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Reduced integration timeline:
What had taken Senior Solutions on average 120 days to accomplish, ECP’s teams, training and software allowed that time to be cut in half.
“We fully trained and completed pharmacy integration for nine properties with an average of 75 to 150 residents and 50 to 60 staff members at each location – within 60 days.”
Christina Trentham, Executive Vice-President of Operations and Clinical Services
Meeting compliance in multiple states:
Senior Solutions currently operates in several states with different compliance requirements for each. ECP created an addendum option for each specific state’s location to be attached to an individual’s assessment. A state’s specific criteria is established for each addendum and is automatically attached to the care plan. The software is also utilized for monitoring training courses and certifications of staff for state compliance.
Pharmacy integration:
The company realized a reduction in medication errors of more than 50%. In addition, the nursing staff can now communicate directly with the pharmacy about any medication discrepancies, refill requests or new orders. Saving valuable time, all orders are housed in the ECP system.
Impact on Daily Operations:
ECP software allows for tracking assessments, incident investigations, observation notes and med passes remotely for multiple locations. This level of oversight was extremely vital during COVID-19, as Trentham was able to follow each community’s day-to-day operations.
“We have communities that don’t have an active nurse in the building so I could perform triage and make the call whether a higher level of care or hospitalization was needed,” Trentham said.
Customized assessments and care plans:
ECP’s system includes spiritual, physical, emotional and mental health categories – painting a more complete picture that is representative of the resident. The care plan is directly populated from the assessment by simply checking a box. The plan can then easily be reviewed for any needed adjustments or customized further to meet the expectations of the physician, resident and the family.
A system that allows drilling down to the specifics:
“We can document that the family wants Bath and Body Works lavender lotion applied to their loved one’s feet, wrapped in socks and then tucked into bed,” Trentham said. “Imagine the difference that makes to a family to know their loved ones are being so well cared for.”
Access to real time data in an emergency:
Senior Solutions operates in a few states that are located in hurricane zones. If there’s an evacuation, it’s much easier to pick up a laptop and go instead of gathering and transporting 100 charts.
Benefits of the train-the-trainer approach:
Training clinical managers and front-line staff to instruct others saves time and money. This can also serve as an incentive for longevity and retention as other staff members have the opportunity to be the expert and develop a sense of leadership, purpose and pride in their contribution.
ECP University:
While Senior Solutions places a priority on their staff’s compassion, they also require knowledge and skills. Their caregivers range from RNs to care attendants but with ECP’s resources, information is always available – whether it’s a video on how to complete an assessment or demonstrate how to properly dispense a medication. With the EHR system and short videos, a team member can pause during a shift and review a feature or learn more about a resident so they can personalize the care. It’s also invaluable in allowing the staff to use when explaining a new medication or diagnosis to the family.
Achieve business goals:
ECP systems can help communities determine if additional education, training or staff is needed. Information is available to identify and track occupancy, move-in cycles and discharge reasons, as well as distinguish who is making the senior living decision – the individual or adult children.
Senior Solutions found great success in introducing the ECP system to all of their team members. Those who interact with residents on a day-to-day basis, including the dietary, housekeeping and maintenance departments can enter data as they also are providing one-on-one care and actually see the residents more than the nurse does.
Not everyone on your team needs access to all the information. Set up your user groups based on the performance of their job responsibility, which will save a lot of time when learning the implementation process.
Shorten the learning curve by having staff watch the videos before the training. Taking advantage of ECP’s training site afterwards to practice entering resident data before they go live or actually passing meds will help build their confidence in the system.
Be prepared for others outside of your community to love your new system. Senior Solutions found that staff members, surveyors and even emergency room physicians appreciated the depth of information available.
“If a resident needs to go to the ER, the face sheet will include when the last medication was administered. We can also add the assessment or care plan,” said Trentham.
Know that you can rely on ECP’s implementation managers and the on-site support. “I thought I knew everything about the system but I’ve continued to learn and grow with the system as well,” said Trentham.
