Home Care agency owners always share with me how difficult it was to schedule before they put our home care software in place.  Some software makes agencies schedule month-by-month or even week-by-week.  This is a such a waste of time for agency owners and office staff.  Instead you want to be recruiting great caregivers and making clients happy.  Scheduling should be easy and you should only have to change your schedules by "exception," and not every moth or week.

Reliable scheduling, streamlined workforce management, and compliance are essential. Ankota’s EVV scheduling software offers a comprehensive solution, addressing these needs while enhancing operational efficiency. With Ankota, agencies can count on accurate scheduling, robust compliance features, and seamless integration with other systems.

The Importance of Scheduling among Home Care Software features

As you can see, efficient scheduling is critical in-home care. It impacts everything from caregiver satisfaction to client trust and operational costs. Ankota’s scheduling capabilities make this process easy and precise, removing the risks associated with manual scheduling.

Why Scheduling Matters

• Reduces missed visits: Minimizes no-shows, keeping clients satisfied and well-served.
• Improves resource allocation: Assigns caregivers based on skills, availability, and location, maximizing efficiency.
• Enhances client satisfaction: Ensures caregivers arrive on time, building trust and consistency.

Ankota’s scheduling tool reduces administrative burden and simplifies resource allocation, setting a higher standard in care delivery.

Scheduling Benefits with Ankota

Enhancing Efficiency with EVV Scheduling Software

Ankota’s EVV scheduling software automates scheduling and tracks caregiver activity in real time. These tools eliminate manual errors, optimize assignments, and ensure timely service delivery.

Key Scheduling Features of EVV software

There are so many important features within EVV software. Here are a few of the most critical ones:

1. Ease of schedule entry: Most home care schedules are repeated week after week. Your software should let you specify the weekly "pattern" once and then repeat it for as long as the client is authorized.
2. Tie to authorizations: In EVV, there's always an authorization. Your software should schedule based on your authorization. This will ensure that you select the right visit type for billing, that you schedule the full timeframe of the authorization, and that you schedule the right amount of time per week (so you don't overdeliver)
3. Simple "fill-in" scheduling: If a caregiver is sick, you should be able to schedule a replacement caregiver in seconds
4. Simple changes when there's a bigger change: Even when you need to reschedule the remainder of the authorization, you should be able to change caregivers, change times or more and have that change be reflected for the full time period.
5. Open-Shift filling: A great feature is one that allows caregivers to see open shifts and volunteer to take those shifts. This helps in numerous ways: 1) Caregivers can get the hours that they want, 2) Shifts are filled, and 3) the office doesn't have to manually fill every shift. However, this shift needs to be "smart" and only offer shifts to caregivers who have the right skills, are close enough and don't have a conflict. Our software also is configured by default not to show shifts to caregivers if they would result in overtime (but you can override this when needed)
6. Error detection: In 99% of cases, one caregiver can see one client at a time.  Your system shouldn't allow you to schedule one caregiver to be in two places at once.
7. Real-Time Tracking: EVV requires you to track the client, caregiver, type of service, exact time of arrival and departure and exact location.  You should be able to have a real-time dashboard of all clock-ins and clock-outs.
8. Alerts and Notifications: Remind caregivers about schedules, preventing missed appointments and last-minute cancellations.

Manual Scheduling vs. Ankota’s EVV Scheduling Software

Ankota’s EVV scheduling reduces errors, improves care delivery, and increases efficiency, allowing agencies to spend less time on administrative tasks.

Workforce Management and EVV Scheduling Software

For agencies managing a large, dispersed workforce, Ankota’s scheduling software simplifies the process with clear, accessible schedules, accurate time tracking, and centralized communication.

How Ankota Enhances Workforce Management

• Time Management: Ensures accurate time logs, preventing early or missed clock-ins.
• Reduced Burnout: Balances shifts and workloads, ensuring caregivers aren’t overburdened.
• Clear Communication: Real-time updates and easy schedule access prevent misunderstandings.

Ankota’s workforce management tools help agencies reduce turnover and maintain a happier, more reliable caregiving team.

Workforce Management Benefits with Ankota

Ankota’s commitment to workforce satisfaction results in lower turnover and a more dependable team.

Integration with Other Systems

Ankota’s EVV software integrates seamlessly with payroll, billing, and HR systems. This interoperability creates smooth workflows across departments, increasing efficiency and accuracy. Click here to learn more about the Ankota Public API.

Ankota’s Integration Benefits

• Payroll Integration: Logs hours for seamless payroll processing.
• Billing Integration: Syncs with billing for accurate, hassle-free invoicing.
• HR Integration: Updates schedules in HR systems, minimizing redundant data entry.

Integration Benefits with Ankota

Ankota’s integrations minimize redundancy, reduce errors, and keep departments connected.

Compliance and Regulatory Requirements

For Medicaid-funded programs, Ankota’s EVV software ensures adherence to state and federal mandates. Ankota’s compliance features streamline documentation, protecting agencies from penalties and audit risks.

How Ankota Ensures Compliance

• Regulatory Compliance: Meets Medicaid EVV requirements across multiple states.
• Transparent Record-Keeping: Verifiable records of each visit meet audit standards.
• Client Safety: Real-time caregiver tracking enhances safety and reduces client risk.

Ankota’s compliance tools protect agencies from penalties, enhance trust, and ensure secure, reliable care.

Conclusion

Ankota’s EVV scheduling software is a comprehensive solution that combines efficient scheduling, workforce management, seamless integration, and regulatory compliance. For agencies committed to delivering high-quality, efficient care, Ankota stands out as the preferred choice.