The need for long-term care, for the world's aging population, is apparent. By 2026, the population of Americans ages 65 and older will double to 71.5 million. Between 2007 and 2015, the number of Americans ages 85 and older is expected to increase by 40 percent. Among people turning 65 today, 69 percent will need some form of long-term care. By 2020, it is estimated that 12 million older Americans will need long-term care
Long-term care facilities must improve all facets of infrastructure to keep up with the demands of the growing in need population. While more facilities and more space are needed, implementing advanced information technology and monitoring systems will improve the care provided and the efficiency of existing units
The Current State of Health Information Technology :
Long term care facilities service the fastest growing segment of the population which accounts for the majority of the healthcare dollars spent. These facilities lag behind hospitals and physician's offices in implementing information and monitoring technologies. Currently, about 24 percent of physicians use an electronic health record (EHR) while only 5 percent of hospitals use computerized physician order entry (CPOE). In 2004, President Bush and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) lead a charge to a “nationwide implementation of an interoperable health information technology infrastructure [including adoption of electronic health record systems] to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare by 2014”.
According to a recent study by the California Healthcare Foundation healthcare information technology (HIT) adoption has been more a reaction to crisis than a voluntary investment based on an overall strategy. Long-term care leaders tend to look to the state or federal government for direction on HIT adoption rather than implementing a long-term strategy. Findings include:
- HIT is used primarily for state or federal payment and certification requirements
- Clinical HIT and monitoring applications are minimally used.
- HIT systems are not integrated.
- HIT systems are under used.
Providers perceive value in new technology implementation having the potential to:
- Promote standardized documentation
- Decrease errors
- Provide timely monitors for standard of care
- Improve regulatory compliance
- Mitigate neglect of care risk
- Reduce paperwork and eliminate redundancies
- Improve charge capture for billing
- Reduce time spent on chart audits
- Streamline communication among providers
AFrame Digital understands the adoption barriers of new technologies in the medical field. AFrame's technology addresses these barriers to allow easy acceptance and an easy transition to new technologies. Barriers reported by the California Healthcare Foundation study include:
- Difficulty in finding HIT products that meet needs
- Lack of a proven benefit
- Risk of new state or federal requirements
- Lack of hardware and technical support staff
- Under valuation of technology benefits in improving quality
- Lack of time and technology knowledge
- Underestimating changing management needs
- Fear of technology
Contact us to find out how we can help your organization overcome these barriers and enjoy the many benefits of the MobileCare™ Monitor system.
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