PointClickCare Customer of the Month: Angie Hamer

We’re excited to announce a new blog initiative to honour our dedicated customers. Each month we will be selecting a customer of the month and profiling them for our blog to show why they love PointClickCare. So please, allow us to introduce you to our first PointClickCare Customer of the Month – Angie Hamer!

Angie has been a PointClickCare user since 2013 and has been an active member of the Pulse online community for almost 4 years. She’s the author of several highly engaged discussion posts and has consistently offered valuable advice and support to other Pulse members over the years. Angie’s passion for connecting with others, desire to learn, and extensive experience using PointClickCare made her this month’s Customer of the Month.

Angie is the Quality Assurance Nurse for Wells Health Systems, an organization that manages and consults with a variety of Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) in Kentucky. We sat down with Angie to learn more about her journey and here’s what we learned:

Tell us a little more about you:
I graduated from the nursing program at Kentucky Wesleyan College in 1985. In 1990, I helped open a Rehab Unit at the hospital where I was working. The rehab patients would be with us for an extended period of time, and I enjoyed getting to know them and their families. That’s when I realized I wanted more — I wanted to have the ‘extended family’ relationship that long‐term care provides, which led me to become the Director of Nursing at a skilled facility in 1992.

I began my career with Wells Health Systems in February 1999. Over the past 20 years I have provided clinical consulting in 39 SNFs throughout the great Commonwealth of Kentucky. I have assisted with the clinical portion of EMR setup in several facilities, which includes but is not limited to: progress note templates, UDA’s with and without Structured Progress Notes, POC tasks, lookback reports, and eMAR/orders.

Why did you decide to get into the healthcare industry?
I grew up in long‐term care. My parents owned a facility in Calhoun, KY and our home was located on a hill behind it. My parents later purchased a facility in Owensboro, KY. My first job was Christmas Elf, I then moved up into lawn maintenance. As a teenager I held positions as dietary aide and receptionist.

What’s the best part about your job?
Smiling faces! Whether it’s from the many residents that I meet or the staff members I work with. I know, it sounds silly, but I love those days when a DON or MDS nurse comes to me with a problem and I provide them with a solution, then they give me that big smile letting me know that I’ve made their task easier or faster. That’s a good day. And then there are the residents – their smiles and hugs are the best!

Another thing I love about my job is the travel. Kentucky is a beautiful place, and on a nice sunny day, I thank the good Lord for letting me live here. But when it’s raining or snowing, I don’t like it so much.

What’s the biggest challenge you face in your role?
Keeping up with the changes! RoP and PDPM has my head spinning at times. It’s my job to learn it, know it, and share it. Just when I think my brain can’t hold anymore, CMS throws out more changes.

How long have you been using PointClickCare and what product modules do you have experience using?
I began with PointClickCare in 2013. Most of the facilities that I currently consult with use PointClickCare as well, but they all differ on their percentage of documentation in EHR. I’m experienced with the Clinical Care Management features, ePOC, eMAR & physician orders, and eINTERACT. I’ve got a few that use Secured Conversations and Practitioner Engagement too.

What’s your favorite PointClickCare feature or module?
I build a lot of  UDAs for the facilities that I work with. I love, love, love the ‘Planning’ feature. Since its introduction, it’s been my favorite! Nurses can now click some boxes on an UDA and once they lock it, Presto! The care plan has been revised. What a time saver. Love it!

Why did your organization choose PointClickCare?
We looked at 3 different software companies. We chose PointClickCare because: (1) it seemed to be the most user friendly, (2) the solution communicated well between Admin and Clinical, and (3) the Risk Management Module.

What’s one tip or piece of advice you’d give to an organization thinking about moving to an EHR platform?
Do your research. I’d recommend that you visit a few facilities that have EHR and talk with the staff, find out about the features available, the pros and cons. Then, when you’re ready to do the set up and configuration portion of your EHR software, you know what to ask and understand which options to choose to make the software work best for your facility.