Sask. Health Authority to ditch problem-plagued AIMS scheduling system

The Saskatchewan Health Authority is returning to its previous scheduling system after a number of issues were identified with the AIMS system.

The payroll and scheduling components of the Administrative Information Management System (AIMS) were rolled out last month, but according to SEIU-West, the system quickly caused significant issues for health-care workers. Some workers have been seeing payroll issues, union president Lisa Zunti said earlier this month, while others have been unable to pick up shifts, leading to staffing challenges at some health facilities.

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Saskatchewan Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill acknowledged that AIMS caused “unacceptable” errors around scheduling, which also led to pay errors and issues with day-to-day operations.

On Wednesday afternoon, the health authority announced that it will revert to its previous scheduling system due to the issues with AIMS, while keeping the working parts of the system in place.

“The functions rolled out in the first phase of AIMS are working as expected, and will continue to operate as they have for more than a year now,” Cockrill said. “And while significant testing was done before launching the employee scheduling part of the system, it has become clear that it’s just not working like it should.”

The change will affect about 7,000 employees in northeastern and southwestern parts of the province, the health authority noted, along with out-of-scope employees.

Cockill said AIMS has replaced 80 of the legacy systems, but six of them – relating to time validation and scheduling – just aren’t working.

“It didn’t make sense to continue rolling it out to more employees, because it wasn’t working for the 7000 employees that were on it,” he said.

He said it’s possible that another company could take over those services.

“I don’t think the solution that we’re using right now is the right solution, long-term,” he said. “We’re going to have to find a different solution for that portion of the AIMS project.”

Cockrill defended implementing AIMS, saying the aging systems used by the health authority needed to be replaced.

“To do nothing was not a choice either,” he said.

“We want to sincerely thank health-system employees for their continued perseverance and dedication in adapting to the new system,” the health authority said in a statement.

“We also acknowledge and apologize for the frustrations many have experienced with the scheduling component of AIMS.”

“The supply chain, finance, payroll, and human resources components of AIMS, which are in use by about 50,000 employees, remain stable and are not impacted by this decision,” the health authority added.

The switch back to the previous scheduling system has a targeted date of Nov. 30, and the authority said workers and managers will receive direct communication and support to help them navigate the transition. More information is expected on Thursday morning, when the health authority is set to hold a news conference.

Health-care unions call AIMS program ‘a disaster’

Bashir Jalloh, president of CUPE Health Care Workers Saskatchewan, said its unacceptable that a system that cost $250 million isn’t working properly.

“Come on, man. You go to work, you get paid,” he said. “Why can’t people get paid when they go to work? Because of your failed system.”

Zunti said time validation and scheduling weren’t the only problems for the workers she represents. She said health-care workers were also struggling to order hospital supplies for surgeries through the AIMS system.

“They’ve felt like guinea pigs over the last little while… They have been suffering through this for about eight weeks” she said. “While they will be happy, they’re they’re kind of scarred by the system.”

Tracey Sauer, president of the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees’ Union, said health-care workers are feeling disrespected after not being paid.

“After $250 million, you should hope that this soft launch, which ended up to be a hard fall on our members, will be put an end to it so they can finally be paid properly and finally be listened to,” she said.

“This is a disaster.”

SHA recognizes challenges with AIMS

Saskatchewan Health Authority CEO Andrew Will said AIMS is one of the most significant technology projects undertaken by the authority.

He said its purpose is to replace 80 outdated and disconnected systems in the health field with one modern integrated platform to support finance, payroll, supply chain and staff scheduling.

The first phase of AIMS addressed finance, payroll and supply chair systems, and the second phase was for scheduling, which created challenges for users.

“Employees, managers and union partners have told us that the scheduling has not been easy, and the new system has created challenges in day-to-day operations,” Will said. “We have listened and we recognize these challenges.”

Will apologized for the frustrations the scheduling system caused and said it is the health authority’s top priority to address any outstanding pay issues employees have.

“We recognize that the system has not supported employees in the way intended (and) we are committed to supporting staff as they return to more reliable and familiar systems following this transition.”

–with files from 980 CJME’s Gillian Massie