Doug Beigel, CEO of COLA Inc., implemented several solutions to improve mobile workforce management, laboratory communication, and scheduling. He introduced virtual office software to help dispersed employees communicate better. He also developed an online customer portal called COLAcentral to make audit files more accessible to laboratories and surveyors. Finally, after researching enterprise scheduling solutions, Beigel had CompWALK developers create an automated scheduling platform to replace the manual process and improve work-life balance for surveyors.

1. How to Eliminate
Scheduling Headaches
Insights from the head of a healthcare accreditation
organization.

2. We sat down with Doug Beigel,
CEO of COLA Inc.
COLA is the largest private non-profit
clinical laboratory accreditation
organization in the U.S.

3. Doug took over as CEO 15
years ago to improve:
 Mobile workforce management
 Laboratory Communication
 Scheduling mobile workers and laboratories

4. Mobile Workforce
Management
1

5. About COLA
 They accredit over 7,500 clinical laboratories
 Every two years these laboratories get surveyed
 They employ around 22 surveyors across the nation

6. The Problem
COLA employees needed a way to feel united,
though dispersed across the nation.

7. The Solution
Doug implemented a virtual office software for all
employees to easily communicate from anywhere.

8. The Results
 Open lines of communication
 Employees can easily talk, share screens, video chat, and
conference-in guests
 Led to a more unified company

9. Laboratory
Communication
2

10. About the Laboratories
 Smaller clinical laboratories
 Typically consist of 2 – 10 employees
 Not many directors invest in business-related
technology

11. The Problem
 Laboratories and COLA only interacted twice a year
 Many important audit files buried in filing cabinets
 Surveyors waste time digging through files

12. The Solution
Doug worked with CompWALK developers to deliver
a customer portal for the laboratories, COLAcentral.

13. -Doug Beigel
CEO, COLA Inc.
COLAcentral has strengthened the
partnership between COLA and the
clinical laboratories we
accredit.
“

14. The Results
 All documentation stored in one place
 Laboratories can reference past audits
 Easily share resources
 Prepare for upcoming audits with internal assessments

15. Scheduling the
Mobile Workers and
Laboratories
3

16. About Scheduling
 One full-time employee scheduling surveys
 Utilizing a custom solution requiring manual
interventions
 Disconnected, time-consuming process

17. The Problem
A large portion of COLA’s business relied on one
scheduler showing up every day.

18. The Research
Beigel researched tools other organizations
use
Met with a few large corporations
They deploy enterprise solutions
Too high a cost for COLA to license

19. The Solution
Doug enlisted the CompWALK developers to create
a completely automated scheduling platform.

20. -Doug Beigel
CEO, COLA Inc.
Just by following all outlined
business rules we can expect to
see a 20 – 30% cost savings.“

21. The Results
 Platform went live earlier this month
 All business rules were followed
• No preferential treatment or favoritism
 All laboratory deadlines were met
 Work life balance of surveyors improved due to less inefficient
travel

22. Stay tuned to find out…
The power of analytics and further cost savings realized by COLA’s
implementation of this scheduling platform.
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