Village scrapping paper

Predictions of years ago that society would one day become paperless have not quite proved accurate, but Kerikeri Retirement Village has taken a major step towards realising that goal.

It has introduced a single technology system to streamline every aspect of its operation, from registering and managing requests for its retirement accommodation through to patient record-keeping in its care wing.

The eCase management system was helping to reduce costs, eliminating the need for paper-based records, and deduplicating a raft of records and databases, operational support manager Cheryl Silich said.

It was also boosting the level of care and oversight in its care unit by enabling staff to make patient notes at the bedside, and for those notes to be reviewed by supervisors in real time if necessary.

Every detail of a resident’s involvement would be accessible at the click of a mouse, from the first email sent to enquire about living there through to an up-to-the-minute report on any medical treatment and prescription information.

“If a family member tells one of our health assistants at 11am that Mum is craving bananas, the system will enable our catering staff to ensure that there’s a banana on her plate that lunchtime,” Ms Silich said.

Real time, template-based recordkeeping at patients’ bedsides did away with the need for healthcare assistants to write up notes at the end of each shift, reducing their workload and improving the quality of information on file, she added. Staff starting shifts had a complete written record of treatment and any issues affecting patients as at the end of the previous shift, instead of having to rely on verbal handovers or waiting until notes had been written up.

The system was also valuable in health and safety. An accident or near miss could be logged by staff immediately, prompting action by the Village’s quality and risk co-ordinator.

“It’s all about enhancing the service and care we provide our residents, and about getting rid of administrative inefficiencies and frustrations for staff and the families of our residents,” Ms Silich said.