From Chaos to Clarity: Exodus Recovery’s Scheduling Transformation

Exodus Recovery, a behavioral health organization serving communities across Southern California, has been providing inpatient and outpatient treatment for more than 20 years. Its programs are available around the clock, making dependable staffing essential.

At the organization’s Crisis Stabilization Center in Fresno, CA, leaders needed a scheduling approach that could keep care consistent. The unit serves 40 adults and 20 youth patients at a time, each in some form of distress, and safe staffing is critical to ensure patients get the focused and compassionate care they need.

From spreadsheets and phone trees to smoother schedules

In the past, scheduling meant juggling spreadsheets and splitting call lists when someone didn’t show up. Clinical Director Marcos Lombera, BSN, RN, recalled the stress this created early in his career: “I experienced the chaos of ‘this person didn’t show up, now what do we do?’ and we’d split the call list of nurses to fill the shift – while we were on the floor, because we were the ones who needed coverage.”

To move beyond those challenges, Exodus Recovery turned to Inovalon’s Schedule Management™. The solution gave leaders and staff greater flexibility, better communication, and the confidence that shifts would be appropriately filled.

Clarity that drives confidence

With color-coded schedules in Inovalon’s solution, leaders could see at a glance whether coverage was in place or if a gap needed attention. Lombera explained, “Seeing a schedule where everything is green is important. We know we have the team that we need, and that we’re safely providing the highest quality of care for individuals who come through our doors.”

Unexpected callouts also became easier to manage. Leaders no longer needed to search for phone numbers or credentials – everything was available in the system so they could quickly connect with staff.

Staying within safe staffing guidelines

For a crisis unit, the risks of being short-staffed are significant. Without enough nurses and mental health staff, Exodus Recovery could face diversion – which is turning patients away due to lack of coverage. In Fresno, where other crisis centers are not available, that would leave patients seeking care in settings less equipped for behavioral health needs.

Schedule Management helps the Exodus Recovery team meet requirements such as five nurses and five mental health staff within a day, every 24-hour period.

As Lombera noted, “The right scheduling dictates the quality of care. Schedule Management helps us stay within safe guidelines to provide safe and quality care.”

Better scheduling, better care

With the right schedule in place, nurses and staff could devote more time to each patient – explaining medications, checking in on their well-being, and ensuring they felt supported. Lombera said, “We want our patients to feel fully supported, which also means knowing they can ask for what they need. Being fully staffed helps us provide that level of service to all individuals.”

By taking a new approach to scheduling, Exodus Recovery strengthened its ability to deliver safe, quality care. The resulting transformation ensured that patients receive the support they need, when they need it most.

A stronger schedule for stronger care

Experience how the right scheduling solution can keep your team connected and your patients supported. Learn more about Schedule Management.

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