The health care industry seems to always be on the cutting edge – full of buzzwords, new technologies and innovations; there is always something to discuss. For those who follow the latest news in health care, the terms “preventative” and “personalization” are probably familiar.
Preventative care focuses on overall health; a person of any age can take steps toward preventative care by living an active lifestyle, eating a healthy diet and getting plenty of sleep. All these things are referred to as preventative care because they are proven ways to improve overall health and even prevent health issues down the road. Personalized care is uniquely adapted for a specific person to meet that person’s needs. Personalized care also tries to address disease before it occurs. It engages people in their health care decisions, allowing care plans to be crafted around each person’s reactions to health risks, lifestyle choices, medical care and goals for their health.
While personalized care and preventative medicine are health care terms, their reach is not limited to a hospital setting or doctor’s offices. For seniors receiving rehabilitation services or living in assisted living, a skilled nursing facility or a nursing home, including health care best practices in their daily care plans can only improve their outcomes!
The Push for Personalized Care
Because a skilled nursing facility (SNF) is a health care environment, residents’ level of care or treatment makes all the difference. Skilled nursing is care that can only be performed by, or under the supervision of, health care professionals or technical personnel. Seniors may go from the hospital to a skilled nursing facility to continue recovering following an injury, illness or surgery. Skilled nursing care may also be required over the long term for seniors who need a high level of care frequently or constantly due to a chronic medical condition. In addition to skilled nursing, care at a SNF may include rehabilitative services from licensed physical, occupational or speech therapists.
In skilled nursing facilities or any other health care environment, personnel may face challenges in providing personalized care. Staffing shortages, low-tech operational systems and high numbers of seniors in need can all create a taxing situation. However, overcoming these roadblocks is imperative to giving skilled nursing residents the care they deserve.
Personalized care and personalized medicine make much more accurate predictions of how certain medications, exercises and treatment plans affect a specific individual. As a result, seniors included in the decision-making process make informed decisions about their health and are more likely to follow through on their care plans. In addition to improved communication, the benefits of personalized care include:
Improved patient satisfaction
Personalized care can lead to increased patient satisfaction. When residents in skilled nursing or a long-term care environment feel their needs are being met, they are more likely to be satisfied with their care. Additionally, when care providers take a personalized approach, it creates a stronger bond of trust between residents and their care teams.
Enhanced health outcomes
Personalized care plans can lead to better results for residents. By considering a resident’s health circumstances, health care providers can develop care plans tailored specifically for that person. Because the resident’s unique needs are considered, the personalized approach is more likely to be successful.
Reduced costs
Personalized care can also reduce medical costs for skilled nursing residents. By utilizing customized care plans, health care professionals can better prevent and manage chronic illnesses; this leads to fewer hospitalizations and doctor’s visits while reducing the overall risk of complications.
So, how can skilled nursing facilities enhance their outcomes and resident experiences and reduce costs using personalized care plans?
First, SNFs must have the resources to utilize the latest tools to support personalized care practices. To achieve this, the most forward-thinking and proactive skilled nursing facilities use technology to provide customized care in skilled nursing.
New Solutions for Skilled Nursing
Many industries rely on technology and data to better serve their customers or to tailor their services to specific customers’ needs. For example, in health care and environments like skilled nursing care, data collection and technology innovations include electronic patient medical records, the collection of medical exam results and information collected by health care testing machines, such as electrocardiogram machines.
So, what are some technologies used in skilled nursing?
To help health care leaders scale their organization while balancing a workforce strategy that both preserves quality and continuity of service, Chief Executive Officer Tom Ellis started ShiftKey. Following the successful rollout of their OnShift technology, the innovative team at ShiftKey recently announced the Schedule Automation Marketplace Integration (SAMI). SAMI is a first-of-its-kind system that combines the full power of ShiftKey’s workforce marketplace and OnShift’s schedule view and analytics, presenting health care providers with the resources and insights to make strategic workforce decisions in the short and long term.
SAMI uses a tech-forward approach that equips health care organizations and skilled nursing facilities with workforce patterns, information and analytics to make informed decisions that impact their business – but ultimately drive more effective and consistent patient care.
Tutera Senior Living & Health Care and others in the post-acute care and senior living industry have agreed to test SAMI. Thanks to Tutera’s strong commitment, SAMI is demonstrating compelling results:
7% Increase in Resident Occupancy Rate
Tutera focuses on getting to know residents and team members personally, leaning into their unique preferences and personalities to inform care and actions. This is precisely what SAMI is meant to elevate: getting facilities out of survival mode and back into growth mode, focusing on attentive resident care and relief as needed for facility employees.
Ultimately, the goal is to serve as many residents as possible with quality care. For years, skilled nursing facilities have struggled to balance workforce and resident levels. While the aging population that needs care grows, facilities have been forced to turn away residents due to inadequate workforce levels. With SAMI, those days are over!
90% Reduction in Unfilled Shifts
SAMI has allowed Tutera to view employees and independent health care professionals in a single system. With SAMI’s consolidated real-time reporting, Tutera can now make strategic decisions and tap into a network of licensed professionals. Dynamic access to independent care professionals reduces burnout among skilled nursing team members. It complements individuals who want to be there.
20% Increase in Employee Shift Requests
Yes, at Tutera, full-time facility employees request more shifts after the integration than ever before. Tutera’s skilled nursing facilities use SAMI’s comprehensive data to forecast available changes; this allows facility employees to plan and tap into future schedules. However, when additional workers are required to support occupancy growth and fill openings, SAMI provides automated access to the ShiftKey marketplace, leveraging a vast, licensed talent pool to fill select shifts. This seamless integration and consistent shift coverage include relief for scheduling directors and facility employees while ensuring residents receive the highest level of personalized care at all times.
100% Total Workforce Transparency
Across the board, SAMI provides total workforce visibility, optimization and cost savings – all in one system. Tutera can now leverage SAMI to achieve complete workforce transparency, build employee trust, reduce burnout, meet staffing ratios and deliver the highest quality of care. This means skilled nursing residents at Tutera communities can rely on their team members and trust that their care providers have all the latest updated information regarding their personalized care plan.
About Tutera Senior Living & Health Care
At Tutera Senior Living and Health Care, our rehabilitation and extended stay communities focus on providing the best possible care and support following surgery, illness or accident. Our communities are committed to creating a personalized experience for each resident. Your stay at a Tutera community begins with your YOUNITE story, a collection of your personal history, likes, dislikes and goals for your visit. Then, we use your preferences to create a wellness program with access to nutritious, delicious, chef-prepared meals, physical therapies and personal development opportunities. Residents receive daily care from well-trained professional staff who provide 24/7 skilled nursing care in a comfortable setting. To keep residents’ days full of fun, a calendar of social, educational and recreational events ensures opportunities for active daily lives. Many Tutera communities also include amenities such as:
- Coffee bar
- Movie nights
- Library
- Salon and barbershop
- Nutritious and delicious dining with restaurant-style menus
At Tutera Senior Living, we would love to answer your questions about skilled nursing care and recovery programs in our communities. Are you interested in finding a Tutera community near you? Try our location finder! Or give us a call today.
