The arbitrary time detail...

So, about a year ago, the mental health program I work in was managed by another agency that was located directly across the street from us here at this agency. They would open their doors to their clients at 9:30am each morning. All morning, starting somewhere around 8am, people would start lining up outside their building in the rain, sleet, snow, heat, whatever. When the agency I work for got the contract for the program, we decided to extend our "open hours" times so that people would not have to wait outside while braving the elements. We decided to open up at 7:30am.

Now, you'd think that change would have made a difference and folks wouldn't be lining up. Well, guess again. I come to work each day at 7am and there are at least 6 people already out there waiting. They get demanding and the other day rang the bell demanding to be let in because it was so hot out there.

The humanitarian in me wanted to let them in to get out of the heat but the realist in me knew that once they were in at 7am they would be here at that time everyday demanding to get in no matter what the weather. So, we made them wait that extra half hour.

I'm not sure what compels them to be here before the building opens. They can't really get anything before 9:30am anyway. That's when all of our nurses are here and our med room can open up. So they sit. They wait in the waiting area and sit. We don't have coffee there. No donuts. Not even a cookie! They just sit and wait for two hours. I don't get it. I have never in my life wanted to be somewhere that early for no reason. I'm prompt to my appointments. Maybe even a wee bit early. But never two hours! I just don't get it.

I'm sure if we changed the time to 5:30am they would be out there at 4am. It's unexplainable.

New technology vs. old social workers....

We got the first of our new hand held dictation devices today and I have one case manager starting up with the new system. If this goes well, this will work out wonderfully and give them all more time to do all of the other mandatory things they need to do. The new technology, however, hasn't been met with the open arms I had hoped. I guess I should have known that any change is met with resistance and this was no different. I get a lot of complaining about the lack of time to do their case notes and how time consuming that is and how far behind they are all falling. In practical terms, the time they spend typing each individual note is extremely time consuming and the time it will take them to dictate those notes into a hand held will cut that time dramatically. So far, there are only two case managers that I am making this a mandatory practice for but the option is there for all of them and if the ones who opt not to use this new system continue to fall behind and whine about it then I will make the ultimate decision to make this the mandatory method of case noting.

We are also getting laptops with Internet access so they can use them in the field and enter assessment information in real time - as they are doing the assessments with their clients. We are also looking at getting those portable mini printers so once they enter the assessment information they can immediately print it out and get the guardian or client's signature on it. That way all they have to do is come back to the office and file it! I can't do much more to make this easier for them unless I get someone else to do their jobs and just pay them anyway!

The fact is, I have a great team of people here and I'll do anything to get them the tools they need to be successful in their jobs. I'm just lucky enough to work for an agency who feels the same way!