How to Eliminate Scheduling Headaches

Insights from the head of a healthcare accreditation organization.

We sat down with Doug Beigel, CEO of COLA Inc.

COLA is the largest private non-profit clinical laboratory accreditation organization in the U.S.

Doug took over as CEO 15 years ago to improve:

Mobile workforce management

Laboratory Communication

Scheduling mobile workers and laboratories

Mobile Workforce Management1

About COLA

They accredit over 7,500 clinical laboratories

Every two years these laboratories get surveyed

They employ around 22 surveyors across the nation

The Problem

COLA employees needed a way to feel united, though dispersed across the nation.

The Solution

Doug implemented a virtual office software for all employees to easily communicate from anywhere.

The Results

Open lines of communication

Employees can easily talk, share screens, video chat, and conference-in guests

Led to a more unified company

Laboratory Communication2

About the Laboratories

Smaller clinical laboratories

Typically consist of 2 – 10 employees

Not many directors invest in business-related technology

The Problem

Laboratories and COLA only interacted twice a year

Many important audit files buried in filing cabinets

Surveyors waste time digging through files

The Solution

Doug worked with CompWALK developers to deliver a customer portal for the laboratories, COLAcentral.

-Doug Beigel CEO, COLA Inc.

COLAcentral has strengthened the partnership between COLA and the clinical laboratories we accredit.

“

The Results

All documentation stored in one place

Laboratories can reference past audits

Easily share resources

Prepare for upcoming audits with internal assessments

Scheduling the Mobile Workers and

Laboratories3

About Scheduling

One full-time employee scheduling surveys

Utilizing a custom solution requiring manual interventions

Disconnected, time-consuming process

The Problem

A large portion of COLA’s business relied on one scheduler showing up every day.

The Research

Beigel researched tools other organizations use

Met with a few large corporations

They deploy enterprise solutions

Too high a cost for COLA to license

The Solution

Doug enlisted the CompWALK developers to create a completely automated scheduling platform.

-Doug Beigel CEO, COLA Inc.

Just by following all outlined business rules we can expect to

see a 20 – 30% cost savings.“

The Results

Platform went live earlier this month

All business rules were followed• No preferential treatment or favoritism

All laboratory deadlines were met

Work life balance of surveyors improved due to less inefficient travel

Stay tuned to find out…The power of analytics and further cost savings realized by COLA’s implementation of this scheduling platform.

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