As spring gets underway, we are springing forward with even more technology initiatives in senior living. Registration is now open for the Collaborative Care & Health IT Innovations Summit on March 28! We have also just released an updated CAST Safety Technology Selection Tool. We’re reporting back from the 2019 LeadingAge Leadership Summit with groundbreaking results from a LeadingAge/NORC study, plus advances in artificial intelligence and health information exchange.
This month’s message features the benefits of EHRs in senior living and announces a new White House report naming six ways technology can help older Americans. Finally, we’ll congratulate CAST members on new acquisitions and partnerships.
Registration is Open for the Collaborative Care & Health IT Innovations Summit
Please register for the Collaborative Care & Health IT Innovations Summit, to be held June 23-25, 2019, in Baltimore, MD. LeadingAge CAST is convening this premiere health information technology (IT) conference to unite long-term and post-acute care (LTPAC) executives and information technology leaders with acute care providers, payers, and technology vendors serving older adults and people with chronic conditions.
This year’s theme is “Technology Integrating Pre-Acute and LTPAC Services into the Healthcare and Payment Ecosystems.” Summit sessions will cover the ways technology is enabling innovative care delivery and payment models. It also will discuss broader health IT, interoperability, and health information exchange modalities.
LeadingAge CAST, LeadingAge, and partners in the LTPAC Health IT Collaborative are co-organizing this gathering, previously known as the Long-Term and Post-Acute Care (LTPAC) Health IT Summit, for the second year in a row.
CAST Updates Safety Technology Selection Tool and Adds New Case Study
LeadingAge CAST has updated its Safety Technology Selection Tool with a new case study, plus 10 new vendors and 13 new products in the online selection tool and matrix. The revised tool offers information on 28 vendors and 47 products to help you choose the best safety technology for your organization.
The case study, “Reducing Response Time and Call Volume through Safety Technology,” demonstrates the benefits of implementing safety technology at Blake Management Group, LLC. This senior living operator enjoyed reduced response time; increased safety, satisfaction, and peace of mind among residents, staff, and families; better occupancy rates, health, and other outcomes; and reduced costs.
LeadingAge / NORC Survey Sheds New Light on How Boomers Hope to Age
I joined in unveiling the results of a recent groundbreaking study from LeadingAge and NORC at the LeadingAge Leadership Summit in Washington, DC, on March 18, 2019. The study found that older adults have some surprising attitudes and expectations around quality of life and aging—particularly if they become physically or cognitively impaired and need long-term services and supports (LTSS). Fortunately, technology can address many of these concerns.
The study is noteworthy because it focuses on adults ages 60 to 72, often called the “young old.” The findings challenge many commonly held views about how older baby boomers want to age. For example, 40% said they would want to live somewhere other than their current home or apartment if they needed help with daily activities due to a physical disability. This finding contrasts with most earlier research, in which 76% or more of adults said they want to stay in their own home.
LeadingAge Leadership Summit Highlights AI and HIE Advances
Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and health information exchange (HIE) in senior living headlined two CAST sessions at the LeadingAge Leadership Summit, held March 17-20, 2019, in Washington, DC. I provided a preview of the upcoming LeadingAge CAST HIE Online Selection Tool and presented at both sessions.
CAST Commissioners also met during the Summit. They heard about new technology opportunities for providers from CAST Chair Mark McClellan, MD, Ph.D., who serves as Robert J. Margolis professor of business, medicine, and policy and director of the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy at Duke University. CAST Commissioners also discussed the latest developments in quality of life technologies.
Benefits of EHRs in Today’s Senior Living
A recent Seniors Housing Business article explored the benefits of EHRs in senior living, quoting me and several CAST members. The article shared results from the recent LeadingAge study, which found that nearly 76% of the nation’s 200 largest nonprofit, multi-site senior living organizations use EHRs, as well as the majority of single-campus senior living communities. It also cited the need to increase operating efficiencies and reduce costs.
The article quoted John Damgaard, president of EHR provider MatrixCare, and Dawn Iddings, senior vice president at Netsmart. CareCommunity by MatrixCare is a LeadingAge Gold Partner with CAST Focus, and Netsmart is a LeadingAge CAST Supporter.
White House Report Names 6 Ways Tech Can Help Older Americans
A new White House report has identified six key ways technology could help Americans live longer, healthier, and more independent lives—and the research and development (R&D) needed to bring these innovations to fruition.
CAST Members Announce Partnerships and Acquisitions
Please join me in congratulating the LeadingAge Gold Partner with CAST Focus and Business Associates who announced they are expanding through strategic business moves.
Feel Free to Contact Me
If you have news to share with CAST or if I can be of assistance in any way, please don’t hesitate to contact me.