Over 90% of all Respondents See EHRs Delivering Greater Visibility and Access to Information to Personalize Care and Achieve Better Resident Outcomes
BOSTON, MA –November 2, 2015 – To better understand how senior living providers are meeting resident and family expectations, PointClickCare, the leading cloud-based software platform for the senior care market, along with LeadingAge CAST (Center for Aging Services Technologies), led a joint market assessment survey. The study, which was initiated in June 2015, reported that 66.7 percent of respondents believe investing in technology paves the way to achieving a competitive advantage in today’s market, making technology a top priority for them.
“Senior care is an industry in transition, faced with new challenges and new opportunities unlike ever before,” says Dave Wessinger, chief technology officer, PointClickCare. “What we are hearing from our customers, and what this latest study confirms, is that providers are feeling the impact of this shift and looking really closely at the role technology plays in helping them build sustainable businesses. At the core of their evaluations are electronic health record (EHR) platforms, which isn’t surprising with the increased focus on value-based payment models and the need to deliver and demonstrate quality outcomes.”
With technology making the top of the list, assisted living providers surveyed also shared that they are looking for ways to improve efficiency of staff, improve quality of care delivery and improve customer service. While there is almost unanimous agreement (more than 90 percent across all care settings) that EHR technology delivers greater visibility and access to information, fewer than half of assisted living respondents (48 percent) have invested in the technology, as opposed to Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC) and Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF) that have an EHR adoption rate close to 80 percent.
To that end, Majd Alwan, SVP of Technology, LeadingAge, and executive director at LeadingAge CAST believes that, “There is a disconnect for many providers on the significant role that technology can play in addressing the industry’s biggest challenges. As the demographic shift in the senior population unfolds, technology becomes necessary to drive efficiencies that leading senior care providers will require. Strategic IT planning is an essential differentiator for providers today, and we are encouraging LeadingAge members to not only invest in the technology itself, but also consider the strategic partnerships that will help gain and sustain market momentum.”
Additionally, other survey findings included: 95.7 percent of assisted living respondents believe referrals into their communities come from family or friends, and 63.8 percent shared that referrals through friends is the reason residents moved into their communities. With referrals being a large driver for new business, it’s important for providers to focus on ways to remain competitive, and an integrated technology platform is key in making this possible. Click here for an infographic highlighting the key survey findings.
To hear more about the results of the survey and how to maintain a competitive advantage, check out this video conversation between Dave Wessinger and Majd Alwan. A critical component of the findings points to the importance of a provider’s ability to manage and promote their reputation. For a tip sheet on how your organization can manage its reputation, click here.
If you’re attending this year’s LeadingAge conference, join Bill McQuaide, chief product officer for PointClickCare and judge at this year’s HackFest – Engage with Age, an event focused on technology-driven tools aimed at improving the lives of older adults and their families. And as always, stop by booth #1519 to meet the PointClickCare team onsite.
###
About PointClickCare
PointClickCare is advancing senior care by enabling long-term post-acute care (LTPAC) providers to achieve the business results that matter – enriching quality of life for their residents, improving financial and operational health, and mitigating risk. Recently recognized as the 2014 #1 long-term care software vendor by KLAS Research, PointClickCare offers a portfolio of cloud-based software and services designed from the ground up to help providers manage the complex requirements of senior care. With a suite of fully integrated applications powered by an interoperable, mobile friendly, and regulatory compliant electronic health record and revenue cycle management platform, PointClickCare helps our customers connect and collaborate within their care network, achieve and demonstrate higher quality outcomes, optimize financial performance, and simplify their regulatory burden. Over 11,000 skilled nursing facilities, senior living communities and home health agencies use PointClickCare today, making it the North American healthcare IT market leader for the senior care industry. For more information on PointClickCare’s ONC certified software solutions, please visit pointclickcare.com.