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September 2005 |
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In This Issue · EAP Software: Expense or Investment? · Customer Spotlight - Hurricane Katrina Assistance
· Disaster Relief And Information Links · Ask Brian – Backing Up Your Data
We Have Buyers Are you selling your EAP?
Please contact Brian Coleman for more information.
Questions / Comments / Kudos:
Contact Us: Phone: 905-702-1380
Fax: 905-702-1711
E-mail:
Websites:
Address: 2 Draper St. Georgetown, ON L7G 3C9 Canada |
EAP Software: An Expense or Investment? Well, that depends. First of all, choosing the right EAP software for your organization is critical. Questions you may ask during the planning stages are: “Can it track all of our information?” or “Will the reports accurately reflect the data we need to present?”. Next, are all staff members on board? Will there be any resistance to change? Finally, once implemented, are staff members going to maximize the full potential of what the software has to offer and is it scalable in design for future growth? Performing a needs assessment with your staff during the planning and research stage will help identify what features are important to your organization. Create a checklist of priority items that the software must have for your daily operations that will help save time and money. All staff members must be willing to accept the new software and apply themselves to improving their performance by taking advantage of its benefits. This will have a direct impact on your organization's overall productivity. Another added benefit that many organizations may experience is increased job satisfaction as staff members are able to minimize the tedious, labor intensive aspects of their work. Maximizing the full potential of your EAP software will help improve the overall efficiency of the users. By having staff apply time saved to other productive tasks, the software purchase then becomes an investment. One of our clients has recently informed us: "As a result of using your software, I have seen firsthand the significant results of enhanced customer service, more comprehensive charting accomplished in less time, and more available dollars for more revenue producing counselors and increased counselor availability for clients... I have come to realize that I have saved 8 to 10 times as much as my initial software investment, more than $40-50K PER YEAR over the last five years, and that the value will continue year after year" says Joe Vigneux, Clinical Director for Advanced Counseling Center. As your EAP grows, so must your software. EAP software that is scalable in design simply means that it can easily grow with your business, at minimal cost to your EAP. With proper planning at the time of purchase, you will increase your chances for a successful software experience. Purchasing software becomes an expense when one or more of the above items results in failure. No EAP wants to purchase software only to find out a year later that they have outgrown it and that it needs to be replaced. EAP software that creates noticeable changes in productivity and improves overall work flow and efficiencies within your organization will offer an immediate return on your investment. Simply put, if you don't use it, it's an expense. If you do, it's an investment!
Brian Coleman President & CEO Version 2.3 Add-On Modules*: As a result of our continuing efforts to add more feature rich tools to EAP Expert Software, we are pleased to announce the release of the following new modules: Work/Life:
Managed Care:
*Additional fees apply. Version 2.3 Upgrade Features:
***Those clients with Technical Support can take advantage of this upgrade. For those clients without support, please contact us for more information. *** Contact us today at info@eapexpert.com for more details on these new features that will assist you in managing your EAP.
EAPX tra Tips and TricksUtilization Report Templates The ability to easily customize your Utilization Reports is an important time saving feature. EAP Expert's template reporting feature allows the user to create unlimited report formats that will give your EAP the flexibility to quickly report and focus on what data is important to your internal or external clients. A common application is to produce different Utilization Reports for companies depending on their size. For example, create templates for smaller sized clients that require only basic information and no demographics. For larger clients who have different data needs, create templates that show comprehensive data results including detailed demographic breakdowns. Here are the main features you should consider when creating your template:
When it's time to run a client report, simply select the organization and apply the template with a click of the mouse. Not only will you be able to produce reports quickly, they will look much more personalized and professional! Contact us today at info@eapexpert.com for more details on these new time-saving and informative features. EAP Expert would like to acknowledge the efforts of everyone who is making a difference during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Here are three of our many clients who are reaching out in this time of need: Mutual of Omaha's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) has played an important role in the company's response to its customers who have been impacted by Hurricane Katrina by offering these immediate services: • Free basic EAP services to all customers • Internet resources to help customers and their families find reputable resources to help them through a crisis and to prepare for a potential disaster Mutual of Omaha's EAP also is prepared to help its customers with long-term needs such as how to effectively handle issues related to grief at work, crisis response, safety planning and education on important topics such as resiliency or how to talk to your children about trauma and natural disasters.
First CALL, Your Employee Assistance Program is a comprehensive EAP provider in the Greater Philadelphia ( US ) region. The direct results of Hurricane Katrina impacted our region in tertiary way. Nevertheless, we recognized that our covered employees could be affected in two ways. They could have relationships with persons in the Gulf Coast who were missing or displaced. Also, Katrina's devastation came close to the 9/11 anniversary, which did impact our region. We appreciated and respected the possibility that covered employees could experience a secondary traumatic effect. As a result, we proactively sent to our customers resources for assisting people displaced by Katrina and resources on past-trauma.
Healthy Employees Successful Organizations In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, CorpCare Associates, Inc. extends its deepest sympathies to those whose lives have been changed forever. After such a traumatic event, it is imperative that those effected seek professional mental health services to minimize the affects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The disorder if not treated impairs a person's ability to function in social or family life, including occupational instability. CorpCare is available to offer support to your employees during this difficult time. If your company does not have an EAP or has an EAP that is overwhelmed, contact us at (800) 728-9444 or www.corpcareeap.com for help! If you would like your company featured in EAP Xtra, please contact info@eapexpert.com.
Disaster Relief Resources and Information Links
http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepared/FinRecovery/ http://www.disaster-resource.com/ http://www.shrm.org/issues/hurricane/ http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/hurricaneRecovery.html http://www.dol.gov/opa/hurricane-recovery.htm http://www.eapassn.org/public/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1 http://www.abanet.org/katrina/ http://www1.salvationarmy.org/
EAP Expert Inc. - EAPA Conference In Philadelphia EAP Expert will be launching its new suite of software products at this year's EAPA conference from October 15th to October 17th 2005. To learn how your EAP can save time and money, we would like to invite you to visit our booths, 305 and 307, and experience the latest in professional and organizational tools essential to your growing needs. http://www.eapassn.org/public/pages/index.cfm?pageid=746 Ask Brian – (President & CEO) We have received numerous enquiries since our last newsletter regarding the frequency and importance of backing up your data. I've listed one of our reader's questions below: Q: How often do you recommend we backup our eap database? A: This is a very important and timely question. If possible, I recommend backing up your database and other critical information once a day. There are many options available now for storing data that range from tape to CD. The process can be completed after working hours and will give you and your organization peace of mind that your data is safely stored. I also recommend taking a copy of your database off-site for safe storage. Furthermore, don't assume that your backups are working. Periodically validate your backups to ensure they can be restored properly. The recent disastrous effects of hurricane Katrina have underlined the importance of backing up critical data in the event of a natural disaster or crisis. As part of your organization's overall disaster recovery plan, backing up your data is as important as your ability to access this data afterwards. The ability to have the critical components of your organization up and running after a disaster is essential when the need from your services will increase dramatically within a matter of days and weeks. Organizations that have satellite offices or locations can arrange to have their services administered remotely. Smaller organizations without this flexibility can partner or form alliances with and offer subcontract services with other EAPs in times of need. Lastly, the steps you take today towards ensuring your critical information is safe and accessible, the quicker your organization will be able to respond to your clients' needs. Here are a few links to on-line resources that may assist you in your planning: http://databases.about.com/od/sqlserver/a/disaster.htm http://pcsupport.about.com/cs/backuprecovery/ http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/63/disrec.html This interactive section provides Q & A on issues related to EAP Software and the EAP industry. Our resident Expert will select and answer a question for each issue of EAP X tra. Please submit your questions to askBrian@eapxtra.com. |
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