Transforming Homecare with Technology: An Interview with Tom ...

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Healthcare Homebase Chief Strategy Officer, Tom Maxwell, about the importance of technology when it comes to homecare.

Tom has been involved in the medical technology field for well over a decade and has plenty of insight to offer about healthcare reform, medical technology, as well as advancements in homecare.

Tom discusses some of the changes that are happening to the homecare industry, both from a service and technological perspective, as well as how those aspects fit with today?s healthcare philosophies:

A major focus in the healthcare industry has been on coordinated care. What role did homecare previously have in the care team? Do we see that changing in today?s world of coordinated care and Accountable Care Organizations (ACO)?

Previously, there was a limited handoff -from the hospital system to the homecare setting. Now we?re seeing the transition to a fully collaborative team, meaning that hospitals still want to be involved in the process, but are providing better transitions of care into the home and to the homecare provider. The hospitals want to be kept abreast of what is happening to the patient , but are now more invested in working with the homecare provider to keep them from returning to the hospital.

From a technology perspective, our ability to integrate with these various facilities allows us to maintain better communication with everyone involved, so we can share care plans and updates with? everyone in the circle of care.

Why is it important that home health aides and the homecare organization be involved in the care team and in coordinated care?

Home health aides need to be involved; they?re the eyes and ears of the homecare organization. They can see when something?s not right, especially if a patients? condition is declining. They can alert nurses quickly if they experience a fall or an injury of any kind. Not only are they involved in the patient?s healthcare, but they also play a role in a patient?s economic care, social care, etc.

Home health aides can identify declines or inclines in certain patterns and directly communicate it with nurses and the rest of the care team. The ultimate goal is to keep the patient healthy and provide the necessary care when it?s needed.

Homecare is critical for patient recovery; most patients would rather be at home than in a hospital. It?s safer, there are less restrictions, it?s more comfortable, and it is considerably less expensive.

How does Homecare Homebase?s technology facilitate the engagement and coordination between doctors, specialists and home health aides? (doctors nurses, specialists, care givers, physicians)

Since we use point of care (POC) documentation, we can quickly alert and identify areas of change and update the physician on the care plan, vital signs, medication used, and any miscellaneous changes. Having the documentation happen at the POC keeps everyone involved. Our caregivers use the technology in real-time, and record everything they come across that may be of interest to the patient, nurse or physician.

How does Homecare Homebase?s technology help keep patients engaged in their own care?

In addition to having the constant interaction with the home health provider in the home, we have a family portal, which allows families to review vital signs, medications, etc. When the clinician leaves the home, they can write a note to the family, for example, stating that the patient?s medication dosage has been increased, and the portal will alert family members so that they stay in the loop. So even if a patient?s family is out of town, they can stay up-to-date with their health status. Patients obviously get to decide who can get access to that information, which is very empowering, and it encourages patients to be more hands-on with their care.

We?ve covered how patients stand to benefit from this software/technology, but what can clinics or homecare agencies expect to gain by implementing it?

Homecare agencies have a lot to gain from implementing technology. Most of the documentation is made at the point of care, which ensures timely and accurate data is finding its way to the right people at the right time. Compliance is crucial, especially when you consider the amount of fraud being reported in the healthcare industry.

The real-time nature of the technology allows caregivers to collect critical data on their patients and deliver it back to the office on a regular basis, and it ensures the physicians and the entire care team are involved in the patient?s care throughout the process. Information is flowing to everyone who needs it, when they need it, and it ultimately ensures the patient is provided the very best care. Increased nurse satisfaction is also a secondary benefit of the? documentation being done at the POC? They are able to not only share information easily with the rest of the team, but by completing it during the visit they are free after hours to focus on their own interests, rather than spending time on after hours charts.

Advancements in technology can also increase return on investment (ROI) for the agency thanks, in part to more efficient workflow. The agency as a whole runs more effectively with tasks being assigned and completed as needed, escalations built-in for items that need special attention and a complete data loop that starts from the POC and ends with the claim being billed. The process is more efficient and the agency is able to bill more quickly and be reimbursed in a timelier manner.

In general, Electronic Health Record access allows for more efficiency in an ever-changing environment. As the government continues to change the home health and general healthcare landscape, the implementation of technology will ensure that agencies have the flexibility to adapt to different situations.

Source: http://engage-today.com/healthcare/transforming-homecare-with-technology-an-interview-with-tom-maxwell/

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