2015: A Very Productive Year for CAST

One of the things I like best about this time of year is the opportunity to put my feet up, take a deep breath, and look back on what CAST has accomplished during the previous 12 months.

This year, that exercise left me impressed with the number of resources that CAST created in 2015 to help you make the most of technology.

Strategic IT Planning Initiative

 

One of our most important resources, in my view, was a Strategic IT Planning Workbook that we released in March. The workbook contains critical information that every aging services organization can use to strengthen itself and the services and supports it delivers. 

The workbook underscores a key message that I try to deliver in every presentation I make. That message encourages providers of aging services to think strategically about technology and engrain technology in their strategic planning from the outset. 

Our goal shouldn’t be to purchase every shiny new technology gadget that comes on the market. Instead, the most successful organizations will carefully select technology that helps that organization meet its strategic goals and objectives. 

For that reason, technology deserves a prominent place in your organization’s strategic plan. Remember, no technology solution can be successfully implemented unless it plays a meaningful role in meeting the unique needs of residents and clients, and enabling quality-of-care, and quality-of-life outcomes.

Our Strategic IT Planning Interactive Guide helps you accomplish these goals. I urge you to review it again before the New Year dawns, and use it to chart your course for 2016 and beyond.

CAST Technology Selection Tools 

While you’re at it, consider taking a second look at CAST’s technology selection tools, which  CAST updated during 2015 to help you choose technology solutions in a number of strategic areas, including:

 

 

CAST is considering adding a new tool focusing on Care Coordination in 2016. Please read our article encouraging you to review our latest Functional Assessment tool. Please give us your feedback on this tool, and your input on future tools, by Jan. 17, 2016. 

8 Case Studies

 

CAST also published an impressive collection of 8 case studies during 2015. These case studies describe how aging services organizations actually implemented technology solutions. They offer practical direction and advice in a variety of areas, including:

 

  • ACOs: CAST Patron and LeadingAge Member Evangelical Homes of Michigan helped a physician-based accountable care organization (ACO) serve more clients.
  • EHRs: A health system in Illinois selected the Vision® Electronic Medical Record (EMR) platform from CAST Supporter HealthMEDX to help it meet its strategic goals.
  • Residents with Dementia: Western Home Communities, a LeadingAge member in Cedar Falls, IA, selected CAST Supporter It’s Never 2 Late to help it improve care and quality of life for residents with dementia. A second case study described research on the impact of that technology. 
  • Privacy and Security: LeadingAge Member Miami Jewish Health Systems partnered with CAST Supporter BlueOrange Compliance to help it navigate privacy and security laws.
  • Board Efficiency: Ingleside, a LeadingAge Member and CAST Patron in Washington DC, implemented a technology solution to improve the efficiency of its 5 boards.
  • Chronic Care Management: The “On4Care Mobile” solution from CAST Supporter Panasonic was used to monitor the health of 22 older senior center clients.
  • Adults with Intellectual Disabilities: The Sprout all-in-one computer system from CAST Supporter HP is helping to empower adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

 

Two More Case Studies in This Issue

Speaking of case studies, this issue of Tech Time features 2 new case studies focusing on the innovative products that CAST Patrons and Supporters are introducing.

One case study describes how CAST Patron Selfhelp Community Services established a technology-driven program called the Virtual Senior Center (VSC) to enrich quality of life for socially isolated homebound older adults. 

Our second case study describes how CAST Supporter ProviNET Solutions worked with LeadingAge Member Presby’s Inspired Life to build an independent, secure, and scalable infrastructure-hosting platform.

Upcoming Deadlines and Opportunities

 

As you look forward to 2016, I hope you will consider taking part in 2 important activities that have approaching deadlines.

 

  • On-Time Pressure Ulcer Prevention Program (OTPP): Nursing  homes with EHRs are invited to participate in the OPTT for 12 months. Apply today! Only 50 nursing homes will be accepted into the program, which offers individualized technical assistance and education from a facilitator.
  • LTPAC Health IT Summit: Consider presenting a session at the 2016 Long-Term and Post-Acute (LTPAC) Health Information Technology (IT) Summit, which takes place June 26-28, 2016 in Reston, VA. You have until Jan. 29 to submit your session abstract. 

 

Members in the News

 

This issue of Tech Time is filled with lots of great news about CAST Partners, Supporters, and Business Associates. 

We offer hearty congratulations to CAST Partner PointClickCare, which has been named as one of Canada’s fastest growing technology companies in the 18th annual Deloitte Technology Fast 50 awards. 

We welcome Thomas Bang as the new chief executive officer of CAST Supporter It’s Never 2 Late. CAST Commissioner Jack York, who started iN2L in 1999, will serve as the company’s president. 

Check out our article about a new study from the Sinclair School of Nursing, a CAST University Member, showing the dramatic impact that sensor technology is having on residents of TigerPlace, an affiliated independent housing property in Columbia, MO.

In addition, our roundup of Member News is full of news about CAST Business Associates MatrixCare, AOD Software, American HealthTech, GrandCare Systems, Caremerge, Frogman Interactive, and Keystone Technologies.

I hope you enjoy these and other articles in this issue of Tech Time. Please contact me with any comments or questions.

Happy Holidays!

 

Finally, on behalf of all of us at LeadingAge and CAST, I want to wish you a very happy holiday season and a prosperous New Year. 

CAST has benefitted greatly from your support over the past year and we look forward to working even more closely with all of you in 2016!