The respondents of this survey overwhelmingly said homecare software should focus more on patients. Unlike other homecare software, the primary focus of Home Care LINK has always been on the patient.
The recently published, 2022 Home Health Care News Outlook Survey and Report, points out the respondent’s expectations for the next year. The majority of the 386 respondents identified as executives for care providers in skilled and non-skilled home health care, hospice care, and palliative care. Below is a summary of the responses.
Key Takeaways
- Care Providers are ready and willing to invest in technology in 2022.
- Staffing continues to be the most critical pain point in home-based care.
- Care is undeniably moving to the home, driving growth across the industry.
If this survey represents the 2022 caregiver market – what technology options are available to support those conclusions?
When you review the existing home health software companies, the top companies you will probably find are: ClearCare, Alora, Axis, or Alaya. However, do they really address the specific patient items listed above? A more detailed review indicates their software seems much more focused on business practices, specifically caregiver management, and not the patient. Is there a software option that more directly addresses patients?
There is one available software option that has always been focused on the patient – Home Care LINK.
- Telemedicine/telehealth & predictive analysis – Home Care LINK (HCL) requires caregivers to complete an “End of Visit” survey at the end of each caregiver visit. The survey reflects a customized list of conditions that all their medical providers recommended to be monitored.
- Patient engagement – Sadly, many patients cannot personally respond. Using HCL, however, the assigned caregiver knows exactly what is required for that particular patient. Caregivers are also requested to include a picture of the patient at the end of the visit.
- Improve patient outcomes & monitoring – From the beginning, Home Care LINK’s goal was to “improve health outcomes and reduce medical costs”. The improved monitoring permits the caregiver to send immediate “Alerts” (via text or email) to the care manager if critical situation occurs. Rapid response to these alerts accomplishes both of these goals.
- Chronic disease management tools – HCL is designed for patients who have one or more chronic diseases. It provides the caregiver with a customized list of events to be monitored, measured, or observed.
- Patient facing communications technology – In Home Care LINK everything is focused on the patient. Most other software focuses solely on recording the hours and actions of the caregiver, rather than the wellbeing of the care recipient.
- Vital signs/remote monitoring – While it is difficult to connect every brand and type of technology, e.g. blood pressure devices, to a general health care software, HCL compensates by making it easy for the caregiver to record, transmit and store those vital signs.