Technology Serves Nursing Homes Caring for Seniors
In an effort to continue to meet the needs of seniors who require care and in the face of increased budget cuts and economic challenges, nursing homes and assisted living facilities are looking to technology to help them in their day-to-day caring of their patients. This post is provided by Caitlin-Morgan Nursing Home Insurance programs
Here are some of the innovations helping the healthcare industry:
Heal iPad App: The Handoffs for Extended/Assisted Living (Heal) app, developed by Carex, is designed to improve communication in nursing homes at two critical points: among nurses during shift changes and between nurses and doctors. It allows a nurse to manage his or her patient load and share notes with other nurses digitally. Once a nurse completes his/her shift, he or she uses the app to sign off patients to the incoming nurse. That nurse is then prompted to accept the patients upon logging in and starting his/her shift; the incoming nurse also has access to all the notes made by the outgoing nurse. What’s more, the outgoing nurse will receive a text message automatically that the patients have been accepted by the incoming nurse.
Touch-free Life Care System: A sensor mat has been developed by BAM Labs that’s designed to turn any bed into a “smart bed” by placing the mat under the mattress. With the sensor mat, caretakers are able to track a patient’s movement, heart rate, sleep activity, and respiration remotely. With a network device connecting the sensor to local Wi-Fi, the system will transmit data to a mobile device, enabling caretakers to better manage and prevent pressure sores and falls in patients, in addition to helping them keep up with their documentation.
Insta Compounding System: This technology, which was developed by Patients’ & Consumers’ Pharma, is used by healthcare professionals to convert commercial tablets and capsules into custom-flavored liquid medications for patients with difficulty swallowing pills. Typical patients who have problems swallowing pills include the elderly and patients with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease.
Connected for Life: The Research Triangle Park health IT firm Family Health Network facilitates the use of computer technology for seniors by connecting patients with caregivers, family members, and healthcare professionals enabling them to all share important health information and encourage patients to remain engaged in their care. It’s intended for independent seniors, but may also be useful in assisted-living settings.
At Caitlin-Morgan, we provide insurance programs for nursing homes, assisted living facilities and independent living facilities. With this in mind, we want to keep our agency partners up to date with the latest in technology advances in this niche market. If you would like information about our nursing home insurance programs, please feel free to call us at 877.226.1027.
Sources: MedPage Today, Carex, BAM Labs