As an assisted living facility operator, you know that audits are a crucial part of ensuring that your facility is meeting industry standards and regulations. Not only do audits help to identify areas where your facility may be lacking, but they also provide an opportunity for you to demonstrate that you are providing high-quality care to your residents.
One tool that can help you prepare for an audit is an electronic medication administration record or eMAR. An eMAR is a digital system that tracks and records the administration of medications to residents in a care facility. By using an eMAR, you can improve medication management, ensure accurate documentation, and enhance compliance with industry regulations.
Here are some ways that an eMAR can help prepare your assisted living facility for an audit:
- Improved medication management: An eMAR allows you to easily track and manage residents' medications, ensuring that they are being administered correctly and on schedule. This can help to prevent medication errors and improve resident safety. For example, an eMAR can provide alerts and reminders for staff members when it is time to administer medications, ensuring that they are administered on time and in the correct dosage.
- Accurate documentation: An eMAR provides a digital record of all medication administration, allowing you to easily access and review this information during an audit. This can help to ensure that your documentation is accurate and complete, reducing the risk of deficiencies being identified during the audit. Additionally, an eMAR can help to eliminate errors and inconsistencies in medication documentation, such as incorrect dosing or administration times.
- Enhanced compliance: An eMAR can help your facility comply with industry regulations and standards by providing automated alerts and reminders for important tasks, such as medication administration and resident assessments. This can help to ensure that your facility is meeting all of the requirements for an audit. For example, an eMAR can remind staff members to conduct regular assessments of residents' health and medication needs, ensuring that these assessments are performed on schedule and in accordance with industry standards.
To help prepare for an audit, here are some items that you should consider adding to your checklist:
- Review your facility's policies and procedures for medication management. This can help to ensure that your staff members are following the correct procedures for administering medications to residents.
- Ensure that all staff members who administer medications are appropriately trained and certified. This is important to ensure that medications are administered safely and correctly.
- Conduct a review of residents' medication administration records to ensure that they are accurate and complete. This can help to identify any errors or inconsistencies that may need to be corrected before the audit.
- Consider implementing an eMAR system to improve medication management and documentation. An eMAR can help to automate and streamline many of the tasks involved in managing medications, making it easier for your staff to administer medications correctly and on schedule.
- Review the requirements for an audit and ensure that your facility meets all of the necessary standards and regulations. This can help you to identify any areas where your facility may be lacking, allowing you to take corrective action before the audit.
Remember, this is not legal advice and compliance requirements vary from state to state. It is important to consult with a healthcare attorney to ensure that your assisted living facility is meeting all applicable regulations. An eMAR can be a valuable tool in preparing for an audit, but it is not a substitute for a thorough understanding of the requirements and standards that your facility must meet.
