hi ttc,
i used hchb in '06 as a field nurse and loved it also. i felt it kept you on track with the poc and triggered you to write orders when needed (nice feature when schedule is hectic). i'm sure hchb is even more improved now. kinnser is soooo user friendly for inputing notes for clinicians. any computer literate person can learn kinnser in an hour and can then be very easily assisted over the phone for questions. for people already familiar with homecare software, the training time is even less.
kinnser will not keep you on track with orders and following the plans of care. if i remember correctly, hchb would not let you go to the next step without completing a dr's order due to new med not recognized on the original mar or a new problem that's not on poc. hopefully your documentation is reviewed in a timely fashion so that the qa person is recognizing the need to update the poc, mar etc. the reviewer can "return" documentation with "yellow sticky notes" for you to clarify and re-submit.
kinnser is web-based, therefore accessible from any computer. you simply log on to www.kinnser.net, enter your approved u-name and p-word, then review your "hotbox". the hotbox contains your tasks (assignments). if your manager gets busy and forgets to drop in a task, it's like being at a home and not having a progress note. i make sure i keep my clinicians on the phone until i drop the needed tasks in their hotboxes because i get busy. i also check my k-mail at home in the evenings and sporadically on the weekend to see if someone needs anything plus all staff have my cell number. our patients' signatures are collected on a running log that staff is required to fax/mail/drop off weekly. i remember for hchb the patients could sign on the pda. you have the ability to read the visit notes from the other disciplines on the case.
from a manager's point of view, i'm happy that people can confidently chart immediately and i get legible notes 
. kinnser has no flexibility for editing visit forms, there's no dietary form, qa'ing a chart is clumsy, reports could be better. your're stuck with what the give you. i'm trying to figure out a solution for the dietary note. kinnser said for me to get a note closest to what i want charted by the dietician and use that. for 1600/mo tech support, that's an unacceptible answer.
charting will be the least of your worries. best of luck to you!
