Decade Software Client Adopts Successful New Placarding System to Strengthen Consumer Confidence

PASADENA, Calif., Sept. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Decade Software Company, LLC, provider of data management and inspection software for regulatory entities, recognized today the leadership and hard work of the City of Pasadena Public Health Department for its seamless rollout of a new placarding system designed to engage consumers in the Department's health-inspection activities, as well as reinforce consumer confidence in their favorite restaurants.

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Previously, Pasadena distributed reports to restaurants for display summarizing their inspection results. However, public feedback indicated that the summaries did not provide all of the desired information on the outcome of the inspections. Now, a new placard will list one of three options: "Pass," "Conditional Pass," or "Closed." Pasadena purposefully selected this method over 'ABC' grading, an oft-used standard in Southern California.

The system is based on a maximum inspection score of 100 points; each cited violation deducts a number of points (dependent upon the type and degree of violation) from that original score. A score below 85 points is a 'Conditional Pass' and triggers a follow-up inspection within five business days; a final score below 75 mandates a Permit Suspension Hearing as well as the follow-up inspection. A facility must achieve a score of 95 or above during the follow-up inspection to move from a 'Conditional Pass' to a 'Pass.' Any restaurant with major violations such as pest infestation, sewage, lack of hot water, or inoperable bathrooms will be closed immediately.

"This new placarding system is designed to increase consumer transparency when choosing where to eat," remarked Liza Frias, Environmental Health Division Manager. "Now, facilities are incentivized to improve operations since they can only keep a 'Conditional Pass' result for, at most, a week. Put simply, this system requires that all facilities operate with a 'Pass' status."

Frias notes that while she expected there to be some resistance from the local restaurant community, she was pleasantly surprised by how enthusiastically the industry responded. "We did a lot of outreach and met with the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and the restaurant industry. We were very lucky; they were absolutely on the same level as us. They said, 'We want all of our facilities operating at the highest standing and it's okay if you have to take action against those that aren't functioning at that level.'"

Working with Decade Software, Pasadena is now using data from its environmental health software, EnvisionConnect, to publish inspection results online, which consumers can quickly access through a QR code directly on the placard or at the City's website. Pasadena even directed the creation of a new chart showing inspection score trends so that consumers can weigh the overall performance of their favorite restaurants. "People are visual; we wanted to give people what they want, when they want it."

"From the moment Liza first joined Pasadena's Public Health Department," commented Darryl Booth, President of Decade Software Company, "she made it known that she had big plans, and she has held true to that vision. Thanks to her drive and leadership, the Environmental Health Division is making great strides in identifying and meeting the consumers' needs while simultaneously bringing local businesses onboard for a healthier and more transparent Pasadena."

About Decade Software Company
Decade Software Company is a preeminent provider of services and software solutions for regulatory agencies. For 28 years, Decade Software Company has been recognized as the leader in implementation, configuration, support, and data management. Decade provides a breadth of integrated products that are the most comprehensive in the industry including EnvisionConnect, EnvisionConnect Remote for the mobile inspector, along with other specialized applications. Decade Software Company is a partner of the National Environmental Health Association.

Contact:

Darryl Booth
President
Phone:  800.233.9847 x702
Fax:  559.222.1365
E-mail:  [email protected]

SOURCE Decade Software Company, LLC