Electronic Care Management (ECM)
It’s interesting to contemplate the significant advancements in technology within the health and social care industry, particularly in the realm of care management and planning.
ECM for home care agencies
With governmental support and leadership urging home care providers to embrace digitalisation, it is somewhat astonishing that there are still numerous late adopters of work life changing and, certainly in some cases, life-saving software. This technology facilitates rapid exchanges of vital information between care and medical teams.
What is electronic care planning?
Traditionally care was organised and records kept using paper-based care plans and notes. Electronic care plans are digital versions of these paper-based records and can be combined with other data about the service user, the carer and more in a single electronic care management (ECM) system.
Benefits of technology in care planning
The use of technology in care planning has numerous benefits with Digital Social Care Records enabling users to effortlessly share information securely and decreasing the time dedicated to administrative duties. This enhances the safety and reliability of care records, enabling services to deliver truly person-centred care.
Electronic care records mean that everyone (carer, administrator, care manager, service user and their friends and family) can all see the complete and most recent care record. Traditionally paper based records had to be manually duplicated with physical copies kept at the office and in the service user’s home. This also meant a lot of additional travel and time for carers to go first to the office to pick up their rota for the day and then return at the end of the shift with their hand written report of care given.
Undoubtedly, software is only a good as the data input – and paper based records can additionally suffer from legibility issues, however, getting the correct information which allows care and nursing staff to deliver high quality care is vital. So what types of data can and indeed do, need to be recorded and acted upon?
The software must have an extensive care planning feature that is person centric and can collect data which gives a holistic picture of the client. CareLineLive has sixteen assessments which give users the opportunity to add comprehensive information relating to all aspects of a person’s life and daily living activities. For example users will capture a raft of information in our personal care assessment which covers everything from bathing and showering to oral care, whilst our skin integrity assessment gives users the opportunity to risk assess for potential malnutrition and pressure areas through the use of the scored assessment feature.
Electronic care planning features
See the list of care planning features that CareLineLive offers:
About Me (PRSB)
This assessment is specific to the Professional Records Standards Body
About Me
CareLineLive’s assessment – an alternative to the PRSB option
Communication
Conditions and needs
Continence management
Environmental, health and safety
Escorted outings
Fluids and nutrition
Infection prevention and control
Lone working
Medication management
Mental health
Mobility, moving and handling
Personal care
Skin integrity
Social and emotional well-being
Scored assessments
Braden Scale
MST (Malnutrition Screening Tool)
MUST (Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool)
Waterlow Score
Goals and Outcomes planning
It’s crucial to provide support for individuals in achieving their agreed goals and documenting them through the care planning process. This empowers users to establish carer tasks that aid in accomplishing client objectives. This feature significantly contributes to breaking down ultimate goals into smaller, achievable milestones. The availability of this information around the clock enables real-time tracking and adjustment of goals, with regular reviews and timely notifications to managers about any changes and review schedules.
Changing needs kept updated by digital care plans
Attention to detail is critical when care planning and that means capturing the minutiae of what’s important and unique to each person. Of course, needs change and for some people that can be on an almost daily basis and this is where digital care planning really does come to the fore. The assessment feature give users the opportunity to record the baseline when bringing new clients on board. Moving forward the information can be updated with a version history with each update being date and timestamped. This gives managers the ability to look back at previous care plans and to run reports on the changes and updates on requirements.
Electronically assisted reviews
The long distant memories of the laborious and time consuming paper-based review processes were fraught with opportunities for people to go under the radar in terms of being reviewed regularly. With an electronic (digital) system all of those admin hours can be used elsewhere. With a digital system, the ability to schedule reviews tailored to individual timeframes is a feature that not only ensures client safety but also aligns with regulations and compliance. For instance, users can schedule customer service calls, quality assurance assessments, feedback sessions, and care plan reviews. This functionality notifies managers of upcoming monitoring requirements for each client.
Safety enhanced with electronic care planning
Safety of services is of utmost importance, and it is crucial to focus on assessing risks and documenting incidents, concerns, and complaints. Proactive person-centred care planning is facilitated by leveraging technology to gain insights that support integrated collaboration, leading to better outcomes for clients. This approach is vital for fostering learning and driving service improvement.
CareLineLive’s Concern and Incident reporting feature provides the opportunity to document the investigation and resolution of incidents, demonstrating how the key questions of safe, caring, responsive, effective, and well-led are upheld. Furthermore, it allows for capturing valuable lessons learned and showcasing how services have been adapted to meet the needs of both service users and staff.
Electronic medication management (eMAR) as part of ECM
Transitioning to a paperless system simplifies medication management, enabling users to access medication records during every visit. The eMAR system aids in task tracking, error reduction, and care planning improvement while bolstering safety measures. Timely alerts promptly inform about missed medications or specific statuses. Additionally, digital eMAR can be electronically signed as necessary. Through the Carer Companion app, carers can record medication outcomes, dosages and add comments and photos with real-time updates keeping everyone informed.
Remote audits eliminate the tedious and time-consuming process of collecting and auditing paper records. Everything is stored in the same place electronically and can be retrieved with a simple search within the software’s electronic records.
Carer apps
Carer apps play a crucial role in facilitating real-time information flow, ensuring that all stakeholders have the necessary data for informed decision-making. CareLineLive’s Carer Companion app empowers carers to document a wide range of observations, including blood glucose levels, pressure areas, meals and fluids intake, heart rate, catheter output, bowel movements, and concerns and injuries. Carers can utilise body maps while managers can monitor them and refer to medical professionals as required.
Handover notes are prepared to furnish incoming carers with comprehensive visit-specific details. Simultaneously, check-out notes offer a concise summary of visit event ensuring both the office and loved ones stay informed about occurrences. In cases where task completions require documentation along with observations and notes; any concerns raised enable care managers to take necessary action effectively.
Completion statuses trigger alerts, with updates immediately accessible to managers through the Management Portal. Stakeholders can promptly access vital information via the Care Circle Portal for timely intervention if and when needed. Visual data representation enables efficient reconciliation for auditing purposes and trend analysis insights.
Electronic sharing of information
Information features that are accessible to stakeholders such as family and health professionals giving detailed information on a client are a real bonus. The information available to view, can be comprehensive including, client details, next of kin contact information, medical history, visit records, prescribed medication, and more.
CareLineLive’s Care Circle is an excellent example of controlled access through role assignments within the Portal. This feature enables temporary instant access to emergency services, providing immediate viewing of up-to-date client records for prompt and appropriate treatment. Access requires identity verification, and notifications are promptly sent to Care Circle members upon authorisation.
Electronic transformation of care planning
It’s clear that the importance of digitalisation in care planning is transformative across the industry, with a strong emphasises on improving efficiency, safety, and client outcomes.
The detailed breakdown of the features offered by CareLineLive demonstrates how technology can facilitate person-centred care, streamline administrative tasks, and ensure compliance with regulations. From comprehensive assessments to medication management and remote audits, each aspect contributes to enhancing the quality of care provided.
Moreover, the inclusion of carer apps and the Care Circle Portal underscores the importance of real-time information exchange among stakeholders, fostering transparency, collaboration, and trust.
For more information on how CareLineLive can transform every part of your home care business see: Our Solution | CareLineLive