment. To find out more about BidShift, visit www.BidShift.com.