Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Because we are unique in our approach to providing you with the best performance management system, we are often asked about what we do and why we do it. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions.

1. What are the benefits of the consulting workshops? Off the shelf software seems so much simpler?
2. We like our current system, we just would like it automated. Can you help with that ?
3. We like PACE™, but don't have it in our budget. What are the results if we wait a year or two?
4. How large is Total Compensation Services?
5. I see that PACE™ has three ratings (Exceeds, Meets and Needs Improvement). We like our current levels of ratings. Can this be changed to five?
6. We have a completely different scoring methodology than most other organizations. Can PACE™ support that?
7. How do we keep PACE™ updated?
8. What are the ongoing costs after the workshops and initial PACE™ implementation?
9. Can our managers enter information from home?

1. What are the benefits of the consulting workshops? Off the shelf software seems so much simpler ?
   In our experience, no two hospitals are alike. At one point, TCS did think about selling off the shelf software with the best templates in our knowledge database of thousands of healthcare PACE™ forms. However, when we would show these templates during our workshops, not one was ever adapted without changes.
   
   Employees take a lot of pride in their work, and that comes through clearly during the PACE™ interactive process. They enjoy talking to TCS healthcare consultants about their jobs. Managers and employees often look at a template and say "This is a good start, but we have much higher standards here". Employees are enthusiastic about participating in the development of their new job descriptions. We often hear in the workshops "no one has ever asked me what I do here before". Employee and manager participation in the process results in them being vested in the final product. This initial buy in is essential to the ongoing morale of your employees.

2. We like our current system, we just would like it automated. Can you help with that?
   We reference all your current job descriptions for inclusion into the PACE™ format prior to our workshops. Often times managers like their job descriptions and have invested a lot of time rewriting them. We do think that there is always room for some improvement. PACE™ is unique for several reasons. We work with managers and employees to set clear and objective performance expectations. We also work with them to identify ways an employee can exceed performance expectations and to identify areas that need improvement. We feel that PACE™ is an excellent communication tool. Too often employees are demoralized at performance appraisal time because their supervisor has failed to clearly communicate performance expectations. Knowing what is required, and what it takes to exceed, empowers the employee to better meet and exceed performance expectations.

3. We like PACE™, but don't have it in our budget. What are the results if we wait a year or two?
   Each healthcare organization will be under tighter scrutiny as hospitals move to performance management software. One of the most powerful tools in PACE™ is the aggregate competency and job performance reporting throughout the organization that is presented to JCAHO surveyors and your Board of Directors (if it is your policy). JCAHO and other auditors will compare an organization that still does paper and pencil ratings with organizations that have aggregate statistical reports and use the reports for building education and learning curriculums and other organizational development initiatives. In addition, PACE™ consultants know healthcare issues and clients are continually updated on JCAHO 'hot areas' (e.g., abuse and neglect monitoring; patient safety; promoting a restraint free environment, pain assessment, etc.)

4. How large is Total Compensation Services?
   We have ten full time employees supporting our PACE™ Healthcare product, including programmers, help desk staff, administrative support staff and consultants. We focus on keeping a low overhead so we can pass the savings on to our clients by charging lower fees.
   
   
5. I see that PACE™ has three ratings (Exceeds, Meets and Needs Improvement). We like our current levels of ratings. Can this be changed to five?
   We use these three rating levels only to define performance standards. The actual performance scores your employees will receive are from 0-6.00. Each organization sets different levels within that range. Some organizations have 5 levels that are tied to different pay increases, while others just have three. Some clients do not have a 'pay for performance' system so they use it as pass/fail.

6. We have a completely different scoring methodology than most other organizations. Can PACE™ support that?
   The PACE™ scoring system allows each client to establish their own scoring thresholds. For example, we have a client in the Northeast who wishes half the organization to score in the "Exceeds" category. We have another client in the South who will not allow more than 10% of the population to get an "Exceeds" score.
   
   
7. How do we keep PACE™ updated?
   We recommend that every payroll run, the application be refreshed with your HRIS data to pick up new hires, transfers, terminations, etc. Your HRIS remains the database of origin and we set up a one way interface to PACE™. Some organizations want a two way interface where performance scores are fed back into the HRIS. There us an additional charge that is based on the exact mapping to your systems. It is very simple for clients to update job descriptions and other information. The Administrator module provides easy access to make any necessary changes.

8. What are the ongoing costs after the workshops and initial PACE™ implementation?
   There is an annual fee for maintenance (including upgrades), web hosting and help desk support. That fee is approximately 18% of the software cost. Please note that other software vendors typically charge 18% for maintenance, and then add on fees for hosting, upgrades and help desk support.
   
   
9. Can our managers enter information from home?
   Yes, PACE™ is a web based application that can be used on any PC with Internet access. Managers need to sign on with their passwords only. If you do not want managers to access the program off-site, we can configure that for you too.