PointClickCare Launches iOS Mobile App for Senior Living

PointClickCare, a LeadingAge Gold Partner with CAST Focus, has launched a new mobile app, PointClickCare Companion. The new mobile app leverages the powerful design possibilities of iOS to change the way senior living providers track and manage the delivery and documentation of care services, medication, and billing. HIT Consultant reported the news. PointClickCare is a cloud-based software vendor for the long-term and post-acute care (LTPAC) and senior living sectors.

Improved mobile technology has been a key way to improve care and lower costs for senior living providers, who face complex patient-management, nursing shortage, and cash-flow challenges.

By simplifying the critical task of patient documentation in an easy-to-use, mobile format, PointClickCare Companion delivers unique benefits without interrupting the resident caregiver interaction. It also positions senior living communities to enjoy several significant outcomes, said the article. These benefits include enhanced resident experience, improved financial health, expanded talent retention, and security.

Netsmart Acquires McBee, Partners with Plum

CAST Supporter Netsmart has expanded its healthcare IT solutions and service offerings by acquiring healthcare consulting firm McBee. This acquisition builds on and expands Netsmart’s suite of consulting and managed services. It adds industry expertise and resources specifically geared toward strategic consulting, change management, revenue cycle management, advisory, and education services.

“McBee delivers critical knowledge that providers need to thrive in today’s changing landscape,” said Netsmart CEO Mike Valentine. “The expertise from their advisors included as part of the Netsmart portfolio will accelerate our clients’ ability to deliver value by equipping them with the tools and strategies they need for future growth and success.”

In addition, Netsmart has forged a 10-year strategic partnership with Plum Healthcare Group, a skilled nursing provider expanding across 50+ facilities in California and Nevada. They will merge technology teams and develop integrated care solutions to enhance care delivery for senior living, reported HIT Consultant.

In addition, Plum will utilize a Netsmart electronic health record (EHR) solution, myUnity, that combines all patient information within a single patient record across care settings along with an exhaustive data and analytics tool, gaining instant access to vital health information and actionable reports. Plum also will have access to referral management, clinical decision support and access to the powerful Netsmart network, including the use of the Carequality interoperability framework.

Asbury Communities Could Soon Pilot a Robot

LeadingAge CAST Patron Asbury Communities has doubled its technology expenditures and could soon pilot a robot named Pepper, reports Senior Housing News. Both moves are part of an effort to appeal to baby boomers in the coming years and improve current residents’ quality of life.

Pepper is among four technology pilot programs that Asbury is currently conducting in its seven senior housing communities, located in four states:

• Utilization of SoftBank Robotics’ Pepper robot through a partnership with senior living services giant Sodexo, which is Asbury’s contract management company for dining and facilities management services. Pepper will listen to residents and record their questions for later analysis.
• An enhanced mobility program at Bethany Village, a senior living community in Mechanicsburg, PA.
• A telemedicine pilot at Wilson Health Care Center in Gaithersburg, MD.
• New collaboration between Asbury Home Services and the Maryland State Department of Health collaboration on an initiative dubbed Community for Life.

CareWorx and CarePredict Partner on Wi-Fi-Enabled AI Solution

CAST Business Associate CareWorx and CarePredict have partnered to bring innovative artificial intelligence (AI) solutions and enterprise-grade Wi-Fi to senior care communities. As a result, care providers will be able to receive actionable insights on potential health declines.

CareWorx is a top-50 global managed service provider and market leader in technology solutions for the senior care sector. CarePredict is a leading AI-driven digital health company that predicts potential health conditions in seniors by continuously monitoring daily activity and behavior patterns.

With devices and IT services in over 5,000 facilities across North America, CareWorx provides complete technology solutions for senior care, including wireless strategy, implementation, and 24×7 support. The CareWorx Technology-as-a-Service offering gives senior care communities greater flexibility in technology planning and dependable Wi-Fi without the need for large up-front costs.

As changes in seniors’ daily activity patterns often are clues to health declines, CarePredict uses lightweight sensors and smart wearables to collect data on daily activities. Machine learning and neural nets are then used to classify these data sets and identify possible health declines, days ahead of clinical diagnosis.

CarePredict’s end-to-end solution uses the existing Wi-Fi in senior living communities to collect activity data and trigger alerts. CarePredict also uses proprietary technology and Wi-Fi to allow senior residents to speak directly with the caregiver.