5 reasons why aged care software integration is so important

One of the biggest concerns for Aged Care operators in New Zealand is ensuring that any system implemented in their facility has the ability to talk to the other systems so information can be easily shared resulting in more effective processes.

There are a lot of specific needs in the aged Care sector and while there is an extensive range of software offerings which provide solutions that ease stresses for staff and speed up processes, there is no one software that does everything. VCare software is an expert in aged care management and has chosen to work with other experts in the industry such as medication management, Call bell systems and banks to create an integrated software package that allows facilities to streamline workflows and processes.

For facilities to get all the benefits that the introduction of software has to offer they  need to invest in a range of products, from call bell systems and medication management all the way to software like VCare, that offer in-depth aged care management.

Using multiple applications or software that doesn’t integrate or talk with each other can be a nightmare for you and your staff. It not only puts additional pressure on staff to input data into various locations, but it increases inefficient data management and the likelihood of human error and double handling.

VCare integrates with a range of market leaders in the sector to ensure your staff are working on tasks that matter and your data is secure, accurate and available in real-time.

Below are our top 5 reasons why aged care integration is so important:

Resident Journey

Your residents’ journey is complex and requires different management at different stages, using an integrated software, your residents’ journey can be managed and shared across departments quickly and effectively.

Having a fully integrated system ensures records containing all information regarding a resident from the initial contact and admission of a resident to their specific requirements such as independent living, or any other form of care is located in one place. Your resident’s information moves with them supporting a continuum of care. The integrations between VCare and other systems such as Medimap, InterRAI and 1Chart ensures your facility has the tools and procedures in place to effectively manage and keep track of your resident’s information ensuring you are providing the best level of care possible.

Increases Productivity and Saves Time

Integration removes the need for meaningless tasks that take up unnecessary amounts of time. Ensuring your systems work together removes the need for staff to search through financial or care reports and input that information into a system ready for auditing.

Without integration, staff have to manually move data between systems which can be a tedious and distracting task that increases the likelihood of inconsistencies.

Giving staff the ability to access relevant reports and data instantly will help them preform to the best of their ability and increase productivity allowing them to get more done in the day.

Streamlining the workflow between systems in your facility means decisions and problems can be resolved faster. Integrations allow your staff to quickly adapt to changes and in emergency situation they can react fast and without hesitation knowing the data is all in front of them.

Improves Data Accuracy

Duplicating data into different systems increases the chances of human error and double entry resulting in the accuracy of information being depleted. In the aged care industry, it is crucial that data is up-to-date, accurate and properly handled. Data inconsistences increase with double handling and miscommunication between staff.

With an integrated system you can be confident that the information you are receiving is in real-time is the same as what was initially input resulting in fewer mistakes and giving your staff confidence in their next action.

Not only does an integrated system give you confidence that staff are working from the correct information but it ensures your records are accurate and secure for auditing.

Improved real-time visibility

Integrating your systems ensures all information relating to a resident is up-to-date and immediately accessible to staff. If something is input into one system, having it visible on your other systems means nothing gets missed. Without integration, staff would have to make sure they looked at all the software systems prior to carrying out an activity and even during this window of time changing between systems something could have changed.

Integration improves real-time visibility and removes the uncertainty that something has changed. VCare can be accessed anywhere at any-time, being integrated with so many other systems mean staff can access the information from any system at any time through VCare.

Cost-saving

While it may seem costly to make sure your software integrates with one another It will save you money in the long run. Having efficient, integrated systems reduces the time it takes to input data and increases your facilities productivity removing the need for unnecessary costs such as extra staff and systems used to aid old processes.

Integrating your systems will save you development costs as well, rather than finding your own solution to a problem, researching and reaching out to ready made solutions and seeing if they can integrate with your current systems is a great way to save time and reduce the costs you would have put into new developments.

VCare integrates with a wide range of systems both in and out of the aged care industry, helping save you time, money and keeping you up with the latest standards in Aged Care compliance. Making sure all of these systems work together is crucial for creating a smooth day-to-day operation in your facility.