10 reasons to go digital with electronic care planning and medication (eMAR) systems

Time

More time to care

Carers never have enough time to care but going digital can provide more. There are so many time-consuming tasks such as writing care notes, completing paper assessments, filling in charts, preparing handovers, and countless other administrative tasks. Going digital can automate many of these tasks and enable the recording of care interactions in real-time, ensuring nothing is left undocumented and saving time that can be better spent providing care.

Control

Better Control

Controlling paper-based systems can be an onerous job. It generates reams of paper that can easily be lost, copied, and, potentially, fall into the wrong hands. Digital care systems are safe and accessible, maintaining the security and confidentiality of your data. This is difficult to achieve with paper because sensitive information must be locked away when not in use per GDPR.

Furthermore, digital allows you to determine who can access and what via permission controls. Staff only see what they need to see based on their role.

AutumnCare has a number of tools that assist in maintaining security and confidentiality, including this lock screen functionality for use in medication administration rounds!

Protection

Protect your business Social care is a highly regulated industry and going digital can help you safeguard your business. With multiple regulatory bodies, such as the CQC, CIW, Care Inspectorate, RQIW, Local Authorities and Safeguarding Teams, not to mention families and the justice system. Any of whom can make enquiries or perform inspections at any time and without notice. Going digital makes it easy and efficient to evidence the quality of care you provide. In addition, as a digital system has a complete audit trail, you can be assured the information you are providing is accurate and complete.

Costs

Costs and environment

The most considerable cost saving that going digital can provide is time. While the amount of time saved will vary between service types and roles, this alone makes going digital worthwhile. Additional cost benefits include savings on printing, paper, stationary and confidential waste bin collection. These costs all add up very quickly and are enhanced by the savings in the administrative overhead. Furthermore, going digital reduces paper use and the carbon footprint of regular deliveries. Therefore, going digital can help you become more environmentally friendly.

Risk

Reduced risk

Manual systems carry many risks. It is challenging to manage, analyse and keep data and there is a lack of security. Going digital with your care planning and eMAR can significantly reduce your risk. Using inbuilt alerts ensures that nothing is missed, whether that’s a care plan change or a fall report. Using an eMAR will help reduce medication errors and ensure that the 6 Rs are always met. Going digital also allows the collection of data at the point of care, which can be analysed to identify trends and risks, and demonstrate corrective action.

AutumnCare Mobile allows staff to perform clinical assessments and capture notes at the point of care for increased accuracy and care recipient involvement.

Retention

Improve staff retention

Staff recruitment and retention remain long-standing challenges for the care sector, and many factors contribute to the successful retention of staff. Morale is a crucial factor in retaining staff. Using electronic care systems to change the focus from the administration to the delivery of care helps stage engage more with service users. Additionally, providing smart tools like care planning and eMAR software to reduce the administrative burden will decrease staff stress.

Quality

Improved quality of care

With pre-built assessments covering all aspects of health, you can get to know your service users intimately. But it’s not just health; other characteristics such as emotion, likes/dislikes and how they correspond to a wide range of activities can be recorded. Because any changes can be affected at the point of care, updates become a true reflection of the care (rather than a delayed update at the end of a long shift). This information is then easily accessible by other system users, supporting a personalised care experience.

Evidence Demonstrate quality of care delivery

While the delivery of person-centred care is paramount, care providers must also provide evidence of the care they deliver, and regulatory bodies are actively encouraging the user of technology. For example, the CQC states that the care provider should look to embrace technology that helps monitor care delivery. During an inspection, under the Effective key line of enquiry (KLOE), question E1.3 asks How is technology and equipment used to enhance the delivery of effective care and treatment and to support people’s independence?

Digital care plans are the best way to achieve this!

Visibility

Improved visibility

Electronic care systems ensure that managers have real-time access to notes and information to instantly understand the care provided and help identify changes that need to be made to improve the quality of care. On an electronic care system, it is much easier to see what is going on if you are contacted out of hours or on the go. A digital system allows you to log in remotely to see what has been happening across the entire care service at a glance.

AutumnCare contains a customisable Dashboard to provide Managers with a snapshot of what is occurring across the care service at any point in time.

Users

Happier service users

Last, and by no means least, going digital can make your service users happier. Digital systems enable you to spend more time caring and less time on administration. There are benefits to happy service users, including positive reviews from family and friends, which may help grow your service.

Wondering how to go digital?

If you’re unsure of how to get started in your digital transformation, AutumnCare can help!

AutumnCare provides specialist digital care planning and eMAR software, enabling providers to migrate to a digital system and providing the foundations for outstanding care. We can walk you through what is required step by step, as well as provide training and support every step of the way. To realise all of the benefits above, plus many more, get in touch with us today.

Contact Chris Sharman

Email c.sharman@autumn.care

Call 0800 009 2121

Website uk.autumn.care